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BCBGMAXAZRIA dress, STEVE MADDEN shoes
“I support AFAN because of their commitment to destigmatizing the negative perception surrounding HIV/AIDS. I have a personal connection to the cause and fnd them to be incredibly passionate and heroic.”
“AFAN not only has been providing amazing programs and assistance for those afected by HIV/AIDS in the Las Vegas area for almost 30 years, but the passion and care they show to the thousands of clients is truly amazing and inspiring!”
—JuSTin PaRKeR
—danielle BelgRave
LAUREN BY RALPH LAUREN dress, JESSICA SIMPSON shoes, VINCE CAMUTO earrings, ring and bracelet
“I support AFAN because they provide the needed services in the Latino community, which is being afected disproportionately by HIV/AIDS.”
—Reyna HeRReRa
BCBGMAXAZRIA top, TWO BY VINCE CAMUTO vest, J BRAND jeans, DMSX BY DONALD PLINER shoes, MICHAEL KORS watch
“AFAN does amazing work for the community, and it’s important that everyone knows about it. It’s important that it stays local.”
—eduaRdo CoRdova
Photography ANTHONY MAIR Stylist STACIMICHELLE Stylist’s Assistant CARLA FERRIERA Hair & Makeup NATASHA CHAMBERLIN Makeup provided by Mac COSMETICS Wardrobe & Accessories provided by MACY’S
TALLIA blazer, BAR III top, CALVIN KLEIN pants, TISSOT watch
from the editor What is the Hot List issue, might you ask? Well, it’s everything that the team at Vegas/Rated thinks is hot right now. It’s our picks for the best of Las Vegas in dining, spa and hotel, entertainment and nightlife. And here are two of my personal favorites, otherwise known as “How Melinda spends her Sunday afternoon.” In Las Vegas, brunch could be considered its own food group. Not quite lunch, not quite breakfast, it’s the fastest pathway to respectably consume some hair of the dog. And with MOzen Bistro at Mandarin Oriental (702.590.8882; mandarinoriental.com) offering $35 fowing Champagne at its noon-2:30 p.m. Jazz Sundays, don’t waste time courting that hangover in the confnes of a bed. Here it’s called “all-you-can-enjoy,” with a colorful array of sushi, a seafood station featuring crab claws and Kumomoto oysters, a carvery, traditional dim sum, desserts and entrées such as Hong Kong-style steamed grouper, Belgian waffe with caramel pecan cream and the souffé omelette. After you are properly satiated, go experience the magic of one of the city’s hidden gems, James Turrell’s permanent art installation “Akhob,” located on the third foor of Louis Vuitton at The Shops at Crystals and accessible only by elevator. Contributing editor Geoff Carter sums it up like this (and I couldn’t agree more): “In relation to this piece, one is tempted to use the clichéd description of a near-death experience: There’s light everywhere, and it feels a bit like heaven. Taken simply, ‘Akhob’ is three round white rooms lit by colored lights that change from moment to moment; taken poetically, it’s a womb of pure light that will hack into your perception of the outside world. After seeing ‘Akhob,’ you’re nearly disappointed in how polychromatic everything is.” You can’t see “Akhob” without making a reservation, so call ahead, 702.730.3150. We want to hear what’s on your Hot List! Visit facebook.com/ vegasrated and let us know what you love about Las Vegas!
MeLINdA SHeCKeLLS Editor-in-Chief Follow us on Twitter @vegasrated
James tUrrell's "aKHoB" 10 / vrated.com
ContributorS
“What’S your Favorite hiDDen GeM in LaS veGaS?” Genevie Durano, ManaGinG eDitor as a recent transplant, Durano is still fnding her footing amid the 24-hour multisensory stimulation that is Las vegas. the pace and ongoing sense of excitement defne this city—it’s why people come here in the frst place. Still, more stimulation does not necessarily mean better stimulation. “It can be challenging to fnd a quiet place to catch your breath, but recently, I had the pleasure of enjoying an afternoon at the Tea Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental. While the property itself is situated right in the middle of the Strip, inside it’s a whole other atmosphere. Located on the 23rd foor, the Tea Lounge has stunning views of the city below. It’s the perfect place to fnd your Zen while sipping a cup of tea.”
Jen ChaSe, ContributinG eDitor all cities have their watering holes, but what Chase loves best about her new West Coast digs is how easy it is to enjoy an expertly crafted drink (she lives within walking distance of the Cosmopolitan, bellagio and aria). not that she had a lot of time last month to partake: For this issue she was busy profling the city’s best movers and shakers, learning a thing or two along the way about more effectively mixing pleasure with business. “There’s a satiny smooth, white marble chaise on the women’s side of the spa at Vdara that I’m pretty sure can heal anything that’s wrong with anyone. Shaped like an ‘s,’ the marble is heated and it cradles your body, practically melting you into it, along with all your troubles. Anywhere that lets me forget what I was doing at a spa in the frst place is truly my favorite hidden gem.”
JeSSiCa aCuÑa, eDitoriaL aSSiStant in elementary school, acuña was probably the only student without a bedtime. endless nights staying up well past 9 p.m. sparked wonderment about what all the adults on the Strip were up to. this curiosity never stopped, and now she channels that energy into writing about this fascinating city for this publication and its sister media outlets Vegas Seven and dtlv.com. “Located Downtown in the historic Holsum Lofts, formerly a bakery from which I can still remember the smell, is The Brow Boutique. The place is decorated in soft whites and includes a hand-painted mural by aesthetician Patricia McCartney, who is the only person I trust near my eyebrows. Besides her natural artistry of eyebrow shaping, Patricia actually remembers our conversations—something I can’t even say for some of my doctors—making appointments that much more enjoyable.”
iLoveDuSt, Cover artiSt ilovedust is a multidisciplinary studio founded in 2003. based on the South coast of england, surrounded by the rolling countryside and whipped by sea air, ilovedust creates fresh, innovative design, which makes up an award-winning portfolio. Collaborating with a diverse range of brands, from these shores and afar, the studio delivers world-class illustrations and graphics. ilovedust loves what they do, and thinks their clients do, too. “The Neon Boneyard at the Neon Museum is by far our favorite hidden gem. As illustrators and designers, it’s a dream to see the amazing collections of huge neon signs from the past. It’s truly a must-see, especially if you have an interest in design and typography—it’s a great place to get inspiration!”
JeSSe SutherLanD, GraphiC DeSiGner Sutherland is a renaissance man at Vegas/Rated. as graphic designer, photographer, illustrator and gourmet-doughnut provider for the Rated staff, he is like a Swiss army knife. he loves his job, enjoys how much of the city he’s discovered—and he’ll tell you meeting beautiful models on photo shoots is a pretty nice perk. “After venturing through the Mob Museum, a great place to cap off the evening is down the street at the Triple George Grill. It’s a great restaurant, and I felt like I was eating like the Godfather himself.”
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T H E
W O R L D ’ S
P R E M I E R
C O L L E C T I O N
O F
L U X U R Y
A L U X U RY C O N Q U E S T
4 1
B R A N D S.
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CrystalsAtCityCenter.com • Located next to ARIA Resort & Casino • Clothing and Accessories provided by Donna Karan • Jewelry provided by Bulgari
Ryan T. DoheRTy | JusTin WenigeR PuBLisheRs assoCiaTe PuBLisheR eDiToR-in-ChieF aRT DiReCToR
christy corda melinda sheckells scott lien
Managing eDiToR
genevie durano
assoCiaTe eDiToR
matt jacob
CoPy eDiToRs eDiToRiaL assisTanT eDiToRiaL inTeRns
sean defrank, paul szydelko jessica acu単a kiara bass, chanel cassanello, tiffany franklin, ashton hall, monica kran, erin timrawi
ConTRiBuTing eDiToRs
grace bascos, geoff carter, jen chase michael shulman, xania woodman
ConTRiBuTing WRiTeRs
tiffany bosman, camille cannon, laura j. downey, max jacobson, c. moon reed
gRaPhiC DesigneR senioR ConTRiBuTing PhoTogRaPheR ConTRiBuTing PhoTogRaPheRs
jesse sutherland anthony mair andrew sea james, tomo, zackery williams
VP Business DeVeLoPMenT,
jacqueline bicknell
aCCounT seRViCe ManageR
nicole bullis
DiReCToR oF PRoDuCTion/DisTRiBuTion aDVeRTising ManageR DisTRiBuTion CooRDinaToR
marc barrington james bearse jasen ono
Ryan T. DoheRTy | JusTin WenigeR ViCe PResiDenT, PuBLishing ChieF FinanCiaL oFFiCeR assisTanT ConTRoLLeR eDiToRiaL DiReCToR
michael skenandore kevin j. woodward donna nolls phil hagen
CReaTiVe DiReCToR
sherwin yumul
CReaTiVe DiReCToR CusToM PuBLiCaTions
benjamin ward
ViCe PResiDenT, MaRkeTing & eVenTs
kyle markman
eVenTs & PRoMoTions CooRDinaToR
robert opacki
iT DiReCToR geneRaL aCCounTing ManageR
francis shiroma erica carpino
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Vegas/Rated速 is a registered trademark of Sandow Media, LLC and used in partnership with WENDOH Media Companies. Vegas/Rated (ISSN 2162-6340) Vol. 2, No. 12 is published monthly by WENDOH Media Las Vegas, NV.
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labor day
Meet 58 Life Is Beautiful for Rehan Choudhry
Meet 72 Our new favorite import, Debo, infuses sass with class
the guide 84 From nightclubs to pools, there’s no shortage of places to see and be seen this holiday weekend
must-see entertainment
Be entertained 62 A frsthand account of the best moments in Las Vegas’ music history around town 67 Sashay back in time at Grant Philipo’s Showgirl Museum
on the list & on the liPs
summer’s last hurrah
step out 73 From the Strip to Downtown, Vegas keeps delivering the best time of your life
in the MoMent 90 Snapshots from a season of fun at Wet Republic
Meet 79 DJ Lisa Pittman gets “Shedonistic”
Back story 96 A secret garden grows Downtown
ON the cOver Design: ILOVEDUST
vrated.com / 17
JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT a unique luxury resort & casino / 877 552 7778 /
of
WRONG
COSM O P O LITAN L ASVEGAS .CO M
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It took an epic adventure to create a spiced rum this smooth. The journey began at the heart of a charred oak barrel and continued until we created a bold, smooth rum flled with character. Introducing BacardI® OakHeart™, from the heart of charred oak barrels.
PARTY TOGETHER RESPONSIBLY || WWW.BACARDI.COM ©2013 BACARDI, THE BAT DEVICE AND OAKHEART ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDI & COMPANY LIMITED. BACARDI U.S.A., INC., CORAL GABLES, FL. RUM WITH NATURAL FLAVORS AND SPICES – 35% ALC. BY VOL.
IF YOU OBEY ALL THE RULES YOU MISS ALL THE FUN.
DINING / FASHION / NIGHTLIFE
Restaurant Open Daily at 5:30pm
Patio Seating Available
Reservations Encouraged
20% Locals Discount Sunday–Wednesday* THE SHOPS AT CRYSTALS ARIA LAS VEGAS 3720 Las Vegas Blvd. South Suite 260 Las Vegas, NV 89158 Restaurant (702) 254-2376 www.SHe-LV.com SHeLasVegas *Restrictions may apply.
NOW SLICING. Here’s where you’ll find pizza by award-winning Chef Shawn McClain, beer by microbreweries, and an atmosphere by ARIA. Whether it’s 2 pm or 2 am.
AriaLasVegas.com | Dining Reservations 877.230.2742
HOT LIST / WHATHEADER TO EAT HERE NOW
Smoke thiS Burger
Outlaw burger: anthOny Mair
Finding a good barbecue spot in this city is like striking gold. rollin’ Smoke, opened just a year, already has legions of fans, judging by the glowing reviews on Yelp. Sure, the slow-cooked, tender and smoky meats are the stars, but break the rules and go for the outlaw Burger, a half-pound of ground chuck topped with slowsmoked chopped brisket, american cheese, fried onion straws, lettuce and tomato. in five words … Tis is heaven for carnivores. don’t miss … Te all-youcan-eat special for $24.99—all the meat your arteries can take, anytime of the day. did you know … John and trey holland, the two brothers from arkansas who run the joint, use hickory and other hardwoods to infuse favor in their ’cue. 3185 S. Highland Dr., 702.836.3621; rollinsmokebarbeque.com –genevie durano
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PRESENTED BY
27TH ANNUAL BLACK & WHITE PARTY
THE JOINT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO
GET TICKETS NOW AT LAS VEGAS
AFANLV.ORG AFANLV.ORG
PRESENTING SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
#BWPARTY27 @AFANLV
SAT.AUG.24.2013
summer’s last hurrah
rock and roll all night and party every day
hakkasan: rukes
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