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Let’s Party at Kyle’s Place Chef Shawn McClain & Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim Join Forces to Create Libertine Social
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ADULTS-ONLY PUPPETS
CHARITY OF IDEAS
DRESSING BAZ’S LOVERS 8/24/16 10:06 AM
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Product terms and conditions apply. Loans subject to credit approval. ZB, N.A. NMLS# 467014
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September
Pulse Explore The month’s event listings to help plan your day or your stay.
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Devour here 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.
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Think
Grill
28 Speak DAVID writer Lynn Wexler writes sensitively about her confrontation with the reality of her empty nest.
42 Charity of Ideas A look at the people and companies responsible for giving humanity the gift of new life-altering technologies.
32 Sense What happens when improv and puppetry meet? Puppet Up, a very adult affair.
46 Dressing BAZ's Lovers A discussion with BAZ-Star Crossed Lovers costume designer, Steve Mazurek.
36 Taste Chef Shawn McClain, Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim join forces to create the perfect social condenser. Libertine Social is sure to get us going back to Mandalay Bay, time and time again.
52 The Gift of Preserving our History Staffers at UNLV Library's Special Collections discuss working on the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project.
58 Chriss Angel Preeminent Illusionist, father and Philanthropist. The month’s spotlight on someone to know.
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Let’s Party at Kyle’s Place SEP TEMBER 2016
On the Cover
www.davidlv.com
Chef Shawn McClain at Libertine Social. Photo by Steven Wilson
Chef Shawn McClain & Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim Join Forces to Create Libertine Social
MY NEST IS EMPTY
ADULTS-ONLY PUPPETS
CHARITY OF IDEAS
DRESSING BAZ’S LOVERS
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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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RETIREMENT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE PUZZLING At Las Ventanas, every piece of your rewarding retirement is already in place. With activities, programs, and events designed to focus on the four key areas of a healthy lifestyle: social, intellectual, physical, and spiritual, Las Ventanas is one of only 12 communities in the U.S. to receive a Successful Aging accreditation by Masterpiece Living. THE ONLY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT’S MISSING — IS YOU.
Call today to schedule your tour 888.294.2123 10401 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89135 | lasventanaslv.com 03_10_FOB.indd 5
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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
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max@davidlv.com editor@davidlv.com
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• 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.
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Volume 07, Number 05 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
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Jewish Senior Singles Meet and Greet @ Olive Garden Summerlin - Noon
Thursday, Sept. 8
Women Enjoying Leisure Luncheon @ the JCC Special Tasting Event with Garden Grill - Noon
Sunday, Sept 11
Men’s Softball league begins
Monday, Sept. 12
Belly Dancing @ the J - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 14
Men Enjoying Leisure Breakfast at Suncoast Buffet - 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, Sept. 11
MONDAYS
Fun-cussion Drum Party for kids 2nd grade & up @ the J - 2 p.m.
Scrabble - 9:30 a.m.
TUESDAYS
Sunday, Sept. 11
Valley Jewish Youth Choir Ice Cream Social & Sing-Along for ages 7-17 @ the J 3:30 p.m.
i s h Community.
Wednesday, Sept. 7
Thursday, Sept. 22
Maccabi City Heat @ UNLV Women’s Volleyball Game 6 p.m.
September 24-26 JCC attends the IAC Conference
Sunday, Sept. 25
PJ Library at Gilcrease Farms
Wednesday, Oct. 19
Jew
1st Annual Sukkot Concert under the Stars featuring the new Valley Jewish Youth Choir (Family event – bring your picnic)
Friday, Oct. 28
School’s Out, J’s In Day
Thursday, Nov. 10
Co
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Guys Night Out Beer Tours and Tastings
Friday, Nov. 11
Veterans Day School’s Out, J’s in
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Sunday, Oct. 30
JCC Kosher BBQ Cookoff & Festival – Noon - 4 p.m.
News & Schmooze Westside @ the J 10 a.m. - Noon
THURSDAYS
News & Schmooze Eastside @ CNT (55 N. Valle Verde Hdsn) 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. BBYO – 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAYS
Sports Talk @ Suncoast Buffet - 9 a.m. Canasta - Noon
Mah Jongg
Weekly - Call for details
Women’s Catchball
Tuesdays & Thursdays or Sundays & Wednesdays 8 - 10 p.m.
JU (Jewish University) Fall semester begins in September watch for details
Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning Returning this Fall
Coming Soon Winter Camp!!
December 26-29
Chanukah Celebrations with the J
Sept./Oct. @ the
JCC of Southern Nevada www.jccsn.org | 702.794.0090
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Contributors
Marisa Finetti
Jaq Greenspon
Jason Harris
Janna Karel
Lynn Wexler
is a local writer, marketing professional and blogger. The Tokyo-born 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.
is 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.
writes for a number of publications and websites. He specializes in food, music, and comedy writing. He has worked in almost every aspect of the entertainment industry. He has sold multiple screenplays, written awards shows and had a tv show on ABC for a minute. He’s still broke. And he loves his daughter Scarlett the most.
is a writer for Outdoor Nevada on Vegas PBS and a digital content producer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. When she’s not traveling, she spends her time rock climbing, playing board games with her friends, and planning her next adventure. To see more of her travel photos, follow her on Instagram @ jannainprogress
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.
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M.E.N.U.S. 2016
Mentoring & Educating Nevada’s Upcoming Students
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 THE BEACH AT MANDALAY BAY RESORT & CASINO Benefitting Epicurean Charitable Foundation Please join us for an exclusive poolside dine-around on the golden sand beach of Mandalay Bay. The evening will be highlighted by an array of premium beverages and freshly-prepared dishes from many of the finest chefs and restaurants in the city. This year the event will feature an extended dine-around, live entertainment, and extravagant silent auction, and an after party at Foundation Room.
MENUS 2016 IS PRESENTED BY:
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AND SPONSORED BY:
/EpicureanLV
#MENUS2016
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From the Publisher
A Sweet New Year becomes sweeter WITH YOU! High Holiday Services SAVE THESE DATES
Sun, Oct 2 • 7pm Erev Rosh HaShanah Sunset Station
Mon, Oct 3 • 10am Rosh HaShanah Texas Station
Mon, Oct 3 • 5pm
Tashlich and Picnic Dinner
Tues, Oct 11 • 7pm
Erev Yom Kippur - Kol Nidre Texas Station
Weds, Oct 12 • 10am Yom Kippur (all day) Texas Station
Reservations Required
(702) 436-4900 pnaitikvahlv.org CPT Members: Free Adult Guests & Visitors: $125 College Students: $36 • Children 13-18: $18 Children 0-12 & Military Members: Free
Last night I went to the opening of a new Strip gastropub. This next-generation “concept,” compliments of award-winning chef Shawn McClain, mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, designer Alessandro Munge and the folks at MGM was packed. Great food and booze were flowing and so was the conversation. These events serve as a reminder to us Las Vegans of how fortunate we are to inhabit the frontier, albeit a very glamorous one. Without sentimentality, we blow up the past - goodbye old friend Riviera, we had so much fun; hello, LVCVA on the Strip. Adieu not-so-old, Monte Carlo; welcome, Park MGM and NoMad. In this spirit we celebrate Mandalay Bay’s newest and brightest jewel, Libertine Social. Can anyone really remember the long gone Shanghai Lily? Just follow the white rabbit footprints on the casino floor to the latest voyeur lounge on the strip, throw back a Boulevardier or two and enjoy the duck pastrami or anything else on their killer menu. Talking about Vegas’ no-holds-barred attitude, I had an enlightening interaction with a local neurosurgeon/musician (only in Vegas) who told me the following: Earlier in the year representatives of a major medical institution visited his medical group. They had come to town to solicit referrals for their facility in L.A., where they were performing the latest and greatest surgical procedure. After respectfully waiting for the end of the pitch, the partners looked at each other and essentially told their guests: “Man, we’ve been doing that for years. We have hundreds of case studies to show for our success. Maybe you should be referring patients to us.” Earlier in the evening, I’d had the pleasure of meeting our public relations representative. We chatted about this and that and finally he informed me that he was wor ing on a new pro ect. Yes, folks. This grand experiment in the Mojave Desert is being exported around the country and the world. Very soon, with a flick of a switch, the neon will burn brightly for the new MGM Grand DC. Love or hate us, the world has to respect our gumption. Like the pioneers of old journeying into an unknown and often hazardous Western escarpment, we risk it all. Win or lose with the mantra that failure’s the prelude to the next success, we go for broke. It is only dreamers like us who can mingle at a soirée and imagine Libertine Socials popping up in neighborhoods East Coast to West. I know for certain the duck pastrami will be “stolen” and will soon be available on other menu cards of distinction. In the spirit of gratitude that temperatures are slowly returning to double digits, and that we can once again risk the great outdoors without dehydration, I bid you a pleasant Fall. And, as always, I’ll see you in the racks.
Ask About Our NEW Experiential Program: FREE Children’s High Holiday Happening!
Max D. Friedland 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.
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, Sept. 20 - Oct. 2 www.davidlv.com | 11
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Explore
3780 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-6921300. http://t-mobilearena.com YOUSUF KARSH - ICONS OF THE 20TH CENTURY: Through Sept. 5, times vary, costs vary. Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 888-987-6667. http://bellagio.com EASY 8S: 9 p.m., $10-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8947111. http://treasureisland.com
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BROADWAY IN THE HOOD PRESENTS THE WIZ: Through Sept. 3, times vary, $19. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com 52 FRIDAYS - OAK RIDGE BOYS: 8 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. http://goldennugget.com MUSIC FOR A MISSION - MAC DEMARCO WITH DUCKTAILS AND DINNER: o benefit Communities in Schools of Nevada. Time and cost TBA. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http:// hardrockhotel.com HOWIE MANDEL: 10 p.m., $39.99. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-7917111. http://mirage.com MAKE AMERICA ROCK AGAIN: 7:30 p.m., $15. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. http://orleans.com MUSIC OF THE CLASSIC HORN BANDS WITH THE LON BRONSON BAND: 8 p.m., $15. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com BILLY IDOL: Through Sept. 10, 8 p.m., $79.50. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http://mandalaybay.com DRAKE: Time TBA, $49.50. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com
September 1, 2016 SPACETIME KINETICS: Through Sept. 30, times vary, free. Delano Las Vegas, 3940 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7888. http://delanolasvegas.com
THE DISTRICT AT GREEN VALLEY RANCH FARMER'S MARKET: Thursdays through Nov. 17, 4 p.m., free. The District, 2240 Village Walk Drive, Henderson. 702-564-8595. http:// shopthedistrictgvr.com COLDPLAY: Time TBA, $29.50. T-Mobile Arena,
HARTBEAT WEEKEND: 7 p.m., $50. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http:// cosmopolitanlasvegas.com JIM BREUER: Through Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m., $40. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. http://southpointcasino.com AIR SUPPLY: Through Sept. 4, 8 p.m., $39.95. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas.
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702-284-7777. http://orleans.com
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KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, WITH EXODUS AND UNEARTH: 8 p.m., $25. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas GILBERT GOTTFRIED: 7 p.m., $19.99-$39.99. The M Resort, 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Henderson. 702-797-1000. http://themresort.com AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD: 8 p.m., $40. Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-9427777. http://palms.com MARIAH CAREY: Through Sept. 11, 8 p.m., $55-$250. Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http:// caesarspalace.com
5 JULIETTE LEWIS: 8 p.m., $16. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8622695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas
8 MIKE TYSON UNDISPUTED TRUTH: Through Oct. 23, 10 p.m., $54.95. MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-891-1111. http:// mgmgrand.com
EXECUTIVE CHEF'S CULINARY CLASSROOM RETRO: 7 p.m., $135. Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 888-987-6667. http:// bellagio.com BOARD OF RABBIS - ELECTION 2016 - HOW JEWISH AMERICANS VOTE AND WHY: 7 p.m., free. Temple Sinai, 9001 Hillpointe Road, Las Vegas. For more information, contact Rabbi Yocheved Mintz at 702-869-2700 or gkmintz@ aol.com.
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WANDA SYKES: 9 p.m., $59.95. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. http://treasureisland.com 52 FRIDAYS - THE ZOMBIES: 8 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. http://goldennugget.com 38 SPECIAL AND THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND: 7 p.m., $20-$50. Sunset Station, 1301 W. Sunset Road, Henderson. 702-547-7777. http://sunsetstation.sclv.com MUSIC FOR A MISSION - PEPPER WITH KATASTRO: o benefit hree uare ood Bank. Time and cost TBA. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-6935000. http://hardrockhotel.com BAYSIDE, WITH THE MENZINGERS AND SORORITY NOISE: 8 p.m., $21.50. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas FRANKIE AVALON: Through Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m., $45. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. http:// southpointcasino.com
Shana Tova Celebrate with holiday specialties from Bagel Cafe
RON WHITE: Through Sept. 10, 10 p.m., cost TBA. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com SUSAN ANTON: Through Sept. 10, 7 p.m., $35. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http:// thesmithcenter.com
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301 N. Buffalo Drive 255-3444
LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC - CABRERA CONDUCTS MAHLER: 7:30 p.m., $30. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com Juliette Lewis Sept. 5
LOST 80S LIVE: 9 p.m., $35. Mandalay Bay,
www.thebagelcafelv.com
WhereTheLocalsEat.com
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THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF LAS VEGAS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: 6 p.m., $175. The Venetian Las Vegas, 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas. 702-749-4437. http:// bit.ly/29Sdnxo, http://www.jewishlasvegas. com/news-and-events/50th-anniversarycelebration.
16 DAVID PERRICO: 8 p.m., $15. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com JUAN GABRIEL: Time TBA, $69. Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-6327777. http://mandalaybay.com AN EVENING WITH PAUL ANKA: 7:30 p.m., $29. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://
Paul Anka, Sept. 16
thesmithcenter.com
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-
PITBULL: Through Sept. 16, 9 p.m., $39-
7777. http://mandalaybay.com
$169. Planet Hollywood, 3667 Las Vegas
11 DRAKE: Time TBA, $49.50. T-Mobile Arena,
Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 866-919-7472. http:// planethollywoodresort.caesars.com
BOYCE AVENUE: Time TBA, $29.50. SLS Las Vegas, 2535 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-761-7000. http://slslasvegas.com ENRIQUE IGLESIAS: Through Sept. 17, 8 p.m.,
3780 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-692-
LAS VEGAS FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL:
1300. http://t-mobilearena.com
Through Sept. 18, times vary, $50-$100. For
Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://
more information, visit vegasfoodandwine.com.
caesarspalace.com
FRANK LASPINA: 2 p.m., $25. The Smith
$39.50-$300. Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas
Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter. com
12 AIPAC COMMUNITY EVENT: 6:30 p.m. For more information, please call the AIPA office at 702-837-8350.
14 JOHN FOGERTY: Through Oct. 1, time TBA, $59.50. Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-414-1000. http://venetian.com BRADFORD MARSALIS QUARTET WITH SPECIAL GUEST KURT ELLING: 7:30 p.m., $29. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http:// thesmithcenter.com ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ: Time TBA, $69. MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-891-1111. http://mgmgrand.com
Pitbull, Sept. 14-16
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GOO GOO DOLLS: Time TBA, $39.50. Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, 200 S. 3rd Street, Las Vegas. 800-745-3000. http://dlvec.com RAY LAMONTAGNE: 8 p.m., $55. Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-942-7777. http://palms.com MANA: Time TBA, $51-$251. MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8911111. http://mgmgrand.com 52 FRIDAYS - THE GRASS ROOTS: 8 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. http://goldennugget.com PETER CETERA: 8 p.m., $25-$65. Sunset Station, 1301 W. Sunset Road, Henderson. 702547-7777. http://sunsetstation.sclv.com MUSIC FOR A MISSION - THE GROWLERS: To benefit ress for uccess outhern evada. Time and cost TBA. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com GABRIEL IGLESIAS: Through Sept. 17, 10 p.m., cost TBA. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com O.A.R. - THE XX TOUR - EVOLUTION OF A REVOLUTION - WITH THE HUNTS AND DAVE RITZ: 8:30 p.m., $42.50. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas
632-7777. http://mandalaybay.com COUNTING CROWS AND ROB THOMAS: Time TBA, $45.50. Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, 200 S. 3rd Street, Las Vegas. 800-7453000. http://dlvec.com BLACK SABBATH: Time TBA, $49.50. MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-891-1111. http://mgmgrand.com WILD KRATTS LIVE!: 1 & 4:30 p.m., $19. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com SAVES THE DAY: 8 p.m., $16-$20. Backstage Bar and Billiards, 601 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-382-2227. http://backstagebarlv.com ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES WITH SERATONES: 8 p.m., $25. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas FIFTH HARMONY - THE 7/27 TOUR FEATURING JOJO WITH SPECIAL GUEST VICTORIA MONET: 7 p.m., $39.50. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com
GLORIA TREVI: Time TBA, $29. Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
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CHANCE THE RAPPER - MAGNIFICENT COLORING WORLD TOUR: 8 p.m., $45. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl. com/las-vegas CHABAD OF SUMMERLIN 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA: 4 p.m., $100. Adelson Educational Campus, 9700 W. Hillpointe Road, Las egas. or more information, contact Yisroel Schanowitz at 702-855-0770 or chabadofsummerlin yahoo.com.
20 BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL: Through Oct. 2, times vary, $29. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com CELINE DION: Through Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m., $55. Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://
NEVADA BALLE T THE ATRE PRE SE NTS
CRYSTAL GALE: Through Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m., $45. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. http:// southpointcasino.com T-TUNES PRESENTS MAGNETO Y MERCURIO: 9:30 p.m., $38. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. http:// hardrockhotel.com
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography after Marius Petipa, Staged by James Canfield
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PORTRAITS OF AMERICA WITH GEORGE BUGATTI AND TRIO: 7 p.m., $39. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com MARC ANTHONY: 10 p.m., $105-$301. Planet Hollywood, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 866-919-7472. http://planethollywoodresort. caesars.com JULION ALVAREZ: Time TBA, $69. Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-
October 22 & 23, 2016 (702) 749-2000 • NevadaBallet.org Dancer photo by Alicia Lee
NEVADA BALLET THEATRE — DAVID MAGAZINE AD — 5.25” X 4.8125”
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Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. http:// southpointcasino.com DISTURBED: 8:30 p.m., $45. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-6935000. http://hardrockhotel.com
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CARLOS SANTANA: Time and cost TBA. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http://mandalaybay.com
27 JCC MAJOR DONOR THANK YOU EVENT: 6 p.m. or more information, contact haron olfin Eden at sweden@jccsn.org. http://jccsn.org
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THE SOULD REBELS SOUND SYSTEM, FEAT. TALIB KWELI: 8 p.m., $25. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas
Celine Dion, Sept. 20
caesarspalace.com BRANDEIS NATIONAL COMMITTEE SHOWCASE EVENT: Speaker: Ellis Landau. Time TBA, $36. Bear's Best Golf Club, 11111 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. For more information, contact mogils@bellsouth.net. THE AVETT BROTHERS: 9 p.m., $47. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas
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THE COMPOSERS SHOWCASE OF LAS VEGAS: 10:30 p.m., $20. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-7492012. http://thesmithcenter.com LIONEL RICHIE: Through Sept. 28, 8 p.m., $59-$199. Planet Hollywood, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 866-919-7472. http:// planethollywoodresort.caesars.com
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OSCAR B. GOODMAN DINNER SERIES - THE HIDDEN OWNERS OF LAS VEGAS: 6:30 p.m., $150. Oscar's Steakhouse, 1 S. Main Street, The Plaza Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. 702386-7227. http://oscarslv.com
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LUCKY PETERSON: Through Sept. 24, 7 p.m., $39. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http:// thesmithcenter.com DARYL HALL AND JOHN OATES: Time TBA, $35. MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-891-1111. http://mgmgrand.com LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL: Through Sept. 25, times vary, $285-$655. For more information, visit lifeisbeautiful.com 52 FRIDAYS - JOHNNY RIVERS: 8 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. http://goldennugget.com
CHAD FREEMAN AND REDLINE: Through Sept. 24, 9 & 10 p.m., $10-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8947111. http://treasureisland.com
RAY ROMANO AND DAVID SPADE: Through Sept. 24, 10 p.m., cost TBA. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http:// mirage.com
MEGADETH: 6 p.m., $49.50. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-6935000. http://hardrockhotel.com
THE LETTERMEN: Through Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m., $25. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas
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PHANTOGRAM: 8 p.m., $27.50. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8622695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas ROB STALEY: Through Sept. 30, 9 & 10 p.m., $10-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. http:// treasureisland.com
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BILL MAHER: 10 p.m., cost TBA. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com 52 FRIDAYS - NIGHT RANGER: 8 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. http://goldennugget.com IRIS DEMENT: Through Oct. 1, 7 p.m., $39. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com ROUTE 91 HARVEST FESTIVAL: Through Oct. 2, times vary, costs vary. For more information, visit rt91harvest.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.
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Devour
Pastry with history Paris- rest PA -reeis a delightful rench dessert said to have been created by a pastry chef in honor of a bicycle race between the cities of Paris and rest, which began during the late s. att offers this dessert, calling it the Praline Puff, essentially a chou puff filled with a mousseline cream flavored with hazelnut praline cream. he puff is topped with a crunchy crumble, dar chocolate and candied ha elnuts. It s every bit as clever as it is delicious. Eatt, . 702-608-5233
ahara Ave., Las
egas.
Summer Sipper Hold on to summer just a little while longer with the refreshing cucumber watermelon margarita from yde ellagio. ummer s quintessential melon comes together in a margarita that promises to brighten up warm days and nights. It s a seasonal summer celebration in a glass. Cucumber Watermelon Margarita recipe: • 2 watermelon cubes • 2 thin cucumber slices • 1½ ounces Corzo silver tequila • ½ ounce Cointreau • ¾ ounce lime juice • ½ ounce simple syrup erve in a tall glass and garnish with cucumber wheel and watermelon cube Hyde Bellagio, . Las egas lvd. ., Las egas. .
Pasta in a Jar eranda at the our easons is a delightful local lunch spot that serves up a mi of Italian and American cuisine. In the evenings, guests en oy an all-Italian dinner menu. hef Antonio inichiello describes his food as modern Italian, which includes a diverse selection of house-made favorites inspired by his days growing up in aples. La Pasta otta nel aso pasta in a jar), made with artichoke pasta, scallops, calamari, shrimp, tomatoes, caciucco sauce and sweet basil, is a tribute to a family tradition of ma ing homemade sauce. oung Antonio s ob was to place the basil on top of the sauce, ust before sealing. Veranda, our Las egas. -
easons Las -
egas,
Las
egas
lvd.,
.,
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Desire
From The Ground Up Blue suede shoes in the form of sandals by Jimmy Choo are ready to take on any runway. $1,195. Jimmy Choo, The Shops at Crystals, 3720 Las Vegas Blvd., S., Las Vegas. 702-366-0503.
The Fergie heel is rendered in mink fur and leather and features an adjustable buckle t-strap and a block heel. $1,590. Salvatore Ferragamo, Grand Canal Shoppes, 3377 Las Vegas Blvd., S.., Las Vegas. 702-369-0251.
Dare to wear this high octane Hotero Strass bootie with Swarovski crystal studded heel by Christian Louboutin. $1,895. Christian Louboutin, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd., S., Las Vegas. 702-818-8444
Flirty Gucci “Molina” leather pumps with hand-embroidered mouth appliqué ride over a 4” covered heel for a ravishing look. Gucci, Forum Shops at Caesars, $895, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd., S. Las Vegas · (702) 369-7333
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The Ella block-heel suede bootie, by Kendall + Kylie features a lace-up front, open toe and lots of attitude. $199. Neiman Marcus, Fashion Show, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd., S., Las Vegas. 702-731-3636.
Sleek leather boots set on luminous pearl trim heel by Nicolas Kirkwood. $1,195. Barneys New York, Shops at Palazzo, 3377 Las Vegas Blvd., S. Las Vegas. 702-629-4200.
Three color-blocked suede panels rise to dizzying heights on this showstopping pull-on boot. An almond toe, a tapered wrapped heel and a grippy rubber sole provide the foundation. $825 (pre-order). Nordstrom, Fashion Show 3200 Las Vegas Blvd., S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2525.
Energize your evening looks with these seductive sandals from Giuseppe Zanotti design. With a sky-high chunky heel and platform, these shoes have been strewn in riotously shimmering glitter in silver, black and gold. $795. Giuseppe Zanotti Design, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd., S., Las Vegas. 702-866-0055
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Discover Peekaboo Tour The Peekaboo Slot Canyon Tour takes you through some of the most awesome terrain in Southern Utah. You will go through pink sand, see some of the Grand Staircase and end up in a beautiful slot canyon. The tour leaves from the center of Kanab Ut at Denny's Wigwam. You’ll go in style in a comfortable H2 Hummer and drive north on Highway 89 through Kanab Canyon, where you will see some of the World Famous Best Friends Animal Society. This tour takes 2-3 hours. Forever Adventures Peekaboo Tour, 78 E. Center Street , Kanab Utah 435644-5700 foreveradventures.com
Examine The Study In case you’re wondering about the origins of the name Rose. Rabbit. Lie., here goes. When the original creators of the supper club inside Cosmopolitan Las Vegas were conceptualizing this new spot, Rose (daughter of the creator) supposedly was chasing her rabbit around the room. Later, she lied about it. While you visit and ponder this lore, stop into The Study, an ultra-cool space for cocktails and small plates enthusiasts. Browse through the vintage book collection or pick your favorite vinyl and put it on the record player. It’s a respite from the busy world outside. The Study at Rose. Rabbit. Lie., Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd., S. Las Vegas. 702-698-7440
Celebrated Sharks Recently, a banded bamboo shark housed at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum’s Marine Life Gallery laid two dozen eggs that eventually were transferred to the collection’s dedicated shark hatchery. Since then, three tiny sharks have emerged and been named Phelps, Miller and King – in honor of 2016 Olympic swimmers Michael Phelps, Lilly King and Cody Miller, a Las Vegas resident. “Our hatchery program and partnership with the Shark Reef offers something special to our community that many others don’t get to experience,” says Marilyn Gillespie, the museum’s executive director. “This is especially exciting to have one of our sharks lay so many eggs, allowing us to watch them grow until they are born.” Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 Las Vegas Blvd., N., Las Vegas, 702-384-3466.
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Mingle Aid For Aids of Nevada Celebrates Its 30th Annual Black & White Party Venue ARIA Resort and Casino
Date Saturday, August 20
Event
Nearly 4,000 guests dressed in their best black and white fashions raised more than , to benefit A A s advocacy for those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Aid for AIDS of Nevada A A ) was founded in and is the oldest and largest AIDS service organization in the state of Nevada. Host of Mondays Dark, Mark Shunock and the bearded lady of Las egas, Norma Llyaman introduced live performances from Human Nature, Cirque Du Soleil, 53X and a surprise flash mob by local non-profit dance troupe ulture hoc . Longtime A A supporters Penn & Teller made an appearance along with Absinthe s elody Sweets, Claire Sinclair and Carrot Top. A sea of black and white attire ranging from ball gowns to balloon dresses filled the room and guests were treated to samples from several of A IAs finest restaurants including arbone, Herringbone, BARDOT Brasserie, Sage, Jean-Georges Steakhouse, Julian Serrano Tapas, Burger Lounge, Lemongrass, lossom and I Pi a Bar. Back Bar USA kept the party flowing with specialty cocktails made from liquor brands yy od a, ito s andmade Vodka, Cutty Sark, Modelo, Basil Hayden, Three Olives, Don Julio, Absolut Vodka, Bacardi and Jack Daniels.
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Mingle 10th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference Venue MGM Grand, Las Vegas
Date Monday & Tuesday, August 8 & 9
Event
More than one thousand women (and a handful of men) gathered at MGM Grand Las Vegas for this sold-out annual twoday event. Featuring acclaimed keynote speakers, workshops and more, this women’s event was designed to enhance careers, build professional networks and maximize leadership potential. Returning this year to host the workshops was Natalie Allen, Emmy-winning broadcast journalist for CNN, NBC and CNBC. Among the lineup of outstanding presenters were the following trailblazing women: Donna Brazile, an American author, academic and political analyst. She became interim chairperson of the Democratic National Committee in July and was the first African American woman to serve as campaign manager for a major party presidential campaign. Adrianne Haslet-Davis survived the unimaginable bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon, where she lost her left leg below the nee. he returned to finish the race earlier this year. Alison Levine is an American mountain climber, sportswoman, explorer and leadership consultant who served as team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition. MGM Resorts Foundation presented the event. All proceeds, after costs, will be donated to a nonprofit organi ation in the Las egas community that specifically focuses on helping women or girls.
Photos: MGM Grand, Las Vegas
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JCC BBQ Ad DAVID SEPTEMBER FINAL [Converted].pdf
1
8/25/16
4:11 PM
th Sunday, Oct. 30 12PM - 4PM
Temple Beth Sholom 10700 10700 Havenwood Havenwood Lane Lane Las Las Vegas, Vegas, NV NV 89135 89135
America's #1 Country Music Talent Search Is Comin' To Vegas, Baby!
FOR INFORMATION CALL: 702.794.0090 · JCCBBQ.COM
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Mingle JCC of Southern Nevada Camp K’Helah Pines Venue San Bernadino National Forest Big Bear, California
Date August 8 - 12
Letters From Parents
Dear Camp K’helah Staff, Loved the stories - great activities and a dance party too! WOW What’s amazing is that my daughter enjoyed cleaning the table after each meal. Now at home she puts the dishes in the sink and returns everything to the refrigerator without being asked to. And why am I amazed, you wonder? Well, she has been to camps before where she had to clear her plate after dinner. But she has never done it at home before. Five days (and you how hard it is for me to let go) and she has grown so much. Toda (thanks) to you all. A Camp K’helah Pines Parent Dear Camp K’helah Staff, Thank you all for taking such wonderful care of our children! We are indebted to you and your staff for all the loving work you do. True Mensches! Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. Shabbat Shalom, Camp K’helah Pines Parents Dear Camp K’helah Staff, Thank you for taking care of those 52 kids. Mine came back happy. I don’t care that they’re tired or dirty. Who cares? They are happy. A Camp K’helah Pines Parent
Photos: JCC of Southern Nevada
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9” x 10.875” full page
Ignoring your risk of breast cancer is no di erent.
If a small fire started in your kitchen, would you ignore it? Of course not. In much the same way, it’s critical to find breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. Call 702.822.2324 or visit komensouthernnevada.org to learn more. Because every woman is at risk. This space provided as a public service. ©2009 Susan G. Komen for the Cure® The Running Ribbon is a registered trademark of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
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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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Speak
Lynne Wexler enjoys the bedtime pranks, with children Joshua, Ariel and Shoshana.
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My Nest is Empty Now What Was I Saying Before I Got So Delightfully Interrupted 24 Years Ago?
REthink C O L L A B O R AT I O N
Collaboration today isn’t just vertical, it’s horizontal, even diagonal. Today’s most qualified healthcare practitioners work across and between disciplines, so that the patient receives the very best treatment and can expect the best outcomes. Roseman University of Health Sciences has been rethinking collaboration since our inception in 1999. Using the Six-Point Mastery Learning Model we train adifferent kind of student to thrive and practice in today’s complex world of medicine and patient care. Challenge. Rethink. Roseman. Learn more at roseman.edu
By Lynn Wexler
I
n a traditional Jewish home, the Friday night celebratory Shabbat meal includes this special blessing recited by a parent over each child. Ours is a traditional Jewish home. For 24 glorious years since the first of my three children my son Joshua was born, I ve had the privilege of placing my hand on their then tiny heads, reciting this profound approbation e pressing my deepest hopes for my three greatest oys. ut this month, after years of giving to and receiving from the best ob I could ever have prayed for being their mom I am suddenly bereft of anyone at home to offer my parental love and care. In , I drove my son to college. It was one of the most e citing occasions of my life. ut when it was time to say goodbye it became one of the most depressing days of my life. It too me more than three months to regain my emotional equilibrium. It seems li e yesterday. e eagerly shopped at arget and ed ath eyond for his room supplies; attended orientations; obtained class schedules; visited campus hot spots and pic ed up room eys to begin the move-in ritual. hat included organi ing his belongings, ma ing his bed and reminding him to wash his whites separately from his colors, provo ing a polite roll of his eyes. Joshua was actually quite good at giving me my due. When all that could be done was done, and he was clearly anxious to meet with friends and oin pending freshman events, I new it was time to say goodbye. Parting words of wisdom seemed in order, but what to say as we stood in the dormitory foyer rusting I d done my ob well, I simply chose to give him a big hug, to tell him how proud I was and how much I loved and believed in him and urged him to please stay in touch. After all, moms ust want to now their children are safe. I wal ed away before he saw the flood of tears that followed. ow the last of my children, my beautiful twins Ariel and hoshana, are leaving my side one for college and one for a gap year abroad. I did the same for my daughters as I d done for my son. his time, of course,
11 Sunset Way | Henderson, NV 89014 | 702-990-4433 10530 Discovery Drive | Las Vegas, NV 89135 | 702-802-2841 10920 S. River Front Parkway | South Jordan, UT 84095 | 801-302-2600
@rosemanuhs
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Ariel and Shoshana go four wheeling.
the tearful downpour was twice as big. How much more can a mother be expected to endure? My nest is empty! Expanding my children’s academic and personal horizons has been the plan since birth, but now I’m an absolute – albeit grateful – wreck. According to a Psychology Today article, the empty nest syndrome summons feelings of depression, sadness, loss – even grief – for both parents, especially moms. The process of letting go can be devastating. As a friend of mine, whose third child left a year ago, puts it: “Each time one of my kids leaves home … it’s like having another of my limbs cut off.” Still, some parents cherish the freedom they suddenly inherit. But most of them secretly count the days until their children can come home again for a break, and then grieve all over again when they depart. Of course, Jewish wisdom reminds that our children are both a loan and a gift from God, and that it’s our job to raise them to leave us so they can seek and complete their own journeys. Kahlil Gibran’s On Children artfully illustrates the truth about parenting: You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. he archer sees the mar upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable. Noble intentions duly noted I haven’t yet acquired the requisite wisdom to give my children over to the world easily. I like having them around. I expect I always will. And I feel as though I’ve lost my mom job, that I’m no longer needed, no longer in charge of my children’s lives, and that’s there is no substitute role in sight.
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2016 JNF National Conference New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10019 September 16 - 19, 2016 JNF’s National Conference brings together hundreds of committed Jewish leaders and philanthropists to learn about JNF’s ongoing vital work for the land and people of Israel. Hear from JNF Chairman of the Board Ronald Lauder, BestSelling Author Bruce Feiler, Deputy Editorial Page Editor for The Wall Street Journal Bret Stephens, and Professor Alan Dershowitz of Harvard Law School, among many others!
Register today at jnf.org/nc
Joshua, the future defender of our skies.
My kitchen table chairs are empty. I run to the bedrooms to ply my kids with the latest news, but those warm and familiar places are still now, devoid of life. I miss the blaring music; the interlopers who hung out at our place with my children, and whose lives I also fretted over. I miss baking cookies, watching favorite TV shows and sporting events together; shopping for prom, mani’s and pedi’s and conversations with unpredictable teens who tested my patience. There’s no one to pick up or drop off, no cheering at games. And when I reach for their favorite foods at the grocery store, tears well. Let’s be honest: we think about our kids even when they’re not with us. We love them in a way they’ll understand only when they have their own. We’re here for them when no one else is. We would beg God to take us instead of our child. For years, I couldn’t and wouldn’t fall asleep until I heard the engine in the driveway, the key in the door – often in the wee hours of the morning. It’s no wonder I’m a wreck now that they’re not living under my roof. But lamenting is unhealthy, for me and them. Transitions are an inevitable aspect of life. Showing our kids we can get through it, and that it’s important to do so, is a powerful lesson to convey. Now, without my children around to lavish my attention on, I can survey the opportunities that for too long have been put on hold. The Priestly Benediction is a paradigm for raising our children, letting them go, and moving on at this propitious time. The loving and nurturing environment we gave our children provides and surrounds them with blessings. We guard and protect them from danger, as best we can, by the barriers we build and the disciplines we impose. A parent’s smile, when looking at a child, surely must be akin to the Divine shining His face … His countenance upon us. Perhaps the greatest gift we can offer our children is to simply, selflessly let them go in peace. It tells them we’re committed to loving them as the adults they’re becoming, and as the children we’ll forever remember them to be.
NATIONAL
JEWISH CONFERENCE NATIONAL FUND NEW YORK CITY
2016
Love Grows In Israel! To learn more, to get involved, to volunteer or to make a donation, please contact Shawn Willis, Las Vegas Director, at swillis@jnf.org or 702.434.6505 x985. For more information on Planned Giving, contact Cynthia Hizami, Esq., Director, Planned Giving West Coast, at chizami@jnf.org or 323.964.1400 x962.
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“Adults-Only” Puppet Show
Sense
This is What Happens When Two Genres Collide, Puppetry Meet Improv
Ensemble cast performing in Puppet Up! - Uncensored
By Jaq Greenspon Photos Denise Truscello
P
uppets have long been a way for performers to express thoughts and emotions while remaining at a remove from reality. Festivalgoers have been laughing to the politically incorrect and violent antics of Punch and Judy for centuries. The art form changed, however, as television became more prominent in the ’50s and ’60s. And a young performer named Jim Henson led the charge, eventually helping establish shows such as Sesame Street, where
the “Muppets” interacted with live people to help teach several generations of kids about letters and numbers – even good manners. All of this was great, except there was more to these puppets than animated felt versions of elementary school primers. The world came to see that with the introduction of The Muppet Show, a satiric look at the ma ing of a variety show. It starred such now iconic figures as on o the reat, o ie ear, iss Piggy and, of course, ermit the rog. hese characters, along with celebrity guest stars, pushed the boundaries each week of what we could expect from puppets. And the audience responded. It turned out they liked seeing these characters tackle deeper themes,
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The cast of more than 60 puppets rests between shows in a display case.
delving deeper into the psychology of the human experience. Henson would push these boundaries even further with feature film forays that included Labyrinth and The Dream Child, and the TV series The Storyteller, which recounted and dramatized ancient myths and legends. a es you wonder why it too so long, then, for us to finally get Puppet Up! Puppet Up! is the new adults-only improvisational show at The Venetian, featuring six puppeteers, a genial host, about 45 Henson puppets and more mature language and situations than you can shake an “arm rod” (the mechanism used to control a puppet’s extremities) at. In this case, that “genial host” is Patrick Bristow, part of the creative process in the show’s development. “The way it started was that (Jim’s son) Brian Henson wanted to see some of the puppeteers that he hired on a more regular basis for and film wor to ind of loosen up. e remembered his father’s approach when he was with Frank Oz: they were very good at “ad-libbing.” He recognized that improv is a skillset in itself, so he as ed his wife ia ara yeah, ia ara) to find an improv teacher. Bristow’s background as a member and teacher at the world famous Groundlings improvisational troupe in Los Angeles made him a prime candidate. He met with Henson in the summer of 2005 and they decided on a trial run. “About six weeks into it, it was going great,” Bristow recalls, “and Brian said, ‘do you want to continue?’ And I said ‘yes.’”
“A couple months later, we did a little demonstration on the Henson lot of this … ‘hey, puppets and improv together; let’s see what happens.’ Standing ovations – there were people there from the Aspen comedy festival who said ‘bring your show to Aspen.’ Brian said, ‘It’s not really a show. It’s a demonstration.’ They said, ‘Well, whatever you did, we loved it, bring it!’ “So we went to Aspen, we did a very basic ‘puppets doing improv’ sort of show, sold out two performances and again … huge response. There were people from the Edinburgh Festival there who said ‘bring your show.’ So it started just organically, turning into a show.” From there, things snowballed rapidly. Patrick changed the traditional way that improvisation was taught. “I had to make adjustments to the technique because in improv, eye contact is paramount and because of the Henson puppeteering technique, which was developed for television, the puppeteers don’t look at each other. They don’t even look at the puppets except through a monitor attached to the camera. So while they’re performing, they’re making sure the puppets all look good, their eye focus is correct – when they’re supposed to be looking at each other or at the camera. Traditionally, they would practice their blocking for a written scene. Now we throw them into a situation where they have to listen SO acutely, not just to the information that’s being improvised in terms of dialogue, but in terms of what the underlying emotion is. The puppets have www.davidlv.com | 33
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limited emotional expressions – they were already at a disadvantage from the word go in terms of improv techniques. So I did a lot of exercises about listening and using the voice to get emotion and intention through.” Bristow also started bringing in trained improvisers to mix with the veteran puppeteers. “Now we have a company that is half people who started as puppeteers and half people who started as improvisers, and audiences can’t tell the difference,” he says. “Because they’ve all really worked hard on their skillset.” One of the improvisers who became part of the troupe early on is Peggy tra. I first saw the show in Aspen. I guess it s li e watching lympic gymnastics. It looks so easy. You see the artistry but you’re like, ‘Oh, it looks effortless.’” hen she was as ed to come and try out, her first thought was this’ll be interesting. ut it was more than that. he first lab was soul-crushing. It was so humbling. ecause ) with an improv bac ground, the first thing they take away from you is eye contact. How do we improvise without making eye contact? 2) There are all sorts of weights and sizes and balances. You’re holding your hand up over your head, with this weight on it, that you have to ma e move. And you re loo ing into a monitor. And what they don’t tell you is that the monitor image … (is mirror). That’s crazy. For the first year, it s ust trying to figure out who you re tal ing to. And you have to at least make sense. It’s the most I have ever used my brain.” Besides brainpower and adult themes, there are a couple of other things that make this show unique, especially if your only knowledge of puppets is what you’ve seen on TV or in the movies. “When you watch puppets on TV — ‘Muppet Show, ‘Sesame Street’ — there doesn’t appear to be anything
going on below the waist. Here you get to see if Peggy is trying not to break character or you get to see how someone achieves making a puppet look like they’re on ice skates. What body movements they have to do to do that. Sometimes the puppeteers, if you look at their faces, they’re in character. They’ll be making expressions that go with the puppet’s emotions, and some of them are not that way. The puppet can be absolutely raging and the puppeteer is very calm and collected. It’s fascinating to see these individual artists and how they send that consciousness up their arm into an inanimate ob ect and achieve the illusion of life. Or, as Peggy puts it, “It’s completely deconstructed.” Patrick explains how the idea of letting the audience in on the inner wor ings came about. rian said when we were doing that first demonstration — ‘Should we put a puppet wall in?’ and I said, ‘No, no, no. It’s fascinating to watch.’ The puppeteers were like ‘really?’ uys, it s endlessly fascinating to watch you. hey ust too it for granted. They didn’t think what they were doing below the camera was particularly… of entertainment value. e, being an outsider f course it is. And that became a big feature of our show to do it in that deconstructed way.” But one of the things the puppets don’t do is “break the fourth floor.” hey e ist in their reality. And with one e ception during the opening number (one of the few scripted pieces in the show), the puppets never acknowledge the puppeteers whose hand is up their … well … you know. In fact, that bit of euphemism is another drawing point for the show. “Because we’re an uncensored show in Vegas,” says Patrick, “and we’re billed as such, when audiences come in, they’ve had a couple of drinks and they want to see the dirty puppets. We have to remember that 1) every
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audience coming has that expectation; 2) they haven’t seen this show; 3) they probably haven’t seen an improv show, so if I just call out for an activity, chances are they’re going to yell out some sort of sex. If I say ‘job,’ they’re going to say ‘proctologist’ or ‘gynecologist.’ “As the MC, I’m trying to work different ways for the audience to just give us different versions of the uncensored suggestions. But sometimes they give us very clean suggestions, and then the puppeteers will not just go smutty, they’ll go dark, which is delightful. You know the uncensored aspect is not just F bombs and poop. It’s violence and darkness and bad parenting. It’s bad behavior. We’re satirizing what people do in public being addicted to selfies and all that stupidity, and that gets satiri ed through the puppets. “We have to explore different ways to deliver the shocking without being gratuitous and without being hacks,” he says. “I’m very blessed that I have a cast, all very intelligent, and they recognize that challenge and they’re up to it.” As Peggy sees it, “Each performance we get to be creative. And we get to be creative because we’re doing what the audience wants to see. So we now have a different palette to paint with and it keeps us fresh as well.” For both of them, though, and the rest of the cast, there’s an underlying surreal quality to the whole thing. “Puppet improv? Who knew?” Peggy says. Or, as Patrick puts it, “We have these moments of checking in to reality and going ‘What the fuck?’” “In my world,” Peggy says, “with an improv background, I didn’t go out on tour. I didn’t make a lot of money. You didn’t do improv because it spoke to you, because it was a creative thing to do. It was fun. But there wasn’t
money in it. So this idea we were touring the world doing improv with puppets. It’s great. It’s the best!” And the show supports this view. It’s a funny, solid 75 minutes – about an hour of which is pure, audience-driven improvisation. When Patrick calls for improvisers for a particular scene, the chosen cast members run to the “wall of puppets” and grab one they think will work best for the coming scene. “Each puppet speaks to each puppeteer individually,” says Peggy. “There’s a puppet we call ‘Pretty Girl.’ For me to do ‘Pretty Girl’ there’s a voice that I think she sounds like. So more than likely, when I pick up ‘Pretty Girl’ that’s what she’s going to sound like – Peggy doing ‘Pretty Girl.’ But each other person who picks her up has their own connotation of who she is, what her background is and what she sounds like.” “And yet,” adds Patrick, “I’ve seen Peggy pick up, like the Beaver Puppet, and depending on the needs of the improv she’ll do, with the same puppet, one night she’s a bad ass southern, next night she’s very grand dame, same puppet, same puppeteer. But I’ve seen Peggy do ‘Pretty Girl’ as vapid, I’ve seen her do her smart. I’ve seen her do her glamorous. I’ve seen her do her slutty. I’ve seen her do her drunk.” All of it underscores the point that each show is different, depending on the audience and who happens to be in the cast that particular night (There are about 25 puppeteers who could be cycled in or out at any given point). The night I was there, I sat next to someone who had seen the show the night before and was just as excited to see it a second time, and eventually udged that incarnation as funny as the first. So go and see it as many times as you can. But make sure you see it at least once. If you don’t, you’ll regret it on your deathbed!
L’Shana Tova
(702) 256-3462
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Taste
Let’s Party at Kyle’s Place Libertine Social, A Reimagined Gastropub By Award-Winning Chef Shawn McClain & Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim
Left: Chef Shawn McClain, Above: Alex Diaz Mural, Right: mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim
By Jason Harris
T
his is a story about a dude named Kyle. While you’re slaving away at your day job, Kyle is off on another adventure. While you are wondering how you are going to pay your bills on time this month, Kyle is buying whatever piece of art strikes his fancy at the moment. While you are deciding if you have enough energy to go out this weekend, Kyle is having a one-of-a-kind experience that, when he recounts it the next time you see him at a party, will make him the center of attention ... again. Yes, we all know a guy like Kyle. There’s just one thing about this particular Kyle we’re talking about.
He’s not real. ut while he may be fictitious, yle is having a ma or impact on the Las Vegas dining scene. Kyle is the concoction of chef Shawn McClain, modern mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim and designer extraordinaire Alessandro Munge. These three men are responsible for the tastes, drinks, looks and feel of The Libertine Social, the newest hot spot on the Mandalay Bay dining bloc. The three gentlemen had a two-day powwow in Los Angeles, dipping their heads into every dive bar and art gallery they could find in the hip Abbot Kinney neighborhood of West L.A. As they talked more about what they liked and what they wanted, Kyle became more real in all of their minds.
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As McClain puts it, “Kyle is a freewheeling, Venice Beach most interesting man in the world type.� his was the driving force, first, for the loo of Libertine ocial, then for the vibe. unge e plains, e came up with this concept that yle would have ta en over this space and made it his pad. Anything that was part of his lifestyle will live and breathe in this space. Perhaps that is why there are si distinct areas for customers to inhabit in Libertine. It s a giant space that used to house hanghai Lilly, a longago shuttered hinese restaurant. ight when you wal in you enter the oyeur Lounge. It s a raised and comfortable open space, perfect for happy hours and casual meetings. ha e hands, flirt, get business done
as you watch all the people file through the restaurant row. he u ebo is live and there s plenty of good music to choose from. It s the beginning of yle s party. n one side of the lounge is ocial ar . he name says it all. iant light installations with the words libertine and stay wild are eye-catching pieces (though if someone tells you to stay wild, especially in a designed fashion, how wild are you really ... I digress.) n the other side of oyeur is the hef s able, a diner-li e counter that gives you an up close and personal loo at the action of the two fire stations. he wood-fired grill is sto ed with apple mes uite chips that ma e themselves nown in many of the dishes. he wood-fired oven is www.davidlv.com | 37
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home to the excellent flatbreads that seem to get ordered and sent out by the second. In front of the pizza oven sit six chairs that will be used for even more specific dinner services. c lain and e ecutive chef amaal aher adeh, formerly of order rill ust down the hall in the same hotel), hope to use this intimate corner in a similar fashion to what ose Andres does with inside aleo. wo seatings per night, si people per seating, chefs get to show off on the menu and the off-menu items. oving bac to the ne t wave of rooms, Arcade ar is tuc ed away, almost private. ere, the bar-within-a-bar focuses on handcrafted coc tails
traditional matzo ball soup served at
from bygone eras. Abou- anim says of Arcade, e wanted it to be fun and social but to really pay respect to those bartenders who have come before us, coc tails that have set us on our course. r, as he puts in more thematic terms, his is where yle would go and escape that pre-prohibition time. Parallel to Arcade, but in a lower section, is the main dining room, which seats and features much of yle s curated wall art. Painted prints of pun icons li e ebbie arry commingle with a row of guitars and even a cut out of a car. amn, yle whered you get all the money to buy all this stuff inally, there s the patio, a uieter locale with a wonderful view of the old swan canal that separates the casino from the pool. It ll be perfect for long, casual nights when the weather dips about 20 degrees from the summer heat. he patio wouldn t be complete without one of yle s discussionworthy art pieces. ultiple murals adorn the walls, courtesy of famed street artist Ale ia . hese pieces, including the one in the hallway of andalay ay that announces Libertine ocial, are edgier than the interior art. hese are sea creatures or serpents popped on brightly colored walls, staring at you while you eat, perhaps ready to eat your food, perhaps ready to eat you. he piece in the hallway is a ac alope, the restaurant s mascot, with wings and antlers. It is stunning if a bit disturbing.) f course, the spacious layout, the thoughtful bac story, the itschy, yet e travagant design, all mean nothing if the food doesn t deliver. owever, if you expected half-assed bar food from a chef with the accolades of c lain, then yle ta es you to the learning tree. c lain, a ames eard Award-winning chef, seems to crush whatever culinary challenge he ta es on. ith his first Las egas restaurant age at Aria, and its vegetablecentric plates, even pi a, he received rave reviews. o why should a postmodern gastropub be any different
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The modern fried egg ($12) from the Small Plates section is the best example of where the food at Libertine Social is going, Taherzadeh says. It’s a melding of technique, creativity, food history and taste. Sweet corn is juiced, then cooked down to a pudding-like consistency. That makes for the base of the dish, which is presented inside the egg shell. The middle is composed of sous vide egg yolks that have been whipped with sea salt. Fried egg white foam tops that, and on top of the foam rests American sturgeon caviar. It packs a wallop of taste on a little spoon. Salty, creamy, rich, sweet. It’s all there. Another Small Plate gem is the strawberry gazpacho ($15). Harry’s Berries
Ahi Tuna Cones
strawberries are li uefied to a thin, red, almost transparent consistency. The strawberry shooter is poured over luxurious king crab, avocado puree, hearts of palm and tiny segments of cucumbers and piquillo peppers that are tossed in a sherry vinaigrette. It is a memorable bite with multiple layers of flavor and texture, unlike any gazpacho I’ve ever tried before. Duck pastrami ($17)from the Toasts & Dips section has a unique taste and is flat-out awesome. The duck is cured in-house for about a day and a half and looks just like pastrami you’d get at your favorite deli. It’s served on rye crackers that resemble little tortillas and is accompanied by sauerkraut aioli, pic led radicchio and mustard seed. his might be the first great Jewish taco, but hopefully not the last. One of the most impressive dishes is grilled kale salad ($15). Kale salad is well-worn territory at this point, so creating excitement around this dish is impressive. he smo e of the fire pit brings out new flavors and accentuates the kale’s bitterness. Radicchio reinforces that bitterness. Sweetness from grapes and dried cherries gives the salad a counterpunch. Pine nuts act as crunchy croutons, and it’s all tied together with a creamy dill dressing. I would eat this salad every day. Flatbreads are another familiar offering that gets the royal treatment at Libertine Social. This is not a shock considering McClain is a partner in Five50, Aria’s high-end pizza joint. Caramelized fennel and sausage ($15) is a perfect match with the other components on the dough: creamy camembert cheese, desert honey and rosemary. Shaved country ham ($17) balances the salt with smoky barbecue sauce and pineapple. The oven gives the dough a lovely char, providing the customer both crunch and chew. It’s clear the kitchen team takes great pride in the dishes as evidenced by the sausage board ($18) and other plates. The meats shown off here
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are house-made merguez, hot links and bratwurst. Each one is a top-notch rendition of its form, with the aggressively spicy hot link the most memorable. McClain is known for putting vegetables at the forefront of his plates. The options at Libertine Social might be some of his best, all of which benefit from the open fire. oal-charred corn ) is coo ed on top of hot coals in their husks. Onions are cooked by the same method. The two are put together to ma e something magical. ood-grilled broccoli ) soa s up the luscious Taleggio cream and carrot sofrito it rests on. Barbecued carrots ) are slathered with the smo y sauce, and I wouldn t blame you
if you ate an entire plate. On the drink side of things, Abou-Ganim is having just as much fun with his coc tails. hile the options are plentiful, the fi es and social swi les are must-haves. he ostro osa fi ) combines ampari, ulldog Gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, blood orange puree, agave nectar, chilled selt er water and egg white. ounds too crowded, doesn t it here s a reason Abou- anim is the world s best- nown mi ologist. e ma es all of this into a uniform drink that has a stellar taste throughout. he swi les a pitcher) are prepared tableside and do their best to transport you to their birthplace in the aribbean. ueen s Par wi le comprises l orado ear ld um, emerara syrup, lime uice, spearmint and angostura bitters. The longer it sits, the more the mint shines through, and the more ready you are to sit on a beach. esserts ) bridge the world the restaurant s food and drin create. These are all cocktail-themed sweet dishes and Taherzadeh believes this is what ma es them special. If you re loo ing for evolution of our menu, he says, the place where you ll see the most evolution is in the desserts, just because when you set those parameters ... you end up having to used a lot more creativity within parameters. o dessert better e emplifies this than the hot chocolate martini that layers one bite of scrumptiousness on top of the ne t. orn dar chocolate ganache ca e, white chocolate ice cream, marshmallow dollops, a tableside poured chocolate mocha sauce and assertive cocoa nib elevate the entire dish. And with their te ture they create one of the great desserts in Sin City. ats off to you, made-up yle. eal or not, you throw one hec of a delicious party at your new restaurant.
A special wish for a healthy and happy new year FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS
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Think
Essays and In-Depth Articles on Topics that Will Have People Talking all Month Long.
Dressing BAZ’s Lovers | 46 www.davidlv.com | 41
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Think
Elon Musk demoing the Tesla Motors Model X.
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Charity of
Ideas Industry Leaders, Technology and Social Justice Converge to Create New Possibilities for Tikkun Olam (Healing the World)
“If charity means giving, I give it to you.” — from Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot
By Jaq Greenspon
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here’s a thing about charity. Seemingly everyone wants to participate. If a natural disaster happens, we rush to open our checkbooks or go door to door to raise money. When I was as kid, about this time of year, the islands at every stoplight would be populated with off-duty firefighters holding out a boot to collect spare change from passing motorists. And afterward, once you’d signed your check, or dropped your change into the boot, you felt good about yourself. You’d done your part, right? Yes. And no. For some people, there’s a lot more to it than unthinkingly checking a box or tossing change away. For some people, the idea of changing the world is bigger than simply changing it. These are the people out on the front lines, using whatever resources they can to make the world a better place for everyone. And no matter the personal reason for doing it — even if it’s what we call “benevolent philanthropy” – the idea of doing good through good business — they are walking a path that will allow them to leave the world a better place. One of those people is Elon Musk, the creative leader of Tesla Motors. The South Africa-born Canadian-American has stated that one of his goals is to change the world and humanity. After starting and selling two incredibly successful internet companies (including PayPal), the Stanford graduate has devoted himself to solving the energy problem. While other
companies and other people focus on technological innovation (Musk himself sits on the board of other companies he’s founded, which are developing solar energy and space flight), Tesla concerns itself with improving what’s needed to make sure these innovations continue to run. For him, this means batteries, which he believes can help solve a number of energy issues and possibly make for a cleaner environment. Battery technology has lagged advancements in other industries. Ask anyone who owns a smartphone. In a recent interview in Business + Innovation, Musk explained it this way: “Power is how fast you can run. Energy is how far you can run.” He says battery innovation is achieved incrementally. “It’s really rare that there’s a big breakthrough because there are so many constraints,” Musk says. “You can easily improve, say, the power, but then it’d make the energy worse.” So batteries might be the answer to a lot of problems. Tesla has been developing a home-based system that will store solar energy during the day to be used once the sun goes down. The company also wants to create a lower cost model of the Tesla Automobile, whose prices start at $85,000. The new car, with a proposed price tag of $35,000, looks promising. But there’s a hitch: too few batteries are available to allow what Musk wants to do. His option, according to Business + Innovation, was to “either build a whole bunch of little factories or one big factory. And a whole bunch of little factories sounds like quite a bother. Why not just have one big one and maximize your economies of scale?” www.davidlv.com | 43
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Central Africa, kids being super careful not to destroy the new solar panel..
That “big factory,” dubbed Gigafactory, opened July 29 in Northern Nevada. It is the world’s second largest building. Gigafactory, whose roof is covered with solar panels, will not only produce the batteries Musk needs for his affordable electric cars, but will use recycled materials to do it. “We will bring in trains (old box cars) that come out as batteries,” Musk told an investors conference last year. Tesla and Musk stand to make a lot of money, of course, when the affordable, mass market Tesla 3 hits the streets. But it can’t be bad to be advancing battery technology, and possibly creating a cleaner environment at the same time. Neither can bringing fresh water to people who desperately need it. Imagine a land where millions of people live and work, and though there’s an ocean nearby the water in it is undrinkable. That would be San Diego. And the solution to that city’s water problem can be found half a world away, in Israel.
IDE Technologies started the ball rolling with the Sorek desalination plant in the Jewish state. It is designed to provide about 20 percent of Israel s potable water needs. ot only is the plant fulfilling a much needed service, it’s doing it as cost-effectively and non-invasively as possible. Aside from being one of the world’s lowest cost desalination plants, it’s also environmentally sensitive. The plant minimizes the impact on both the ocean and nearby landmasses, due to large diameter pipelines and an innovative structure that comprises a vertical arrangement of 16-inch membranes. These membranes, organized in a large-scale facility, result in a cost-saving, smaller physical footprint. And IDE has created a proprietary Pressure Center Design, Double Line Intake and (Energy Recovery System); it increases efficiency and reduces energy consumption in the inta e, while a separate system accomplishes the same effect of reduced energy and chemical consumption for sludge treatment as well.
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Reverse osmosis treatment trains, Sorek desalination plant in Israel.
The result is that 26,000 square meters of water are being processed every hour to meet the needs of more than 1.5 million people, a harbinger of the day when Israel may enjoy a water surplus. Not so long ago, Israel faced an existential threat due to critical shortages of the life-sustaining liquid. Uri Ginott, the government relations manager for EcoPeace Middle East, believes more available potable water could even ease regional tensions. He recently told Circle of Blue, a Michigan-based information clearinghouse, that since “every drop doesn’t have to come at the expense of another … desalination is turning the water issue from a zero-sum game to a win-win.” But what does all this have to do with San Diego? Last December, IDE opened the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, just north of the Southern California metropolis. It is the largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere, with a capacity of about 190 million liters of potable water daily. This project “not only provides San Diego County with a drought-proof water supply,” says California Assembly Speaker
Toni Atkins, “it also demonstrates how California can meet the water needs of future generations.” IDE is also involved in at least 10 other U.S. projects. These are but two examples of tikkun olam, or repairing the world, even when profit ta ing is involved. And there are more. InnoAfrica.org, an Israeli charity, uses mobile “cloud”-linked solar panels to provide refrigeration and lights in nations where such technologies were previously nonexistent. Because these panels can be monitored, they can be realigned constantly to ensure that they receive the most sunlight possible. Elon Musk would be proud. Other organizations are trying to develop strands of pollutant-resistant coral in the Great Barrier Reef. And Doctors without Borders has provided critically needed medical treatment around the globe, often in war-torn areas, and at great peril, and occasional death, to its practitioners. With these disparate, sometimes heroic efforts around the world, people are getting their hands dirty, replacing good intentions with time, energy and solutions, providing hope for their clients and much of humanity. www.davidlv.com | 45
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Think
Dressing BAZ’s Lovers A Discussion With Steve Mazurek, Costume Designer For Baz Luhrmann’s Strip Spectacular By Marisa Finetti
S
et in a modern and intimate cabaret, BAZ – STAR CROSSED LOVE takes the audience on a sensory overload – a celebration of music and moments from the greatest love stories, as imagined by director Baz Luhrmann. Inspired by his most romantic films, the show captivates and energi es the soul, with stunning performances by an ensemble cast of vocalists, actors and dancers. Completing the visual experience are the costumes that enliven each scene, highlighting the character’s emotional journeys. Steve Mazurek, costume designer for BAZ, says, “The costume design is very actor-driven because there are different parts from many different stories and eras. It s very simplified but super-contemporary, and they are sexy versions of these periods.” From Parisian couture (Moulin Rouge) to the Italian renaissance (Romeo + Juliet) and the Roaring ‘20s (The Great Gatsby), the audience sees through Luhrmann s imagination) what it was probably li e to really be there but with a contemporary twist. Dripping in sequins, crystals, beads, satin and lace, the female cast brings glamour and seduction to the stage. rom beaded corsets, fishnet stoc ings and intricate bustles, to flapper dresses, top hats, angel wings and elegant evening gowns, a ure s costumes are distinctively visual and alluring.
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ost of the men wear blac tails, he says, because it fits all three eras. ut they have accessories that define their character. atsby has his white jacket; Romeo has his big wooden cross; and Christian has his backless vest and tails with the super- ictorian silhouettes. ut the women tend to set the scene. Creating the pieces, he says, required a mix of historical research and inspiration. he process began with s etches, a ure says, but none of the originals loo s anything li e what audiences see at the Pala o heatre today. he show has evolved tremendously from when it originally started, he says. he Los Angeles production, which opened in , and the production at Light nightclub inside andalay ay were similar. ut the production at the Pala o displays the elevated uality and detail wor ,
given its larger budget and a lead-time of six months to re-create the looks, a ure says. With a bigger budget came new and lavish looks, and more costumes altogether. aisy of he reat atsby, has four loo s specific to her role and besides playing aisy, actress oanna ones is cast as a courtesan in oulin ouge and an attendant in omeo uliet. hen a ure created ones costume si years ago, she had one loo , a flapper dress. his was also before he reat atsby was added to the A mi . “But now she has multiple looks,� he says, “from her party look, to her day dress, to her evening gown. All the loo s play on the same dress, but are slightly modified. A is an energetic show, with the cast moving swiftly often times running - across multiple stages. ut a ure , with wardrobe supervisor
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Olwen Zarlengo, made the costumes to look fabulous on stage, yet extremely functional. Zarlengo “hooked me up with a lot of her seamstresses and shops in Las Vegas,” he says. “She was, like, the foreman for all the builds. Having her as part of the fabrication was really important because she runs the show [nightly].” As with any stage performance, there are tricks to the trade. And in costume design Mazurek uses plenty of hooks and magnets but very little Velcro, which can be damaging. There are also duplicates for many of the looks, as wear and tear occur over the course of a long-running show. The only exception is the elegant and detailed ball gown Daisy wears. It’s a one-off. “The costumes are also designed to move and breathe with the actors who are running around the stage,” says Mazurek. “The girls have a basic look – a really simple corset. Everything is built on a classic Victorian
silhouette with functional, sheer, breathable, light overlays.” a ure compares the show to watching a a Luhrmann film. It s fast-paced, exciting, and the visuals just fly by. There is always something to look at.” The set was custom built for the show to provide (from most seats) 360 degrees of entertainment, some so close one can see the sequin stitching on the shoes and identify a favorite costume. But which does Mazurek treasure the most? “I love Satine’s evening gown. It’s a beautiful black satin, super-sexy traditional Victorian gown with a bustle and red rhinestones all over. It appears black. But with any movement, it has this shimmer of deep crimson, which I love for her character. It looks so amazing on the actress, Briana Cuoco. She’s got this alabaster skin, and when you put this dress on her it just looks like heaven.” www.davidlv.com | 49
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Mazurek acknowledges that his path to becoming a wardrobe supervisor and designer was organic and unexpected. Yet it made all the sense in the world to him. A graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, and Carnegie Mellon University, he started out as an actor with For the Record, which delivers BAZ and other productions. He soon realized that coordinating costumes was an area of need and genuine skill. “I’m an intensely creative person,” says Mazurek, who grew up surrounded by the world of design. With his mother, an interior designer, as one of his earliest inspirations, he caught the “design bug” at a young age. Eventually, as For the Record grew and found itself in ever-larger venues, the producers and directors agreed to let him take on the department.
“I never knew how to manage a shop of seamstresses,” he says, “or what materials could withstand the harsh water of a cruise ship for six months. Or why you use Swarovski crystals, because they really do glimmer the best under stage lights. But I learned.” He says he owes it all to Daniel Blumberg (Norwegian Cruise Lines’ head of wardrobe) and Zarlengo (wardrobe supervisor of BAZ in Vegas), who taught him how to “take the reins and flourish in the high-stakes world of commercial theater costume design.” “Their experience and the unwavering support of our director, Anderson avis, have allowed me to grow into this role with ease and confidence, Mazurek says. “I am so proud of this production company, and the road we’ve traveled to get here has been an absolute dream ride.” www.davidlv.com | 51
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The Gift of Preserving Our History Three Staffers From the UNLV University Libraries Special Collections Share Their Experiences of Working on the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project.
B
arbara Tabach believes “Memories are as intrinsically valuable as any material wealth.” As project manager of the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project, her work is infused with that mantra. “Tzedakah (charitable giving) is a fundamental part of the Jewish way of life,” she says, “and that is especially evident in the number of individuals and groups who have contributed to and supported our efforts. In addition to financial support, many Las egans have shared stories, memories, oral histories, photographs, family mementos and other documents to create this important collection. Each donation has helped us to build a rich cultural archive that documents the ewish influence in shaping Las egas. Now in its third year, the project is assembling the premier repository for information on the Las egas ewish e perience. An online archive of digitized materials processed to date can be found at http://digital. library.unlv.edu/jewishheritage. The project has collected nearly 100 oral histories since its launch, and digitized 49 more from recordings dating back to 1975. Besides the 20 newly acquired archival collections, project
Top: Sandy Mallin and Sharon Sigesmund Pierce at the groundbreaking for Temple Beth Sholom, 1998. Middle a ade of the orothy isenberg lementary chool, Las egas, Nevada, 1998. Bottom enry ronberg and unidentified man at toney s Pawn hop, April 1966.
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Members of the Las Vegas Jewish Community Center (now Temple Beth Sholom), 1950s
leaders have hosted roundtable discussions in partnership with Vegas PBS, and collected biographies, organizational histories, photographs, records and other materials. More than 2,000 historical photographs, 1,500 documents, 30 videos and 700 issues of the Las Vegas Israelite (1965-1989) can now be found online. “We appreciate the individuals and organizations who have entrusted us as the caregivers and stewards of their histories,” Tabach says. “The stories and information we have collected will be vital resources for researchers. However, there are many more stories waiting to be shared. We hope that others will join us as we continue documenting Las Vegas’ Jewish history.” Tabach and the UNLV University Libraries team of archivists, curators and digital wizards continue to work behind the scenes to document and preserve this important chapter of Las Vegas history. Read on to learn, in their own words, about their experiences.
Barbara Tabach
Project Manager and Oral Historian
As an oral historian, I e ist in a world filled with the oy of listening and learning. Core to the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project is the illuminating, transgenerational storytelling given by oral history participants. This is uniquely possible when a city is a little more than 100 years old. It is also a strong motivator for all of us in the Oral History Research Center at UNLV University Libraries. We imagine the absolute giddiness of a grandchild listening to a grandparent’s voice describing the Las Vegas they encountered way back when they migrated here to seek a new life. We imagine a future researcher reading the transcript of a parent recalling the tale of raising a family in early Las Vegas. We know there are unending stories to hear, record and preserve. In , we identified do ens of brief oral histories conducted mostly by UNLV history students in the 1970s. These were digitized, transcribed and made available on the project’s website. When listening to these recordings, my bones tingled with delight. Forty years later, we are giving new life and purpose to these spoken memories of early Las Vegans. www.davidlv.com | 53
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Left: Steinberg Chapel at Temple Beth Sholom, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 17, 2016 (photograph by Aaron Mayes) Above endering of the orothy ntratter ursery chool in erusalem, Israel circa
The next step was to invite Jewish pioneers of Las Vegas to participate in new oral history interviews. More than 100 Las Vegans have given their time and stories to the project. With each interview, the value of the project increases. Oral histories connect us to our roots. Visions and hard work become vivid. esearchers now and into the future reap the benefit of this information. The idea of Las Vegas gains texture beyond gaming. People arrived here, forged new friendships, established the first synagogue and became leaders and developers. It became home to multi-generations of people who work, pray, argue and laugh together. They share common cultural roots and believe in sharing stories for future generations – L’dor Vador – from generation to generation. Joyce Mack recalled the story of her late father-in-law, Nate Mack, persuading her to move to Las Vegas as a young bride. The dusty barren desert was a blank canvas. She is a pioneering voice still with us. She remembers Nate’s vision for Las Vegas, a vision that led the way for others to open pawn shops, retail stores and restaurants. We have collected oral histories from successful gaming executives, longtime dealers, maître d’s and musicians. The stories of the builders, doctors and lawyers who endeavored to provide a quality of life for a quickly growing community can be heard in this archive. You can also hear the voices of political leaders,
civic activists, educators and spiritual leaders who provided guidance in the midst of change. The story of Las Vegas cannot be told completely without including the contributions of those of Jewish ancestry. The Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage project assures that. My role of oral historian is only one aspect of the entire project. However, it’s amazing what you can learn when you ask a question and just listen. As a member of UNLV Libraries Special Collections and Oral History Research Center, it is an honor to ask the questions, record the oral histories and be part of a project that preserves local history so that these memories do not fade away.
Emily Lapworth
Archivist and Digital Special Collections Librarian Special Collections has focused special attention on gathering documentation of the Southern Nevada Jewish community for the past two years, and it has been my privilege to work as an archivist on the project. One of the largest donations of valuable archival materials we received was from Elaine Galatz in 2015. To our delight, Elaine’s late husband, Neil Galatz, was a scrapbooker! Elaine had a whole closet full of carefully made scrapbooks that documented more than 50 years of www.davidlv.com | 55
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her husband’s life, including his career as an attorney, his involvement in the Jewish community and his family. The contents include original documents from B’nai B’rith, Temple Beth Sholom and the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. These were an important addition to our collections because although these organizations donated their records to UNLV, the organizations themselves no longer had many of their older records. In addition, Neil’s scrapbooks document other aspects of the valley’s history, including his time as deputy district attorney and work on the MGM Multi-District Fire Litigation, the Hilton Fire Litigation and the PEPCON Explosion Plaintiffs Committee. Developer Mark Fine also made a large donation to UNLV Special Collections, archiving records he created as president of American Nevada Corp. and the Summerlin division of the Howard Hughes Corp. His papers document the building of both Green Valley and Summerlin master-planned communities, plus other real estate development projects that he was involved with. Researchers can trace the growth of the region through original business plans, proposals, reports, promotional materials and project binders. Fine’s papers also include records from his nonprofit government and community wor with the lar ounty chool District School-Business Partnership Program, the Nevada Institute for Contemporary Art, the Nevada Development Authority and several other organizations. The most fun part of the collection might be the videos, though; you can visit the SNJHP website to watch him discussing Green Valley during the 1990s, commercials for his 1999 mayoral campaign and a promotional video for Park Towers at Hughes Center from 2000. Sometimes archives come to us in digital format. Last year, Esther Finder donated the records of Generations of the Shoah – Nevada (GSN), a group that helps local Holocaust survivors and educates community members about the history of the Holocaust. Formed in 2010, many of the group’s records are virtual. While accessing these items, I learned the personal stories of local Holocaust survivors by watching their videotaped interviews and reading autobiographical essays. I also learned about the work that GS-N is doing for these survivors by looking through videos, photos and programs from their events. UNLV also has the paper records of the Holocaust Survivors Group and the Holocaust Resource Center, two other local groups dedicated to supporting local survivors, remembering the victims and educating future generations. I’ve highlighted some of the larger donations received as part of the SNJHP, but everyone knows that sometimes good things come in small packages. Some of our earliest images of Jewish Las Vegans were donated by Michael Mack. His collection includes about a dozen photographs showing banquets and costumed events at the Las Vegas Jewish Community Center during the 1950s. Although small in size, this is an important collection because many early records of the local Jewish community were destroyed or are now scattered in the custody of individuals. UNLV Special Collections is a place to bring these scattered pieces of history together to paint a more complete picture of our past. Not only are these items professionally preserved for future generations, and cataloged for research use, they are also often digitized and can be seen anytime online.
Meghan Gross
Digital Collections Specialist
There are many themes that weave throughout UNLV University Libraries Special Collections. Our collections document the history of gaming, mining and entertainment in Southern Nevada, including the tangible events and famous (and infamous) people that shaped the landscape and cultural life of the region. The Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project collects materials related to Jewish people, organizations and communities in Las Vegas. Our holdings for this project include the papers of charitable organizations and synagogues, educators and bankers, and politicians and performers, all revealing the diverse interests and passions of their creators. During the course of the past two years, I have become familiar with the Las Vegas Jewish community through this documentation project. As the digitization specialist, I help make connections among the collections through curatorial selection and description that bring words to images and names to faces. Through your shared memories, photographs and documents, I have learned about the enormous impact the Jewish community has had on Las Vegas. The theme of giving permeates all the collections, from well-known Las Vegans to those people working in subtle ways to improve the lives of everyone around them. One of the first collections I wor ed with on this pro ect included materials related to the Las Vegas chapter of Hadassah. Established in 1964, this women’s organization raises funds for medical care in Israel. The various events hosted each year are well documented through colorful scrapbooks bursting with newspaper clippings, invitations and photographs. Hadassah still thrives in Las Vegas due to the continued generosity of its members. Another collection documents how Frank Sinatra and Las Vegas theater owner Lloyd Katz spearheaded an effort to recognize Sands Hotel and Casino executive Jack Entratter for his continued and “legendary” generosity, not only to causes in Las Vegas, but also in Israel. They appealed to Entratter’s friends: “As one of his host of friends we look to you for your usual generous financial assistance to support the
orothy ntratter
ursery chool in
Israel, and the Temple Beth Sholom Religious School in Las Vegas. The “Tribute to Jack Entratter” was held at the Riviera Hotel on Oct. 24, 1965. Other stories of giving are told through notes, like that written by a teacher to Dorothy Eisenberg from the school that bears her name. “Dearest Mrs. Eisenberg, Thank you so much for coming to read to our class during Reading Week! We are so grateful that you take the time and make the effort to participate in so many special activities at our school!... Thank you for always being so sweet and thoughtful to not only the students, but also our staff!” Another message of giving comes from a nomination form for Hyman Gold to receive the Governor’s Arts Award. Gold shared his talents as an award-winning cellist as the founder and conductor of the Las Vegas Pops Orchestra. The nomination describes Gold’s accomplishments in music, bringing free concerts to Las Vegas and Henderson, and playing at convalescent homes and hospitals. It s a oy to find these gems in the collections and to share them with the world through our digital project. We invite you to explore the diverse collections we’ve made available through digitization, and become inspired to give! Learn more about how you can contribute to the Southern Nevada Jewish
Heritage
Project
by
visiting
http://digital.library.unlv.edu/
jewishheritage/participate or contacting Barbara Tabach at 702-895-2222 or special.collections@unlv.edu.
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Criss Angel
Preeminent Illusionist, Father & Philanthropist
By Janna Karel More than a decade ago, Criss Angel emerged as one of the world’s preeminent illusionists. Most people know him as the star of his television show Mind Freak, and his current show Mind Freak Live! at the Luxor, and its predecessor BeLIEve. He also happens to be a father, a dedicated philanthropist and a very ambitious person. This month, he’s undertaking what could be his greatest feat yet: raising $1 million for cancer research in one night. Last October, he listened to the words no parent wants to hear: “Your child has cancer.” His 2-yearold, Johnny Crisstopher, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Criss resolved to make it his life’s mission to be a voice for his son, and for millions of children like him. On Sept. 12, Criss is hosting HELP (Heal Every Life Possible), a one-night benefit to help find a cure for pediatric cancer. Famous friends and fellow celebrities are lending their appearances, talents and auction items to help Criss meet that goal. Because if there’s one thing Criss Angel wishes he could make disappear ... well, you can guess.
how are you funding this event?
ANGEL: I’m funding it myself, out of my own pocket. And I was also blessed to have people who are donating their time. So that we know that, unlike many charities, whether you donate money, whether you buy an auction item, whether you buy a ticket to this incredible event, 100 percent of your donation goes to kids. And hopefully next year we’ll be able to raise $2 million and $10 million and $100 million. But we have to start somewhere. DAVID: Have you always been involved in philanthropy or were you inspired by having such a personal motivation?
ANGEL: I’ve been involved in doing stuff for children since 2001. So I’ve been working with children back then and got more involved with different types of children’s organizations. And when I had the television series Mind Freak, I started doing work with Make-A-Wish. So I’ve been doing this for 15 years – way before I had my son. DAVID: It sounds like this cause is really important to you.
ANGEL: Yeah, he’s in remission. I actually took him to Disneyland yesterday. We just got back. He had an amazing time.
ANGEL: It’s the most important thing in my life. Because I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams with success that I feel like there’s a greater purpose for me, and it’s not about me. It’s about these children. And someone needs to step up to the plate and say we’re not going to take it anymore; we’re going to do something about this.
DAVID: Does that mean he’s out of treatment?
DAVID: Do you have any advice for parents who
ANGEL: Well, we did treatment there. He gets
might have a sick child?
chemo every day. And then he goes into the hospital once a month for his other treatment. His mother Shaunyl does an amazing job taking care of him and providing the chemo treatments on a day-to-day basis.
ANGEL: Obviously, you want to get the child the best medical treatment that you can. But emotionally, you’ve got to be there for your child and fill that child with love and support and confidence. And you have to nurture that child. Because these kids are so brave that go through these treatments – spinal taps and chemo treatments and steroids and what they go through emotionally. It would be very difficult for an adult to go through. It’s really important to have that love and support and understanding because it will definitely change your life.
DAVID: I read last month that your son is in remission. Is he still feeling OK?
DAVID: Your fundraiser HELP is shaping up to be a huge event.
ANGEL: Yup. It’s going to be an amazing event, where people can come see for $50 an incredible show with Siegfried and Roy, Mike Tyson, Lance Burton, Blue Man Group, Randy Couture, Bon Jovi, Vince Neil, Flava Flav, the list goes on and on ... everybody is getting involved for the cause. And if anyone can’t get tickets, they can go online to CrissAngelHelp.com and bid on dozens of auction items from Celine Dion and Britney Spears, and even bid to stay at my house. And 100 percent of every single cent goes to pediatric cancer research for these kids.
DAVID: So if all the funds are going to research,
DAVID: How has having a child who is sick changed your outlook on life?
ANGEL: It really gives you a greater sense of valuing every moment that you have on this Earth. You have to celebrate it and be grateful for it. And so it makes you very much aware of how precious life is and how much you have to appreciate the moment and every moment you have now.
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