w w w. d a v i d l v. c o m FEBRUARY 2017
Blowing Up Convention Brides Who Say Yes to a Very ifferent ress
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LOVE MAKING KOSHER STYLE
DINING IN THE DARK
GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
FINDING THE RIGHT SONG
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JOIN US ON AN INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY
MARCH 3, 2017
AT NEW YORK–NEW YORK HOTEL & CASINO, LAS VEGAS
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CNB MEMBER FDIC
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February
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Live
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Explore The month’s event listings to help plan your day or your stay.
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Devour Where to find some of the best eats, drinks and foodie happenings in the Valley.
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Desire Sin City abounds in worldclass shopping ... these are a few of our favorite things.
20 Discover Places to go, cool things to do, hip people to see in the most exciting city in the world.
26 Sense Discover the wild world of orthodox Jewish lovemaking. 30 Know Go behind the scenes with Chris Cope as he builds our cover shot dress. 32 Taste Dining in the dark can challenge the senses, especially if you are a food and beverage expert.
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Think 42 Games People Play. Enjoy a night to remember, take your date to a boardgame bar. 46 Blowing Up Convention Brides are now saying “yes” t er ifferent resses
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On the Cover Blowing Up Convention Dress: Chris Cope, Balloons With a Twist. Photographer: Tonya Harvey Model: Keriann Parkes M.U.A.: Ish Bermudez, Jr.
52 Finding That Perfect Song How your favorite Las Vegans pulled it off.
36 Taste Charlie Palmer hands the reins of Mandalay Bay’s Aureole over to executive chef Johnny Church.
Copyright © 2017 by JewishINK LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. DAVID MAGAZINE is protected as a trademark in the United States. Subscribers: If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we are under no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged for in writing. DAVID MAGAZINE is a monthly publication. All information regarding editorial content or property for sale is deemed reliable. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions.
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A Night of Tolerance: A Tribute to Elie Wiesel A Program of Jewish University
“Even in darkness, it is possible to create light.” WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 6:30 – 7:30 P.M. / $15 ($12 for members)
West Charleston Library Lecture Hall / 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. A portion of proceeds will go to the Elie Wiesel Foundation
Visit jccsn.org or call 702.794.0090 for more information.
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Nevada’s only Funeral Home and Cemetery combination dedicated exclusively to the Jewish Community • Southern Nevada consecrated Jewish cemetery • Proudly serving all Jewish denominations • Elegant 250 seat Allen Brewster Memorial Chapel
Publisher/Editor Associate Publisher
• Knowledgeable and caring Jewish staff
Max Friedland
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Joanne Friedland
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EDITORIAL
• Special Veterans Pricing Plan
Calendar Editor
• Special Synagogue Pricing Plan • Burials out-of-state and Eretz Yisrael
Copy Editor Pulse Editor
Endorsed by the entire Rabbinic community, meeting the needs of every denomination with tradition and compassion.
Contributing Writers
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Jaq Greenspon Marisa Finetti
Marisa Finetti Jaq Greenspon Jason Harris Rob Kachelriess Lynn Wexler
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
Jay Poster Funeral Director, Manager & Founder
Art Director/ Photographer
Steven Wilson
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ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Advertising Director
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SUBSCRIPTIONS Sheryl Chenin-Webb Family Service Director
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Volume 07, Number 10 www.davidlv.com DAVID Magazine is published 12 times a year.
Copyright 2017 by JewishINK LLC. 1930 Village Center Circle, No. 3-459 Las Vegas, NV 89134 (p) 702-254-2223 (f) 702-664-2633
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Jewish
As women donors who represent strength, honor, and dedication to the Tribe of Judah, one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Being part of the Lion of Judah Society is a declaration of their personal commitment to honor traditional Jewish values of justice (tzedek) and acts of loving kindess (gemilut hesed). We would like to honor and thank all our Lion of Judah Society donors and generous sponsors: Van Cleef & Arpels Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Joyce Nelson of Destinations By Design Julie Littmann of Whoa Foods Strimling Dermatology, Laser & Vein Institute Lion of Judah Luncheon Co-Chairs Heidi Sarno Straus & Debbie Strimling Chair, Women’s Philanthropy Council Judy Stone Lions of Judah play a vital role in creating social justice, aiding the vulnerable, preserving human dignity and building Jewish identity Jewish Nevada acknowledges Dr. Miriam & Mr. Sheldon G. Adelson for their continued support.
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Contributors
Marisa Finetti has called Las Vegas home since 2005, after spending 10 years as a zinfandel grower in Dry Creek Valley. Her best of moments in writing include getting her mug shot taken at Penn Jillette’s house, covering a nudist colony while being uncovered, and interviewing a sommelier who enlightened her that there is more to wine than California. Visit her blog loveandrelish.com
Jaq Greenspon is a new father as well as a world traveling, dog loving, scuba diving, book collecting, writer currently residing somewhere in Eastern Europe. His words have been spoken by Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and Robin Hood, been read by David Copperfield, and criticized by his 7th grade English teacher. He’d like to thank the members of the Academy, although he doesn’t know why. In his spare time, he’s a university professor and a kick ass uncle.
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 screenplays, written awards shows and had a tv show on ABC for a minute. He’s still broke. And he loves his daughter Scarlett the most.
Rob Kachelriess stays busy writing about all things interesting in Las Vegas. No topic is off limits. He is best known for his work with Thrillist and contributes regularly to a number of other local publications. Rob was the Managing Editor for Vegas2LA Magazine and spent seven years as a television news producer in both Las Vegas and Savannah, Georgia. He spends time away from his laptop with his fiancee ary and their dog Zoey.
Lynn Wexler enjoys distilling, and voicing in print, the essence of topics she researches and those she interviews. Her acute and ardent style has been acknowledged throughout her years as a TV reporter, news anchor and journalist, interviewing persons of note on the world stage. As a certified Values and Manners Life Coach, Lynn trains groups and individuals on improving their personal, social and professional effectiveness. She is most proud of her three outstanding children.
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From the Publisher
ax & Joanne riedland
The ancients celebrated the first two months of the year with magnificent rituals acknowledging “inception.” January is named after the Latin word for door (ianua) and ebruary is named similarly for purification (februum). We enter the door of the New Year in January and purifying ourselves in ebruary. ebruary is Eros’s month as he invites us into the purifying fires of LOVE. The age-old ritual repeats itself year after year, the bowman raises his bow, tugging firmly at the bowstring he aims, then launches his projectile. His smitten uarry responds in a compliant rededication to love. This frenzied emotional outpouring comes at a much-needed time, as the anger and divisiveness of the November elections still painfully remains. A uick editorial note Loving does not always imply agreement nor does it re uire compliance. This month we go behind closed doors and explore the secret lives of the ultra-orthodox. We all respond to the same urges, who knew In our piece Sacred Sex pages 2 -29 we respectfully explore this hidden world. I guess the expression “You can’t judge a book by its cover” is relevant here. Shared experiences are vital to the development and maintenance of healthy relationships. We offer a variety of perspectives and options. In her piece They Polished the Glassware pages 2- 5 arisa inetti invites the reader along with her and Kirk Peterson as they enjoy a gourmet meal in total darkness. Sharing the challenge of such an experience with a loved one must rank up there, sign me up the next time that Twist by Pierre Gagnaire at the andarin Oriental holds such an evening. Timm etivier was a man on a mission he wanted to get people out of their devices and back to face-to-face social interaction. His solution to this growing problem came in the form of a caf , to be precise Meepleville Board Game Café. In his story Games People Play pages 2- 5 Ja Greenspon interviews etivier who shines a light on the wonderful world of boardgamers. Sometimes a couple’s ultimate date is their wedding reception. Often the highlight of the day or night is the moment they take the floor for their first dance. In our piece The Perfect Wedding Song pages 52-5 we ask a few locals for their cautionary tales and advice. We will be posting a play list of beloved wedding songs on our website www.davidlv.com. inally a few words about our cover, we need to thank the following individuals for their creativity and generous spirits. ichelle Rothstein and Chris Cope of Balloons With a Twist for investing their time, resources and creative energy, photographer extraordinaire Tonya Harvey who has grown up with us in the publishing world, make up artist a new friend of DAVID agazine Ish Bermudez, Jr and last but not least, super patient model and lady of the teapot handbag, Keriann Parkes. Eros be pleased, I sign off with love and gratitude, see you in the racks.
ax D. riedland max davidlv.com
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Pulse
Your Guide to the Arts, Entertainment and Community Events. What's Hot this Month in Dining, Shopping and Local Attractions.
Cher, Feb. 8-25 www.davidlv.com | 11
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Explore
CARNIFAX WITH FALLUJAH, RINGS OF SATURN, LORNA SHORE, AND SHE MUST BURN 6 p.m., $18 and up. Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-6935000. http://hardrockhotel.com EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL Through Feb. 16, 9 p.m., $35 and up. Tommy Wind Theater, 3765 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-895-9787. http://tommywindtheater.com/ KEITH SWEAT Through Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., $59 and up. Flamingo, 3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-733-3111. https://caesars.com/ flamingo-las-vegas WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY: VEGAS ON MY MIND Through Feb. 4, 8 p.m., $59 and up. Venetian, 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-414-1000. https://venetian.com
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ANDREW DICE CLAY Through Feb. 4, 10 p.m., $54 and up. Tropicana, 3801 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-739-2222. http://troplv.com ACE FREHLEY 7 p.m., $35 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas
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FIRST FRIDAY ART CELEBRATION 6 p.m., free. Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-383-3133. http://theartsfactory. com/ JON LOVITZ & DANA CARVEY REUNITED Through Feb. 4, 8:30 p.m., $49 and up. SLS, 2535 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-7617000. http://slshotels.com/lasvegas 52 FRIDAYS: TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS 8 p.m., $32 and up. Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St., Las Vegas. 702-3857111. http://goldennugget.com Jon Lovitz & Dana Carvey Reunited Feb. 3-4,
February 1 THE KING STARRING TRENT CARLINI Through Feb. 2, 7 p.m., $51 and up. Hooters, 115 E. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas. 702-739-9000. http://hooterscasinohotel.com/ ONE WOMAN SEX AND THE CITY: A PARODY ON LOVE, FRIENDSHIP AND SHOES Through
Feb. 4, 7 p.m., $25 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-7492012. http://thesmithcenter.com UNLV RUNNIN' REBELS BASKETBALL VS. NEW MEXICO 8 p.m., $15 and up. Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas. 702-739-3267. http:// thomasandmack.com
ALI WONG 7:30 p.m., $45 and up. Ka Theater, MGM Grand, 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-892-7575. https://mgmgrand.com JIM BREUER Through Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., $40 and up. South Point, 9777 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. http:// southpointcasino.com SINBAD Through Feb. 4, 8 p.m., $44 and up. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. http://orleans.com
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Ariana Grande, Feb. 4
TOSH.SHOW Through Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m., $66 and up. Terry Fator Theatre, Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-7917111. http://mirage.com BROADWAY IN THE HOOD: AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' Through Feb. 5, times vary, $34. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com
5 BIG GAME PARTY AT HARD ROCK CAFE 2:30 p.m., $200 and up. Hard Rock Café on the Strip, 3771 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-7337625. http://hardrock.com/cafes/las-vegas/
6 JEFF CIVILLICO: COMEDY IN ACTION Through Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m., $40 and up. Flamingo, 3555
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S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-733-3111.
RICHARD CHEESE & LOUNGE AGAINST
https://caesars.com/flamingo-las-vegas
THE MACHINE 8 p.m., $35 and up. Red Rock
BRUCE HARPER BIG BAND WITH ELISA
Casino, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-797-7777. https://redrock.sclv.com/ ARIANA GRANDE 7:30 p.m., $40 and up. MGM Grand, 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-892-7575. https://mgmgrand.com UNLV RUNNIN' REBELS BASKETBALL VS. COLORADO STATE 3 p.m., $15 and up. Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas. 702-739-3267. http:// thomasandmack.com CABRERA CONDUCTS DVORAK 7:30 p.m.,
FIORILLO: LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! 7 p.m., $20 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony
Fall in Love With Bagels!
Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://
301 N. Buffalo Drive
thesmithcenter.com
702-255-3444
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THE SWEETS' SPOT WITH MELODY SWEETS:
www.thebagelcafelv.com
LOVERS EDITION 10 p.m., $25 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com
8 CHER Through Feb. 25, 9 p.m., $55 and
$30 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony
up. Park Theater, Monte Carlo, 3770 S. Las
Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://
Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-730-7777. http://
thesmithcenter.com
montecarlo.com
WhereTheLocalsEat.com
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TOM SEGURA: NO TEETH NO ENTRY TOUR 7 p.m., $26 and up. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702632-7600. http://mandalaybay.com HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS 2017 WORLD TOUR 7 p.m., $27 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com
DIRECT FROM MOTOWN: THE DETROIT ALL STARS Through Feb. 11, 8 p.m., $10. Cannery Casino & Hotel, 2121 E. Craig Rd., Las Vegas. 702-507-5700. http://cannerycasino.com
MAX & IGOR CAVALERA RETURN TO ROOTS 6 p.m., $25 and up. Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com
ENVY SHOWCASE 8 p.m., $10. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http://mandalaybay.com
10 AN EVENING WITH BURT BACHARACH 7:30 p.m., $29 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com SANTINO FONTANA WITH BRYAN CARTER, STEVEN FEIFKE, & CHARLIE ROSEN Through Feb. 11, 7 p.m., $39 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-7492012. http://thesmithcenter.com ADAM ANT: KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER LIVE 2017 8 p.m., $30 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http:// brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas
RON WHITE Through Feb. 11, 10 p.m., $66 and up. Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com
BLUE OYSTER CULT 8 p.m., $32 and up. The Showroom, Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St., Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. http:// goldennugget.com IRATION: LOST AND FOUND WINTER TOUR 8 p.m., $40 and up. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com LISA LAMPANELLI 9 p.m., $61 and up. Mystère Theatre, Treasure Island, 3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. http:// treasureisland.com ILLUSIONIST RICK THOMAS Through Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m., $25 and up. South Point, 9777 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. http:// southpointcasino.com
Johnish F
Jewelers
Commercial Shopping Center 953 E. Sahara, B-5 Las Vegas, Nevada 89104
702-731-1323
www.johnfishjewelers.vegas Adam Ant, Feb. 10
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SEVEN THINGS I'VE LEARNED: AN EVENING WITH IRA GLASS 7:30 p.m., $30 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http:// thesmithcenter.com UNLV RUNNIN' REBELS BASKETBALL VS. SAN JOSE STATE 3 p.m., $15 and up. Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas. 702-739-3267. http:// thomasandmack.com WILD CHILD: A TRIBUTE TO THE DOORS 8 p.m., $15. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-6327600. http://mandalaybay.com MARILYN MCCOO AND BILLY DAVIS JR. Through Feb. 12, 8 p.m., $38 and up. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas. 702-2847777. http://orleans.com
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FINDING NEVERLAND Through Feb. 19, times vary, $29 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com GALACTIC: WINTER TOUR 7 p.m., $22 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl. com/las-vegas
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PSYCHO ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN 7 p.m., $25 and up. Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC SPOTLIGHT SERIES 7:30 p.m., $195 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com ALTER BRIDGE 6:30 p.m., $28 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl. com/las-vegas
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DAVID CASSIDY 8 p.m., $32 and up. The Showroom, Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St., Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. http:// goldennugget.com
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Seven Things I've Learned: An Evening With Ira Glass, Feb. 11
WEEN Through Feb. 19, 6 p.m., $55 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl. com/las-vegas
SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO Through Feb. 18, 10
GEORGE STRAIT Through Feb. 18, 8 p.m., $75 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://tmobilearena.com
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ATMOSPHERE: FRESHWATER FLY FISHING TOUR 8 p.m., $23. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702632-7600. http://mandalaybay.com BONNIE RAITT 8 p.m., $47 and up. The Pearl, Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas. 702942-7777. http://palms.com R. KELLY 8 p.m., $50 and up. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO Through Feb. 18, 7 p.m., $45 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http:// thesmithcenter.com EARL TURNER Through Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., $30 and up. South Point, 9777 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. http:// southpointcasino.com
p.m., $50 and up. Terry Fator Theatre, Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-7917111. http://mirage.com
FRANKIE VALLI 8 p.m., $46 and up. The Pearl, Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas. 702942-7777. http://palms.com TWENTY ONE PILOTS: EMOTIONAL ROADSHOW WORLD TOUR 7 p.m., $40 and up. Event Center, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http:// mandalaybay.com AFI: THE BLOOD TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS NOTHING AND SOUVENIRS 7 p.m., $28 and up. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com THE FLAMINGOS 8 p.m., $20. Cannery Casino & Hotel, 2121 E. Craig Rd., Las Vegas. 702-5075700. http://cannerycasino.com GREAT WHITE & SLAUGHTER 8 p.m., $15 and up. Eastside Cannery, 5255 Boulder Hwy., Henderson. 702-856-5300. http:// eastsidecannery.com/
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APPETITE 4 DESTRUCTION: A TRIBUTE TO GUNS N' ROSES 8 p.m., $15. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http://mandalaybay. com UNLV RUNNIN' REBELS BASKETBALL VS. NEVADA RENO 3 p.m., $20 and up. Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas. 702-739-3267. http:// thomasandmack.com DIRECT CELLARS PRESENTS "UNCORKED!" FEATURING BETTER THAN EZRA 7 p.m., $45 and up. The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com
Bon Jovi, Feb. 25
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GEORGE BUGATTI'S PIANO BAR: A NEW MUSICAL SERIES WITH SPECIAL GUEST STAR JOHN O'HURLEY 2 p.m., $39 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter. com
20 SHAOLIN WARRIORS 7:30 p.m., $24 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http:// thesmithcenter.com THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS 7 p.m., $23 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http:// brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas
21 DARK STAR ORCHESTRA 8 p.m., $25. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http:// mandalaybay.com
22 BLUES TRAVELER: UNHOOKED Through Feb. 23, 9:30 p.m., $79 and up. Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-2275938. http://caesarspalace.com TAPE FACE Through Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m., $74 and up. Flamingo, 3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-733-3111. https:// caesars.com/flamingo-las-vegas
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JEFFERSON STARSHIP 8 p.m., $47 and up. Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St., Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. http://goldennugget.com DUDE RANCH AND THE GIRL AT THE ROCK SHOW: BLINK 182 TRIBUTE 8 p.m., $10 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl. com/las-vegas MARY WILSON: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Through Feb. 25, 7 p.m., $39 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com MICHAEL CAVANAUGH: SONGS OF BILLY JOEL AND MORE Through Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m., $35 and up. South Point, 9777 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. http:// southpointcasino.com RAY ROMANO AND DAVID SPADE Through Feb. 25, 10 p.m., $109 and up. Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com
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HEART & SOUL: A CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL AND BLACK HISTORY 10 a.m., free. Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St. Henderson. 702267-2171. http://cityofhenderson.com/ BON JOVI: THIS HOUSE IS NOT FOR SALE TOUR 7:30 p.m., $37 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-6921300. http://t-mobilearena.com
CIRCA SURVIVE 6:30 p.m., $23 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl. com/las-vegas SWAN LAKE Through Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $29 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter. com ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK Through Feb. 26, 8 p.m., $60 and up. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. http://orleans. com
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DRU YOUNG STARRING IN THE STAGE BIOGRAPHIES OF SAM COOKE & SAMMY DAVIS, JR. 2 p.m., $25. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com
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THE GRATEFUL BALL WITH TRAVELIN' MCCOURYS AND JEFF AUSTIN BAND 7 p.m., $25 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http:// brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas
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RAILROAD EARTH 7 p.m., $20 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas
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.
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Devour
Brussels Sprouts Pizza Brussels sprouts, as they are now known, were grown possibly as early as the 13th century in what is now Belgium, and forerunners to modern Brussels sprouts were likely cultivated in ancient Rome. At OTTO Enoteca e Pizzeria, Brussels sprouts are served two ways. The first, as a shareable appetizer, crispy fried Brussels sprouts are light and flavorful. They are also utilized to create the pizza of the season: the Brussels sprouts pizza, which has mozzarella, prosciutto and preserved lemon as additional toppings. OTTO Enoteca e Pizzeria, Venetian, 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-677-3390
Valentine’s Smooch Martini To make one’s heart melt, it takes a certain amount of sugar and spice. Sugar Factory at Planet Hollywood has the perfect drink for the month of love. The combination of silky smooth strawberry and banana puree with strawberry rum, crème de banana, strawberry schnapps and milk is sure to delight. • • • •
• •
1oz Strawberry Schnapps 1oz Strawberry Rum 1oz Crème De Banana 0.5oz Strawberry Puree 1oz Banana Puree 2oz Milk
Garnish: Dark Chocolate Shavings Floated on top, Gummy Kiss cut to fit on glass Sugar Factory at Planet Hollywood, 3663 S. Las Vegas Blvd., #1240, Las Vegas. 702-866-0777
Parmesan truffle fries You can be happy with French fries, but fries with truffle and parmesan cheese? Three addicting elements in a side dish to complement a juicy steak at STK makes for a satisfied diner. The truffle parmesan fries are thick blocks of uniformly cut potatoes – Jenga-style, if you will – and just the thing for those who prefer even more heft than thick cut fries. STK, Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7990. www.davidlv.com | 17
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Desire
What to Love Do you love what you do? Journals are more than an account of daily life and relationships. Throw passion onto the pages for years of remembrance and inspiration. More Love Pink Marble journal. $14. Francesca’s, Town Square, 6593 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-263-4485.
Celebrate the place where you met. This jigsaw puzzle is a light-hearted but tender way to celebrate love and relationships. This custom jigsaw puzzle is created just for you from a US Geological Survey mapping. The map covers an area of four miles by six miles and includes 400-pieces. $39.95. Signals.com
For your special canine who deserves love each and every day, what’s better than a gift that will protect him should he get lost? Find your pet with a click of a button on your smartphone. It’s waterproof, too! $99 to $125. GetGibi.com
Back by popular demand, the Nintendo Love Tester is a groovy remake of the version that was first released in 19 9. A way for shy couples to test how passionate they feel about each other, both partners just hold hands and each grasp a ball. The tester then gauges how stimulated they are when they kiss by using the same kind of technology utilized with lie detectors: the higher the passion, the more your hands sweat, the more the dial reacts! $55. amazon.com
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When the universe conspires, love happens. The re-emergence of an old friend, a new love interest - these moments are more than coincidence. Alex & Ani’s “Love is in the Air - Alive with Love” bracelet set of five is capable of making hearts flutter. $125. Alex & Ani, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-893-3807.
Part of her famous Graffiti collection, this design features Paloma Picasso’s own handwriting. Pendant in 18k rose gold with round brilliant diamonds. Size small, on a 16” chain. Carat total weight .15. $3,100. Tiffany & Co., Shops at Crystals, 3720 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-545-9090.
Alessi’s “Big Love” ice cream bowl is crafted of stainless steel set into a blue thermoplastic resin pedestal and features a matching heartshaped spoon. $65. Barneys.com
With on-trend graffiti-like artwork by designer Tom Clancy, this shopper tote is urban and edgy, fresh and fun. $320. Brighton Collectibles, Town Square Las Vegas, 6659 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-369-0963.
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Discover Beyond Casa Shenandoah’s Gilded Gates or the first time, guests will get an intimate glimpse into the life of Wayne Newton and tour the property that has been the personal home of r. Las Vegas for more than four decades. Casa de Shenandoah, the 52-acre Las Vegas estate of the iconic entertainer, showcases a museum, which features a lifetime of Newton’s memorabilia, including gifts from legendary celebrity friends such as rank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Jack Benny. It also houses his personal collection of rare automobiles, a private jet and his childhood home. While there, don’t forget to visit with his animals horses, penguins, wallabies, peacocks, and more. Casa de Shenandoah casadeshenandoah.com.
Valentine’s Picnic in the Park It's picnic time with a romantic movie at Beer Park this Valentine's Day. Your three-course meal comes pre-packed inside a souvenir picnic basket for two. Inside find champagne, beer, starters, salads, gourmet sandwiches, fresh fruit and a decadent dessert of single-origin HE chocolate mousse with biscotti as well as milk and dark HE chocolate bars. “Picnic in the Park” is priced at 100 per couple, plus taxes and gratuity. Picnic packages must be pre-ordered and can be purchased through NightOut.com. Beer Park, Paris Las Vegas, 702- 500.
55 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.
Historic Hoover Dam Railroad Trail The only remaining section of the Hoover Dam railroad system that is not highly disturbed or under water is a trail with five oversized tunnels that accommodated the large e uipment being transported to Hoover Dam during its construction until 19 5. The Railroad Trail is a light hike, with little to no slope, that hugs Lake ead’s shoreline. Of note This section was used in the motion picture The Gauntlet, starring Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke, for a se uence in which they were on a motorcycle being chased by an assassin in a helicopter. Lake Mead Visitors Center, Lakeshore Rd. 702-29 -8990.
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Mingle
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Canon U.S.A. Celebrates 20th Annual Fundraiser Honoring its Customers and ene tin e ati nal Center for Missing & Exploited Children Venue Bellagio Las Vegas
Date Friday, July 6
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This Annual Canon Customer Appreciation Red Carpet Reception and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children NC EC Benefit undraiser and NCMEC Celebrity Golf Tournament was held recently in Las Vegas to raise funds and awareness for child safety.
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(L-R) TV personality/investigator John Walsh, talent agent Jaki Baskow and actor Bryan Cranston Actor/director Joe Regalbuto. Actor Danny Latham and guest (on the left.) Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie and wife Jennifer Turco. (L-R) Actor Robert Hays, actress Paula Trickery and John Walsh’s wife Sheree Walsh. Singer Pia Zadora. Lead singer and bassist of rock group Asia, John Payne and guest. Major League Baseball pitcher Rollie Fingers with his son Jason (on the left.) Actor Marc Donovan
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Mingle The Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada, An Evening For The Arts Venue The House of Straus
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Thursday, January 19
Event
The House of Straus was the place to be on Thursday, January 19th. More than 100 art enthusiasts and members of the community came together to enjoy the beautiful home turned museum of the late Joyce Straus and to raise funds for the Jewish Community Center’s newest initiative, JVegas Center for Creative Arts. Heidi and David Straus warmly opened the home for the event, gave tours to all the attendees, and spoke about the history of David’s mother, the remarkable Joyce Straus. Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada www.jccsn.org (702) 794-0090.
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(L-R) Jeff Metz, Devra Weiss, Leora Blau, Annette Aerenson, Heidi Straus, Nancy Weinberger, Charlene Sher, Cheryn Serenco, Ardi Najmabadi and David Straus. (L-R) Madison Blau, Maria Sanders, Steve Sanders and Michael BenShimon. Carole Pockey and Dr. Neville Pokroy. Annette Aerenson and Leora Blau. Alan Bachman and Jeffrey Metz. Nancy Weinberger and Leonard Stone. (L-R) Jessica Marshall, Annette. Aerenson, Randy Char, Cari Marshall, Josh Abelson, Alexis Marshall, Ardi Najmabadi and Michael Williams.
Photos: Ryan Aaron Reisman
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Mingle Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Nevada, Annual Lion of Judah Luncheon. Date
Thursday, January 12
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Andiron Steak & Sea
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Guest speaker, Nancy Spielberg, gave an inspirational speech about growing up with her brother Steven and what inspired them to get into the film industry. Nancy, a Lion of Judah herself, discussed her love for Israel and the inspiration behind several of her documentaries. These include Above and Beyond, On The Map, with director Dani Menkin and Who Will Write Our History, with director Roberta Grossman. Janie Greenspun Gale and Susan Greenspun Fine followed Nancy’s comments, connecting several of the participants in Above and Beyond, to their late father, Hank Greenspun and his efforts to aid Israel.
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(L-R) Debbie Strimling, Nancy Spielberg, Heidi Sarno Straus and Judy Stone (L-R) Ann McGee, Joan Davis, Annette Aerenson, Nancy Weinberger, Devra Weiss and Juli-Ann Ruben Judy Mack and Kathleen Menashe Cari Marshall and Lara Stone Shelley Dubin and Marla Letizia Elizabeth Ackerman and Flora Mason Susan Greenspun Fine and Janie Greenspun Gale Michael Glaser, Karin Sporn and Nancy Golden Jane Schorr, Rick Moore, and Sheryl Goldstein
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Mingle Jewish Emerging Leaders of Jewish Nevada’s Annual Light it Up Party Venue Ghostbar, Palms Casino Resort
Date Saturday, December 24
Event
Jewish Nevada kicked off the first night of Chanukah 2016 with their annual Light It Up event. Each year on the eve of December 2 th, they bring the Jewish Young Adult community together for networking, socializing and celebration. JewEL Jewish Emerging Leaders is the Young Adult Division of Jewish Nevada that connects young Jewish adults ages 22- 5 to the Jewish Community through Social Events and Professional Networking, Educational Opportunities, Leadership Development and Community Service Programs. Jewish Nevada looks forward to another year of growth, collaboration and leadership and Light it Up 2017 which is already in the early planning stages. Jewish Nevada, jewishnevada.org 702.7 2.055
Photos: Danielle Rubinstein
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Live
A Focus on Living in Las Vegas People and Places Arts and Entertainment Food and Beverage Philanthropy and Religion Health and Fitness and More...
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Sense
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Sacred Sex Lovemaking…Kosher Style
By Lynn Wexler
I
recently spent an entertaining weekend in Los Angeles with my close friends, Michael and Sharon, observant (orthodox) Jews living in the predominantly Jewish area of West Los Angeles known as Beverlywood. The occasion was a pre-nuptial celebration of their daughter Shaina’s upcoming wedding. I was thrilled to be a part of the excitement, and jitters, in anticipation of the big day. Sharon was generous with her hospitality, sharing the myriad wedding details so meticulously scripted - among them the attire that Shaina would don on her wedding night. I think of myself as an unabashed gal under most circumstances, but when Sharon gleefully pulled me into her daughter’s bedroom to revel in their recent purchases, I was momentarily stunned. OMG! Was this marital bliss orthodox style? Fashionably displayed across Shaina’s bed was an array of erotic and provocative nighties, the likes of which made me all at once blush from awkwardness and smile with envy. Silks, satins and lace… reds, blacks and whites…corsets, garters, babydolls, thongs, basques and chemises! Wait…is this even kosher??? “You bet it is!” laughed my friend who winked at her giggling, though somewhat trepidacious, daughter. Shaina is 20 years old. Her groom-to-be, 23. Their wedding night would be a consummating moment for both as sexual relations outside of marwww.davidlv.com | 27
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REthink T E A M W O R K
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riage are frowned upon in orthodox Judaism. Shaina’s excitement, coupled with apprehension, was understandable. What happened to sex through a hole in the sheet anyway? Evidently an urban legend. This eye-opening encounter enticed my curiosity to explore the art of lovemaking…kosher style. Jewish law – as written in the Torah (Old Testament) and before rabbinic interpretation - looks favorably upon sexuality. Sex is not considered sinful, lewd or disgraceful. Satisfied in its proper time, place and manner, sex is encouraged, required and even deemed a mitzvah (a good deed through religious duty). The Torah does not forbid fornication, apart from adultery and incest, but the rabbis of the Talmudic period banned it to prevent the unwanted consequences of an uncontrolled sexual appetite, such as pregnancy out of wedlock, sexually transmitted diseases, or rape . The Talmud (the central text of ancient religious authority in Orthodox Judaism) states that procreation is only one of the many purposes of sex; the primary purpose being the reinforcement of the loving marital bonds as exclusive between a husband and a wife. In his book, This is my God, The Jewish Way of Life, Pulitzer-Prize winning Jewish-American author Herman Wouk writes, “Judaism regards sex as the cord that secures the union of two lovers for life: for shared strength, pleasure, and ease, and for the rearing of children.” Wouk adds that sex enjoyed by two people within a marriage, “…turns out to be one of the keenest pleasures in life.” Renowned 11th century Jewish sage Maimonides explains that sex is a women’s right, and a man’s obligation is to please his wife regularly. He refers to Nashim (women) – one of the six sections of the Talmud – which provides a detailed schedule for a man’s conjugal obligations, organized by profession while taking his circumstances into account. For instance, a man of independent means is obliged to engage in sexual pleasure with his wife every day. Meanwhile, the wife is permitted to reject her husband’s sexual advances and the husband is forbidden to pressure her. Maimonides continues, saying that, “since a man’s wife is permitted to him, he may act with her in any manner whatsoever [given her full consent]. He may have intercourse with her whenever he so desires and kiss any organ of her body he wishes; and he may have intercourse with her naturally or unnaturally [traditionally this refers to anal and oral sex], provided that he does not expend semen to no purpose.” The Talmud even condones sexual relations between husband and wife when a woman is pregnant, using an accepted form of birth control, as well as after menopause. Opinions on the subject of sex vary among rabbis, but the prevailing view of Jewish law governing sexual expression between a husband and a wife is that any sexual act that does not involve destruction of seed (ejaculation outside of the vagina) is permissible. No wonder the excitement over the titillating dainties. That first night of pleasure would stand as the foundation Shaina and her husband would always return to as a reminder of the bond of love they forged. The muchanticipated wedding night held the immeasurable promise of sexual fulfillment and adventure with a partner, someone to share all of life’s responsibilities and pleasures. New York City Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is the outspoken guru of noholds-barred sex within the boundaries of marriage. He is the author of
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Kosher Sex and, most recently, Kosher Lust, and has a sex counseling reality TV show on TLC. Oprah Winfrey is a fan and gave him a show on her XM station. He argues that great sex is the glue that strengthens a marriage. “Sex is a big deal in Judaism. It’s all in the Talmud. It’s a religious obligation. In Jewish law a man has to make his wife orgasm before he does.” Rabbi Boteach believes that within the boundaries of marriage and Torah law, anything goes sexually. “In orthodox Jewish marriage, there’s a part every single month when sex is forbidden. You’re not even allowed to touch. It’s 12 days out of every month five days of menstruation, and seven days after. It’s not easy to keep, but it leads to lust,” he said. Lust, according to the Rabbi, along with sexual novelty is an important ingredient in marriages. “Anything that makes you more hooked is permitted. Oral sex is fine. Anal? Yeah, why not? She wants S and M? Sure. There’s nothing unkosher about it. Sex toys are great. Anything that increases the passion of husband and wife, great,” he exclaims. Where novelty is concerned, Rabbi Boteach explains that it’s not the novelty of a new partner that’s required, but the novelty of going deeper into the erotic mind of the same partner - understanding their fantasies. “Have an affair with your wife,” he says. “You don’t have to have a sanitary marriage. We tend to make the single years into the wild years. Marriage should be about swinging from the chandeliers.” For the secular among us, how we choose to have sex, and sexual partners, has become muddied in the modern era. Modern day freedoms and mobility have paved the way for increased personal choice, exposure and thus increased options to entertain and pursue desires that were once off limits. February is the month for the secular celebration of Valentine’s Day – a moment out of the year for the romantic expression of love through flowers, candy, jewelry, candle lit dinners and, yes, sex. But love and sex reduced to a moment can be a fleeting experience at best. The pursuit of sex through romantic notions has become confused with sex through commitment to love. This foists upon society the illusion that a singular mate can provide a life of continuous ecstasy. When the illusion fails to deliver, so does the relationship. Passion lived in a vacuum tends to expire quickly. Romantic love alone raises unrealistic expectations. Oscar Wilde cynically noted, “One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.” The words “I love you” expressed outside of commitment are often confused with “I want to have sex with you”. Early American poet John Ciardi believed that, “Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation of the middleaged, and the mutual dependence of the old.” I know orthodox Jews haven’t cornered the market on integrating sexual bliss, love and commitment within the bonds of fidelity and marriage. But as I stood there in Shaina’s room, the three of us together – blushing, laughing and holding the sexy items against ourselves and trying to figure out how to even put them on - I was grateful to be part of a tradition that values the sensuality of the human body, the numerous and creative expressions of love encouraged between two people, and the Torah’s prescribed homage paid to both.
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Know
Behind the Scenes Chris Cope of Balloons with a Twist Works His Magic on This Month’s Cover By Jaq Greenspon
O
n a rainy Sunday afternoon in late January, the DAVID offices were transformed into a makeshift dressmaking factory and photo studio. Balloon sculptor dress designer Chris Cope of Balloons with a Twist had, the day before, spent 11 hours transforming thousands of pieces of white latex into the gorgeous wedding gown that graces our cover this month. Chris arrived early with his creation, which he had built on a dress form. After managing the final details on site, he literally had to twist the gown into shape on our “bride,” Keriann Parkes, ensuring a tailored fit designed to endure even the wildest party. akeup artist Ish Bermudez’s painstaking artistry had to be touched up over and over again while photographer Tonya Harvey adjusted the lights and backdrop. Here, Keriann even has an inflated bou et and garter just imagine the anticipation as they float out above the heads of the hopeful single ladies. Of course, there are many things you have to take into account when you get a wedding dress made completely out of balloons for one thing, instead of sucking in, you have to exhale… a lot but just to get the “fabric” properly inflated . or another, when you hear a “pop” you have to hope it’s another bottle of champagne and not a part of your outfit giving way. You also have to deal with the inevitable jokes about “wishing I had a pin handy” but in the end, it’s all worth it. You’ll have a dress people will talk about long after the party’s over.
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Taste
They Polished the Glassware
Indulging in the unknown - A Twist on Dining in the Dark
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By Kirk Peterson and Marisa Finetti
T
he lights are extinguished. The room now dark. The only glimmer of light comes through the floor-to-ceiling window panes facing Las Vegas Boulevard, twenty-three floors below. The lowest lumens are enough to keep us from knocking over the wine glasses, enough to find our fork. But that’s about it. There’s no color, only shades of grey. Dinner tonight appears like a 19 0s noir detective film. Five minutes earlier, we acquaint ourselves with dining companions. Reception cocktails are offered and accepted, small talk is made. A single, large oval table is meticulously set before us, 1 seats with five wine glasses each, in a private dining room in the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas at Twist by Pierre Gagnaire. Master Sommelier Will Costello explains the game five courses, five wines, in the dark. Now, it takes a moment for our eyes to adjust to shadows. How much does the experience of flavor depend on actually seeing what we taste? How much misdirection will Chef de Cuisine Frederic Don employ? Pierre Gagnaire explored what is now known as molecular gastronomy, long before it had a name. Using agar and foams to deceive and trick, surprise and delight, to manipulate the form and flavor of a dish and “twist” and incarnate it into something unexpected. It’s like the board game Clue. Colonel Mustard in the kitchen - with an immersion blender. We have a guide of sorts, a Mad Libs-styled card describing the dish with key information left blank for us to solve. Then starts a practice run - a course of amuse bouche. Distinctively unique flavors and
textures: one of them, a spherical puff; next, a delicate wafer; then, a li uid-filled cracker. And lastly, a cubed jelly on a stick.. What could they be? Besides delicious? The first course arrives with a flourish - the staff unhindered by the darkness. Chefs often say that we feast with our eyes first. Despite the shadowy dimness, we recognize the lovely plating and presentation. With the first few bites the room bubbles into hushed uestioning murmur. What is this Raw fish, sliced paper-thin The guide reveals it swims near Gagnaire’s home in Brittany, rance. But, we lack expertise in piscine geography. Besides, what are these diminutive crunchy bits on top? Flavor is mostly aroma. And aroma - mostly nostalgic and emotional. That taste, that smell, they seem so familiar but peculiarly mystifying to attach a name to. This is why sommeliers train by blind tasting wine, to practice recognizing and putting a name to flavors and aromas. The first wine is white probably and smells fresh and pungent, a bit like citrus and a bit like fresh cut grass. Too preoccupied by figuring out the unknown, we don’t notice that it matches the dish perfectly - until the last few bites. The second course arrives. We settle into the confines of our senses. The group has grown more conversational. The aroma and texture point to fish. We discuss what this could be. Sea bass maybe Halibut What else is in the puree beneath Certain only that it’s pleasing to the soul. The wine that accompanies is an exquisite match, cutting through the richness and refreshing the palate, making us yearn for more.
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A more bewildering third course ensues. We squint in the darkness and advance comically taking small bites, while trying to discern what they are. Chef has successfully hidden the ingredient in “plain sight” in the previous course. But this one, according to our guide, was to be transformed. In the lowest light we see medallions of protein. One slice with the knife reveals a distinct skin which surrounds it – could be animal, but possibly vegetable. The taste and texture is so familiar but not exact. It rests delicately on a mildly-sweet puree. The taste of tartness, baking spices - it’s a fruit, or a maybe a medley of fruits. Pear? Without our vision, aromas and flavors guide the way. In the darkness, we still close our eyes. We intensify our senses to our palates. We slacken our pace to feel the fineness, the coarseness drilling down to the granular level. Day-to-day, we’d pay no attention to such subtle detail. The wine is discernibly darker than the wines before. Reminiscent of candied red fruit, with a fresh and silky texture - a perfect match to the third course, which was still in question. Yet course number four proves to be another test. We are urged to think of a winter protein. It is tender, mild, utterly familiar. Could this be beef? Alongside the succulent cut rests a sponge cake. Clearly Gagnaire’s classic molecular gastronomy is showcased here. A smaller companion dish presents something cold and elegant, creamy like ice cream. The flavor contradicts our expectations. Savory, not sweet. The pairing wine is red and familiar. In a journey of expressive aro-
UNBELIEVABLE.
UNFORGETTABLE.
mas, it is as though brakes are slammed and the airbag is bell pepper. Outstanding complexity and an equal match to the meal. Finally, the dessert is a reflection of Gagnaire’s travels. We embark on a celebration of fresh and poached fruit, it’s both tropical and desert in origin. The textures so familiar. We imagine a landscape of colors. We are certain to encounter a citrus. Pomelo? Mandarin orange? Amid the monochromatic shadows, a reflective white tuile offers a welcoming crunch. Feather light and accompanied by a slight flavor of something … profoundly sophisticated. The wine with subtle hints of sweetness bursts with honey, tropical fruits and rose petals. Then at once, the sensorial indulgence is finished. The tender moments of mystery vanished. A game played well with convivial company. And the final engagement is a personal summary of this evening. The dinner was an immersion into Pierre Gagnaire’s creative genius. The masterfully-crafted feast was a lesson - in interpreting the slight, exploring the implied, enduring the suspenseful, and savoring each bite with zeal. The room illuminated. And so did our senses. • A Twist on Dining in the Dark • TWIST by Pierre Gagnaire • Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas • Dates: February 8, March 11, 2017 • $225 per person + tax & gratuity • 7-10 p.m. Reservations – 702-590-8882/molas-fbresv@mohg.com
. Your Vision, Our Venue. Nothing Compromised.
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Taste
Aureole 2.0 Charlie Palmer Hands the Reins to Executive Chef Johnny Church
By Jason Harris
F
ull disclosure: this article is not objective. I’ve been a fan of Johnny Church since the first time I tried his food in the most obscure of locations a couple of years ago. rom bite one, I knew he had the potential to be a breakout chef in Las Vegas, and now that he has his most visible canvas to paint on, I want him to receive all the accolades he deserves. The thing is, Las Vegas, we should all be supporting Johnny as the next great chef on the Strip. Besides his talent, he is as close to a homegrown talent as we can ask for. In fact, other than working in his mother’s restaurant back in lint, ichigan and a sabbatical that saw him experience some of California’s best kitchens, his entire culinary career has been right here in the entertainment and food capital of the world. When I first met Church, 9, he had already done some major stops in the Las Vegas restaurant world. Among the chefs he worked for were Bradley Ogden and Charlie Palmer, the latter of which, as you’ll soon find out, is seminal to this story. He worked on the line at Andre’s, a rite of passage for more successful Las Vegas based chefs than I can count. And he was the chef behind the menu at TO Cafe, the popular breakfast and lunch spot that helped break open the Downtown Las Vegas dining scene. But the place I came to know him at was so tucked away, I couldn’t even find it on my first visit. Artisanal oods was a specialty market that sold high end items like truffles and imported cheeses. It was located in a nondescript office park in Henderson. nlike other specialty markets, this one had six tables set up and a fully operational kitchen. In that kitchen, Church created some of the most uni ue and affordable lunches in recent Las Vegas memory. Where else - especially in the suburbs - could one get dishes like lionfish ceviche, beef and octopus carpaccio, and a grilled cheese that has been etched in my memory since first taste
After Church, who won a “Best Chef Of The Year Off Strip” award for his work at Artisanal oods, split from that operation, he focused on catering, but the foodie community wondered where and when he would land his next big gig. Says Church of his more underground time, “I didn’t want to just pick a job. I didn’t want to look like, ‘Where is the guy now What is he doing ’ I wanted to go somewhere where I could put my head down for a few years and then either try to be an entrepreneur or move up with them or get my own spot on The Strip.” As fate would have it, Church’s past and present collided, and now he’s building his future. After losing touch for a few years, Church reached out to his old boss, the celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, to see if he might be a fit for the rebranding of Charlie Palmer Steak. While those puzzle pieces didn’t connect, Palmer, whose brand now includes 17 restaurants in seven different areas of the nited States, thought his old employee might be right for something else in his collection. The way Church puts it, “It was like the perfect storm.” Along with revamping Steak, Palmer thought it was time to take Aureole into today and tomorrow. Aureole, the meaning of which is “a circle of light or brightness surrounding something, especially as depicted in art around the head or body of a person represented as holy” was as fancy as its meaning. The high-end, rench inspired meat first mecca felt a bit aged. The Las Vegas iteration, as much known for its giant wine tower that features wine angels - beautiful women in tight, white leotards - pulling bottles out by scaling the tower on bungee cords, needed some updating. While the wine tower gimmick is ageless, the cuisine and style needed to evolve. As Palmer himself states, “That’s where we are in dining right now. That’s the way I want it to be. People say, ‘I want the restaurant to be less precious. With more laughter.’ The idea we are trying to get across
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Top Left: Beef & Octopus Carpaccio. Top Right: Raclette Fondue. Middle Left: Cold-Pressed Coffee Panna Cotta Middle Right: Tasting Table. Bottom Right: California Crab Roll.
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NEVADA BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS
With Live Orchestra Staged by Cynthia Gregory
Feb. 25 & 26, 2017 (702) 749-2000 NevadaBallet.org Photo by Jerry Metellus
NEVADA BALLET THEATRE — DAVID MAGAZINE AD — 3.875” X 4.8125”
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is this - great ingredients, simply prepared, kind of fun and relaxed atmosphere. Hopefully the restaurant is going to be a lot more fun with people sharing things.” This menu features the best of both Church and Palmer. The masculine yet finessed techni ue that Palmer built his reputation on has been ingrained in Church’s head since his first stint under the master. It is combined with the strange, whimsical point of view that Church is now known for. Palmer explains, “(The menu) is really collaborative in the sense that when you know somebody well enough and have a like mind with food, obviously Johnny knows my thoughts and that’s grown over 10+ years, it’s just so easy to work and collaborate with things when we speak the same language. We can spend five minutes on the phone and I could say, ‘Remember this or what we did here’ and it clicks right away.’” Church backs this up, “Charlie told me I can do my own thing. Great synergy. I emulate my cuisine after the philosophies of Charlie and Bradley Ogden and the guys that came up in that generation. I like to cook seasonally. When Charlie coined ‘American progressive cuisine’ it was because when he walked into the kitchen every day he felt like he was progressing. And that’s how I’ve always been. It’s a culture I’m trying to get back into this Aureole here. Keep pushing and progressing.” A nice shared plate to start with is the fritto misto 18 that features baby zucchini and artichokes in an impeccable batter spread out over an avocado cream. That batter, as good as any this side of the tempura asparagus found at Raku, features potato flour, corn starch, baking powder, espelette, salt, pep-
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Left Page: Johnny Church and Charlie Palmer. Above: Restaurant Interior.
per and sparkling water. The vegetables are flash fried and besides being damn tasty, the whole thing is incredibly light. The same batter is found on the shiso peppers paired with Chef Church’s lionfish ceviche 25 . Lionfish, an invasive species that is having its way in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, might be disruptive in the saltwater, but its meat is mellow and full of body, perfect for ceviche. Church goes Peruvian meets Asian here with aji amarillo, citrus, lemongrass, ginger, basil, mint, cilantro, and sweet potato. The chef says this is a good example of where the menu is going, seasonal and sustainable. Another of Church’s hits from the past that make an appearance here is the beef and octopus carpaccio 2 . Octopus is mixed mirepoix - chopped carrots, celery and onion - along with daikon, which breaks down the tough sea creature’s enzymes. It’s marinated with San Marzano tomatoes and cooked low and slow. The Piedmontese beef sirloin is butterflied and enhanced activa meat glue. The beef is then rolled up with the octopus inside and frozen. Once chilled right, it’s spread out and served with gremolata - chopped herbs - and brioche toast. See what I mean about strange and whimsical? Church compares his stellar vegan dish, root vegetable cassoulet 11 to a dish many of us make. He says, “It’s like when you make chili at home. You got your way.” His way for this hearty rench casserole includes a 12 hour vegetable stock, 11 different root veggies that are sweated in layers and include carrots, celery root, rutabaga, onions, leeks, celery. Garlic, beans, white wine, San Marzano tomatoes, basil thyme, parsley, chive an extra virgin olive oil based pistou and more blended vegetables are added with a number of techniques.
It’s complex to make and each bite gives the diner different tastes. Those looking for a modern take on steak are well-advised to try the 4x seared ribeye cap and eye 9 . The tender meat is seared for a minute at a time with a different layer of flavor added each time. Sea salt, mirin, soy, and uni make this a standout meat plate with the quality of the beef matched by the preparation. E ually as impressive is the charred Chilean sea bass 2 . This is another example of a perfect paring of protein and sauce. The black butter sauce -featuring equal parts black butter, lime juice, and soy sauce is full of contrasting yet complimentary flavors. Chopped up cashews and golden raisins add even more textures and tastes. It all sits on a bed of grits and is accompanied by sea beans. It’s as good a fish as I’ve tasted in the last few years. To finish the meal, Church and his team have developed a number of memorable desserts. Cheesecake three ways 21 is already in the running for dessert of the year. Valdeon bleu is topped with maple cream and candied pecans. Age white cheddar is paired with orange marmalade and marigold flowers. rench brie is finished off with huckleberry compote and fresh mint. The only problem with this dish is picking a favorite. Cold-pressed coffee panna cotta 11 is another top-notch item with the thick, espresso steeped sweetened cream complimented by huckleberry compote, sugar glass, brown butter powder, lavender ice cream, purple violets and fresh mint. It is a beauty both visually and taste wise. It’s been a long road for Johnny Church to find his way back to his former mentor Charlie Palmer. But with results like these, it is a journey well worth it. www.davidlv.com | 39
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W K A
ANTHONY J PRINCIPI F O R M E R U S S E C R E TA R Y O F V E T E R A N S A F F A I R S
F S H ﹕ ﹒ ﹒ C R | ﹕ ﹒ ﹒ D P ﹩ | ﹩ ﹐
R SV P F G I V E T U N TO U R O E D U/GA L A S A | C A TO U R O G A L A S P O N S O R S T U N
SELMA BA RT L E T T
DR. JALDEEP CLOOBECK FAMILY
DA U L AT
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MARSHALL ERN GLA Z TH U
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A MEMBER OF THE TOURO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
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Think
Essays and In-Depth Articles on Topics that Will Have People Talking all Month Long.
Blowing Up Convention | 52 www.davidlv.com | 41
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Games People Play “I’m really on a mission to get people out of their devices and to look at each other face to face and have social interaction.”
- Timm Metivier
By Jaq Greenspon
T
hese are the words of Timm Metivier, owner of the Meepleville Board Game Café. He means it, too. “This younger generation has grown up with phones and computers and Internet and having relationships that don’t exist with what they can hear or see.” So in order to make his dream a reality, Metivier, a long time gaming fan, decided to create a space where the object was to get people sitting across a table from each other, interacting. “There’s been a big backlash,” he says. “People are starting to realize, ‘wow, I really am not spending time with other people on social stuff. Even if I am sitting down at dinner, or out to coffee, I have my phone out and I’m in my phone’.” But when you step inside this open-plan space, you see people actually keeping their phones in their pockets for several hours at a time and interacting with each other. “And when they’re done, they realize how much fun they’re having doing it and how much they missed really being connected with other people.” While eepleville, which celebrated its first anniversary back on January 2nd, is unique to Las Vegas, the concept has been around for a while. When Snakes and Lattes opened in Toronto, it became the first such shop in North America, but in Asia the concept of a board game café has been around much longer. “In Asia, people don’t have big apartments or a lot of room to have people or store stuff,” explains Metivier, who became enamored with the idea in 2010, when Snakes and Lattes opened. “I really wanted to open up one here,” he recalls now. Except that wasn’t his first time thinking about the concept. “A friend had reminded me, I used to do magic at Dave and Busters and I always wanted to have a thing like Dave and Buster’s with board games.” www.davidlv.com | 43
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Getting people out of their Internet connected comfort zone, though, would that be a problem? Metivier gave it a lot of thought before he opened. As a professional entertainer himself, he knew that what he was selling, more than anything else, was the experience of coming to the café itself. “People can buy a game anywhere,” he says. “They can get a cup of coffee or a sandwich anywhere, but when people come in to my place, I make sure it’s going to be memorable to them. We always say their name, we say hi, we give them a tour, we show them around, we have game gurus who teach them games. We really make them feel appreciated and offer them an experience when they come in.” It seems to be working, too. In just over a year, the café has already expanded once and gets hundreds of people through the doors every month (even with the nominal cover charge). And while there are certainly couple and groups who come in together (you get a discount if you buy a couples monthly pass) a good number of patrons are flying solo. And while there are a number of single player games, it’s more fun to play with someone else, right? Don’t worry, Meepleville has you covered. “We have a lot of people who have made good friends, people who are dating,” says Metivier. “One of my employees met his girlfriend here. We have lots of people who come back on a regular basis, meet certain days and certain times to play games.
It’s a great, social place for people to do just that.” And even though it can happen any day of the week, Wednesdays are specifically for “meet-ups.” Additionally, Metivier and his staff of “Game Gurus” will do their best to make sure that anyone who wants to get into a game, can. “We ask,” he says. “It’s a kind of a sticky thing. Some people come in as a group and you don’t want to intrude some stranger on them, so we’re very cognizant of that.” At the same time, there are regulars who are more than willing to include a stranger into their midst. “It’s a tough thing but we always do our best to try and get somebody into a game if they do come in by themselves.” According to Metivier, they’ll have families come in together, birthday parties and even school groups. But this should come as no surprise if you’re following trends. Gaming is the new thing everyone is talking about. Last month, on the red carpet for the Golden Globes, actress Kirsten Bell and husband Dax Shepard were asked about their after show partying plans. “We’re going to going to play Settlers of Catan,” explained Shepard. “We have a very strict eight o’ clock start for game night tonight back at our house,” confirmed Bell. If you don’t know, Settlers of Catan is, according to Dax, “the nerdiest, it is the most wonderful, two hour…”, while his wife, talking over him, suggested the game is “wonderful, intense, strategy driven…”
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Timm Metivier owner of Meepleville.
And true to their word, at 8pm that evening, the pair, still wearing the formal attire they had worn when attending the awards, tweeted a picture of themselves, sitting at their table playing the game. To be a little clearer, Catan is a strategy board game, designed by Klaus Tauber and first introduced in Germany in 1995. The game play consists of resource management while trying to build settlements on the island of Catan, while at the same time, trading with and preventing your opponents from doing the same. This can lead to tension, as Bell pointed out: “It causes riffs,” she explained in mock seriousness. “It has broken friendships. It causes fights when we play it.” It’s also, quite possibly, responsible for the rise in board games we’ve seen over the last two decades. While the Internet has been getting bigger, and the world has been getting smaller thanks to it, board games have become increasingly popular. Since 2012, geek raconteur Wil Wheaton has hosted a YouTube show called Table Top where he teaches, then plays, a board game with celebrity guests. Kickstarter, the crowd-funding go to source, constantly has new games being proposed and some, like Kingdom Death: Monster 1.5raised over $12.3 million, considerably over its proposed funding goal of 100,000 raising the first million in only 19 minutes and ultimately landing it in the top 5 all time funded projects. In mid January, there were 135 tabletop game funding efforts active, many already past 100% of
their goal, while the site itself lists over 10,000 games overall which one could presumably have contributed towards over the years. And that’s not counting the games coming from established manufacturers (even more so than the latest iterations of Monopoly or Clue). That’s a lot of in person games already in existence with more coming out all the time. And it seems people want to be part of that. They understand the possible wedge technology is driving between them and are making a conscious effort to reconnect with those in close physical proximity, not merely those only available through the ether of a wifi connection. Metivier recalled a recent group of 45 students, all aged between 13 and 15 who had come to visit the café. “The teacher said it set a record. They were there for about two hours and they saw one phone in the entire time.” It’s a good bet some of those kids will be back and bringing their parents to share in an evening of trying out new games which then might be purchased for home play. In a few years, they’ll be leaving messages on the café’s old fashioned cork bulletin board, where notes are still put up with thumb tacks, asking to see if anyone wants to play the latest hot game. And they’ll be making friends and building relationships while rolling dice and drinking coffee, not while staring into an electronic device. Which, ultimately, is what it’s all about. www.davidlv.com | 45
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Think
Adriann Helton
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Blowing Up Convention “In olden days, a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking. but now, God knows, anything goes.” - Cole Porter
By Jaq Greenspon
“W
eddings are not necessarily about the cliché or the dress any more, they’re about the story,” explains designer and art director Adriann Helton. Instead of worrying about finding a dress which could take up as much as a third of the wedding’s budget, she thinks the process has changed. “Nowadays, weddings are curated for the memories being created, and the experience being shared with those present – not only on the day but also those who may only experience it through social media.” Sure, the traditional white gowns still exist, and probably always will, but instead of spending hundreds or thousands on a dress which will hang in a closet for decades, traditional brides today are renting their gowns. Men have been renting tuxes forever, so why can’t women get in on the action? There are plenty of companies which will alter a $20,000 gown to fit, then. When you’re done, you send it back and it gets altered for the next bride. Besides, with the current trends in micro homes and more women opting not to have children, there’s no place to store the thing and no new generation on which to pass it along; the narratives of the traditional wedding are changing. Today, the narrative can be anything you want it to be. Helton, who trained in fashion design, now, specializes in what she calls “communicating film ideas into everyday wearable content.” Recently she oversaw the design of the American Horror Story Collection for AC-DC Apparel to sell at mall couture shops like Hot Topic. Her team designed dresses to look like actual prom dresses. “We were asked to elevate it because they wanted them for homecoming dresses.” And it worked. Young ladies around the country were wearing these gowns to proms and holiday parties. “This is a pervasive part of fashion culture now.” Helton should know. After a brief stint doing film work, she found her way back to fashion in 2005, but her time doing character development through costume design has been informing her work through out. All of this leads to the fact that when she says “traditional,” is no longer really traditional, you believe her. Even the ever present floor length white
gown is, according to Helton, undergoing a “modernization trend, being paired with a rebellious leather jacket covering.” This is an age where we define ourselves by what we watch, read, play, or listen to and there’s no reason this shouldn’t become ever more encompassing. As Helton points out, “fandom is a huge part of this.” It’s not just a color scheme anymore - people are theming everything in their lives. And again, narrative is the key word here. We’re telling stories about ourselves in the way we choose to present ourselves to the outside world. Pop culture is overtaking high culture as the preferred method of interactive communication amongst the populace. Not only can your love of a certain intellectual property lead you to find your perfect partner, it can inform your wedding as well. It’s not unusual for a groom and his ushers to wear superhero t-shirts under their tuxedos or to have an entire bridal party dressed as Star leet officers. “Tardis Blue,” the specific color of the police call box found in the BBC show Doctor Who, is not only a specific re uest, but it’s become a regularly available option. Even simply peppering your wedding vows with references to your favorite film, TV show of book series makes it part of your story. That part also says we all have the ability to live the fantasy. You can take bits and pieces, elements you like from a variety of sources and bring them together in your uni ue style. You don’t have to dress like Tina Turner in ad ax to be inspired by her. Take, for example, the Penny Dreadful collection Helton recently designed. “Not everyone wants to walk around in a literal Victorian evening gown,” she says. “So how can you make it an everyday wearable garment that still calls back to the property’s origins ” What she did was make a knee length dress with lace details and added a print of a map of Victorian London, the illustrated streets giving way to rankenstein stitches to incorporate a character from the show “and voila ” As Helton says, “weddings are no longer about expectations.” Instead, they are about two people expressing their love for each other in a way which expresses their own personalities and freedoms. They are about celebrating who the couple is, not who society expects them to be – be it through fashion or dialogue or an Iron Throne cake topper. And, lest we forget, they are about the fabulous pictures which will commemorate the day. www.davidlv.com | 47
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Design by Adriann Helton
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Design by Adriann Helton
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Finding That Perfect Song How Your Favorite Vegas Couples Pulled it Off
By Rob Kachelriess
P
lanning a wedding comes with a lot of pressure to get everything right. I’m in the process of putting together a May wedding with my fianc ary and we’re doing pretty good so far. At least we think so. We’ve got a great location, planner and caterer. But we’re still trying to figure out the music. Should we
go with a DJ or a live performer? And what’s the perfect song for when Mary walks down the aisle And when we have our first dance And what music should be heard during the cocktail hour or reception? It’s a lot to consider, so I figured I’d talk to some notable names around Las Vegas and find out what they did to make their wedding day not only magical, but musical. A link to a Spotify playlist featuring the music discussed in this story can be found online at davidlv.com
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Terry Fator - Las Vegas Strip Headliner If you’ve ever seen Terry Fator’s show at the Mirage, you know the comedian and ventriloquist offers more than just a puppet show. He’s also a strong singer who performs a few songs straight - without gimmicks - each night. And while he has no problem being onstage in front of thousands of fans, he had trouble making eye contact with his bride Angie while singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at their wedding. “I couldn’t even look at her when I was singing,” Fator remembers. “Because
particular date. “We went ahead and got married in a small impromptu wedding that we threw together in a week,” says Fator. Both weddings were at the Hilton at Lake Las Vegas, but the second time around, Terry performed “I Must Have Done Something Good” from the Sound of Music during the actual ceremony. “[Angie] had no idea....I had a piano player waiting. He started and I sang the song. It brought everybody to tears. Me too.” Fator also penned an original tune for the big day called “Your Love Song
it would make me cry. So I just had to look down the whole time.” There was
(Angie’s Song),” about how the simplest of words can be the most effective.
special meaning behind the choice of song, which was originally featured in the
“The song was about no matter how hard I try, I cannot come up with a better
musical Carousel. It was a favorite of Angie’s late father, a singer in his own right.
way to say I love you than ‘I love you,’” he says.
Fator was accompanied by harp during the performance, which actually
A live band played during the reception, where the newlyweds danced to an
took place during the first of two weddings for the couple. The original plan was
evening filled with romantic songs, including John Legend’s “All of e.” ator joined
to have the ceremony on what would have been the 66th wedding anniversary
in to sing “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran. “These musicians and songwriters
of the bride’s late parents, but not everyone in the family could make that
are poets,” he says. “They express our emotions through words and music.” www.davidlv.com | 53
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Christine Maddela - KVVU FOX5 News Anchor As a lead anchor for daily newscasts on KVVU FOX5, Christine Maddela is seen and heard on television sets throughout Las Vegas. And just last year, she and husband Christopher, a General Manager for Craftsteak, tied the knot. It was a ceremony tinged with sadness, since two of the most important men in Maddela’s life weren’t able to be there for it. “My brother died in a car crash in 2008 and then nine months later, my father died of a massive heart attack,” she says. As a way to include them in the wedding, Maddela chose the Mexican resort town of Puerto Vallarta for the ceremony, a place they used to vacation together as a family. “I wanted to go somewhere we had been in the past and made some memories,” she says. “It was really important to involve them as much as I could.” Music was also important to the couple, especially the groom, who started college as a music major and was a competitive trumpet player. “Music’s always been a big part of his life. I consider him a music snob,” Maddela says with a laugh. “He’s an audiophile and a big music guy.” For the ceremony itself, the couple read lyrics from songs. The bride chose “As” by Stevie Wonder while Christopher read the words of Kurt Elling’s “All is Quiet” over “Kaifuku Suru Kizu (The Wound That Heals),” an instrumental track by Japanese artist Salyu. Maddela walked down the aisle to an instrumental guitar version of the Beatles’ “In My Life,” a song that also played during a different “walk down the aisle” in front of her late father and brother - her high school graduation. A mariachi band played during the cocktail hour and then the newlyweds had a little fun. Their first dance began with “I Only Have Eyes for You” by the lamingos before shifting gears into a high-energy choreographed dance medley, featuring hits by Beyonce, Prince and Michael Jackson - with even a little bit of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” thrown in for good measure. “I just thought it would be something fun,” remembers Maddela. “I enjoy dancing. Christopher - I don’t know if that’s on the list of things he likes to do - but from his musician side, he likes performing. It was really just a time to have fun.”
Mark Shunock - Actor & Founder, The Space ark Shunock knows a few things about putting on a good show. “I’m an actor first and foremost, who loves to produce,” he says. The veteran stage performer made a name in Las Vegas for his role in Rock of Ages but now he’s the man behind The Space, a multiuse venue that’s home to Monday’s Dark, a bi-weekly variety show that raises money for a different charity each time. Shunock threw a different kind of event about five years ago, when he married fellow actor and longtime girlfriend Cheryl Daro. The couple first met when cast in the same show 15 years ago. “I call it a showmance that never ended,” he says with a laugh. “In the business, people talk about having showmances all the time, where you fall in love with your leading lady or leading man. It’s a romance that happens during the show, and when the show’s over, it dwindles. But ours never ended.” For both the ceremony and reception, the couple rented a rooftop photo studio in Los Angeles just south of the Hollywood sign. “It was about throwing a really fun party for a small group of people,” Shunock says. “It was almost like our wedding was a show. We had it time-lined… and I wanted it to be just right.” The ceremony itself got underway when Cheryl walked out to “A Sunday Kind of Love” by Etta James. “Lyrically it makes sense,” Shunock remembers. “It describes us. We’re just this chill couple who likes to have a good time and hang out with friends. It really set the tone for the afternoon.” The ceremony took place “in the round” with the couple surrounded by family and friends holding hands. The first dance was “What a Wonderful World” by Louie Armstrong. “We had that vintage vibe going,” says Shunock. “We’re both performers. We both sing and love to entertain. I think the songs we had are pretty representational of who Cheryl is and who I am.” The couple also let guests make suggestions by uploading their favorite songs to a website in advance.
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John Courtney - Simon Hospitality Group Culinary Director & Executive Chef, Carson Kitchen Sometimes a bride walks down the aisle to the sound of chickens making noise. Yep, chickens. It happened when John Courtney married his longtime girlfriend Paige during a beautiful outdoor ceremony at the Cowgirl Winery in Carmel Valley, California. “We didn’t have any music set up,” he remembers, although the owners offered to play some French brasserie music in the background. “They were having issues getting it on, but then the chickens started going, so it was kinda perfect.” As it turned out, the chickens started squawking because Courtney’s father
for a reception at Casanova restaurant. Courtney and his bride looked into hiring a DJ, but figured it was an expense they could do without. They also decided against an iPod playlist or even a Pandora channel streaming in the background. One of the reasons - they just don’t agree on the same music. “She a country music fan. I like everything but country music,” Courtney says with a laugh. “So her choices probably would’ve had some country in there. I’m a hip hop person. So to go from Jay Z to Reba McEntire... How do you do that?” The couple decided whatever happened to be playing in the background at the restaurant was fine. It turned out to be music from rench singers Edith Piaf and Emilie Simon.
got a little too close to the coop while looking after the couple’s dogs. He
“For us, the music was really our friends’ voices,” Courtney says while
moved them out of them way just in time and the noise died down as the bride
recalling how guests from out of town were able to easily mingle and reconnect
arrived at the alter.
in the small downstairs dining room. “If we had (loud) music, no one would’ve
After the ceremony, the wedding party headed to Carmel-by-the-Sea
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Zoe Thrall - Director, The Studio at the Palms It’s safe to say music plays a major role in the life of Zoe Thrall. Not only does she run the state of the art Studio at the Palms, but she first met her husband, Pat Thrall, when the two were on the road together with Steven Van Zandt. Pat was on guitar while Zoe was on keyboards and woodwinds. “We became good friends and over time, fell in love,” she remembers. Their wedding was a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony in upstate New York. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been to a Greek wedding, but it’s not 15-20 minutes like most weddings,” Thrall says with a laugh. “It’s about an hour-and-a-half. As my husband says, you feel married at the end of it.” The couple took a few people off guard - including the priest - by incorporating their favorite music into the ceremony. “This was in the mid-90s. It was a cross section of popular music with jazz and R&B - songs that were important to us when we were courting. After the ceremony, we left the church to a Brecker Brothers song, ‘When it Was’.” However, Thrall says the live band at the reception was told to stick with traditional Greek music. “Halfway through, they started to play a Stevie Wonder song and my husband went up to them and said ‘No, no, no… We talked about this. Only Greek music.’” One exception was the number for their first dance - “Song for You,” written by Leon Russell and recorded by Donny Hathaway, among others. “The lyrics are about being a performer on stage all over the world, but the song is ‘for you,’ so lyrically, it worked for us.” Thrall notes that a lot of musicians were in attendance at the wedding and “even though there wasn’t a big jam at the end, it was a lot of fun.”
“It was the perfect combination of approachable elegance,” says Bell-Holland, who described the look of the party as “shabby chic” with palm trees and chandeliers alongside flowers and mason jars. She says the renewal ceremony was an opportunity for the couple to not only recommit to each other, but also their family which includes three children. Live music was provided by singer and guitarist Stevenson Brooks, a regular at Kitchen Table who was spotted by Bell-Holland playing brunch on weekends. “His playlist was our wishlist for a party,” she says. “All of the music was in line with what we grew up with - loving the 80s, 90s and 2000s, rock, alternative - and some funk because we’re 70s babies.” Brooks got a little help from Aaron Ramsey, who joined in on percussion and served as DJ between sets. Professional singer Traci Nelson stepped in to perform a soulful version of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” as a surprise
Tyra Bell-Holland - President & Chief Brand Influencer, Ava Rose Agency With the job title of Chief Brand Influencer, you can tell Tyra Bell-Holland
wedding gift. Bell-Holland was working as a concierge years ago at the Bellagio when she first met Nelson, who at the time was a touring singer for Dr. Dre. “We just had this magical connection,” she says of the friendship.
likes to do things her own way. As one of the top public relations pros in Las
Brooks also performed something special for Bell-Holland’s walk down the
Vegas, she has plenty of experience with big events. So to celebrate her 10th
aisle. “Our love song throughout our relationship was “Yellow” by Coldplay,” she
anniversary with husband Rob, she threw a lavish renewal ceremony and
says. “That song has always reminded my husband of me - and my favorite color
reception at Kitchen Table, a busy breakfast and lunch spot in Henderson that
is yellow which is kind of funny. That’s definitely our song.” Other songs heard
also happens to be one of her clients.
throughout the night included favorites by the Cure, Duran Duran and David Bowie.
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