DAVID by Max Friedland

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Big Bang Theory

Behind the Scenes of Las Vegasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; NYE Spectacular A REAL STINKER 01_CoverForm.indd 1

HANUKKAH COCKTAILS

CRUELTY-FREE GIFTS

WINTER GETAWAY 11/21/17 9:27 AM

December 12 - 20, 2017 Sunday - Thursday | 4:00pm-8:00pm Friday & Saturday | 4:00pm-9:00pm

In addition to our regular offerings, we will be serving Gefilte Fish • Stuffed Cabbage Tzimmes • Kugel • Potato Latkes Honey Bundt Cake • Beef Brisket Smoked Whitefish • Matzo Ball Soup

ALTA & RAMPART | SuncoastCasino.com

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137352Fkh_SC_HappyHanukkah_AD_9”x10.875”_0.25”Bleed_PRO_10.11.17

11/21/17 9:28 AM

KTNV_

City National is the bank built on client referrals. Top Ranked in Client Referrals.*

Bill Haber

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Call (866) 618-5193 to learn more or visit cnb.com/referrals.

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The way up.

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11/22/17 7:58 AM

SEASON OF LIGHTS s o ire e and si lent auctio a ucti o n so

s u n d a y

5:00 TO 8:00 P.M. Program begins at 5:45 p.m.

invites you to help spread the light and support families affected by autism. Presenting the

At the home of Michael Tang 19 Hawk Ridge Drive Las Vegas, NV 89135

Purchase your ticket now at www.tun.touro.edu/seasons RSVP by November 22, 2017

to: MARK FRISSORA, JAN JONES BLACKHURST

AND CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT

Holiday (dressy casual attire) Valet parking provided Your tax-deductible gift will support families who cannot afford treatment in the Center.

Star of the Center Award to:

TRACY AND ROBERT EGLET | MONICA JACKSON, FOX 5 NEWS

Touro University Nevada gratefully acknowledges our Sponsors:

Michael

TANG

874 American Pacific Drive, Henderson, Nevada 89014

Shelley Berkley &

MONTEREY & DR. JEFFREY

BROOKMAN

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ERN GLA Z TH U

REIMAN

CINDY & TOM

McKIVIGAN

SHARON SIGESMUND PIERCE & STEPHEN PIERCE

S ER

JAMES

Dr . Larry Lehrner

RI EA N D S PI

SUSAN & ROBERT

SPENCER

10/22/17 7:59 11/22/17 4:31 AM PM

4:31 PM

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11/22/17 8:00 AM

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11/22/17 8:01 AM

GALA of THE YEAR

Honoring Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE The Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Educational Campus

IN PURSUITof EXCELLENCE GALA JANUARY 20, 2018 The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

For information on tickets and commemorative magazine tribute ads please contact Jennifer George at 702-255-4500 or by email: annualgala@adelsoncampus.org

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11/22/17 8:01 AM

December

Pulse 16

Explore The month’s event listings to help plan your day or your stay.

22 Desire Sin City abounds in worldclass shopping ... these are a few of our favorite things. 24 Discover Places to go, cool things to do, hip people to see in the most exciting city in the world.

28 Speak Have you ever received that gift from hell? It’s not that rare an occurrence. 32 Sense Las Vegas is ramping up security for the New Year’s Eve revelers on the Strip and Downtown. 36 Taste eviving a five year old tradition, here are eight cocktails for each night of Hanukkah.

Grill

Think 42 Vegan Giving is Uber Cool The variety of “guilt-free” holiday gifts now available online and in the stores is most impressive. 46 Plan Your Winter Getaway Why Playa del Carmen is the perfect holiday gift for adults.

58 David Sylvester ugs and high-fives giver and world traveler. The month’s spotlight on someone to know.

8.8

20 Devour here to find some of the best eats, drinks and foodie happenings in the Valley.

Live

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52 Big Bang Theory How Las Vegas’ New Year’s Eve ﬁreworks display comes together.

A REAL STINKER

www.davidlv.com

Las Vegas, New Year’s Eve ﬁreworks, 2017.

Big Bang Theory

Behind the Scenes of Las Vegas’ NYE Spectacular

D EC EM B ER 2017

On the Cover

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HANUKKAH COCKTAILS

CRUELTY-FREE GIFTS

WINTER GETAWAY 11/21/17 9:27 AM

Copyright © 2017 by JewishINK LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. DAVID MAGAZINE is protected as a trademark in the United States. Subscribers: If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we are under no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged for in writing. DAVID MAGAZINE is a monthly publication. All information regarding editorial content or property for sale is deemed reliable. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions.

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11/22/17 1:11 PM

TRAVEL WITH UTAH’S HOGLE ZOO TO THE POLAR BEAR CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

THE EARTH’S LARGEST PREDATOR, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. PLEASE KEEP A TIGHT GRIP ON YOUR CAMERA. “FOR THE FIRST TIME OR THE HUNDREDTH TIME, SEEING A WILD POLAR BEAR IS A BREATHTAKING EXPERIENCE! THIS IS TRULY A LIFE-CHANGING TRIP!” LIZ LARSEN, DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION UTAH’S HOGLE ZOO

CHURCHILL, MANITOBA • NOV 4-9, 2018 Take a naturalist-led Tundra Buggy adventure and observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.

• A unique opportunity to meet our Polar Bears— Nora and Hope—and their keepers. • A pre-trip seminar with your fellow travelers.

• You’ll be escorted by a Zoo expert who brings an insider’s perspective to wildlife and their natural habitat.

• Signed book copies by authors; one a leading polar bear expert and the other a Churchill Hudson Bay expert.

• An expedition-themed event at Hogle Zoo, including food and destination lecture.

• A free family Zoo membership or renewal.

For more behind the scenes information, visit hogle zoo.org/about/travel. But hurry, expeditions sell out quickly.

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11/22/17 8:01 AM

Nevada’s only Funeral Home and Cemetery combination dedicated exclusively to the Jewish Community • Southern Nevada consecrated Jewish cemetery • Proudly serving all Jewish denominations • Elegant 250 seat Allen Brewster Memorial Chapel

Publisher/Editor Associate Publisher

• Knowledgeable and caring Jewish staff

Max Friedland

max@davidlv.com editor@davidlv.com

Joanne Friedland

joanne@davidlv.com

EDITORIAL

• Special Veterans Pricing Plan

Calendar Editor

• Special Synagogue Pricing Plan • Burials out-of-state and Eretz Yisrael

Endorsed by the entire Rabbinic community, meeting the needs of every denomination with tradition and compassion.

Zoë Friedland

zoe@davidlv.com

Copy Editor Pulse Editor

Jaq Greenspon

Contributing Writers

Diana Edelman

Marisa Finetti

Marisa Finetti Jaq Greenspon Jason Harris Brian Sodoma Lynn Wexler

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

Jay Poster Funeral Director, Manager & Founder

Art Director/ Photographer

Steven Wilson

steve@davidlv.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Advertising Director

Joanne Friedland

joanne@davidlv.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Sheryl Chenin-Webb Family Service Director

Kacia-Dvorkin Pretty Family Service Director

702-254-2223 | subscribe@davidlv.com

Volume 08 Number 8 www.davidlv.com DAVID Magazine is published 12 times a year.

To advertise in DAVID Magazine, call 702-254-2223 or email ads@davidlv.com To subscribe to DAVID Magazine, call 702.254-2223 or email subscibe@davidlv.com

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DAVID Magazine sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. This copy of DAVID Magazine was printed by American Web in Denver, Colo., on paper from well-managed forests which meet EPA guidelines that recommend use of recovered fibers for coated papers. Inks used contain a blend of soy base. Our printer meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards and is a certified member of both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. When you are done with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it.

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King David 2016.indd 1

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1/25/16 9:30 AM

11/22/17 8:04 AM

Community Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH 4-6 pm Downtown Summerlin located in the arroyo dining area

Menorah Lighting at 5pm

FREE EVENT

Music by DJ Shai Kosher donuts and hot cocoa

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OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Discounted ice skating

Raffle prizes Kid friendly activities

11/22/17 8:02 AM

Contributors

Diana Edelman

Marisa Finetti

Jaq Greenspon

Jason Harris

Brian Sodoma

Lynn Wexler

is a Las Vegasbased writer whose work has appeared around the world. She spent much of the past decade traveling around the world (and writing about it on her travel blog, d travels ‘round, as well as in publications), before kicking off her shoes in Thailand and working with an elephant rescue organization and working to raise awareness about their plight in tourism and beyond. Today, the former public relations professional focuses her efforts on making being vegan in Las Vegas (and beyond) easier with her business, Vegans, Baby which serves as the city’s only up-to-date and comprehensive resource for vegan life in town.

has called Las Vegas home since 2005, after spending 10 years as a zinfandel grower in Dry Creek Valley. Her best of moments in writing include getting her mug shot taken at Penn Jillette’s house, covering a nudist colony while being uncovered, and interviewing a sommelier who enlightened her that there is more to wine than California. Visit her blog loveandrelish.com

is a new father as well as a world traveling, dog loving, scuba diving, book collecting, writer currently residing somewhere in Eastern Europe. His words have been spoken by Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and Robin Hood, been read by David opperfield, and criticized by his 7th grade English teacher. He’d like to thank the members of the Academy, although he doesn’t know why. In his spare time, he’s a university professor and a kick ass uncle.

writes for a number of publications and websites. He specializes in food, music, and comedy writing. He has worked in almost every aspect of the entertainment industry. He has sold multiple screenplays, written awards shows and had a tv show on ABC for a minute. He’s still broke. And he loves his daughter Scarlett the most.

is a freelance journalist and copywriter whose work has been published by Entrepreneur, Forbes. com and major daily newspapers like the Arizona Republic and Las Vegas Review Journal.

enjoys distilling, and voicing in print, the essence of topics she researches and those she interviews. Her acute and ardent style has been acknowledged throughout her years as a TV reporter, news anchor and journalist, interviewing persons of note on the world stage. As a certified alues and Manners Life Coach, Lynn trains groups and individuals on improving their personal, social and professional effectiveness. She is most proud of her three outstanding children.

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11/22/17 8:05 AM

DEC. 24TH AT CAESARS PALACE

9PM

DANCE. MINGLE. CELEBRATE.

For Tickets visit jewishnevada.org/lightitup2017

Couvert $36

$18 of your Couvert will go directly to the 2017 Campaign for Jewish Needs

SPONSORED BY

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11/22/17 8:02 AM

From the Publisher

oanne riedland

As days and months separate us from the tragic events of October 1, we search for answers. We scour news headlines for any indication that investigators are closer to a fuller understanding of the evil that, that evening brought. The fact that a gambler with a grudge could grab his guns and rain down misery on folks whose only mistake was being at the wrong place at the wrong time has ignited the debate on gun control in this corner of the Mojave Desert. It is not an easy debate to have, western frontier city slickers see gun ownership as a badge of honor and right of citizenship. In the aftermath of the shooting, Las Vegans came together. Following the template created by 9:11, a sense of civic pride and love for our fellow man catalyzed a wellspring of generosity. An amazed national and international press corps reported nightly that Sin City actually had a heart, who knew! All hands on deck, no ideological litmus tests required, people worked together to provide comfort. I happen to know the politics of many of my friends, seeing them in photographs working together; handing out food and provisions to the needy always makes me smile. A lot of these individuals under any other circumstance would not talk to each other, let alone be in the same zip code. There are many aftershocks to a disaster; some are felt months after the initial shock. One such aftershock is the gradual return to the status quo ante, well-worn political differences coming back into fashion, no more purple, what a shame. Another aftershock, this time coming as an answer to local hospitality and entertainmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heavenly pleas, is the news that McCarran International Airport experienced record-breaking visitor traffic last month. The show must go on, and it has, I time n industry representative in the know, informs me that the week after the massacre was one of the busiest for the eating establishments and watering holes at andalay ay. In our piece, New Year New Fear, pages 32-35 we interview the authorities and discover a city that learns from tragedy. The final autopsy is not complete, but plans are in motion, and we will have the safest New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve shindig humanly possible, at least so they say. Anyone who is cra y enough to use as egas oulevard will surely notice the installation of new safety bollards. y family has always loved the drama of the fireworks on ourth of uly and ew ear s ve. ver the years we have trekked across the valley to find the best viewing site. ast year we split our time from NYE on the Sony to NYE in the cul de sac. Neighbors hauled out their folding chairs and to the delight of all concerned loomfield ourt had its very own mini fireworks display. In Big Bang Theory, pages - , rian Sodoma e plores the behind the scenes of mega fireworks displays. e interviews the guys at rucci ireworks responsible for egas big bangs and talks to other technical and design experts. Responding to the many inquiries and requests, we are reviving an earlier story concept and in the process created a I tradition. et ready for more cocktails for anukkah, I cannot say that I have personally tested them all, but I vow to do so before the holidays. appy ew ear, appy anukkah, erry hristmas es onald and whatever you say for Kwanza, as always it is our profound privilege and pleasure to see you as always in the racks.

Max D. Friedland max@davidlv.com

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11/22/17 4:22 PM

Pulse

Your Guide to the Arts, Entertainment and Community Events. What's Hot this Month in Dining, Shopping and Local Attractions.

2017 National Finals Rodeo, December 1-16 www.davidlv.com | 15

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Explore

CIRCUS 1903 Through Dec 31, 7 & 9 p.m., from $44. Paris Theater, Paris Las Vegas, 3655 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-9467000 http://parislasvegas.caesars.com MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER 7:30 p.m., from $35. Orleans Arena, Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. http://orleans.com RAY ROMANO & DAVID SPADE Through Dec. 2, 10 p.m., from $90. Terry Fator Theatre, The Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http:// mirage.com NATIONAL FINALS RODEO Through Dec. 16, 6:45 p.m., $94 and up. Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas. 702-739-3267. http:// thomasandmack.com HARRY CONNICK JR Through Dec. 2, 8 p.m., from $227. Encore Theater, Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-7707000 http://wynnlasvegas.com SYD 9 p.m., $25 and up. Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com

A BAROQUE HOLIDAY - HANDEL'S MESSIAH LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC 7:30 p.m., $30 and up. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-7492012. http://thesmithcenter.com HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC 2 p.m., $30 and up. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-7492012. http://thesmithcenter.com

Maroon 5, December 30-31

1 JACK AND JACK, WITH OLIVIA O'BRIEN 7:30 p.m., $20 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http:// brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas VEGAS STRONG BENEFIT CONCERT: FOR VEGAS. BY VEGAS. 7:30 p.m., $75 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com

REBA BROOKS & DUNN Through Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m., from $96.The Colosseum, Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://caesarspalace.com WOW- A WORLD OF WONDER Through Dec. 31, 7 & 9 p.m., from $39. Rio Showroom, Rio, 3700 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas. 866-5743851 https://www.caesars.com/rio-las-vegas

PATTON OSWALT 9 p.m., $50 and up. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http:// hardrockhotel.com

SYMPHONIC ROCKSHOW 7 p.m., $29 and up. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-7492012. http://thesmithcenter.com VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. ARIZONA COYOTES 5 p.m., $55 and up. T-Mobile

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Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com

Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http:// brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

TOM GREEN Through Dec. 13, 10 p.m., from $43. The Backroom, Bally's Las Vegas, 3645 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-967-4111 https://www.caesars.com/ballys-las-vegas

MIX 94.1 NOT SO SILENT NIGHT WITH KELLY CLARKSON AND SPECIAL GUESTS ALL TIME LOW & SECONDHAND SERENADE 8 p.m., $35 and up. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com SHAGGY 7 p.m., $28 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-8622695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. ANAHEIM DUCKS 7 p.m., $55 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-6921300. http://t-mobilearena.com SMASH MAGAZINE PRESENTS DANCE GAVIN DANCE 7 p.m., $19 and up. Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com

LIONEL RICHIE: ALL THE HITS Through Dec. 16, 8 p.m., from $82. Axis Theater, Planet Hollywood, 3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-785-5555. http://caesars.com/ planethollywood HOLIDAY HAVOC FEATURING RISE AGAINST WITH SPECIAL GUESTS PORTUGAL. THE MAN, ROYAL BLOOD, NEW POLITICS, AND MONDO COZMO 6 p.m., $35 and up. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com ANUHEA WITH PAULA FUGA & MAHI 6 p.m., $17 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http:// brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

SIN BANDERA 8 p.m., $80 and up. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http:// mandalaybay.com CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD 7 p.m., $23 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las

GEORGE STRAIGHT Through Dec. 9, $75 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://tmobilearena.com IHEART COUNTRY PRESENTS COLE SWINDELL Through Dec. 9, 9 p.m., $30 and up. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://cosmopolitan.com RON WHITE Through Dec. 16, 10 p.m., from $70. Terry Fator Theatre, The Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com GARY ALLAN Through Dec. 9, 9:30 p.m., $40 and up. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com

THE NUTCRACKER Through Dec. 24, $29 and up. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-7492012. http://thesmithcenter.com

DUSTIN LYNCH 8 p.m, $30 and up. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http:// cosmopolitan.com

HOLIDAY HAVOC: THE KILLERS, BLEACHERS, JOYWAVE 7:30 p.m., from $74. Pearl Concert Theater, Palms Casino Resort, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas. 702-9427777. http://palms.com/

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. CAROLINA HURRICANES 7 p.m., $55 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com

DWIGHT YOAKAM 9 p.m., $30 and up. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http:// cosmopolitan.com

301 N. Buffalo Drive

702-255-3444

www.thebagelcafelv.com

WhereTheLocalsEat.com

www.davidlv.com | 17

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Bruno Mars, December 30-31

ALABAMA Through Dec. 16. 8 p.m., from $99. Encore Theater, Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-770-7000 http://wynnlasvegas.com ANNUAL LAS VEGAS JEWISH COMMUNITY MENORAH LIGHTING 6 p.m., free. Downtown Summerlin Mall, 1980 Festival Plaza Dr., Las Vegas. http://jewishnevada.org

MARIAH CAREY Through Dec. 22, 8 p.m., $55 and up. The Colosseum, Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-2275938. http://caesarspalace.com THE DRUMS WITH HOOPS 7:30 p.m., $17 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http:// brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 7 p.m., $55 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com

IHEART COUNTRY PRESENTS DIERKS BENTLEY 9 p.m., $50 and up. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://cosmopolitan.com

America's Party Downtown, December 31

3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-8622695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http:// cosmopolitan.com

LADY GAGA 7:30 p.m., $55 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com

SONNY DIGITAL 8 p.m., $15 and up. Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com

JFSA 8TH ANNUAL MENORAH LIGHTING 5:30 p.m., free. Opportunity Village Magical Forest, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., Las Vegas. 702732-0304. http://jewishnevada.org ROCKY HORROR LIVE! 7:30 p.m., $10 and up. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http:// mandalaybay.com VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS 5 p.m., $55 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com

19 BRITNEY SPEARS: PIECE OF ME Through Dec. 31, 9 p.m., from $158. Axis Theater, Planet Hollywood, 3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-785-5555. http://caesars. com/planethollywood

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. WASHINGTON CAPITALS 5 p.m., $55 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-6921300. http://t-mobilearena.com

LOUIS YAN: THE INFINITY 8 p.m., $68 and up. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://cosmopolitan.com

ZACH BROWN BAND 9 p.m., $100 and up. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://cosmopolitan.com JOE ROGAN 10 p.m., from $80. Terry Fator Theatre, The Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http:// mirage.com

DJ VICE ON ICE 7 p.m., $20, ages 21+. The Ice Rink, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://cosmopolitan.com

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 7 p.m., $55 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com

DIZZY WRIGHT AND GUESTS 7:30 p.m., $22 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http:// brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

DESCENDENTS WITH THE FLATLINERS & PULLEY 7 p.m., $30 and up. Brooklyn Bowl,

LINDSEY STIRLING 8 p.m., $30 and up. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas

DURAN DURAN 8 p.m., $100 and up. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas

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11/22/17 1:28 PM

Foo Fighters-New Years Eve, December 31

Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http:// cosmopolitan.com JAY LENO 10 p.m., from $70. Terry Fator Theatre, The Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http:// mirage.com MAROON 5 Through Dec. 31, 7 p.m., from $101. Mandalay Events Center, Mandalay Bay, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas. 800-854-2196 http:// mandalaybay.center-lasvegas.com/events BRUNO MARS Through Dec. 31, 9 p.m., $278 and up. Park Theater, Monte Carlo, 3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 844-600-7275. https:// montecarlo.com/en/entertainment/parktheater

NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION WITH TRAVIS

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. TORONTO

BARKER 9 p.m., $50 and up. Vanity, Hard Rock

MAPLE LEAFS 12:30 p.m., $55 and

Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-

up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas

5000. http://hardrockhotel.com

Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-

JA RULE & ASHANTI 9:30 p.m., $75 and up.

mobilearena.com

Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las

To submit your event information, email calendar@davidlv.com by the 15th of the month prior to the month in which the event is being held.

Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl. com/las-vegas

N E VA DA

BALLET

for Valu Se e P lec ric t D ing a te s

THEATRE ’S

31 AMERICA'S PARTY DOWNTOWN 6 p.m., $35, locals get a $10 discount. Freemont Street Experience, 498 Fremont St., Las Vegas. 702678-5600. https://vegasexperience.com AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH KRISTIN CHENOWETH 7:30 p.m., $39 and up. Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-7492012. http://thesmithcenter.com

Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography by James Canfield

Dec. 9–24, 2017 2017 PRESENTING SPONSOR

FOO FIGHTERS - NEW YEAR'S EVE 10:30 p.m., $150 and up. The Chelsea, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://cosmopolitan.com FRENCH MONTANA - NEW YEAR'S EVE 9 p.m., $50 and up. Marquee Nightclub, Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-6987000. http://cosmopolitan.com

(702) 749-2000 • NEVADABALLET.ORG Dancer photo by Bill Hughes

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE — DAVID MAGAZINE AD — 5.25” X 4.8125”

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Devour Hand-Sliced Heaven A Los Angeles institution since 1931, Canter's eli on orth airfa venue is finally handslicing for Las Vegas residents and visitors alike. These piles of perfection are served daily on house-made rye bread. The owners have really done their homework, from the sourcing of their briskets and pickling spices to the importing of their meat slicers from a legendary Deli in New York City.

B B

Canter's Las Vegas at Tivoli Village, 330 S. Rampart Blvd., # 160., Las Vegas. 702-444-0407 Canter's Las Vegas at The LINQ Promenade, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., # L18., Las Vegas 702-754-4400 http://canterslv.com

C to C V h

Will You Marrow Me Chef Brian Malarkey of Searsucker inside Caesars Palace prepares his signature bourbon-glazed marrow bones with Fresno chili, while the addition of flash fried Brussels sprouts adds a light and crispy dimension to the decadence. There are a plethora of sites (who knew) dedicated to correct marrow eating etiquette - my favorite technique is to forgo the little spoon and opt for a pair of chopsticks. They are ideal for digging and scraping every last drop. Use your spoon for smearing the luscious product of your labors onto a piece of well grilled toast and enjoy. Malarkey features this dish on his happy hour menu, so for $2 you can hone your skills before the big night out. Searsucker, Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-866-1800. http://searsucker.com/las-vegas/

A Sidecar with a Calypso Beat

.5 oz. Ginger syrup

1.5 oz. Lemonade

.75 oz. Triple sec

3 dash Bittermens Tiki

.5 oz. Grand Marnier

.5 oz. lime juice

Bitters

.5 oz. Jamaican Ginger Beer

F fo a

•

In a mixing glass add the Cognac, Triple sec, lime juice, ginger syrup, bitters, lemonade and ice, then shake. Strain into a coupe glass with a cinnamon sugar rim. Top with the Grand Marnier and ginger beer. Garnish with an orange peel. DW Bistro, 9275 W. Russell Rd. Las Vegas. 702-527-5200

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•

Classic cocktails like the sidecar never go out of style. Created in 1920 at the bar in the Ritz Hotel in Paris, it has become the single most iconic Cognac cocktail in the world, showcasing both strong, light, refreshing, and bright flavors. Sip and savor DW Bistro’s aribbean version, identified by the addition of ginger syrup and fi y ginger beer. 1.5 oz. Hennessy VSOP

S li ro th

11/22/17 1:29 PM

NEW @

Tivoli Village Summerlin 1

November 2017

Classic Deli Food Since 1931 PMS - 158C

A Little Bit of History... PMS - 395C 1931 2Moving West

PMS - Cool Gray 7 C

“... this kitchen is hand-slicing everything resulting in thicker, more luxurious slabs of meat...”

usually go with yellow #1 (PMS - 158C)

Ben Canter & his brother moved from Jersey City, New Jersey and opened up a Canter Brother’s Delicatessen in Boyle Heights.

1955 Celeb Hotspot

Canter’s Fairfax now loated at 419 N. Fairfax Avenue, where the old Esquire Theater used to be. It became one of L.A.’s prominent celeb hotspots, a tradition that continues in Canter’s Las Vegas. Since its opening in end of Sept 2017, Canter’s Las Vegas at Tivoli Village has served Academy Awards Winner Nicolas Cage twice while the LINQ location has catered to Sir Elton John’s concert in Caesars Palace.

November 2017

1970s - 1980s Political Whistle Stop & Music Scene

Since settled in the Fairfax Ave, Canter’s has become a favorite whistle stop for hot political contests. The likes of Rudy Giuliani, presidents such as Barack Obama have made rounds from booth to booth mingling with customers. Canter’s sustained the beatniks of the ‘50s, the hippie onslaught of the ’60s, and the inflationary ‘70s.

“No.5 of the 14 hottest restaurants in Las Vegas”

Today

Famous for its corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, Canter’s Deli serves the best quality food at reasonable prices. It has been voted #1 Best Pastrami by the Los Angeles Times, and the #2 Best Jewish Deli in America by Foursquare throughout the years.

Sandwiches

Fresh-Baked Goods

• Pastrami/Corned Beef/Beef Briskets

• Rye Bread

• Pastrami/Corned Beef with Russian

• Assorted Bagels

Dressing • Angus Prime Rib

• Rugelach

• The Rachel

• New York Style Cheesecake

• Cookies

• Kevin’s Choice (AKA”Brooklyn Avenue”) CANTER’S LAS VEGAS THE LINQ PROMENADE 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Suite L18 (under the High Roller) 702.754.4400 Sun. - Thurs. 11AM - 10PM Fri. - Sat. 11AM - 11PM (Hours may be subject to change.)

November 2017 “Comfort food in the familiar with beloved deli... like you’re on Fairfax”

CANTER’S LAS VEGAS TIVOLI VILLAGE 330 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 160 (near Restoration Hardware) 702.444.0407 Sun. - Thurs. 7AM - 9PM Fri. - Sat. 7AM - 10PM (Hours may be subject to change.)

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Desire

Gift It Inspired by British countryside pursuits, the small Amberley satchel was designed to be worn on the shoulder or hands-free across the body, with its shape and hardware borrowed from equestrian styling. The rider's lock closure is also a reinterpretation of the iconic postman’s lock - a bold and modern signature for this new collection. $1,350. Mulberry, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-382-0496.

Save the Duck is a smart and ethical company that captures new trends and transforms them into cutting-edge collections but in a cruelty-free fashion. The “Giga” puffer is a quilted jacket with hood, continuous zip, and pockets with invisible zip. So versatile and practical it can be used under a classic coat to increase its warmth during the coldest days or as is. Plus, it’s compact and can be easily carried using its bag. $178. Savetheduck.com.

The only fragrance house to rely on an ancient infusion technique to capture the raw and rare materials of each perfume, Creed has created a legacy of unique scents, both commissioned and worn by history's most famous names, including Queen Victoria, Sir Winston Churchill, and President John F. Kennedy. The White Amber is a fruity-floral scent, featuring a bouquet of fruit, jasmine, and benzoin combined with deep amber and Indian sandalwood. $545-985. House of Creed, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-366-0574

Keep your pooch toasty and trendy this winter with ‘mondog’ jacket, made by lu ury sportswear brand oncler in collaboration with pet outfitters Poldo dog couture. The jackets drew from Moncler’s puffer coats for women and men but scaled down to suit standard dog si es, fitting both puppies and larger pooches. $370-450 depending on style and size. Moncler, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-323-7129.

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“Gabe” is a dragonfly brooch adorned with emerald green crystals that instantly enhances any sharp, white blouse with radiance and elegance. The dragonfly represents Anne Fontaine’s commitment to her environmental initiative. $265. Anne Fontaine, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-733-6205.

Minimal and intuitive, the sleek silver, TL2 Mirrorless Digital Camera from Leica is a photographic tool for photographers looking for a compact, yet capable imaging system with the latest technology. High-end features include 20 fps shooting with an electronic shutter, UHD 4K video at 30 fps, and Full HD 1080p video at 60 fps. Along with the electronic shutter, which can provide speeds of up to 1/40000 second as well, the contrast-detect AF system is enhanced with 49 points and vastly improved speed over the original TL. $1,950 bhphotovideo.com

Gentleman, embrace the versatility of this classic “Zachary” pea coat by Ted Baker. Perfect for wearing to work or for those more casual days, Ted’s modern fit and sharp cut puts a refined new spin on the iconic shape. This design is ideal for layering over a suit or new-season knitwear. It is shown here in blue. $575. Ted Baker, Fashion Show Las Vegas, 3200 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-835-5450.

Coming from an exclusive, capsule collection of limited-edition pieces featuring more than two dozen cutting-edge labels from around the world, is Ambush's polished 18k yellow-gold-plated metal choker, sculpted into the shape of on-ear headphones. This necklace is designed to sit with its "ear cushions" facing forward, it includes black leather cords tipped with decorative audio jacks. $925. Barneys.com.

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Discover Holiday Lights @ the L. V. Motor Speedway Jingle that sleigh to Las Vegas Motor Speedway – only 10 minutes from Downtown Las Vegas– for their holiday drive-through spectacular, Glittering Lights. The dazzling array of festive lights and sounds feature more than 3 million LED lights along a 2.5 mile course through the speedway. Sunday through Thursday 5 – 9 p.m. and FridaySaturday and holidays 5 – 10 p.m. Tickets are Monday through Thursday $20 per vehicle and Friday-Sunday, holidays and December 18-25 $30 per vehicle. Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 Las Vegas Blvd. N. Las Vegas, NV 89115. 702-222-9777. http://glitteringlightslasvegas.com

The Art of Samurai Armor Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art’s current exhibit walks guests through centuries of Japanese history at Samurai Armor from the Ann and Gabriel BarbierMueller Collection. Featuring dozens of objects used both for combat and ceremonial purposes, these pieces convey the complete story of the samurai, a part of the Japanese elite who not only fought in battle, but also practiced poetry and calligraphy. Shown here; an Edo period, 18th century dö (chest armor) dragon detail. Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art , 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas. 702-6937871. https bellagio.com en entertainment gallery-of-fine-art.html

Hello from Japan You’ll be saying “kawaii” (“cute” in Japanese) when you have a look at Hello from Japan!, the newest exhibit at the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum. The 1,500 sq. ft. interactive exhibition presents a bustling modern Tokyo street that bridges to a tranquil Shinto shrine, contrasting a modern aesthetic with traditional motifs and customs. Kids of all ages can sing karaoke, draw mascots, and learn about ancient cultures! DISCOVER Children’s Museum, 36 Promenade Place, Las Vegas. 702-382-3445. https://www.discoverykidslv.org

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Mingle 7th Annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces FIDF Las Vegas Gala Venue 1

The Venetian, Las Vegas

Date

Wednesday, November 1

Event

More than 450 Las Vegans and outof-town guests gathered to celebrate programs for the young men and women of the IDF. The evening, which raised more than $1 million – with help from a matching gift by Sheldon and Dr. Miriam Adelson – was chaired by Dana and Michael Werner. Human rights attorney, author, and award-winning filmmaker rooke oldstein presided as the evening’s master of ceremonies. David Z. hesnoff was the ala onoree, he spoke movingly of his family’s ties to the IDF, which was one of the many highlights of a warm and memorable evening.

Photos 5

1. 2.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

8 8. 9.

9 10

David Chesnoff and Diana Chesnoff. (L-R) IDF Soldier Reno Hoffman, r. arvey allack and ieutenant Colonel Matthew Levine. rooke oldstein. ike Tyson avid hesnoff. (L-R) Howard and Orly Perlman with Merav and Yohan Lowie. onathan le andra udai with their baby, Charlotte . (L-R) Ephraim Herschmann, Yoni etschmann, ike Tyson, obert Hetschmann, Ashley Herschmann and Benjamin Herschman. enry ronberg and dye oldberg. (L-R)Michael Werner, Yohan Lowie, Dana Werner, movie actor (Fouda) aakov aniel, Iris amin, Shai amin and aj. en. es. eir lifi- mir.

Photos: Courtesy FIDF www.davidlv.com | 25

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Mingle Grant a Gift Autism Foundation 8th Annual Fashion for Autism Gala Venue Aria Resort and Casino

Date

Friday, November 3

Event

Fashion forward guests enjoyed a champagne reception, lavish silent and live auctions, and a breathtaking fashion show presented by Neiman Marcus showcasing the seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest trends. The foundation honored community leaders Dr. Julie Foutz Beasley, John Guedry, and International star Pia Zadora, who performed a beautiful song that evening. The event drew a crowd of 680 guests and raised over $600,000 in support of Grant a Giftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to help children, youth, and their families develop autism resources in Nevada.

Photos 1. 2.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Models walking the runway. (L-R) Andrew, Debbie, Gary and Tara Ackerman with Lauren Hurt and Evan Ellis. (L-R) Pia Zadora with children Jordan and Kady. (L-R) Dr. Julie Beasley, Maddie Beasley and Julie Cole. Pai Zadora. (L-R) Larry Smith, Jodi Fonfa and Ardi Najmabadi. Terri Janison and Bart Patterson. Ray and Flossie Christensen.

Photos: Courtesy Grant a Gift Autism Foundation

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Live

A Focus on Living in Las Vegas People and Places Arts and Entertainment Food and Beverage Philanthropy and Religion Health and Fitness and More...

Eight Cocktails for Eight Nights | 36 www.davidlv.com | 27

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Speak

A Real Stinker It’s the Thought that Counts, Right? By Jaq Greenspon

hat’s what they always say, right after you’ve opened up a pair of socks knitted by a half blind uncle who’s doing his time at a home rather than in prison where, ideally, he’s making progress in rehabilitating himself. The thought? What does that even mean? Does it mean you thought I would like a dozen cans of cat food (and no, I don’t care that they were on sale, I still don’t have a cat!). Does it mean that when you saw a pair of novelty truck nuts or a “Billy the Singing Bass” at a yard sale your first consideration was of me I know who d appreciate this I can call it vintage and he’s such a hipster he’ll have to like it”?

No! Look, here’s the thing. There’s a protocol to gift giving, a quid pro quo we’re expected to follow. Haven’t you seen Donnie Brasco angster film with Pacino and Depp. Christmas time they give each other cards with duplicate fans of $100 bills. That’s how it works. It’s ingrained in our DNA. Back in the old days, it was a show of respect. A neighboring tribesman came to visit and you gave them something to show you appreciated the fact they made the trip it could be anything with at least a modicum of value to you or to them a tooth of a van uished predator, a shiny rock, a spice or new type of food. Didn’t matter because you were expressing your gratitude and what you were offering was in-line with the size of that feeling. If what you handed over meant nothing to either of you, then what was the point? The best case was that it would be shrugged off and set aside while the worst case meant it might be misconstrued as an insult and cause a war (or at least a major familial feud). This is also where the

“exchange” part comes in. When you give someone a gift, you have to give them the opportunity to gift you back. This is not “re-gifting” mind you. Re-gifting is when you get something which doesn’t suit you at all, but instead of throwing it away, you pass it along to someone else. In most cases, this is seen as bad form. In my own case, I re-gifted some plates but left the original card in the box. Sure, they were nice plates, but I can see why they weren’t well received. No, this is when you buy someone a round of drinks at a bar and then leave before

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they can return the favor. It leaves an obligation open as of something left undone. Ultimately, it makes for an uncomfortable situation on both sides. Of course, sometimes, you can combine both re-gifting and return gifting all in one. Consider what happened to magician Mac King, who had a good friend, Fred, a magical tutor, present he and his wife Jennifer with “a set of glasses that he’d bought at a secondhand store in Louisville. Imagine the ugliest glassware you can dream up,” King explains. “These were more ghastly than that. Some “artist” had taken a set of cheap iced

tea glasses and covered the outer surface in, I believe, mud and grass and then put them out to dry. I think they were supposed to look like small logs sawn from a tree. Not only were they awful to look at, but if they got even a tiny bit wet, they smelled like contaminated soil. So even if you were drinking sweet tea, it tasted like excrement.” King did the only thing he could do Si months later I wrapped them up and gave them back to red for his birthday. Another six months and Jen and I found them under our Christmas tree.” www.davidlv.com | 29

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Eventually, King exchanged the glasses for candlesticks, which they enjoy to this day. And enjoyment is now the name of the game. When we look at chimpanzees and realize that their behavior, giving gifts or helping in grooming, can net them a better female and we realize that the same held true for us, that in an earlier state of our own civilization, gifts could secure better reproduction possibilities…hey… wait a second. It still does. Marilyn was singing in the last century that “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” while Beyonce is telling us if we like it, we should put a ring on it. Kinda seems that gift giving itself hasn’t strayed too far from its original intent. We want to enjoy the gifts we give and we want to enjoy the gifts we receive, so as we head into the gift giving season, I wanted to take a few moments of your time to talk about some bad gifts and give you some pointers on how to avoid them. First, consider who you’re giving to and how it might be received. When I was 17, my girlfriend got me a present for Hanukkah. Unfortunately, she had gone out of town with her family so had told me to go ahead and open it without her, which I did. In front of my parents. Imagine their surprise when they saw that my 15 year old girlfriend had gotten me a baby name book.

Needless to say, there was a lot of explaining to do. Sure, it was a simple explanation, but I was incredibly excited and it never occurred to me it could be misconstrued. Second, get something they want, not something you want. Kevin Burke, star of Defending the Caveman at The D downtown remembers that “I got a Getaway Chase Game when I was 4. It was the best present ever.

UNLV

Sahara & Fort Apache

The Palazzo Resort & Casino

South Town Center & 215

The District

McCarran Airport

Rainbow & 215

Fashion Show Mall

Meadows Mall

Lake Mead & Tenaya

Planet Hollywood

Canyon Pointe (across from Costco)

The Palms Resort & Casino

Miracle Mile

Horizon Ridge & Eastern

Town Square

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

Grand Canyon & Flamingo

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My Dad and Uncle started playing with it. They broke it and never replaced it. I never got a turn.” Along those same lines, my wife remembers a time, back when she was still in her single digits, her godmother came for a birthday visit, bringing cake. Now, to a little kid, cake is almost as important as presents and she was looking forward to digging in. Imagine the hurt when that relative sat down and ate the cake with her own family and never offered to share.

Really, just not cool! Third, don’t get something just because you feel obligated. Paul Draper (http://mentalmysteries.com), a corporate entertainer and mind reader, is still shaking his head over the time a major talent agency, who represented full-time entertainers in a casino, became frustrated because other businesses in the casino were giving their entertainers Christmas gifts. “So in response, the agency/employer gave every artist a $4 gift card to coffee bean and tea leaf…with a photo of the CEO and his staff having fun in Christmas costumes from a professional photo shoot.” To add injury to insult, the artists had to come to a mandatory meeting, many on their day off, to get it. nd while we re at it unless it s specifically re uested, you should probably stay away from household appliances, cleaning supplies, or utility items. Gift cards or cash are only acceptable if you feel you don’t have any creative bones in your body (playing the accordion professionally, ualifies . Because the thing is… while the thought does count, that only works if you put some actual thought into it.

JO I N US E NJOY TH E H O L IDAYS T O G E T H E R AT D OWNT OW N S U M M E R L IN ®

D O W N T O W N

S U M M E R L I N ®

Roc k R in k

Pr e s e n t e d by Ja gua r L an d R ove r L a s Ve ga s ® Th e L aw n Now – Ja n ua r y 1 5

NEW S a n ta’s Ch a l e t

Pr e se n t ed by Pa rd e e H o m e s ® Macy’s Pr o m e n a d e Now – D e ce m b e r 2 4

H a n u k ka h C e l e b rat i o n

With Jewish Nevada (Nevada’s Je wi sh Fe d e ra t i on ) December 13, 4:30 PM — Di n i n g A r roy o

Hol id ay Pa ra d e

Men o ra h L i ght i n g, K id’s Act iv it ies, E nter t a i n m ent a n d m o re!

Par k C e n t r e D r ive D e ce m b e r 1 , 2 , 8 , 9 , 1 5 - 2 4

D OW N T OW N S U M M E R L I N. C O M

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Sense

New Year New Fear?

as e as i ials ear p for a Safe New Year’s Eve ele ra io

By Lynn Wexler

verybody loves a party! Especially America’s Party – also known as New Year’s Eve (NYE) – on the neon drenched Las Vegas Strip, lavishly indulging and splurging on world class entertainment, dining, fireworks, and unparalleled glit and revelry. Throngs of wassailers from around the globe, the country, and Las Vegas

itself city officials estimate some 3 , will crowd streets, hotels, and casinos along as egas lvd. to ring out the old and ring in the new. Many will hope and dream for a better, and safer, year ahead. any will remember amid the merrymaking the innocents mercilessly gunned down and the injured just ninety days before in the deadliest mass murder in modern U.S. history. any will consider if it could happen again.

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New year … New Fear? Not if Las Vegas city officials can help it. In the wake of the tragedy, law makers, businesses, political leaders, and police are assuring tourists – who drive the Southern Nevada economy – that Las Vegas is safe. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman believes that Las Vegas will continue

to be “one of the top destinations for New Year celebrations in the world. “Our public safety and law enforcement teams do an excellent job managing that event and I’m sure this year will be no different. Everyone is invited to join us in as egas as we kickoff 1 oodman states with confidence. Nevada First District Congresswoman Dina Titus also has faith in the spirit of the Las Vegas community to ensure a safe and secure 2018 New Year celebration. www.davidlv.com | 33

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“The world has learned who we are as a community in the aftermath of the ctober 1 tragedy, she says. e demonstrated that there are tight-knit bonds in our neighborhoods, good Samaritans on every corner, and selfless heroes who take the call of action without hesitation. as egas must never let its guard down, but it is reassuring to know that our community will rise to the occasion in the most difficult of times. ore than million tourists visit as egas each year a city e perienced at managing the masses with the least amount of conflict possible. Security is e tensive and multilayered throughout all areas, with best efforts to keep it the least visible. The as egas etro olice epartment ffice of ublic Information reports that this year s celebration will benefit from added federal government resources allocated toward safety and security on the Strip. ast year s celebration received a Special Event Assessment Rating 2 S by the epartment of omeland Security. reparedness for this year s event has already garnered a S 1 rating from the epartment. That s the result of increased federal resources going toward improved event security, says a spokesperson for the . The additional funding provides for increased law enforcement visibility along the tourist corridor together with other first responder agencies, augmented by a large plain clothes and undercover presence, the spokesperson adds. dditionally, we have our Real Time Crime Center that monitors the multitude of cameras along the Strip, enabling event surveillance and over-watch. Thousands of private security professionals have also been added to scrutini e the Strip and owntown areas. They assist

law enforcement by serving as a force multiplier. e depend on the intelligence they give us, says the spokesperson. ith intelligence, we re forewarned. e can investigate and take whatever action is needed to prevent and protect. ithout intelligence at these types of events, we wind up responding. aw enforcement will also surveil windows, rooftops, and crowds from numerous strategic vantage points poised to act on any unusual or suspicious activity. The entire four-mile length of the Strip transforms into a giant pedestrian block party on , closing to traffic between p.m. and 3 3 a.m. and stretching from ussell oad and the andalay ay to the south to Sahara lvd. and the Stratosphere to the north. espite the absence of vehicles on the Strip that night, and the threat they pose, lark ounty will have installed bollards vertical steel posts designed to prevent vehicular passage along as egas lvd. by ew ear s ve. The city will also install an additional , bollards in and around the city over the ne t year. These ubi uitous posts are designed to withstand the impact of a 1 , -pound vehicle traveling at upwards of mph. e look at trends and incidents locally as well as nationally and globally, says another public information spokesperson. e discuss what worked and what didn t and we continually evaluate and evolve our approach to implement security measures that are increasingly more effective. T , the local bus system, will give free rides for those who plan to imbibe throughout the celebration. uses will drive 3 fi ed routes

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from p.m. to a.m. olice hope that this will allow for a fun-filled night minus an overnight at the lark ounty etention enter or worse. evelers are cautioned that although it s legal for those 1 years of age and older to drink alcoholic beverages while strolling the Strip, glass and aluminum containers are prohibited. nd as of 1 , lark ounty passed an ordinance banning all large bags and suitcases from the Strip on ew ear s ve. Security and vigilance is a top priority at casinos as well. It s said that there s more surveillance at hotel and casino properties than at c arran irport, shared a casino e ecutive who wished to remain anonymous. Trained personnel constantly analy e footage from the web of cameras embedded throughout hotel and casino properties, says a retired sergeant who now heads security at a hotel on the Strip. e meet regularly with law enforcement officials to e change intelligence and address issues. nd our employees are trained to spot and report potential threats, he adds. ynn and ncore properties now scan bags, and guests pass through metal detectors retired arines, armed and in plain clothes, monitor traffic at every entrance while former avy Seals and intelligence agents run casino counterterrorism units. esorts which also own the andalay ay spokeswoman ebra eShong said in a statement that, ur security team is working tirelessly to protect the safety of our guests and facilities, and has increased its level of security to add to the level of comfort and safety of our guests and employees.

ehmet rdem, an associate professor at U s illiam . arrah ollege of ospitality, suggests that as egas offers the safest environment for tourists, with hotels that can afford the latest hightech cameras and a significant security force both in uniform and in plainclothes. s rdam says, If I was a tourist choosing a city to go to in orth merica, and I had to choose one city, my bet would still be on as egas. ew ear s ve is an e citing time to be in as egas and law enforcement officials want visitors is to have fun, but also be vigilant. ore than 3 , people will ring in the ew ear on the as egas Strip. e ask that they be the eyes and ears for law enforcement for anything that looks out of place or suspicious. If something does not look right or causes concern, please notify a police officer, or call 311 or 11, urges an official. video, recently released by the as egas onvention and isitors ssociation states, hat happened here was wrong. Unbelievable. Senseless. ut what happened here is about everyday heroes. ompassion. Strength. hat happened here is not going to stop us. So as the hand on the clock officially bids farewell to 1 and welcomes 1 as the last world famous rucci firework e plodes over each of the si casino rooftops as the final swirl of streamers floats gracefully to the ground when binding kisses for a healthy, happy, and safe new year are e changed then the festivities will adjourn indoors until the first new day of the new year emerges with the sunrise. nd the world will know that Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Party is not really over. ot now. ot ever. ear not. The artyIn egas ives n.

WINTER CAMP! Tuesday, December 26 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday, December 29 & Tuesday, January 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday January 5 Financial Assistance Available. Visit jccsn.org or call 702-794-0090 for more information and to register! www.davidlv.com | 35

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Taste

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Eight Cocktails for Eight Nights Imbibe the Hanukkah Miracle for all Eight Nights 36 | www.davidlv.com 36_40_Taste.indd 36

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7 By Jason Harris

e can admit it. Hanukkah is a great holiday celebrating a miracle, but as far as the actual festivities go, they’ve gotten a bit stale. It’s almost like the eight nights of the holiday have gone on autopilot. You know which nights the big presents are coming. You know which night you have to be on your best behavior because company is coming over. And you know which songs will be sung. Speaking of which, can we get some updated Hanukkah tracks? The oil in the menorah lasted for 8 days and, as best as we can tell, all we got are “I Have a Little Dreidle,” Peter,

8 Paul and Mary’s “Light One Candle,” and Adam Sandler’s “The Hanukkah Song” out of it. While this article cannot update your mid-December Jewish holiday playlist, we are here to help spice up the “eight crazy nights” with some help from our favorite mixologists. The assignment went like this: I contacted 8 mixologists and let them pick a number. Whatever number they picked was the Hanukkah night they were assigned. Their job was to create a cocktail based on the description of the night and a cuisine they might pair it with. So without further ado, let’s make sure the menorah isn’t the only thing “lit AF” this Hanukkah. Let’s ratchet things up with these special Hanukktails. www.davidlv.com | 37

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ONE - SeongHa Lee - formerly of Zuma and Mandarin Oriental. Now, he seemingly tours the world as a guest bartender wherever he goes. Description ight one is a party The first night of anukkah is full of revelry and fun, but often times with family only. The bigger parties take place later in the estival of ights, after you make sure your latkes game is still on point. So what you have here is a delightful night full of traditions. You argue with your parents on how your psychology degree, which they keep reminding you they paid for, fits perfectly with your new job as the social media manager at a new startup and even if it didn’t, you are working for a company that is going to change the world and that is more important right now than following the traditional medical school path. Things, of course, get better when they give you an o ne as the first night is usually the night of the biggest gift . lovely plate of potato latkes, including regular and sweet potato, with homemade applesauce and sour cream sate the entire family. Everyone is in the holiday spirit. Lee anukkah, to me, is like other holidays in that it s about spending time with family and having some traditional foods with dessert. To me, anukkah s key words were amily and anukkiyah, so I wanted to make a non-alcoholic sharing hot drink for each family s own way of celebrating. The drink is a great pairing with traditional foods like latkes and sufganiyah. et s celebrate and start singing a o T ur ock of age for our anukkah with family.

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The Song of the Shammash • Cognac - 1L • aramel Sauce - o • oney - 1 o • pple ider - 1 o • emon uice - o • Almond Powder - 200g • innamon Sticks - 1 sticks • osemary - g • Apricot - 50g • Dates - 30g • Clove - 5 cloves • inger - 3 g Take off the skin and slice • Thyme - 3g • Vanilla Bean - 1 bean • Cinnamon powder Preparation oil 1 of ognac first. hen it starts boiling, put in all other ingredients, besides rosemary and thyme. Keep boiling all ingredients around mins then put the rosemary and thyme in. fter min take out rosemary and thyme from the drink. Then fine strain all ingredients. eep it warm for serving. Garnish with cinnamon powder on top.

Challenge. Reimagine. Roseman. Learn more at roseman.edu COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE COLLEGE OF NURSING

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TWO - Jamie Cooper - MGM Grand Description ou and the family are still in a happy mood, enjoying the glow of anukkah. It s a cool holiday, isn t it ou get gifts eight nights in a row. You get to celebrate a miracle of your ancestors. And you get another nice dinner. It s brisket night at the house, a rarity that proves just how special the holiday is. Plus, your new Xbox One now has some new games you can play. Your gifts for the night are the very popular Call of Duty: WWII and Cupheads games. Cooper Since video games harken us back to our youth, a chocolate, dairy-like beverage should mesh well with those thoughts. The punch of

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the bourbon will mesh with the nature of the militaristic video game being played, along with the adrenaline rush of Cupheads. Bourbon Horchata Punch • 1.5 oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon • .5 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liquor • Dash of nutmeg • 3 o . innamon orchata alifia arms makes a kosher one Preparation: Combine all ingredients with ice into a mixing tin. Shake vigorously. Pour over fresh ice into a mason jar. Garnish with nutmeg and fresh chocolate shavings. THREE - Jessica Lee Westergom - The Black Sheep and The Sand Dollar Description: It’s Hanukkah... still. You’re in the groove now. You know what time you’re required to be in the living room to light the shamash. Your family is perfectly in pitch when singing “Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah.” And you’re still enjoying leftover latkes for late night snakes. But the momentum has slowed down. Instead of getting a gift you are really excited about, tonight you get a book. Sure, it’s Ready Player One, thereby proving that your parents understand your love of video games crosses mediums, but still. Your mom made a nice noodle kugel for dinner. Westergom: I wanted to create something with low ABV (alcohol by volume for the transition night of this cocktail. It is something people can sip and enjoy and take their time on. I also wanted to use stronger flavor profiles that will cut through the buttery richness of kugel. Silent Night • • • • •

.75 aquavit .75 lillet 3 dashes orange bitters Absinthe rinse in glass 3 star anise to garnish

Preparation: Combine in mixing glass and stir. Absinthe rinse the serving glass before pouring cocktail in. Use anise to garnish. FOUR - Juyoung Kang - The Dorsey Description: You are sick of talking to your family. They don’t understand the value of what being a social media coordinator for a startup is really all about. You show them a tweet you sent out that got seven retweets. They don’t even care! You turn on the TV. The Celtics and the Rockets are playing. You decide not to talk to anyone else in your house on this night and basically eat chips and dip for dinner. Happy Hanukkah! Kang: I think if I wanted a chill and lazy day, I would want an awesome fun drink. achos or pi a are junk food. So keep it going and wash it down with nothing but a childhood favorite from across the nation, a root beer float... adult version. Sassafras Float • 1.5oz Dark rum • 5oz Root beer or Cola • 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream • Grated nutmeg and cinnamon

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Preparation: Pour rum into glass. Pour root beer. Pour one scoop of vanilla ice cream. Grate nutmeg and cinnamon on top. www.davidlv.com | 39

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FIVE - Eric Gladstone - One7 Communications - Food public relations Description: Look. You love Hanukkah and all. But you need a break. Your family reminds you that your life is so hard compared to the Maccabees, who had the simple task of retaking the temple from the Greeks, the greatest army in the world. You tell them you’ll treat them to Chinese food. That shuts them up good and quick. All Jews love Chinese takeout no matter the holiday. Gladstone: One can only eat so many latkes - even my latkes. So take a night off and switch up to a liquid latke. Trust me, this sweet savory cocktail has wowed many a serious dreidel spinning session and will have you shouting “dayenu” till the candles are all burned down. Latketini • 2 ounces (a large handful) of salty potato chips (Pringles or Munchos might be perfect for this) • 1 teaspoon reek finishing salt or similar • Good extra-virgin olive oil • 2 ounces Stolichnaya Gala Applik vodka • 2 ounces half-and-half • 1 rounded tablespoon of unflavored applesauce • Juice of half a Meyer lemon Preparation ulveri e potato chips and salt to create rim for finish. hill martini glasses. In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, half-and-half, applesauce, and lemon. Shake forcefully. Rub the rim of the martini glass with a smidge of olive oil. Dip the glass into the salty potato chip dust and turn to get an even rim. Reshake the liquid and pour. SIX - Sarah Gage - Sparrow + Wolf Description: HANUKKAH! The momentum is back. This is the big night. Your neighbors are coming over. Your cousins are coming over. Your mom even invites your old boyfriend / girlfriend who she ran into at the supermarket because she likes your ex so much better than the person you are currently seeing (maybe even more than you). This is the party your parents have been planning for a month. The little kids play dreidle and steal each other’s gelt. The adults quietly tell each other, “These latkes are good, but you should try my recipe.” You even get along with your cousins as you destroy bad guys in Call of Duty together. If there is one perfect night of Hanukkah, this is it. Gage: There is something about winter that has always screamed sangria for me, this is no exception. When I would spend time with my family over the holidays, the final days together were the trickiest because tensions were high and family members were getting antsy to go back to their homes. The flavors in this Winter Sangria are those that will spark fond memories and give family a little something sweet to enjoy by the fire. Kosher Winter Sangria served in a punch bowl • 1 (750ml) bottle of Manischewitz Concord Grape Kosher Wine • 2oz Calvados Apple Brandy • 5 clove studded orange wheels (to infuse in mixture, cut extras before serving for garnish) • 2 cinnamon sticks • 1/2 oz vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise • 1 apple, sliced - stem & seeds removed • 1 pear, sliced - stem & seeds removed • 1 (16.9oz) bottle of Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic Water

Preparation: Combine all ingredients (excluding tonic) in a container. Refrigerate 4 hours minimum or overnight. Garnish with a clove studded orange wheel topped with fresh grated nutmeg and tonic. SEVEN - Todd Smith - Oak & Ivy Description: Hanukkah fatigue has set in. But it’s not Hanukkah’s fault. If you celebrate anything for a long time, it gets to be mundane. Why do you think honeymoons usually only last a week? You make yourself eggs and toast for dinner. Your parents give you a snow shovel as a gift. You remind them it doesn’t snow out here. They tell you they want you to have a backup plan in case the startup fails. Smith: I’m burnt out and I like the idea of French toast for dinner. Liquid French Toast • 2 oz. Makers Mark wheated bourbon • .5 oz Zabov egg yolk liquor • 3/4 Egg whites • .25 oz Maple syrup • 2 dashes Black walnut bitters • Topped with hand spun vanilla bean and nutmeg soft whip cream. Cold brew coffee reduction syrup. Garnished with a French toast rollitini. Preparation: With the bourbon, liquor, egg whites, maple syrup and bitters, wet shake. Then dry shake. Double strain into coupe. For the topping: Cold brew coffee with brown sugar, reduce by half. Heavy cream, nutmeg, vanilla bean. Whisk hard until at the pourable cream stage (super soft peaks) Pour drink in coupe, top with cream mixture, coffee syrup. Dust with cinnamon Make French Toast. Cut into circle with glass. Flatten, roll, pick, chill. Garnish EIGHT: Kinson Lau - Station Casinos Description: Really? Socks? This is one tradition we can do away with. You tell your parents you can buy your own socks. There are leftovers in the fridge. Your mother says everyone can fend for themselves. Your family decides to eat quickly and go see a movie. Because you all appreciate spending time with one another but you appreciate that time even more if you don’t have to talk to each other. Happy Hanukkah. Lau: I wanted to do something light, since it’s been such a tiring week, but still with the flavors and body of a cocktail with substance. It has lower abv alcohol by volume to fit the mood of mellowing out at the end of the week-long celebration. Smooth Operator • o lessio hinato • 0.75oz Carpano Blanco • 0.25oz Benedictine • 10 drops of Seven Stills cocktail bitters • . o ew ealand Sauvignon lanc Glassware ld ashioned Garnish: Orange Peel Zest Ice: Big Cube if you have it. Or regular cubed ice will do Preparation: Place all ingredients into mixing glass except for Sauvignon Blanc. Add ice and stir for 10 seconds. Strain into glass over ice. Top with Sauvignon lanc, garnish with orange est and place peel over the ice.

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Think

Essays and In-Depth Articles on Topics that Will Have People Talking all Month Long.

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Vegan Giving is Uber Cool The Variety of “Guilt-Free” Holiday Gifts Now Available Online and in the Stores is Most Impressive.

By Diana Edelman

ruelty-free vegan products are on track to be huge in 2018. Thanks to high-end fashion houses like Gucci swearing off fur and the rise of cosmetic products not being tested on animals or using animal byproducts, you can really feel good about your holiday purchases! If you’re shopping for someone who embraces a cruelty-free and vegan life — meaning they don’t purchase or consume anything that is manufactured or developed using animals (including testing) — we’ve put together a guide to help showcase some of the top gifts this holiday season. And if the “someone” you’re shopping for is you and you need to drop some major hints on what you’d like wrapped up, you’re covered, too. New to the cruelty-free vegan world? It’s not as intimidating as you may think! And we’re going to make it even easier. Cosmetics, skincare and haircare products shouldn’t have ingredients like honey, beeswax, lanolin, collagen, cholesterol, or gelatin in them, nor should they be tested on animals. Clothing shouldn’t include leather, suede, or silk. Food should be free from any animal by-products like milk, eggs, gelatin, and butter. From vegan shoes to luxurious bath products … here are some of our favorite gifts to give this holiday season!

Kim Convertible Backpack by Pixie Mood It s not always easy to find uality bags that aren t made with leather. Fortunately, there is the Kim Convertible Backpack by Pixie Mood, which proves uality, looks, and cruelty-free construction go together beautifully. Available in four hip colors, this vegan carryall has an adjustable strap so it can easily go from backpack to crossbody bag with no fuss. $87 www.davidlv.com | 43

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MooShoes Keep those feet stylish without causing harm to animals! With two brick-and-mortar stores (sorry, only in LA and New York for now) and a terrific online shop, ooShoes has created a brand focused entirely on being cruelty-free, from kicks to bags to wallets and more. For the women, these boots are perfect for the winter. Wear them and know your fashion is compassion. $179.95

The Better Skin Co. Give someone the gift of gorgeous, glowing skin. This colorful gift set — The ultitasker by The etter Skin o. comes with three skin essentials the brand s signature irakle ream to help soften, balance and brighten the skin, it o ore for stopping blemishes in their tracks and the threein-one ava agik, a cleanser scrub mask.

The Travertine Spa Collection Turn your shower into a spa-ahhh. Add a little luxury this holiday season with some eucalyptus shower spray from the Travertine Spa ollection. ade of 1 percent pure eucalyptus oil, breathe deep and treat yourself to the healing properties of the plant, which helps fight colds and congestion. The smaller 4 oz. size makes it the perfect gift for travelers, too. $26

Primus Light by VIVOBAREFOOT nother line of vegan shoes, I T, has created rimus Light active shoes. These shoes are incredibly light and strive to recreate the barefoot experience, unlike other shoes, which counteract the foot’s natural movement. Shaped just like your feet, the shoes don t have heel or arch support. ith a barely-there sole, rimus ight provides ma imum sensory feedback. Starting at 1

Recover Brand ecover rand makes recycling even cooler with eco-friendly, 1 percent recycled t-shirts and hoodies made from plastic bottles. They are also gifts that give back — every Horizon Hoody order nets one percent of the revenue donated to 1 for the lanet.

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Urban Leaf Want to grow a garden but don’t have a lot of space? The team over at Urban Leaf have created a foolproof way to grow herbs (without needing any gardening skills) in your own teeny tiny garden — The World’s Smallest Garden, the eco-friendly, beginner hydroponic unit. It’s a simple concept: upcycle one of your glass bottles (wine bottles are perfect!) and then insert the unit into your bottle and sit back and watch the herbs grow. Kit with seeds: $22; Kit without seeds: $20

Bite Toothpaste Bits Good for you and good for the environment, the debut product from The Kind Lab, Bite Toothpaste Bits, comes in the form of “bits” to clean your teeth and gums. Grab a Bit and bite down, wet your toothbrush and brush your teeth like normal while the Bit foams up and works its magic. Bite Toothpaste Bits are handmade using plant-derivatives and organic ingredients infused with essential oils, packaged in sustainable packaging and available in three flavors. $12

The Matzo Project Matzo ball soup can be made vegan, thanks to the kitschy Matzo Project. The Whole Megillah Matzo Box is perfect for any matzo-lover in your life and comes packed with an assortment of flavors and styles, including a box of Salted and a box of Everything Matzo Flats, large and small boxes of matzo chips in Salted, Everything and Cinnamon Sugar flavors, plus a Matzo Ball Soup Kit and Matzo Ball Mix. You can’t get more matzo than that and it’s quite possibly the tastiest, least boring matzo you will ever eat. $50

Personalized Candles by The Stationery Studio Give a more personalized gift with a hand-poured candle from The Stationery Studio. Encased in gem-colored glass, these candles feature 100 percent natural and biodegradable soy wax that is phthalate-free and dye-free, with an unbleached, all-cotton, lead-free wick. Unscented, these give off barely any smoke or soot, burn for more than 50 hours, and can be etched with names and emblems. $36

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Think

Plan Your Winter Getaway Why Playa del Carmen is the Perfect Holiday Gift for Adults By Rob Kachelriess

rriving at the airport in Cancun feels a little like arriving at the airport in Las Vegas. You’re immediately greeted with billboards for Cirque du Soleil, a Guy Fieri restaurant and more than a few nightclubs. The complimentary liquor shots inside the duty free shop hint at the wild nights of drinking to come, as does the Margaritaville stand serving cold beer outside by the shuttle buses. Even the Backstreet Boys are taking a break from their Strip residency to come in for a pair of shows on New Year’s Eve weekend. You almost need a good reminder that you’re not in Las Vegas anymore. And the ads touting Coors Light as an exotic import don’t count, even if I agree that it might be “the most refreshing American beer.” So the question must be asked: Is it worth leaving Las Vegas to essentially exchange one party scene for another? The answer can be found with a 45-minute drive south of Cancun to Playa del Carmen. The rapidly developing beach town serves as the heart of the Riviera Maya resort district, offering a more refined vacation alternative in e ico that mixes luxury, nature, and history in one complete solution for the winter doldrums. When it comes to accomodations, it’s important to choose wisely. Turn your attention to Playacar, an upscale resort and condo community with guard-gated security and easy access to the beach. The hotels here tend to be all-inclusive, which means that most of the food, drinks, and activities

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Fundadores Park , Playa del Carmen

Freemont Street www.davidlv.com | 47

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Above: Marine life at Playa del Carmen, Right: Pool on the beach at the Royal Hideaway Resort in Playacar.

are covered in the flat hotel rate. The general feeling here: Don’t think too hard and don’t worry too much. All the work is done for you. Among the very best Playacar resorts is Royal Hideaway, which features recently remodeled, colonial-inspired villas and is strictly adultsonly. So no screaming babies or kids splashing around in the pool. Long walkways twist and turn around vibrant green grass, towering palm trees, elegant water fountains, and a host of amenities, including everything from a complete fitness center to a dapper trio of tennis courts. The scenery is shared with the iguanas and agouti that roam the property. (And if you’re not familiar with agouti, just think of them as photogenic squirrels with colorful coats.) Convenience is key, starting with six swimming pools to choose from, including a few hidden around corners for a little extra privacy. Ask about the secluded pool-side massages when visiting the spa. Supper clubstyle entertainment can be found at Club Royal, ranging from traditional Mexican and jazz to contemporary burlesque and pop hits. Relax with afternoon tea tastings or tequila and mezcal samplings. On-property restaurants range from the Mexican and Caribbean cuisine of Spices to the Italian fare of Palazzo and the Far East flavors of Azia. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the Chef’s Table at Las Ventanas, where a multicourse meal of inventive gastronomy comes with a direct view of the kitchen in action. Of course, the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea are the biggest draw for vacationers, contrasting vividly with the caramel latte colors of the sandy beachfront. Learn to parasail and view the beauty of the environment from the sky or take a lesson on how to cut through the waves and navigate a catamaran. You may even see a sea turtle pop its head up from the water. Look over the horizon and watch cruise ships dock at Cozumel, a tourist enclave famous for having some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. Cleanliness counts in Playacar. A single empty soda bottle was the only piece of trash seen during a 30-minute walk along the beach into downtown Playa del Carmen. Continue to explore the tourist hub and you’ll

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Above: A relaxing massage at sunset on the beach, Right: While staying at Playa del Carmen, visit the ruins of the walled city of Tulum.

be immediately drawn to Fifth Avenue, a 20-block stretch of shops, bars, and restaurants. Familiar outlets like Nike and H&M are found alongside small markets and souvenir stands selling everything a tourist could want, from t-shirts and cigars to lucha libre wrestling masks. Portal Maya in Fundadores Park, is a towering statue of two mermaids that form an archway to the beach near a bustling pier offering ferry rides to Cozumel. No worries if you didn’t bother with the currency exchange at the airport. American cash is eagerly accepted throughout the tourist areas. The natural beauty and attractions of Playa del Carmen are enhanced even further by its history, which dates back to the Mayan civilizations of more than 2,000 years ago. Excursions to pyramids and other ancient ruins are available throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, with famous sites in Chichen Itza and Coba taking about two hours to reach. If distance is a factor, your best bet is the walled city of Tulum. It’s only a 40-minute drive down the coast and a prime photo spot, with an elevated castle overlooking the sea. If you’re short on time and prefer a taste of Mayan culture closer to the hotel, ask around. You may be surprised to come across a handful of small scattered ruins within Playacar itself. A visit to the Jungle Maya Native Park is a welcome opportunity to explore what could be the longest network of underground rivers in the world. Snorkel through caves and learn to repel down a natural rock formation that opens wide to the pristine waters below. You can even make a splash landing with one of five ip-lines at the park. long the way, you’ll experience various elements that reflect the culture of the land, including a smoke-filled blessing from a native shaman and a meal of authentic Mayan cuisine. The timing couldn’t be better for a well-deserved vacation getaway to Playa del Carmen. The threat of hurricanes is over for the season and the weather is sunny with comfortably warm temperatures expected for months on end. It’s the perfect way to escape the winter chill of the Las Vegas desert, so book a flight and get ready for that shot of liquor waiting for you at the airport.

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Big Bang Theory How Las Vegas’ New Year’s Eve Fireworks Displa Comes Together

By Brian Sodoma

hil Grucci knows when he got hooked. It was at Coney Island, nearly 50 years ago, he scampered the boardwalk all day on the ourth of uly. e wasn t part of the fireworks crew his grandfather had assembled, but in his mind, he feels like he was. Even in the times before baby seat mandates and tamper-resistant seals, the five-year-old was probably pushing a few legal boundaries hanging out near powerful mortar shells, but no matter. These were those formative years, the making of a fireworks mastermind. He remembers the set-up. Gritty men carrying boxes with shells, wiring them together. After the set-up, a bit of a lull, a sunset, crowds gathering, then finally the show. or about 1 minutes, the family fireworks enterprise based in Long Island has everyone’s rapt attention; then perhaps the most powerful image of all comes when the show is over. “I’d see my grandfather afterwards, people coming up to him, the respect, the control he had; it’s addictive,” Grucci, now 54, recalled. “You have the control of the audience and know you can predict when you’ll get a reaction. It’s exciting to have that.” Today, he is the man and mind behind Fireworks By Grucci, an enterprise started by his great grandfather, ngelo, in ari, Italy in the 1 s. Today, it oversees Las Vegas’ America’s Party ew ear s ve fireworks show. is team has done so since the first run in . In addition to as egas, he ll have 13 other shows to tend to this ew ear s ve America’s Party, though, is his largest, with a crew of about manning it. www.davidlv.com | 53

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Choreographing the Las Vegas event Grucci is most at home in his Long Island studio where he choreographs the majority of the company s fireworks displays, which can range from massive efforts like as egas or the Times S uare ew ear s event, but run as small as a wedding celebration or bar mit vah. Today, technology helps rucci immensely in his work, but he admits that only 1 years ago it was a lot of pencil sketching and storyboarding, a practice that has not escaped him entirely. ow with computers you can animate and render but you can never substitute the inherent ability to mi the music elements. It s a great tool, but you don t rely on it completely. ou don t want to be someone who cuts and pastes, rucci says. This technology allows him to preview vantage points for the as egas show. The show involves si rooftops Stratosphere, ria, io, enetian, aesars alace, and lanet ollywood. s you can imagine, the show looks different from each of these sites and anywhere in between and the fact that Grucci can drop himself into the shoes of a tourist at the corner of armon venue and as egas oulevard, if he d like, is a fine choreographic lu ury. horeography re uires two major elements understanding the event s purpose and the stage with which he has to work. as egas si resort rooftops are far from ideal stages. ortar shells are limited to 3-inch diameters. That forces rucci to tackle the show with volume some

1 , pieces will be involved in this year s show - and using uni ue angles to make bursts appear larger. This year s fireworks celebration will last seven-and-a-half minutes and the choreography takes him between 1 and 1 hours to fully work through. ooftops certainly bring a limitation to the show, rucci adds. It s different if you re launching these things out at the Sam oyd Stadium or at the as egas otor Speedway.

Checks and balances ireworks by rucci has its own production factory in irginia and a research and development facility in upstate ew ork. rucci s control over the manufacturing of the e plosives makes his company attractive for large displays like the one in as egas. couple months before the show, lark ounty ire epartment teams review rucci s list of e plosives and discharge several of each at the as egas otor Speedway. ire inspectors evaluate safety and weigh potential problems for a rooftop situation, says irard age, fire marshal with the lark ounty, evada, epartment of uilding ire revention. I d say we ve tested about a hundred different e plosives over the years we ve only thrown out about two, age says. The planning for each year s show starts in ebruary. etween then and ovember, it s a series of filings between rucci and fire officials where rucci informs the team of possible e plosives to be used for the following year. In the meantime, inspections of potential rooftops are underway.

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Before a site can even be considered, engineers must inspect the roof for exposed flammables, structural integrity, and an analysis of maintenance records, Page explained. Certain roofs are not suitable to handle the physical toll. ou can t just do this on any rooftop, adds dward aminski, a fire protection engineer with Clark County. “The roofs really shake. … We’ve even found parking garages not suitable. … People think with them being able to hold cars that they’re OK. [These explosives] really rock the structure.”

The push of a button The six-rooftop display in Las Vegas is coordinated between crews and computers on each rooftop, but ultimately the entire display is triggered by one single computer. However, controllers on each rooftop can override a single mortar shell or even an entire one of fireworks if they sense a problem. n the night of the show, two or three fire inspectors are on each roof, with radio communications between them, and their word is the final call, Page says. ne manual element of fireworks displays hasn t changed, however, from those Coney Island days, Grucci says. “From a production perspective, the back of a semi opens up, and no computer is going to carry that stuff up there,” Grucci says. Michael Tochstein, whose website Pyrotechnic Innovations serves as an education portal for future pyrotechnicians, says a large display will typically have 20,000 pounds of equipment to unload and new crewmembers are

often surprised by the amount of manual labor still involved in the process. “There’s a lot of swinging hammers and moving heavy equipment around, not a lot of glorious work,” he says. “The passion for pyrotechnics comes out, though, and it is pure adrenaline. That’s what keeps you coming back. ost people, once they do their first show, are hooked. The week prior to the event is critical, explains Christopher Ganier, a lark ounty fire inspector. “We have to secure the venue at each hotel,” he says. “What routes are we bringing the mortars through? There are plans to secure them and never leave them unattended. It’s full coordination between hotel security, engineering, police, and fire. There needs to be people in place, restricted access to areas. It s not just our department, but hotels and first responders.” hen a firework e plodes, there s a designated fall out one. aw re uires a 70-foot radius per mortar inch. So, the fall out zone for the Las Vegas show must be at least 210 feet. Organizers, however, have implemented a -foot radius and area sweeps are conducted by fire inspectors and organizers leading up to the show’s start time. “One year, a truck strayed into the fall out zone and we had to have him move before we could fire, aminksi says. Wind can also be a factor. Winds above 10 miles per hour may cause a cancellation, Ganier explains. Leading up to the show, a single test mortar is fired to gauge the wind s influence. Thankfully, age says, winds have been very cooperative in all the years of the show. www.davidlv.com | 55

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The Grucci team gets ready for the big night.

After the show, the crews sweep the fall out area again, and some crew members are designated to stay on the rooftops until daylight, when another sweep must be done. They’re looking, primarily, for shells that may not have had their final detonation and could still e plode. ou could find those in shrubbery. There have been times when palm trees had small fires from smoldering debris, too, anier adds. The better the product, the less fallout you have, though, aminski says, which can be seen as another nod to rucci s ability to control its own manufacturing and quality.

Becoming a pyro Since large displays often require considerable manpower, pyrotechnicians are in demand. Tochstein is an electrical engineer by trade who is also a fireworks display operator himself. e has created major displays for events like the Los Angeles Coliseum’s annual Fourth of uly show. owever, he has focused more of his work on pyrotechnic education. Living in California, his state has some of the strictest licensing requirements . Tochstein started working on crews when he was 18 and has created an online training program to help people get into the field. The first part of the program takes roughly two hours to complete and emphasizes

basic safety, the wiring of shells, rack set up, and gives a person a “Rank ero status. ith this, a person can work on a crew. ou must work as a crewmember on at least eight displays within two years to be considered for display operator licensure in California. On the path to becoming an operator, the program also has a second round of online training, which has three times the content of the initial “Rank ero platform. If you want to become a display operator in alifornia, you must also have five letters of recommendation from licensed operators, be fingerprinted and background checked, all in addition to passing a written e am. The whole process takes about two years, he says. Operators and pyrotechnicians make up a close-knit industry, he adds. There are conferences hosted by industry trade organizations and a high level of professionalism, even amidst the casual adrenaline-junkie worker camaraderie you may find at any given display. any of the crew members for the Las Vegas show have been doing it for years. It s kind of like a family reunion when these guys get together, age adds. Tochstein says sometimes people may have misperceptions about the professionalism of pyrotechnicians. I d say the biggest thing we try to e plain to people is that we are pyrotechnicians, not pyromaniacs, he says with a laugh.

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Grill

David Sylvester

A Giver of Hugs and High-Fives to a Needy World

By Jason Harris One thing you learn about the energetic Dave Sylvester as you talk to him is that your job as an interviewer is a piece of cake. Give the affable Sylvester a topic and let him roll. The 52-year-old personal trainer is based out of Philadelphia, PA but seems to spend as much time on the road these days as he does in his home. That’s the thing about a mission. No matter what it costs, no matter the stakes, if you believe in it, you don’t quit. Such is the case with Sylvester, who wrote a book about his journeys, Traveling at the Speed of Life. He has gone around the globe offering hugs and high fives to anyone and everyone who might want one. He is trying to make the world a better place through human connections, a worthy cause to be certain.

How did this all start? My story goes back 16 years, after the World Trade Center came down and my friend was killed. I wanted to do something. So I rode my bicycle across the United States from Estoria, Oregon to Philadelphia. A lot of people were inspired by my story so I wanted to do more. So then I next bicycled Africa from Cairo to Cape Town. That was an amazing experience going through Egypt, Sudan Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, India, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. And more and more people started contacting me saying how they were affected by my trip telling me what they were going to do because of what I did. So I felt a part of some cool core of humanity and I wanted to stay on that.

How did you get the word out about what you were doing? Afterwards I got the opportunity to write my story for ESPN about bicycling around the world, volunteering some places, hugging people, highfiving people and just sharing some smiles.

Has there been any tangible responses? A woman sent me a bracelet explaining that her mother would reread my article every time she went to chemotherapy. And every time, her mother would smile. She wanted to thank me for making her mother smile during that painful time and inform me that her mother had since

passed away. She sent me her mom’s bracelet. “I think my mom would want you to have this. Please keep going.” It made me realize that I was doing something significant. I wanted to explore that connection a little bit more so the next trip I did was going across the United States again on a bicycle, stopping each week and volunteering a day at different charities. I later bicycled Australia from Sydney to Melbourne, not just volunteering and biking, but I challenged myself to hug and high-five a thousand people in a month. Just me on my bicycle, hugging and high-fiving people.

Are you making a difference? There was a woman I met in Australia who was inspired by my story and she decided to drive across the US. The first day, she ended up in a traffic jam about two blocks from the San Bernardino shooting. I was really kind of embarrassed by the whole thing, even though I had nothing to do with it. So last year, I was going to bicycle from San Bernardino to Philadelphia, going through areas affected by violence. But I got sick and couldn’t bike. I didn’t want to break my promise so I decided I was going to drive across the United States – still hugging and high-fiving people.

That sounds amazing! And two days after that trip, The Pulse nightclub shooting happened. People at my job told me I needed to get down there and go hug people. I didn’t have any money – I was totally tapped out. And members at the gym where I work were like, “I’ll take care of your airfare. I’ll take care of your hotel. Just get down there and do what you do.” I stayed down in Orlando for a week, just hugging and high-fiving people. By year’s end last year, I had hugged and highfived people in 31 states without even really trying. This last summer, I drove the continental 48 states in 77 days and I hugged over 14,000 people. It was a wonderful experience and I met a ton of different people.

What’s next? Right after the Vegas shooting, my phone was blowing up and people were texting me that I need to get down to Vegas. Dave Sylvester arrived in Las Vegas on Black Friday. Many people were hugged and high-fived.

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