DAVID

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Ride of Their Lives Ashley and Mathew’s Lee Canyon Wedding in the Woods

LOVE RUNS OUT

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SMALL PLATES BIG DREAMS

THE DOCTOR IS IN

LOVE FOR TENDER

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FEBRUARY

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pulse

live

think

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explore The month’s event listings to help plan your day or your stay devour Where to find some of the best eats, drinks and foodie happenings in the Valley

42 The Doctor’s In Dr. Ruth has packed a lot into her 87 years. From Holocaust child refugee to sniper in Israel’s War of Independence to sex therapist.

58 Alene Waxler Senior Executive Partner, AWG Destination Services

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28 speak We’ve all had that nightmare date - Corey Levitan shares his with us.

22 discover Places to go, cool things to do, hip people to see in the most exciting city in the World

36 taste Sexy and kosher are not two words usually found in the same sentence. Sarit Bitton is intent on changing that.

46 Lifting the Veil Israeli wedding dress designers are reimagining bridal couture. Get a tan, formfitting and sexy skin is in.

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34 sense Take a chairlift ride with the bride and groom to their wedding in the woods.

The month’s spotlight on someone to know. 6 .10

20 desire Sin City abounds in world-class shopping ... these are a few of our favorite things

32 know The love of Bowie’s life, serenaded in the lyrics of his songs.

52 Love for Tender What is the difference between loving and liking? Social media offers a platform for courting both.

Ride of Their Lives Ashley and Mathew’s Lee Canyon Wedding in the Woods

F E B R U A R Y 2 016

on the cover

www.davidlv.com

A chairlift ride to marriage. Photo by Ashley Meyers.

LOVE RUNS OUT

SMALL PLATES BIG DREAMS

THE DOCTOR IS IN

LOVE FOR TENDER

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Copyright 2016 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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Nevada’s only Funeral Home and Cemetery combination dedicated exclusively to the Jewish Community

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Publisher/Editor

• Southern Nevada consecrated Jewish cemetery • Proudly serving all Jewish denominations

Associate Publisher

• Elegant 250 seat Allen Brewster Memorial Chapel • Knowledgeable and caring Jewish staff

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Max Friedland

max@davidlv.com editor@davidlv.com

Joanne Friedland joanne@davidlv.com

EDITORIALllllllll

• 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.

Brianna Soloski

brianna@davidlv.com

Copy Editor Pulse Editor Production Assistant

Pat Teague

Contributing Writers

Marisa Finetti

Marisa Finetti Zoë Friedland

Jaq Greenspon E.C Gladstone Jason Harris Corey Levitan Tracy Moran Nikki Stephans Lynn Wexler ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

Jay Poster Funeral Director, Manager & Founder

Art Director/ Photographer

Steven Wilson

steve@davidlv.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Advertising Director

Sheryl Chenin-Webb Family Service Director

Joanne Friedland joanne@davidlv.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Kacia-Dvorkin Pretty Family Service Director

702-254-2223 | subscribe@davidlv.com

Volume 06 Number 9 www.davidlv.com DAVID Magazine is published 12 times a year.

Copyright 2016 by JewishINK LLC. 1930 Village Center Circle, No. 3-459 Las Vegas, NV 89134 (p) 702-254-2223 (f) 702-664-2633

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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contributors

Marisa Finetti is a local writer, marketing professional and blogger. The Tokyoborn Finetti has called Las Vegas home since 2005. She has written for such publications as Spirit and Las Vegas and Nevada magazines and has a healthy-living blog at bestbewell. com. When she’s not writing, Finetti enjoys family time with her husband and two boys.

Jaq Greenspon

Jason Harris 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 screenplay, 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 journalist, screenwriter and author with credits on The New Adventures of Robin Hood and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also is a literary and movie critic, has taught and written about fi lmmaking but is most proud of his role in the fi lm, Lotto Love. A Vegas resident for most of his life, he now resides in Eastern Europe.

Corey Levitan is a regular contributor to Men’s Health magazine. He wrote the most popular newspaper humor column in Las Vegas history, “Fear and Loafing,” which ran 176 times in the ReviewJournal from 2006-2011. At home, however, he is referred to as “Mr. Poopyhead” by his four-year-old daughter, and something much less printable by his wife. Follow his latest adventures here and at coreylevitan.com.

Tracy Moran is a senior editor at Ozy.com She has worked as a writer and editor for USATODAY.com, Deutsche Welle, the Cambridge Evening News and various other publications around Europe. She has a couple of degrees in international affairs and can speak what she calls French and a bit of German. You can take the girl out of Michigan, but she’ll never quite kick all that sand out of her shoes. An expat living in England with her husband and children, she loves jazz, Arts & Crafts antiques, beagles, travelling and the theater. She believes nothing beats the sound of her children’s laughter or Philip Roth’s prose.

Lynn Wexler has been a feature writer and contributor for magazines and newspapers, locally and nationally, for over 20 years. She writes a monthly online column entitled Manners in the News, which comments on the behavior of politicians, celebrities and others thrust in the public arena. She is the Founder and President of Perfectly Poised, a school of manners that teaches social, personal and business etiquette to young people. She is a former TV Reporter and News Anchor. Of her many accomplishments, she is most proud of her three outstanding teenaged children.

8 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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Join us for the 21st Annual

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from the publisher At the planning meeting for this month’s issue, faces were long. The consensus was that after five previous February covers devoted to all things “love,” we’d exhausted the subject. Then my advertising director/wife chastened all present: DAVID’s editorial calendar is cast in stone for 2016. You must soldier on. Now, I’m risking the ire of my production team and our patient printers with this lastsecond delivery of my monthly musings. I am, you see, one of those misguided souls who gets lost in the production cycle drama. I confess: “I am a tweak addict.” If any of my publishing world brethren read this (and I’d be most surprised if they do), please find the charity to help a comrade. As I frantically type, my mind races with notions of redoing the layouts of various sections. Only half an hour ago, while composing my first, long-tardy paragraph, I decided that Steve Wilson and I should redo the mountain wedding piece layout. Even now, with my partners in crime waiting anxiously for this execrable exercise to end, I have a feeling that Jaq Greenspon’s story is about to get a makeover, too. Who hasn’t had that date from hell and survived to tell the tale? Corey Levitan does just that in Love Runs Out (pages 28–31). Without going into the gory details, my bride of 34 years and I were fixed up on three blind dates (with each other.) In an age long before OK Cupid, this was how it was done. The fact that we were the only single people on Earth at the time (it felt that way) resulted in too many “Oh, not you again” moments. And each date was worse than the previous one, leaving us to conclude: Things can only get better. In DAVID’s six-year odyssey to find a kosher restaurant worthy of review, there were many awkward moments. Allowing another Las Vegas publication (and a writer who got his start with us) to beat us to it only added to the frustration. In his piece, the writer chronicles this well. But not only have we found our recompense, we got it through a new voice: Jason Harris. In Small Plates, Big Dreams (pages 36-40), he talks, tastes and tells. Subjects Sarit and Erez Bitton have to be admired and appreciated for creating Anise Tapas & Grill for our fair city. Opening a restaurant in the world’s food & beverage capital is not that remarkable. But debuting one that marries fine dining and kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) is extraordinary. Mazel tov! This month DAVID offers content from Ozy.com. The website’s article about a new generation of avant-garde Israeli wedding dress designers screamed for inclusion in our publication. Ozy brings a unique perspective to the news, one we need and love. It’s my pleasure to urge you to visit the site and sign up for informative daily emails. Now super-charged with LOVE, I salute you, dear reader, and hope as always to see you in the racks.

Max Friedland max@davidlv.com

10 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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pulse explore @ 12 devour @ 19 desire @ 20 discover @ 22

AWOLNATION 2.5

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eXplore L A S

POLYMER CLAY EXPRESSIONS BY LAS VEGAS POLYMER CLAY GUILD: Through Feb. 28, times vary, free. Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive, Las Vegas. 702-5076100. lvccld.org HUES OF EMOTION BY CHRISTINE BINNS: Through March 6, times vary, free. Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-507-3630. lvccld.org

V E G A S

VINTAGE URBAN COLLECTION BY ALEXANDER P. HUERTA OF PEACENART STUDIO: Through March 8, times vary, free. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3400. lvccld.org THE PASSION OF LOVE BY ZINOVY SHERSHER: Through March 1, times vary, free. Whitney Library, 5175 E. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-507-4010. lvccld.org SINATRA'S CENTENNIAL BY LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU: Through March 15, times vary, free. Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane, Las Vegas. 702-507-6030. lvccld.org THE WORLD THROUGH MY EYES BY SHALINI SHAH: Through March 20, times vary, free. West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-507-4010. lvccld.org DISHING IT OUT 2016: Through Feb. 20, times vary, free. Brett Wesley Gallery, 1025 S. First Street, #150, Las Vegas. 702-483-8844. brettwesleygallery.com

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MARIAH CAREY: Varying dates through Feb. 21, 8 p.m., $55-$250. Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-731-7110. caesarspalace.com MAYIM, JEWISH NATIONAL FUND'S WATER CELEBRATION DINNER: 6 p.m., $180. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-434-6505 x 985. swillis@jnf.org.

3 PICASSO - CREATURES AND CREATIVITY: 2.1- 14, times vary, costs vary. Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-693-7871. bellagio.com

February 1

PICASSO - CREATURES AND CREATIVITY: Through Feb. 14, times vary, costs vary. Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-693-7871. bellagio.com THROUGH MY LENS BY DAVID R. MURPHY: Through Feb. 16, times vary, free. West

RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT - DAVE AMATO: Through Feb. 22, 8 p.m., $59-$135. Tropicana, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-7392222. troplv.com

Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-507-3940. lvccld.org CLARK COUNTY ARTISTS GUILD WINTER ARTS CELEBRATION: Through Feb. 23, times vary, free. Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, Las Vegas. 702-507-3860. lvccld.org

MAYIM, JEWISH NATIONAL FUND’S WATER SUMMIT: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Stan Fulton Ballroom UNLV, 801 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas. 702434-6505 x 985. swillis@jnf.org.

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EASY 8S: 9 p.m., $10-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8947111. treasureisland.com

12 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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Mariah Carey 2.2-22

CLINT HOLMES: Through Feb. 6, times vary, $37. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com

3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8911111. mgmgrand.com THE SYMPHONIC ROCKSHOW PRESENTS THE BEST OF BRITISH ROCK: 7:30 p.m., $29. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com

MOMENTUS PRESENTS: US WITH MIJA, CHOCOLATE PUMA, COYOTE KISSES, MIICS, DEAF FROM ABOVE, LAISSEZ FAIRE, SAM V B2B SCOTTY ROCKS AND TEVIN ELEVEN: 6:30 p.m., $30. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

THE PHILOSOPHY OF FORM AND COLOR BY EYOB MERGIA: Through April 2, times vary, free. The Studio @ Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-507-3630. lvccld.org

YESHIVA DAY SCHOOL 9TH ANNUAL GALA: 6 p.m., cost TBA. Congregation Ner Tamid, 55 North Valle Verde Drive, Henderson. 702-8388003. office@ydlv.org.

SHARED TREASURE - A RETROSPECTIVE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DANCE THE LAS VEGAS CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATER: Through Feb. 6, times vary, free. West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-507-3989. lvccld.org

LAS VEGAS STORIES - THE MISUNDERSTOOD LEGEND OF THE MOULIN ROUGE: 7 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

NICK MATTERA: Encore Feb. 19. 8 p.m., free. Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. 702-272-0000. elixirlounge.net

VEGAS MUSIC SUMMIT: Through Feb. 5, times vary, costs vary. Downtown Las Vegas. vegasmusicsummit.com

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AWOLNATION: Time TBA, $35. SLS Las Vegas, 2535 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-761-7000. slslasvegas.com

ROB STALEY BAND: Through Feb. 6, 10 p.m., $10-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. treasureisland.com JON LOVITZ: Through Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m., $25. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. southpointcasino.com AC/DC: Time TBA, $128.44. MGM Grand,

Fall in Love With Bagels! 301 N. Buffalo Drive

702-255-3444 www.thebagelcafelv.com

SINBAD: Through Feb. 6, 8 p.m., $49.95. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. orleans.com

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THE BRITISH INVASION TOUR - BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE: 7:30 p.m., $32. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. hardrockhotel.com

WhereTheLocalsEat.com

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LAMB OF GOD: 7 p.m., $35. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8622695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas WHERE I LIVE STUDENT ART EXHIBIT BY NEVADA HOUSING DIVISION: Through March 29, times vary, free. Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones, Blvd., Las Vegas. 702507-3820. lvccld.org 2016 AIPAC LAS VEGAS DINNER: 6 p.m., cost TBA. Location to be disclosed upon phone call. 702-837-8350. smann@aipac.org. NASHVILLE UNPLUGGED - KIM WILLIAMS: 8 p.m., $10. Sunset Station, 1301 W. Sunset Road, Henderson. 702-547-7777. sunsetstation.sclv.com

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HOODIE ALLEN HAPPY CAMPER TOUR: 8 p.m., $30. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

Symphonic Rockshow 2.5

PINK MARTINI FEATURING THE LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC: 7:30 p.m., $100. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com LADY REIKO WITH SPECIAL GUESTS: 8 p.m., $5-$6. Backstage Bar and Billiards, 601 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-382-2227. backstagebarandbilliards.com MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION WITH THE MUDBUGS CAJUN & ZYDECO BAND: 7 p.m., $10-$15. Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush Street, Las Vegas. 702-229-6383. artslasvegas.org

TOWER OF POWER: Through Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m., $45. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. southpointcasino.com BROADWAY IN THE HOOD PRESENTS LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL: Through Feb. 14, times vary, $34. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com DAVID ALAN GRIER AND TOMMY DAVIDSON: 9 p.m., $49.95. Treasure Island,

3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8947111. treasureisland.com RUCO CHAN AND LINDA CHUNG: 9 p.m., $73. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. hardrockhotel.com MIKE ZITO AND THE WHEEL: 8 p.m., $16-$21. Backstage Bar and Billiards, 601 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-382-2227. backstagebarandbilliards.com RAINBOW COMPANY YOUTH THEATRE PRESENTS VOICES FROM THE SAGEBRUSH: Through Feb. 14, times vary, $5. Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth Street, Las Vegas. 702-229-3515. artslasvegas.org SHARING THE LOVE WITH DANCE AND CELEBRATING OUR ANCESTORS THE ROLLE PROJECT (TRP) AND 6 O'CLOCK DANCE THEATRE (6DT): Times vary, free. West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-507-3989. lvccld.org MARTY FEICK: 8 p.m., free. Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. 702-2720000. elixirlounge.net FOR THE LOVE OF COCKTAILS GRAND GALA: 5 p.m., $150. Delano, 3940 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7888. delanolasvegas.com SIN CITY OPERA - COSI FAN TUTTE: Through Feb. 21, times vary, $15. Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod Drive, Las Vegas. 702455-7340. sincityopera.com

MIKE AUSTIN: 8 p.m., free. Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. 702-2720000. elixirlounge.net

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LVCHA WEEKEND WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP CUTTING HORSE EVENT: Through Feb. 15, times vary, free. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. southpointcasino.com UNLV JAZZ CONCERT SERIES - UNLV JAZZ ENSEMBLE: 7 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

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CHANCEY WILLIAMS AND THE YOUNGER BROTHERS BAND: Through Feb. 13, 9 & 10 p.m., $10-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. treasureisland.com

Black Sabbath 2.13

14 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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INFRARED BY SEAN RUSSELL: Through April 24, times vary, free. West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. 702507-3940. lvccld.org

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RAY ROMANO AND DAVID SPADE: Through Feb. 20, 10 p.m., $79.99. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-792-7777. mirage.com JOEY DIAZ: Through Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m., $15. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. southpointcasino.com LISA FISCHER: Through Feb. 20, timesvary, $37. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC ANNUAL GALA Featuring Patricia Kelly. 6:30 p.m., $600-$25,000. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-2585438. lvphil.com

Rascal Flatts Rhythm and Roots 2.17

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CELEBRATION OF THE LUNAR YEAR OF THE MONKEY 2016: 8:30 p.m., $50. Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE: 8:30 p.m., $20. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas ADAM SANDLER, NORM MACDONALD, AND ROB SCHNEIDER: Through Feb. 14, 8 p.m., $49.95. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. hardrockhotel.com NEVADA BALLET THEATRE – CINDERELLA: Through Feb. 14, 7:30 & 2 p.m., $29. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com BLACK SABBATH: Time TBA, $49.50. Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. mandalaybay.com CHILDREN'S HEART FOUNDATION 13TH ANNUAL WALK WITH THE HEART OF A CHILD: 7 a.m., $15-$25. Fashion Show Mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. walkwithheart.kintera.org/chfn. THE SHIRELLES: 7 p.m., $19.99-$29.99. The M Resort, 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Henderson. 702-797-1000. themresort.com KWAK BALLET ACADEMY: 7 p.m., $10-$15. Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush Street, Las Vegas. 702-229-6383. artslasvegas.org

MY MOMENTS, MY MENTORS, MY MAYA, MY RAINBOW IN THE CLOUDS: 2 p.m., free. West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-507-3989. lvccld.org SHAUN SOUTH: 8 p.m., free. Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. 702-2720000. elixirlounge.net JED MADELA: 8 p.m., $48. Sam’s Town, 5111 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas.702-456-7777. samstownlv.com

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THE TENORS: 7:30 p.m., $24. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com COMMUNITY KOLLEL SIMPLY TSFAT IN CONCERT: 7:30 p.m., Online $15, Door $18. The Theater @ West Charleston Libraryr, 6301 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas. 702-487-3133 ext. 9. events@lasvegaskollel.org

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THREE-HEADED MONSTOUR: 8 p.m., $20$25. Fremont Country Club, 601 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-382-6601. www. fremontstreetbars.com/fremont-east-bars/ fremont-country-club

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RASCAL FLATTS RHYTHM AND ROOTS: Through Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $39.95. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702693-5000. hardrockhotel.com ELEPHANT & PIGGIES “WE ARE IN A PLAY”: 6:30 p.m., $14.95. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-7492012. thesmithcenter.com

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SCOTTY ALEXANDER BAND: Through Feb. 20, 9 & 10 p.m., $10-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8947111. treasureisland.com

Craig Taubman 2.21 www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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ALICE - A STEAMPUNK CONCERT FANTASY: 10 p.m., $15-$30. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

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EASY 8S: 9 p.m., $10-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8947111. treasureisland.com WEST FROM HOME BY VALENTIN YORDANOV: Through April 19, times vary, free. Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive, Las Vegas. 702-507-3860. lvccld.org

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KALEB KING: Through Feb. 27, 10 p.m., $10$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. treasureisland.com WORCS RACING: Through Feb. 28, times vary, cost TBA. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. southpointcasino.com

The Tenors 2.20

31ST ANNUAL STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS: 6 p.m., $50. Orleans Arena, 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-2847777. orleans.com RONNIE MILSAP: 8 p.m., $20-$50. Green Valley Ranch, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson. 702-617-7777. greenvalleyranch. sclv.com DANA LEONG TRIO: 7:30 p.m., $10-$20. Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth Street, Las Vegas. 702-229-3515. artslasvegas.org

Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com THE HIT LIST BY FERNANDO REYES: Through April 17, times vary, free. Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-507-3760. lvccld.org OBA - THE POETIC STORYTELLER: 10 a.m., free. West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-507-3983. lvccld.org

PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS: Through Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $64.50. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas EARL TURNER AND FRIENDS: Through Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., $20. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. southpointcasino.com LUCY WOODARD: Through Feb. 27, 7 p.m.,

RICK FOELL: 8 p.m., free. Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. 702-2720000. elixirlounge.net THE MAN IN BLACK - A TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CASH: Through Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m., $24. Suncoast, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. suncoast.com

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ESTEBAN WITH TERESA JOY: 3 & 7 p.m., $45. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com CRAIG TAUBMAN CONCERT: 2 p.m., cost TBA. Midbar Kodesh Temple, 1940 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson. 702-454-4848. midbaradmin@midbarkodesh.org.

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THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY: Through Feb. 28, times vary, $29. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las

Boyz II Men 2.26

16 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. 702-2720000. elixirlounge.net

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PHIL LESH AND THE TERRAPIN FAMILY BAND: 1 p.m., $30. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas IRON MAIDEN: Time TBA, $61.65$103.17. Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. mandalaybay.com

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METRIC - I CAN SEE THE END TOUR: 8 p.m., $26. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/ las-vegas LEGENDARY QUEEN OF SWING - NORMA MILLER: 7 p.m., free. West Las Vegas Library Theatre, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-507-3989. artslasvegas.org

Phil Lesh and the Terraphin Family Band 2.28

$39. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com

THE COLOR RUN: 8 a.m., $34.99-$54.99. Downtown Las Vegas, 650 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. thecolorrun.com/las-vegas/

MEGADETH: 7 p.m., $54. The Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-942-7777. palms.com

TIM MENDOZA: 8 p.m., free. Elixir, 2920 N.

BOYZ II MEN: Through Feb. 28, time TBA, $39.99. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. mirage.com LIGHTS & MUSIC “DANCE YOURSELF CLEAN” SPRING 2016 TOUR: 8 p.m., $11. Backstage Bar and Billiards, 601 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-382-2227. backstagebarandbilliards.com

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.

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS

Live happily ever after this Valentine’s Day.

YVONNE SILVA: 8 p.m., free. Elixir, 2920 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson. 702-2720000. elixirlounge.net

Feb. 13 at 7:30pm & Feb. 14 at 2:00pm

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ADELSON EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE GALA: 6:30 p.m., $250. Venetian Resort|Hotel|Casino, 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas. 702-255-4500. annualgala@adelsoncampus.org THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS - LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TOUR: 12:30 a.m., $15. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/ las-vegas

BRASS ROOTS QUINTET: 2 p.m., free. Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush Street, Las Vegas. 702-229-6383. artslasvegas.org

(702) 749-2000 or visit NevadaBallet.org Groups (10+) call (702) 243-2623

Presenting Sponsor ~ Nancy & Kell Houssels Supporting Sponsor ~ Audra & Bobby Baldwin Photo by Virginia Trudeau.

NEVADA BALLET THEATRE — DAVID MAGAZINE AD — 5.25” X 4.8125” www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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THE STORY OF A PEOPLE AND A CITY The Jewish community has played an integral role in building Las Vegas. Entrepreneurs, risk-takers, pioneers, professionals, community leaders—the lives of Southern Nevada’s Jewish people reflect our region’s dynamic history. The Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project preserves and shares hundreds of historical items and stories about these contributions.

Help us enrich future generations with your story. SHARE YOUR LIFE STORY

DONATE YOUR ARCHIVE

EXPLORE THE COLLECTION

with our Oral History Research Center so future generations can hear and read your story in your own words.

of personal or organizational records. Original documents, photographs, newsletters, and more about life in Southern Nevada are of interest.

of digitized content online at http://digital.library.unlv.edu/ jewishheritage. We value your feedback on our work in progress.

Contact the project coordinator, Barbara Tabach, at 702-895-2222 or barbara.tabach@unlv.edu. Images from UNLV University Libraries’ Special Collections, from left: Edythe and Lloyd Katz and their families on their wedding day (1948). Men with Torah scrolls and shofar (undated). Irwin Molasky, Merv Adelson, Tommy McDonald, Howard Capps, and Bluebell dancers Valda Boyne and Gaby Whitaker with time capsule at Stardust Hotel Golf Course (1961). Hank Greenspun, Barbara Greenspun, Barbara Sinatra, and Frank Sinatra (undated). Mark Fine and others at a groundbreaking ceremony (undated).

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devour Anti-Valentine’s Day dinner Eat your feelings away at Carmine’s inside The Forum Shops at Caesars, as the restaurant will help you celebrate Singles Awareness Day on Valentine’s Day. A few different packages are ready for the taking by a group of single friends. Indulge in an array of options in the Girl’s Gone Garlic package featuring a full course prix fixe menu including a choice of salad, pasta, a Titanic sundae and bubbly Prosecco. There is no need for sadness on Valentine’s Day when Carmine’s is offering everlasting comfort and love. Carmine’s, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd., S. Las Vegas. 702-473-9700

Bring a date, get a shake

Apple of my eye

If Shake Shack’s creamy-licious shakes aren’t enough to get you in, maybe their sweet deal will. Valentine’s Day gets sweeter when you visit Shake Shack on February 14th. Buy a shake, and your date gets one free! Take advantage of the flavor of the week, Banana Caramel ($5.59 for two) or let the team whip up one of the many standard frozen custard flavors ($5.29 for two) including Vanilla, Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Black & White, Strawberry, Peanut Butter or Coffee Fair Shake.

Located in the heart of The Cosmopolitan, the ultra-hip and swanky cocktail CliQue Bar & Lounge is like an escape from the outside world, adorned with dark wood, comfortable couches and posh finishing touches, offering artisanal cocktails and housemade mixers. Mixology from the minds of innovative bartenders, Mike Monreal and Justin D’Angelo, take center stage as CliQue Bar & Lounge reinvents the lounge experience with tableside mixology. For the month of romance, here’s a toast to the apple of your eye. Apple of my eye Daron Fine Calvados, Pear, Unfiltered Apple Juice, Lemon, Spiced Honey Ingredients: • 1 ½ oz. Daron Fine Calvados • ½ oz. St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur • 1 oz. Unfiltered Apple Juice • ½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice • ½ oz. Spiced Honey Syrup Build: Add all ingredients into mixing tin. Add ice and shake vigorously. Then double strain with tea strainer, into martini coupe. Glass: Martini Coupe Garnish: Skewered Apple Slices

Evan Sung

Shake Shack, Downtown Summerlin, 10975 Oval Park Drive, Las Vegas, 702-964-1025

www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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desire

Coming up Rosés Champagne Varnier-Fannière “This champagne is 90% Chardonnay from grand cru village of Avize and 10% pinot noir sourced from grand cru village of Ambonnay. The wine displays a pale pink color with the nose dominated by aromas of fresh red berries, blackberries and currant. The finish is soft and elegant. — Phil Park, Sommelier, Restaurant Guy Savoy inside Caesars Palace $35 glass/ $150 bottle

Domaine Ott, Les Domaniers Côtes de Provence Rosé “The Domaine Ott Rosé is a classic rosé from Provence. This wine shows strawberry and melon on the nose. It has a nice balance of peach, pineapple and strawberry notes on the palate, with a nice clean and silky finish. This is a great everyday drinking wine or something to enjoy by the pool.” — Peter DonKonics III, Corporate Wine Director of Station Casinos. Available at T-bones Chophouse at Red Rock Resort $13 glass/$52 bottle Champagne, Bruno Paillard, Rosé Premiere Cuvee, NV “A crisp rosé, with a light chalkiness to the texture, showing flavors of ripe apple, toasted almond, yellow plum, and crystallized honey. Offers a floral, lightly smoky finish.” — Lukas Pesek, General Manager, Spago Las Vegas $23 glass/$115 bottle.

Antica Terra Angelicall Rose 2012 “With miniscule production of 224 cases and fruit sourced from their vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in Willamette Valley, Oregon, Maggie Harrison makes this incredible rosé by fermenting pinot noir grapes, then transferring the juice before it converts to a red wine to Oak barrels where it remains on the lees for up to a year. The result is amazing color and depth of fruit that you don’t see in most rosé still wines. The notes of deep dark cherry explode from the glass, followed by fragrant strawberry and spices.” — Jeff Wyatt, Owner, Marché Bacchus French Bistro & Wine Shop $68 shop/ $78 dine-in.

Chinon Rosé by Couly-Dutheil “Made from 100% cabernet franc from the Loire Valley, bright and lively on the palate with vibrant aromas of raspberries, fresh cut herbs, red florals and a hint of minerality. Delicate enough to enjoy on its own, but packs enough punch to stand up to a meat course.” — Jessica Waugh, Sommelier, Gordon Ramsay Steak. $50 bottle.

20 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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Raventos i Blanc, La Rosa Rosé 2013 “Is made from 100% Pinot Noir. Touch of blush pink in color with very graceful aromatics from the pinot noir. Fresh strawberry and young raspberry with bright jasmine and rose on the palate, moderate plus acidity with a touch of minerality highlighting the special calcerous and clay soils. One of the things I love most about the La Rosa is the mouthfeel. When it enters your mouth you taste the delicate red fruit then a structured mid-palate with a surprising lingering finish... This is not a demure rose.” — Chloe Helfand, Lead Sommelier Bazaar Meat / SLS Las Vegas Hotel. Available at Bazaar Meat at SLS Las Vegas $65/bottle.

Chateau Miraval, Miraval Rosé Côtes de Provence “Owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Chateau Miraval is located in the heart of Provence, producing a delightful and refreshing rosé wine made from cinsault, grenache, and syrah grapes. Refined and elegant, the wine offers pure and concentrated aromas of wild strawberries, rose petals, white jasmine, and an undertone of blood orange zest with an elegant mineral backbone. It has a soft blush color and crystal brightness.” — Bernard Erpicum, Sommelier Service Manager, Public House inside The Venetian. $14 glass/$59 bottle Whispering Angel Rosé Provence 2012 “On the nose you get fresh rose petals, red berry and summer fruits and on the palate you get ripe strawberries, cranberries and raspberries with a nice dry crisp delicate finish.” — Peter Varela, General Manager and Wine Director, Hearthstone & Salute. Available at Hearthstone inside Red Rock Casino Resort. $44 bottle.

Champagne Billecard-Salmon Rose Brut “Our favorite rosé wine is a Champagne – Billecart-Salmon Rose Brut, which is known to be one of the finest rosé Champagnes. It delivers aromas of berries, raspberry, orange zest, bing cherries and jasmine. The wine is yeasty and pairs well with many dishes and delicate fish, such as sea bass and halibut.” — Alexandre Brard, Wine Director, Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro inside The Palazzo. $275 bottle

Chateau d’Esclans Garrus Rosé “The 2013 shows exquisite tropical fruit with candied orange wrapped around a complex, wet stone, slate and mineral core. The layers of flavors continue to develop with hints of bright red cherry, white strawberry, hints of vanilla and and a touch of spice, all intermingling in a very compelling wine that lingers on and on. While expensive for Rosé, it is absolutely the best one available.” — Kevin M Vogt, Master Sommelier, Wine Director, Delmonico Steakhouse, Emeril’s Restaurants, Las Vegas. Available at Delmonico Steakhouse inside The Venetian. $195/bottle www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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discover The Color Run The Color Run is called the “Happiest 5k on the Planet” because runners get to take a virtual island-style getaway, complete with the sounds, colors and memories to last a lifetime. The gun goes off at 8 a.m., downtown Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb, 27. Proceeds benefiting Three Square Food Bank. Runners and walkers of all ages and athletic abilities will enjoy this kaleidoscopic run. At the finish line, Color Runners can let loose islandstyle with a massive color throw celebration, music, dancing and unforgettable photo opportunities. The Color Run registeration at thecolorrun.com.

The Showgirl Lives On As Jubilee showgirls get ready to hang up their elaborate headdresses for the last time this month, the legacy of the Las Vegas showgirl will live on, thanks to the Costume & Textile Collection at the Nevada State Museum. The collection includes iconic stage and entertainment costumes and boasts one of the most significant museum collections of cabaret costumes in the world. Now on view in the museum’s famous Showgirl Wall is the Starburst headdress from the newly acquired Folies Bergère archive. This headdress, designed by Jerry Jackson for the 1983 edition of the Folies Bergère, was seen in the “Heavenly Bodies” number in the Las Vegas cabaret show. Nevada State Museum, Springs Preserve, 309 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas. 702-486-5205

Mixologist in the Making What are the 12 cocktails everyone should know? Michael LaPenna, Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas’ mixologist, leads sessions each Saturday and teaches all the basic skills of making those concoctions, along with an added touch of Mandarin Oriental mixology magic. The single $50 session includes learning the standards of distillation, production, cocktail DNA, and, most importantly, the techniques of tasting. Mandarin Bar, Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, 3752 Las Vegas Blvd., S. 702-590-8888. Saturdays, 3-4 p.m. 22 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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mingle

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JEWISH EMERGING LEADERS, JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SOUTHERN NEVADA & DAVID MAGAZINE’S ANNUAL “LIGHT IT UP” PARTY Venue Ghost Bar, Palms Hotel & Casino

Date Thursday, December 24

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More than 350 young Jewish adults danced the night away raising over $6,000 for the Camp K’helah scholarship fund. Who knew giving the opportunity of the camp experience to a needy child could be so much fun? Cheers!

Photos

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JewEL Board

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(L-R) Carly Gould, Jessica Evans and Lilly Posner

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(L-R) Joey Reyes, Haleema Linares, Max Berkley, Carlos Blumberg and Amy Greene

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(L-R) Robert Wank, Clayton Steinberg, Marty Paz and Isaac Stock

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(L-R) Elad Bicer, Shirley Reginiano, Sivan Ayash and Tomer Itzhaki

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(L-R) Aadee Mizrachi, Monika and Doug Gold

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Vegas Moishe House

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(L-R) Gil, Shirley, and Leor Reginiano

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(L-R) Allan Levin, Sarah Steinberg, Marni Unger and Romeo Razi

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Photos: Danielle Rubinstein www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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mingle THE LAS VEGAS TZOFIM SHEVET PISGA’S WILD WILD WEST PARTY & FUNDRAISER Venue Temple Sinai

Date

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Saturday, January 9

Event 150 Israelis and Americans donned their wild west duds to raise a ruckus and much needed funds to benefit the children of Shevet Pisga, the Las Vegas chapter of the Tzofim (Israeli scouts). This was the second year this themed

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shindig has been held. The parent board and other volunteers are already busy planning next year’s event, any ideas what the theme will be?

Photos 1.

Guests getting their line dancing groove on.

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Ben Simhayoff and Chen Zucker.

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(L-R) Noa Jensch, Shiri Kaufman,

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Meirav Lowie, Orly Shencher, Eran Fuss, Yarden Adam, Anat Gal, Ofra Etzion and Liad Nemeth. 4.

(L-R) Adin and Carmit Boldur, Annette and Lior Gal.

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Miki Shahmoon, Effie Shencher and Eli Shahmoon.

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(L-R) Cassidy Arbeli, Hadas Newman, Liad Nemeth, Dorin Wessly and Yifat

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Fuss 7.

(L-R) Edan & Moran Etzioni, Shiri & Nir Kaufman.

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Yohan and Meirav Lowie.

Photos: Liad Nemeth

24 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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CANON U.S.A. AND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN COMMEMORATE 17 YEARS OF HELPING TO RECOVER MISSING CHILDREN Venue Bellagio Hotel & Casino

Date Wednesday, January 8

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(L-R) John Walsh with The Property Brothers (Drew and Jonathan Scott and their younger brother JD in the center.

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(L-R) Minnie Foxx, Willie Gault, and Trish Williamson.

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(L-R) Kathryn Arianoffr, Tony Sacca and Denny Weddle.

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Magician Tommy Wind with his wife, Stacy.

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Pia Zadora and husband Michael Jeffries.

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John Walsh speaking to the guest at the Red Carpet Canon Celebrity Reception.

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(L-R) Magician Murray SawChuck, Jaki Baskow, Doug”Lefty” Lefervich.

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(L-R) Co-host Todd Newton, Larry Windsor, Kathleen Dunbar, Co-host Ms. Nevada Jennifer Lier.

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Photos: Courtesy Canon U.S.A. www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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mingle CHABAD OF SOUTHERN NEVADA CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY HONORING ATTORNEY DAVID CHESNOFF Venue Desert Torah Academy

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Date Sunday, January 10

Photos 1.

(L-R) Rabbi Shea Harlig, David Chesnoff and Dina Harlig.

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(L-R standing) Yossi, Rivkie and Dina Harlig, Pearl Zavdi, Michele and

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Dr. Phil Devore (L-R sitting) Chaya, Ziporah and Rabbi Meyer Harlig. 3.

Former Mayor Oscar Goodman.

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(L-R) Michael Vakneen, David Dahan, Roy Zabludovich, Dan Shapiro, Emily Jossel, Michelle Dahan, Adam Kilbourn, Michele Dahan-Kilbourn and Rebecca Chavez.

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(L-R standing) Mindy Slavis, Valerie

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and Efrem Rosenfeld, (L-R sitting) Sarah Sherman, Moshe and Leah Kligman. 6.

(L-R) Rabbi Motti Harlig, Rabbi Levi Wilhelm, Rabbi Levi Harlig, Loren Weinberg and Rabbi Yosef Rivkin.

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(L-R standing) Arne and Lynn Rosencrantz, Carol and Jeff Zucker (L-R sitting) Dr. Leon and Faye Steinberg

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(L-R standing) Bill Richardson, Giuseppe Bravo, David Chesnoff, Joe Bravo, John Spilotro and Chip Lewis L-R sitting) Diana Chesnoff, Ellie Bravo, Katie Spilotro and Julie Bailey.

Photos: David Weinstein

26 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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Spencer Burton

live Love Runs Out @ 28 David & Iman @ 32 Ride of Their Lives @ 34 Small Plates Big Dreams @ 36

SMALL PLATES BIG DREAMS pg 30

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www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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speak

Love Runs Out When She’d Rather Kill Herself Than Finish The Date By Corey Levitan

I

t hasn’t been a full life if somebody hasn’t hated you enough to sprint 250 feet down a 30-degree embankment — filled with loose rocks and cacti and ending at the shoulder of a busy freeway — rather than remain inside a car with you. That’s how my first date with Caryn went. She was an adorable redhead I had met at some music-industry function. We hit it off and I asked her to the opening of B.B. King’s Blues Club at Universal Studios Hollywood. Immediately after entering my car, Caryn announced that we were “just friends” and this was not a date. What the what? Well, OK, “not a date” was still more of a date than I had been on in four months. I ignored her remark and conducted what I considered to be some mighty successful driving flirtation. Caryn laughed. Then, out of left field, she repeated her caveat: This was not a date.

28 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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Johnish F

Jewelers

Commercial Shopping Center 953 E. Sahara, B-5 Las Vegas, Nevada 89104

702-731-1323

www.johnfishjewelers.vegas

www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016 John Fish third page ad 2.indd 1

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I’ll be honest. Ten straight years of the ladies telling me they’d rather be “just friends” had done a number on my selfesteem. It hurt for a woman to feel the need to create such abundant clarity on the issue that I was not in the least bit doable. I knew what this was probably about. I’m only 5-foot-7, and that’s in my tall shoes with the 2-inch lift inserts. So when we got to the parking gate at Universal, an idea occurred: to ask Caryn for $3 of the $6 the toll guy was collecting. Since we were just friends, I explained, friends chip in. Caryn asked if I was serious. I replied in the affirmative. “In fact,” I added, “if you were a real friend, you would have offered the whole amount, since I drove.” What happened next continues to drop my jaw 20 years after the fact. What would possess someone to risk her life just to get away from me? I mean, she could have waited until we parked to exit my car and my life. For two straight days, I sat glued to the news to see if a body was discovered off the 101 freeway. So I decided to look Caryn up on Facebook and finally ask: WTF? She immediately accepted my friend request and consented to this interview. She remembered our non-date, too, plus important details I’d forgotten. Here’s how it went … ME: I’m glad you agreed to this. So what do you remember about our date? CARYN: First of all, I didn’t think you were asking me out. You never made it clear. In fact, you were the one who men-

an evening of mystical music

ininconcert concert

Saturday Night

February 20, 2016

The Theater @ West Charleston Library 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.

(Adjacent to CSN) Doors open 7:30, concert at 8

Simply Tsfat is a group of exceptional musicians with a unique story and a unique sound. They bring the joy and inspiration of the holy city of Tsfat (Safed), home of Kabbalah, through their music and stories. Simply Tsfat is a group of exceptional musicians with a unique story and a unique sound. They bring the joy and inspiration of the holy city of Tsfat (Safed), home of Kabbalah, through their music and stories.

Ticket prices: Online- $15/ Adult, $10/Child. 3 and under are free (no seat). $50/family (max 4 children) At the Door-$18/Adult, $12/Child, $60/family (max 4 children) VIP tickets $25

Purchase your tickets online at www.lasvegaskollel.org. For information, email events@lasvegaskollel.org or call 702-487-3133 ext. 9

30 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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tioned ‘just friends’ first, on the phone. And, when you picked me up, you didn’t open your door for me. ME: That sounds right. If I thought a girl was out of my league, I would get her to hang out first. She couldn’t reject me then. And my wife is going to love that door-opening thing. That’s still me. She never knows when we’re on a date, either. So you’re saying there was some attraction? CARYN: I wouldn’t say there was no attraction. I was just trying to not have any pressure on either of our ends. I’m not good with having any expectations in any situation. ME: So if I played along and had not been so immediate goaloriented, I could have convinced you that I was a decent guy, someone worth going further with on one of our later nondates. CARYN: Probably. But here’s something really important that you forgot ... I had no money. None. And you knew that because we talked about it on the phone. I was between jobs and couldn’t even afford my rent. But you kept telling me, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll pay for everything, and the drinks are free at the party anyway.’ ME: Wow. I guess the memory leaves details like that out. But does that really explain why someone would risk their life just to get away from a person who posed no danger? That was crazy.

CARYN: I was really offended that you asked me for money because you knew my financial situation. Had I had money, I would have offered. ME: But to risk your freaking life? CARYN: It was just a feeling of being trapped. I just wanted out of the situation and that was the only route at the time. ME: So how did you get home alive? CARYN: I just ran down the hill for a little bit, then back onto the road. Some guy gave me a quarter and I called my brother from a payphone. This was before I had a cellphone. It was a long time ago. My brother and his girlfriend picked me up and there was just silence in the car. They didn’t ask what happened. They just looked at each other and I said, ‘This is why I don’t go on dates.’ They dropped me off at my apartment and we never spoke of it again. ME: But you remembered it perfectly. CARYN: I thought you were really funny, and it hurt me that you would do that to me. ME: Wow. I feel bad now. CARYN: You taught me a lesson, though. Every time I go out now, I take a cell phone and enough money for a cab.

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David & Iman

know

Bowie’s Lyrics Paint a Picture of their Love By Joshua Abbey Artwork by Jeff Fey Now hear this David Jones I wrote a poem for you About a wild-eyed boy name Bowie Who was the shock of the new His words had cryptic foresight They were pinups at the Wall Made the outcast feel alright Put the art back in rock and roll

T

his poem is a riff on David Bowie’s love song to Robert Zimmerman (aka Bob Dylan) from the album Hunky Dory. He penned songs to Andy Warhol (also on Hunky Dory) and to Mick Jagger (“Watch That Man” on Aladdin Sane), never obscuring his respect for his influences and personal heroes. Bowie always nurtured and shared his art and immense fascination for life with many other artists and musicians. His phenomenal capacity inspired the dejected and advocated for the young. At the same time, he tried to expand the consciousness of his audience by bending genres and composing lyrics both poignant and open for interpretation. He embodied the chrysalis of transition and adaptation. His RCA label’s mascot dog pose could not have been more on point. Bowie’s passing in early January, two days after his 69th birthday, has triggered one of the greatest global outpourings of love and adoration that any contemporary artist has ever received. For many, he was the virtual soundtrack and anthem of our youth, giving us permission to be original and fearless. Some took inspiration from his gender-bending to liberate themselves from cultural stigmas. Others admire his dedication to his two children and his 23-year marriage to Somali-American supermodel Iman, the catalyst that rescued him from the decadent substance abuse trappings of superstardom in the ’70s and ’80s. Sometimes you get so lonely Sometimes you get nowhere I’ve lived all over the world I’ve left every place

Please be mine Share my life Stay with me Be my wife These are the lyrics from Be My Wife off his album Low. In his personal search for meaning (through study of the occult and Zen Buddhism), his songs inevitably return to love as the universal truth that so many aspire to attain. On his breakthrough album Ziggy Stardust the song Soul Love speaks of his sensitivity and gravitation toward love. Love is careless in its choosing Sweeping over cross a baby Love descends on those defenseless Idiot love will spark the fusion Inspirations have I none Just to touch the flaming dove All I have is my love of love And love is not loving On his first big hit song Space Oddity, he sings (as Major Tom drifts toward oblivion):“Tell my wife I love her very much … she knows” The day before her beloved David died, Iman tweeted, “Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment before it becomes a memory.”

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sense

Ride of their Lives Ashley & Mathew’s Lee Canyon Wedding in the Woods Story by Nikki Stephens, Photos by Ashley Myers

S

ome couples might dream of walking down the aisle as a pine-scented breeze rolls off a mountain peak and mustangs graze in meadows nearby. But for Las Vegans Ashley Cottrell and Mathew Micheletti, an unforgettable June wedding in Lee Canyon was the stuff of reality. And why not tie the knot at 8,500 feet, where a summer day can be 30 degrees cooler than on the Las Vegas Strip? Instead of a prosaic golf club and banquet hall wedding, why not choose an al fresco

venue that’s perfect for summer or fall nuptials? For many couples, it’s an idea whose time apparently has come. For half a century, the former Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort has been a popular destination for wedding proposals. It’s no surprise, then, that today’s Lee Canyon has made the easy transition to rustic mountain wedding site. In a recent survey, The Knot reported that more and more couples want personalization when it comes to their weddings. In fact, 40

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The bride and groom, Ashley Cottrel and Mathew Micheletti.

percent of those the website surveyed indicated a preference for unusual venues to reflect their personalities. Creating an exceptional experience for the guests also tops the list of wedding must-haves these days. “Lee Canyon’s guest services manager Caitlin Kelly really pulled together my (wedding day) vision from Pinterest,” Cottrell says. “Our entire wedding party rode the chairlifts at sunset. This was my favorite part of the whole wedding.” It’s no wonder. According to the resort, the chairlifts have become the most popular après-wedding activity for guests ready to sit back, gulp in some mountain air and marvel at the spectacular views of Lee Canyon. Sun-dappled meadows that double as ski runs in winter offer just the right growing conditions for nature’s wildflower stands. Photo ops, featuring deer and other fauna, abound. “I have pictures of my mom zipping up my wedding dress with wild horses in the background,” Cottrell says. Lee Canyon is equipped to host large or intimate weddings. And guests can enjoy that destination wedding feel without the hassle and expense of traveling. For locals or out-of-towners who don’t want to make the drive back to the valley or the Strip, the Resort at Mount Charleston and Mount Charleston Lodge are about 25 minutes away. Through its custom packages, Lee Canyon offers couples an array of options: a personal wedding specialist to assist in planning; a wedding arch; seating; private cabanas for both bride and groom to prepare for their walk down the aisle; catering; wine and beer service; and a traditional toast. “Lee Canyon created a secluded area just for us,” Cottrell says, “and built an altar out of birch trees for our wedding. When the florist didn’t deliver the flowers I wanted, (Kelly) and her team redesigned everyone’s bouquets 30 minutes before the wedding, saving the day.” So whether your style is rustic and cozy or extravagant and unique, Lee Canyon offers the perfect venue for a Las Vegas bride looking for an out-of-the-ordinary wedding day. For more information, contact Caitlin Kelly, Lee Canyon’s guest services manager, at (702) 385-2754, or ckelly@leecanyonlv.com.

Celebrating Jewish Camping in Las Vegas

Specialty Camps Core Camp Programming Register before February 16th and save up to $150 per camper.

www.jccsn.org

JCC of Southern Nevada www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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taste

Small Plates

Big Dreams

The Seductive Potential of Kosher By Jason Harris Photography by Spencer Burton

Above: Assorted menu items fron Anise Tappas & Grill, Right: Anise Tapas & Grill co-owners Sarit Bitton and Erez Bitton.

I

t’s 11:30 a.m. on a Wednesday. AniseTapas & Grill, the swank westside dining destination, isn’t open yet. But co-owner Sarit Bitton is just as frantic as she was recently on a full house night. This time, the staff is working hard to open for lunch, while prepping 200 desserts for a catering gig and getting ready to host an in-restaurant b’rit milah ( Jewish circumcision) three hours from now, followed by a party/feast.

This is the madness Bitton has welcomed into her life. This is her every day. Her brief: Focus on 100 different things, create a unique restaurant for her ever-growing community, be a good mom, work with her ex-husband on their two businesses, find strange artists and embrace whatever other chaos wanders in. Anise is unlike any other place in Las Vegas. Truth is, you’d be hard-pressed to find something similar in any U.S. city. It’s a cool

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Left: Drunken Avocado Empanadillas served with Patron jalapeño agave sauce, Right: Assorted chicken and angus beef kabobs and .....

Moroccan Frena Pan with olive tapenade, tzatziki and a roasted garlic bulb.

vibe, kosher tapas joint with worldly influences. To understand the food, you’ve got to first figure out Anise’s eccentric owner. If you saw Bitton on the street, you’d never guess she is a restaurateur. Clad in black leather, with too many tattoos to count and part of her head shaved, the 38-year-old could be a performance artist. Or a player in a heavy metal band. Or a professional wrestler. OK, a dominatrix. And when you sit down to talk to Bitton, her eyes dart to all areas of the room, at least in the restaurant. She’s making sure that everything is meeting her exacting standards. Her speech comes quickly, but the words are well chosen. “I decided to break free from religion,” she says, a reference to her past. “I loved it, but I didn’t like how isolated we were as Jews. I felt like there was a whole world out there – food, culture, art.” Born in Los Angeles, she grew up as an Orthodox Jew. She moved to Israel as a youth and spent half of her childhood there before returning to Southern California and a school at least as conservative as hers in The Holy Land. At age 16, she returned to Israel – without her parents. She attended another religious school for two years, and then joined the Israeli army. As a lone soldier, she was stationed with a platoon of paratroopers. She was their caretaker, a wartime “mom.” It was a formative experience, she says: “I learned to cook for people, to take

care of people, to entertain in the military. It made me feel good.” One day, she baked cakes for her unit and brought them to the Lebanese border. Back then she was a reticent young woman, nothing like her larger-than-life persona now. She was so shy, in fact, that she did not deliver the cakes. A nice paratrooper named Erez approached, however, and offered to distribute them to the rest of the troops. Today, Erez and Sarit are the divorced parents of four children, and co-owners of Anise. After their army stints in Israel, Sarit and Erez capped off their on-again, off-again relationship by splitting up. Sarit headed off to see the world, primarily Southeast Asia. She spent three years backpacking, taking time to observe the cuisines and cultures of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal and Japan. The experience shaped her culinary point of view. “I decided not to eat kosher,” she says. “The best food was found sitting in a market somewhere. Good, fresh, simple food with quality ingredients.” Sarit and Erez reconnected in Chicago eventually, got married and opened a successful moving business that they still run today. Their children showed up in fairly quick order and all seemed well in the family. But, for Sarit, something was missing. “After having my first three kids, I wanted more of a spiritual connection. Erez always knew that I liked women, but he didn’t actually think I would leave him for a woman.” These days, Sarit is openly gay. Her kids know, and her ex has come to terms with it. But the women she dates also must accept that Erez will always be in her life. The two are bound by more than a failed marriage. “I had a vision of where I wanted my life to go,” Sarit says. “I knew that he and I were good life partners. We work, we get along, we give each other creative space. We have the same family values.” Anise, more than anything else, is a reflection of its co-owner. Sarit would stand out anywhere you put her. She might not be one herself, but she has the soul of an artist. She cares deeply about her community, and about creating an experience for her diners.

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Atun Tartare layered with avocado and served with wonton crisps and wasabi aioli.

THE FOOD “One of my major missions here was making kosher cool,” she says. This might not be the easiest thing to do, given that everything must conform to kashrut or Jewish dietary law. That means no pork, no birds of prey and basically no dairy. Every dish, every ingredient, every bit of preparation is done under rabbinical supervision. It may be a challenge, but the staff at Anise excels in its charge. It’s a restaurant that definitely hits the “cool” range on the spectrum. Low lighting, sexy bartenders, excellent, live Cuban music and an open kitchen give the venue its modern feel. Bitton wanted to create something that was communal. In her view, the eating experience is as important as the food’s taste. Anise focuses on small plates, and that part of the menu seems to include most of the restaurant’s better offerings. The tapas are split into three styles – vegetables, fish and meat. The vegetable section provides a bounty of deliciousness. Take, for instance, the Moroccan Frena Pan ($8), a puffy bread that’s a perfect complement to the salty olive tapenade, creamy tzatziki and pungent roasted garlic bulb that accompany it. Bitton says her restaurant’s hummus ($11) is the best in town, and it’d be hard to argue otherwise. The smooth spread benefits from the addition of whole, toasty garbanzo beans, which give it an added layer of depth. Hummus is also available with mushrooms ($12) or shawarma ($13). The latter, playfully called Hummus con Carne, features dark meat chicken and lamb. It’s not the prettiest dish, but it’s one of the tastiest. One of my favorites is the Great Ball Of Fire ($7), a deep fried matzoh ball served with sriracha mayo. The round item is quite www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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THE 2015-2016 SEASON

Assorted desserts.

Tickets available at The Smith Center Box Office at 702.749.2000 or at lvphil.org

large, perfectly fried — the restaurant’s fried items seem to hit just the right texture — with a crispy exterior and a soft inside. The spicy sauce provides just a tinge of Asia. The item may be a bit offbeat, but the execution makes it delightful. The Atun Tartare ($12) is the fish tapas section standout. It’s a classical tuna tartare, and there’s nothing wrong with that when it’s done this well. Fresh, raw tuna, avocado and pickled ginger, married with crunchy wonton chips, make this bite one you’ll want to try again and again. Joining the Hummus con Carne in the meat tapas section is the Paella para Mi ($11). This winner is not really paella at all. Being kosher means, of course, that a major component of the traditional shellfish-heavy dish is missing. The other thing you don’t get is the crunchy rice at the bottom of the small dish, which is unfortunate. But this version, featuring Spanish rice, some crispy chicken, lamb sausage and assorted grilled veggies, is quite good. I’d eat it again, though it could use a name change perhaps. Entrees are plentiful, most around $20 a piece. The offerings include everything from burgers to kabobs to pastas. They’re prepared well, but aren’t nearly as much fun to eat as the tapas. Desserts are interesting. Besides being kosher, some are also vegan. And, yes, this restaurant has plenty of options for all types of eaters. I quite enjoyed the tiramisu, which uses arak as its alcohol component. Anise prides itself on its spices, which come from Erez’s home village in Israel. Overall, there’s a lot to like. The Bittons have succeeded in their quest to make kosher food more interesting, and in creating a place that’s a worthy culinary destination for both Jews and Gentiles. With virtually nothing like it anywhere else in the country, it’s another win for Las Vegas.

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think The Doctor’s In @ 44 Lifting the Veil @ 48 Love for Tender @ 54

LIFTING THE VEIL pg. 48

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think

The

Doctor Is In

Famed ‘sex-pert’ offers tips on finding joie de vivre By Lynn Wexler

One of my secrets to getting the most from life is that I naturally forget bad things that have happened to me. — Ruth Westheimer

A

t 4 feet 7 inches tall, Ruth Westheimer remains a giant in her field. And at 87, she’s as active and feisty as ever. Yes, the woman much of the world knows as Dr. Ruth still loves to talk about sex. After all, this Holocaust survivor and former Israeli sniper pioneered public sex talk way back in 1980, with her first radio broadcast, Sexually Speaking. Thirty-six years later, she still campaigns for sexual literacy and expression, and finds them most rewarding when practiced within the context of relationship and family. Karola Ruth Siegel was born in Germany in 1928, an only child from an Orthodox Jewish home. She fondly remembers a nurturing environment, with loving and

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Photo courtesy of Amazon Publishing

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indulgent parents and grandmother. It’s that foundation, she says, that has held her in good stead throughout her life, along with the guiding and abiding principles and lessons in the Torah. A self-described inquisitive child, she remembers creeping into her father’s library to read his books, which piqued her interest in the subject of human sexuality. On Nov. 9, 1938, however, the 10-year-old’s world was violently shattered during Kristallnacht (Night of the Broken Glass). The Nazi rampage, considered by some historians as the start of The Holocaust, left dozens of Jews, perhaps hundreds, dead across Germany and thousands of properties destroyed. Ruth’s family responded to the terror by sending her out of the country to a school in Switzerland. Her father was already in a labor camp. The Swiss school eventually would become an orphanage for Jewish refugee girls. Ruth recalls her second-class treatment there. She was deprived of an education, and trained to be a maid. Teachers were alarmed by the garrulous child’s willingness to discuss unmentionable topics, such as menstruation. Ruth, 17 by war’s end, never saw her family again. She believes they perished in the Auschwitz concentration camp. She decided to go to what was then the British mandate of Palestine (now Israel) and to join the Haganah, the underground movement fighting for a Jewish state; her uncanny knack for consistently hitting a target led to her selection to train as a sniper. “Yes, I was a very good shooter,” she says in her trademark German accent. “I once went with my grandson to a county fair, where you shoot a water pistol at the clown’s mouth. We came home with twelve stuffed animals and a goldfish.” Two years after her arrival in the Middle East, Ruth left for France. She attended the Paris-Sorbonne University and taught kindergarten.

With a $1,500 Holocaust reparations check in her hand, Ruth and her then French husband moved to Washington Heights in New York City in 1956 (where she would live and raise a family for more than half a century). Ruth gave birth to a girl named Miriam, but the marriage that produced the child soon ended. “We had a great love affair,” she says, “but it became clear that we were not intellectually compatible.” Ruth found herself raising Miriam alone and working as a housemaid to make ends meet. In the meantime, she took English lessons and studied for her master’s in sociology from The New School. The Doctor Is In – Dr. Ruth on Love, Life, and Joie de Vivre is her recently published memoir. She uses personal anecdotes and humor in the book to reveal her approach to living life fully. She also addresses the issue of being a single mom, citing the controversial 1990s TV sitcom experiences of leading character Murphy Brown. “On TV, she could make it look easy,” Westheimer writes. “And that might convince some single women that they could follow in Murphy’s footsteps without significant consequences. While I never regretted a second of my years raising Miriam by myself, given the difficulties, it’s important to me to discourage anyone else with the idea of charting the same course.” In her own life, Westheimer wanted to find someone interested in having a family. While on a ski trip to the Catskill Mountains in 1961, she met and eventually fell in love with Manfred Westheimer, a Jewish refugee and electrical engineer. They married nine months later, and soon had a son, Joel. Ruth eventually earned a doctorate in family and sex counseling from Columbia’s Teachers College, and followed that with postdoctoral studies in human sexuality at the New York HospitalCornell University Medical Center.

Above: Dr Ruth with comedian, actor, singer, and writer George Burns, Right: Dr. Ruth the siper.

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Now known as Dr. Ruth, she lectured New York broadcasters about the taboos preventing open discussions and educational programs on contraception and unwanted pregnancies. The manager of WYNY-FM soon offered her $25 a week to do a 15-minute show called Sexually Speaking. It aired just after midnight on Sunday mornings. “The show was a hit so they moved me to a 10 p.m. time slot,” she says. “The phone lines were jammed with questions about sex and intimacy. It was clear that people wanted and needed this kind of talk and information.” At one point, Sexually Speaking attracted more than 250,000 listeners a week, besting many drive-time shows. Dr. Ruth became a popular guest on Late Night with David Letterman, and the following year her radio show was syndicated nationally. Critics notwithstanding, Dr. Ruth’s influence expanded to television, books, newspapers, games, home video, computer software, her own website, speaking engagements and tweets. She launched Dr. Ruth’s Vin D’amour, a line of low alcohol wines. She teaches at her alma mater, Columbia, and a play called Becoming Dr. Ruth has toured the country. Westheimer says her goal is to empower women and men to talk openly and honestly about sex and sexual health, within the context of a meaningful relationship. In her memoir, she calls this her Tikkun Olam, Hebrew for “repairing the world” and bringing about healing. “Since I was an orphan and lost everything at the age of 10, my work gives me purpose and an opportunity to help others,” she says, “because I survived and one million-and-a-half Jewish children did not.” The essence of her work, she says, is to promote the importance of relationships and family. “Everything else … sexual enrichment, different positions, all can be taught. But first there has to be a relationship.”

She defines joie de vivre (French for “joy for life”) as a quest for remembering positive moments over the negative ones. Her recently published children’s book, Leopold, is about a turtle that learns to allow joie de vivre into his life by embracing courage rather than fear. “I believe in that image of the turtle,” she says. “If it stays in one place, it’s safe. But if it wants to move, it takes a risk and has to stick its neck out. The message for kids is to understand that when you step out of your comfort zone, you’re able to move ahead and make things happen, for yourself and for others.” Dr. Ruth also loves Las Vegas, particularly when visiting her dear friends Larry and Camille Ruvo. Larry is founder of the Keep Memory Alive Foundation and the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, in honor of his late father who had Alzheimer’s disease. “I’m not a gambler,” she says. “But Las Vegas is about so much more than gambling. I enjoy the shows and visiting the museums. And I always get someone to drive me to the Red Rock mountains. It’s a mitzvah to appreciate nature, which reminds me of a quote by Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch: ‘When I come before the Almighty, I will have to answer for many things. But what will I tell Him when He asks me: Shimshon, did you see My Alps?’ “I love being Dr. Ruth,” the grandmother of four says, betraying no inclination for retirement from her psychosexual therapist role. “I hope people will remember me for my guts – chutzpah as it’s called in the Jewish tradition,” she says. “I had the nerve to talk about things others were too worried to talk about. Along the way I hopefully helped to prevent unintended pregnancies and inspired people to a better sex life – even orgasms – until their late stage in life.”

Left: Dr. Ruth on the Kibbutz, Above: Dr. Ruth with Shimon Peres, former prime minister and president of the State of Israel.

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think

Lifting

theVeil

Israel’s Bridal Elite Refuse To Be Hemmed In By Tracey Moran This story was previously published at ozy.com 46 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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Above & Left: Galia Lahav

F

ashion runway shows have been known to fall flat, thanks to trips, slips and the exposure of a whole lot more than just a hip. But Susan Glick knew she had it sewn up before the first strut at her recent show, and she basked in a positive vibe as the lights dimmed and the music began. “I just knew we were going to deliver,” the vice president of women’s apparel at Merchandise Mart says, as she aimed to help her New York City audience embrace a group of bold new bridal designers. Glick is referring to her first-ever collaboration presenting 10 up-and-comers at the New York International Bridal Week, at Pier 94, in a show that reflected an explosive new bridal trend: the rise of Israeli stars. Refusing to be hemmed in, designers from the Jewish state like Inbal Dror, Lihi Hod, Galia Lahav and Berta Balilti have recently hit the global marketplace in stride, seeing sales climb considerably in the past few years. Chasing a piece of what in the U.S. alone is a $4 billion annual bridal store trade, according to IBISWorld, top Israeli designers are selling in upscale boutiques in Los Angeles, New York, London and Moscow. Success, many say, is down to two big “I”s: the Internet and Israel’s innovative spirit. “We became global just by social media,” says Hod, who attributes her success to Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. The designer tells a story similar to the others’, of brides-to-be seeing designs online and asking about her at overseas wedding boutiques and then being contacted by the buyers, which helped Hod’s www.davidlv.com | FEBRUARY 2016

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Above & Right: Inbal Dror

“A bride here would see herself as a supermodel.” Sharon Sever, Galia Lahav house designer. business grow organically, and virally. Some say this shift also has to do with the way women dress these days, whether it’s the sheer bodices of Mira Zwillinger, the sultry styles of Inbal Dror or the plunging backs of industry veteran Galia Lahav. “They like to look more feminine and sexy,” says Hanna Kamionski, director of business development for consumer products at the Israel Economic Mission. Indeed, such designs are resonating with brides-to-be. Californian Erika Tuzkov tried on more than a dozen dresses at multiple designer boutiques and loved how the gowns of Israeli designers were far more formfitting than she’d initially dreamed of wearing. Tuzkov, who ended up walking down the aisle in a Berta gown, says, “[Israeli] cuts and designs really accentuate and flatter the female figure.” Berta Bridal’s global operations director Nir Moscovich says Israel’s more provocative bridal style “corresponds with the local liberal and open-minded culture” of the country. Meanwhile, Galia Lahav’s house designer Sharon Sever says the modern approach of Israeli designers not only creates a figure-hugging fit but also offers more comfort and allows for more movement than traditional looks do, an innovation he pins to Israel’s climate, where brides want to feel and look good after a long ceremony, no matter how hot it gets. He also points to a cultural difference: While Western brides have long opted for demure looks, Israeli brides have always been glamorous and fashion forward. “A bride here would see herself as a supermodel,” says Sever, which feeds into even more 48 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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Above & Right: Lihi Hod

provocative looks. The end result? Designers are seeing a surge in demand for their wares. Lahav, who’s been in the industry for more than three decades, enjoyed almost global overnight success when her son Idan launched her international unit a couple of years ago. Whereas 80 percent of Lahav sales came from Israel before, only 2 percent do now, with a whopping 98 percent stemming from international sales, Idan says. While the first wave of Israeli bridal designers is enjoying international success, Glick’s show in October featured the second wave — designers like Shlomit Azrad, Yoav Rish and Lian Rokman who hope to be the Bertas of tomorrow. Many Israeli designers, new and established alike, constantly receive emails from uncharted territory, which is giving many plans to break into new international markets — from Europe to Asia — in the coming years. What might stitch them up? That “sexy” look, says designer Zahavit Tshuba, could come back to bite them all in the tight-fitting arse. “People like innovative design,” she says, warning that if the dresses from too many of her fellow Israeli designers look similar, they could be written off as trendy: “They won’t be too interesting if they all look alike.” But Tshuba has an ace up her sleeve. She’s planning to launch a new collection featuring mix-and-match bodices and skirts, giving brides the opportunity to create daringly distinctive looks. 50 FEBRUARY 2016 | www.davidlv.com

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think

Love for Tender By Jaq Greenspon You won’t take my love for tender You can put your money where your mouth is — Elvis Costello “Love for Tender”

“Sex Sells.” Heard that one before? We certainly see evidence of it every time we watch a fast-food commercial with a barely dressed model messily eating a burger, or her garage calendar counterpart handling a power tool. But what are they selling? And what does it mean today? Way back when, I had my first class in propaganda. I learned that the image was designed to create a positive impression. (Try to follow my logic.) As a guy, I was supposed to equate whatever the barely dressed model was doing/using/promoting as a good thing, meaning something I should be doing/ using myself — so that the barely dressed model (were we to meet randomly) would be impressed that I was doing/using her product and, thus, we would have a meaningful connection, which is what we all want. (Whew.) And this makes a lot of sense. Or at least it used to. Then the Internet happened. All of a sudden, SEX didn’t mean what it used to mean. After all, we’ve come a long way from the risqué business of the animated Fred and Wilma Flintstone sharing a bed on primetime TV (they were the first), or Kirk and Uhura sharing an interracial kiss (It’s OK. They were under alien mind control at the time; it’s not like they wanted to). Heck, it was a big deal when the late photographer/publisher Bob Guccione over at Penthouse (the other classy stag magazine that’s soon to be digital only) started showing pubic hair, forcing Playboy to follow his lead. Playboy, which started an empire by featuring a semi-naked Marilyn Monroe, and shepherded at

least two generations of young men through puberty and beyond with its monthly centerfolds, no longer will feature nudes in the magazine at all. Meanwhile, pornography — once confined to backrooms and basements, or hidden under the bathroom sink and only viewed in complete solitude and shame, has gone mainstream. Ron Jeremy, the former ungainly porn star, seems to be saying in his TV appearances these days that “If I can get laid, so can you.” And allegations of sexual assault against “James Deen,” a darling of the adult industry (it’s not even called porn anymore), are making mainstream news. 50 Shades of Grey made bondage and domination boring, and S&M training sessions are being advertised on Facebook, like so many Tupperware parties. There are, seemingly, no legal taboos anymore. And since it’s a no-holds-barred world, “everything” can be found somewhere. Most of us consider that “somewhere” online. With everything out in the open, so to speak, how does a person navigate the minefield of interpersonal relationships? Most of us have joined some sort of social network, from the ubiquitous triumvirate of Facebook /Twitter /Instagram (if you’re older) to Vine/ Snapchat/ Tumblr (teens and tweens). And we tend to look there, even before turning to our real life friends, for validation and encouragement. In real world terms, this means we post snippets of our lives for the consumption of others, and then wait patiently for “likes” to pile up from our “friends.” We’ve essentially had to learn a whole new language. Take “like,” for example. Clicking the “like” button can unleash a cornucopia of possible

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meanings these days: from the simple, straightforward idea that you actually enjoy what it is you’re supposedly liking, to merely acknowledging that you’ve seen it. Sometimes you’ll have to clarify, explaining in comments that you don’t actually “like” the image/link/thought itself, but are just “liking” the editorial comment from the OP (The Original Poster). And be careful: You don’t want your “friend” misconstruing that you meant one thing when, in fact, you meant another. Then there’s the word “friend.” In those dark, pre-Internet days being someone’s “friend” connoted a certain sense of responsibility. My folks explained the difference between a friend and an acquaintance, and that there were levels of friendship (and intimacy – more about that later). Today, you can meet someone on a bus, spend 10 minutes chatting and all of a sudden you’re social media “friends.” You probably don’t know any more about them (nor they, you) than you can find out in a similar exchange with a checkout cashier while buying questionable holiday presents. But when you post that picture or status update, you look to these new “friends” to bolster your self-image, to validate that whatever you’re showing off has been noted and remarked upon, even if it’s only via the “like” button. Of course, over time, as you exchange “likes” and comments you get to know people; you develop actual friendships. Maybe more. But how many “likes” constitute love? Is it the Monopoly principle: Once you’ve collected four houses (likes) you can use them as equity to buy a hotel (romantic involvement)? Do “likes” signify anything other than someone scrolling past your posts and giving you the equivalent of a nod on the street? What about the number of “friends” you have? Is it the more the merrier? Facebook limits a personal account to no more than 5,000 “friends.” But a “public figure” can have thousands or millions. Instagram and Twitter set no limits to the number of “followers” you can have. Yup. Your “friends” from Facebook are “followers” on Twitter, a term I consider a bit cultish and creepy. And, yet, in every day conversations we still refer to them as “friends,” so the Facebook (and AOL/ MySpace forerunners) jargon still carries the day. But back to my question. How many “friends” must I have to find my one true love? I mean, that’s the game we’re playing here, right? In Las Vegas, where the population is as transient as ever, and you’re as likely to meet a schoolteacher as a stripper (sometimes as a twofer), we’re turning more and more to social media to find our connections. And don’t think Sin City’s unique. It may not be a one-for-one correlation, but in any city of decent size people are too busy trying to get themselves together to worry about dating. And in small towns, you already know everyone. Where

an online love connection opens up the world for you (I’m not talking about Russian brides or Asian girls), folks who just want to meet a nice guy like you. But slow down. We must remember Dunbar’s number. In the ’90s, anthropologist Robin Dunbar figured out a correlation between primate brain size and the number of stable social relationships a primate can maintain. Using averages for humans (us hairless monkeys are just higher-order primates, after all) he figured 150 people in our “tribe” was just about right (his actual range was 100-250). Beyond that, we can’t focus or commit to anything with any depth. Sure, we may know hundreds of people, but those are casual relationships, begun in bars or at sporting events: the ones who we know we know, but don’t really know. In the modern lexicography, these are our “friends.” But with all this social media we may be spreading ourselves too thin. It’s getting more and more difficult to find love — that real, spine-tingling, head-over-heels feeling — because we’re no longer sure of who we are and what we’re looking for. We’re being sold on the idea that love’s available everywhere, that our ideal mate is just around the corner, eating a messy burger or perhaps hanging out online. Don’t count on it. Sure, the possibility of meeting someone exists. It happens all the time. The implication is that we just need to wait long enough for that perfect someone to come along. But it’s not just a matter of posting pictures and hoping for more “likes” than everyone else. It’s not about sharing snippets of our lives that make us look as though we’re living the dream, an exercise designed to make our “friends” envious. This month, of course, “hearts” are everywhere. They’ve actually been there for weeks. Once again, it’s the “commodification” of courtship, the litany of love. “Friends” will post lifestyle evidence of how wonderful things are, suggesting how we, too, should feel, how we should define our “tribe,” convincing us that Dunbar’s number is an imaginary construct, that we need more and more “friends” to validate us and help achieve our ultimate goal. We’ll be told in advertising pitches that the way to “make three months salary last a lifetime” is to buy a diamond, or that unless we’ve gotten our loved ones or that significant other something that provokes a lot of “likes,” we’ve failed miserably. And if we don’t have a loved one, we’re anathema to the masses. But it’s OK. You don’t have to buy into it. You don’t have to “like” your “friends.” Instead, like them. Look inside. Realize that your tribe, your people, your happiness, radiates outward. It’s really that simple.

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grill

Alene Waxler

Senior Executive Partner, AWG Destination Services

Alene Waxler with her brother Alan Waxler, CEO AWG Destination Services.

The AW in the company name stands for Alan Waxler, brother of Alene Waxler. They are partners in AWG Destination Management Services, which opened its doors in Las Vegas in 1996. Alan is CEO and Alene is senior executive partner. Recently, however, Alene has curtailed her involvement in the daily operations of the business. In years past, she and her brother built a world-class company that considers itself the singular source for destination management services in Las Vegas. AWG offers cutting-edge event packages, professional strategies and planning solutions. In building a local, domestic and international clientele, Alene is proud to have earned a reputation as a market leader in the destination management industry. Her company’s Special Event, Transportation and Model/Talent divisions are able to accommodate a client’s full array of interests and needs. Think corporate events, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, teambuilding programs, custom tours and activities, and unique entertainment, shopping and dining experiences. For Alene, success means meeting and exceeding a client’s expectations. DAVID: What do you love most about the work you do? ALENE: Making the client happy, of course! Las Vegas is one of the most exciting and fascinating destinations in the world. We’ve been monitoring the pulse of the city for more than 20 years. Our reputation is solid. We’ve developed connections that enable us to open doors for our clients that most just can’t gain access to. I think all of us at AWG have a real passion for what this great city has to offer, and that translates into a real passion for our business. DAVID: How many events does AWG design and manage in a year? ALENE: We do about 100 events a year, I would say. Alan is the visionary. He’s assembled a great team that he trusts to help run the company. Kellie Hanley – president of AWG Destination Management – really makes the magic happen. Her most recent creation is the addition of our FabLab … a ‘laboratory’ for event production. DAVID: Sounds scientific. Tell me more. ALENE: Well, funny you should say that … we have a team of ‘scientists’ who analyze client needs and then get to work designing and customizing each event and fabricating all the décor. The goal is to originate a cohesive blend of concepts that takes guests on an exciting

journey. We’re hands-on from start to finish (in) creating a visual image that comes to life. DAVID: A few examples? ALENE: Our Mad Event Scientists, as we call them, just last year executed the design, building of the façades and the load-in and breakdown of two back-to-back events for over 3,000 guests. Both were at Caesars Palace. One was for the launch of the then-new “Jurassic Park” movie, immediately followed by the install for the 2015 Annual Uncork’d Bon Appétit Food Festival. The FabLab oversaw all logistics, including 180 restaurants and vendors who participated, as well as designed and fabricated all of the festival booths. DAVID: Now I understand the value of the word ‘management’ in your company name. ALENE: And we do so much more. For the Electric Daisy Carnival, we provide transportation throughout the day from 10 hotels on the Strip to the event at the speedway. In 2015, over 400,000 people attended over a three-day period, with 43,000 staying at Strip hotels. We brought in 350 buses from around the country; we provided furniture seating for the event — that’s really popular right now — and we arranged for accommodations and food for all who work the carnival. We also do amazing and memorable weddings. We’re the exclusive wedding planner for the Lake Las Vegas Hilton. We also plan unique and customized tours in and around our great city to enhance the client experience. DAVID: What would you say is your greatest challenge? ALENE: Client management. Often clients – or their third-party meeting planners – can be demanding, and often don’t understand or know the ins and outs or the timing of making things happen in Las Vegas. It’s a matter of finessing those relationships and giving clients the assurance that we hear what it is they want and need, and we have the know-how to make it even better than they imagine. DAVID: What’s your ultimate goal when serving an AWG client? ALENE: To deliver to our clients an excellent program that shows creativity, is fun-filled and will leave lasting memories of our great city. Relationships play a big part of our business. And it’s our constant goal to build results-driven trust and customer loyalty. We strive to supply the most innovative designs, with a quickstep away from the ordinary. I like to say that we make the magic a reality!

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