DAVID

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Star Wears A Force in the Fashion Universe Awakens EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS

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NEW YEAR’S PEEVED

ONE’S WATER

TODD POLIKOFF

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What Does student-Centered Learning look like?

Let us Show you.

Call Today to Arrange a Tour Enrolling 18 Months-Grade 12 Education For Life * 9700 Hillpointe Road Las Vegas, Nevada 89134 * Phone (702) 255-4500 * www.adelsoncampus.org 01_Cover_Form.indd 2

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PR

Every new chapter needs characters.

The Flirt

The Dancer

The Brain

The Storyteller

Every group of friends has its roles to play.

The one who is always quick with a joke, the one that knows every pick-up line, the one that knows the answer to every trivia question. Las Ventanas is a community of characters. Come meet your new best friends.

Call 1 (888) 294-2123 to schedule your personal tour today!

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15-SUM

9inW X 10.875inH PRESENTED BY

E I G H T N I G H TS O F C H A N U KA H F U N

HOLIDAY PARADE NOV 20, 21, 27, 28 & DEC 4, 5, 11 - 24* - AT 7PM

MENORAH LIGHTING JOIN US FOR 8 NIGHTS OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES AND MENORAH LIGHTING, CELEBRATIONS, DECEMBER 6 TH - 13 TH NIGHT.

*PARADE STARTS AT 6PM ON DECEMBER 24TH

ROCK RINK GIVE THE PERFECT GIFT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN’S NEW GIFT CARDS

OPEN NOV 13TH THROUGH JANUARY 18TH

V I S I T D OW N TOW N S U M M E R L I N .C O M F O R T H E F U L L S C H E D U L E O F H O L I DAY H A P P E N I N G S

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DECEMBER

52

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pulse

live

think

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

28 speak New Year’s Eve can be the most stressful night of the year.

19

devour Where to find some of the best eats, drinks and foodie happenings in the Valley

32 know Todd Polikoff does his Sin City encore as he returns to take the helm of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas.

42 Settling In Menorahs and mistletoe, Downtown Summerlin embraces the communities that it serves.

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

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52 One Desert Wetland Condo developer, Uri Vaknin, invests in the art of Marilyn Suriani for his latest project, One Las Vegas.

on the cover

Star Wears

D E C E M B E R 2 015

38 taste Four chefs, eight nights, what more do we need?

Oh yes, their secret latke recipes.

D E C E M B E R 2 015

34 taste Four new dining establishments seek to redefine strip gastronomy.

6.8

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

46 Star Wears From haute couture to basse couture designers are letting the force be with them.

www.davidlv.com

Runway model, Rick Owens, AW15 womenswear show.

A Force in the Fashion Universe Awakens EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS

NEW YEAR’S PEEVED

ONE’S WATER

TODD POLIKOFF

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Copyright 2015 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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NOVEMBER 28 – DECEMBER 24

SUNDOWN, DECEMBER 6 CHANUKAH BEGINS WITH THE CEREMONIAL LIGHTING OF OUR MENORAH, a n d c o n t i n u e s w i t h c e l e b r a t i o n s e v e r y n i g h t o f t h e h o l i d a y.

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Join us during the entire season for live entertainment and general revelry.

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HI T Y R EVE VO

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Publisher/Editor Associate Publisher

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Max Friedland

max@davidlv.com editor@davidlv.com

Joanne Friedland joanne@davidlv.com

EDITORIALllllllll

Calendar Editor

Brianna Soloski

brianna@davidlv.com

Copy Editor Pulse Editor Production Assistant

Pat Teague

Contributing Writers

Marisa Finetti

Marisa Finetti ZoĂŤ Friedland

Jaq Greenspon E.C Gladstone Corey Levitan Brian Sodoma Lynn Wexler

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

Art Director/ Photographer

2015 PRESENTING SPONSOR

Tickets: 702.749.2000 NevadaBallet.org

steve@davidlv.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Advertising Director

December 12 - 20, 2015 The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

Steven Wilson

Joanne Friedland joanne@davidlv.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS 702-254-2223 | subscribe@davidlv.com

Volume 06 Number 8 www.davidlv.com DAVID Magazine is published 12 times a year.

Copyright 2015 by JewishINK LLC. 1930 Village Center Circle, No. 3-459 Las Vegas, NV 89134 (p) 702-254-2223 (f) 702-664-2633

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

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

8 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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contributors

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

Jaq Greenspon is a journalist, screenwriter and author with credits on The New Adventures of Robin Hood and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

He also is a literary and movie critic, has taught and written about fi lmmaking but is most proud of his role in the fi lm, Lotto Love. A Vegas resident for most of his life,he now resides in Eastern Europe.

E.C. Gladstone is a Las Vegas-based writer/photographer and social media consultant. Covering the ever-growing worlds of travel, food, wine & spirits, he has contributed recently to BonAppetit.com, About.com, Thrillist, Everyday With Rachael Ray and multiple local Vegas outlets. Previously, he helped launched JLiving magazine and has held editorial positions with many websites and magazines including AOL.com, US Weekly, and Alternative Press.

His ideal day involves a busy kitchen, soul music, laughter and cask spirits. Currently he is compiling a book of his rock journalism from the ‘90s. Find more of his writing on food and beverages at nowimhungry.com and sipsavorswallow. com.

Corey Levitan is a regular contributor to Men’s Health magazine.

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

Brian Sodoma has been writing professionally since 1998. He has called Las Vegas home since 2002, and enjoys covering the city’s business issues, real estate, health, sports ... anything that isn’t fashion. Sodoma currently is working on a feature-length screenplay about Las Vegas real estate meltdown with local fi lm director Roger Tinch. When he’s not hunting for new story ideas, Sodoma dabbles in real estate, coaches youth soccer and plays ice hockey.

Lynn Wexler has been a feature writer and contributor for magazines and newspapers, locally and nationally, for over 20 years. She writes a monthly online column entitled Manners in the News, which comments on the behavior of politicians, celebrities and others thrust in the public arena. She is the Founder and President of Perfectly Poised, a school of manners that teaches social, personal and business etiquette to young people.

She is a former TV Reporter and News Anchor. Of her many accomplishments, she is most proud of her three outstanding teenaged children.

10 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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VT2566

Happy Hanukkah From All of Us at In Addition to our Regular Offerings, We Will Be Serving December 6-14 Gefilte Fish Apricot-Glazed Chicken Stuffed Cabbage • Potato Knish Noodle Kugel • Potato Latkes Honey Bunt Cake Beef Brisket • Smoked Whitefish Matzo Ball Soup

Sunday-Thursday 4:30pm-8:00pm Friday & Saturday 4:30pm-9:00pm

ALTA & RAMPART

VT25662-51872-15HannukahMenu-PubAd9x10.875-SC-BV.indd 1 03_12_FOB.indd 11

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SuncoastCasino.com

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from the publisher Notwithstanding my giveaway foreign accent, I am a 22-year resident of Las Vegas. I proudly claim my native creds and celebrate my kinship with the people of the desert; the Paiute, Rafael Rivera, Bugsy Siegel and the Pawn Stars. Having previously lived in many major urban centers around the world, I experienced the limits of personal dominion. Not so in Sin City.

Will the history books record my six years in London? I fear not. Several years ago I took the family to visit my old stomping grounds, the kids should know after all where their father sowed his wild student oats. I was sure that discarded relics of my halcyon days would abound. Other than one retiring factotum at my old college who remembered me fondly, successive rainy seasons had washed away my footprints.

Pioneer towns have its ups and downs, thankfully more of the former than the latter.

Torn up roads aside, it is thrilling to witness the growth of a city complete with its iconic architecture and local traditions.

This year we celebrate a new holiday season with the Downtown Summerlin Holiday Parade. For its inaugural year Summerlin partners with the Jewish Community Center of Las Vegas to produce “Eight Crazy Nights of Chanukah.” In Settling In (pages 42 – 45,) we cover the event and meet with general manager Andrew Ciarrocchi to ask him about the center’s first year of community outreach.

Keeping the retail spirit going we explore the impact that the Star Wars franchise has had on our popular culture. In Star Wears (pages 46 – 51) we cover the fashion industry and other merchandising designed to coordinate with the December 18th, premier of The Force Awakens. My geek family has already identified their must- haves and purchased their Imax tickets.

A familiar voice returns to DAVID, we once again interview Uri Vaknin. As CEO of DK Las Vegas he is currently redeveloping the condo towers of One Las Vegas into a cutting edge residential location that celebrates fine art. In One’s Desert Wetland (pages 52 – 56) we present the art of acclaimed photographer Marilyn Suriani. Her massive work will be a major component of the common area’s redesign.

Taking an encore is nothing new for a strip performer; in the professional world of philanthropy it is somewhat of a novelty. I am happy to reintroduce Todd Polikoff , (pages 32 – 33.) His character and skills will be evident to all as the Jewish community moves forward in an important period of growth. The Jewish Federation of Las Vegas has made a great hire as President and CEO. The board and especially the search committee deserve a round of applause.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, latkes are frying, shoppers are buying, Santa is grinning while dreidels are spinning! Hot chocolate and holiday cheer warm us as chilly desert winds start to blow. This is cuddling in front of the fire time and our desire pages offer items guaranteed to make the experience all the more comfy.

With apologies for my humble attempts as a lyricist I wish you all a Happy Holidays, Chag Sameach. See you in the racks.

Max Friedland max@davidlv.com

12 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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eXplore L A S

TUESDAY AFTERNOON AT THE BIJOU HOLIDAY TALES: Tuesdays through Dec. 29, 1 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

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V E G A S

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS - THE MUSICAL: 3:30 & 6:30 p.m., $18. Orleans Arena, 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas.

702-284-7777. orleans.com SIERRA BLACK: 10:30 p.m., free. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-7967111. southpointcasino.com STEVE SOLOMON’S MY MOTHER’S ITALIAN, MY FATHER’S JEWISH AND I’M HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS ... THE THERAPY CONTINUES: Through Dec. 6, times vary, $35. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com

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50TH ANNUAL JEWISH FEDERATION ANNUAL MEETING: 7 p.m., free. Temple Beth Sholom, 10700 Havenwood Lane, Las Vegas. jewishlasvegas.com AARON WATSON: Through Dec. 6, 12 a.m., free. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. southpointcasino.com MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER: 7:30 p.m., $35. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. orleans.com RODNEY ATKINS: 10:30 p.m., free. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-7917111. mirage.com CLINT HOLMES: Through Dec. 5, times vary, $37. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com

LITTLE BIG TOWN: 8 p.m., $35. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5555.

December 1

SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL 2015 HOLIDAY GIFT BAZAAR: 8:30 a.m., free.

Temple Beth Sholom, 10700 Havenwood Lane, Las Vegas. For more information, contact Denise Hahamy at 702-813-3420 or denise@ssds-lv.org.

BRETT DENNEN: 9 p.m., $20. Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas.

702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas THE TUESDAY BLEND: 10 p.m., $10-$20.

Hard Rock Live, 3771 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-733-7625. hardrocklive.com

DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN ROCK RINK: Through Jan. 18, times vary, $15. Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, Las Vegas. downtownsummerlin.com RUDOLPH'S TREE FARM: Through Dec. 24, times vary, costs vary. Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, Las Vegas. downtownsummerlin.com MIKAYLA WHITMORE - WHEN THE NIGHT COMES: Through Dec. 6, times vary, free.

Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas.

702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

CHAD FREEMAN AND REDLINE: 10 p.m., $5$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. treasureisland.com COWBOY TOWN: Through Dec. 11, time and costs vary. Golden Nugget, 129 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. goldennugget.com/lasvegas TANYA TUCKER: 10 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas.

702-385-7111. goldennugget.com/lasvegas RODNEY CARRINGTON: Through Dec. 12, 10 p.m., $59.99-$89.99. MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-891-1111.mgmgrand.com LAS VEGAS STORIES - CHRISTMAS IN LAS VEGAS: 7 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-5073459. lvccld.org

14 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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MEADOWS SCHOOL ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY CONCERT: 5 p.m., free. Tivoli Village, 440 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-570-7400. tivolivillagelv.com LITTLE BIG TOWN: 8 p.m., $35. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702693-5555. hardrockhotel.com A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD: Through Dec. 13, times vary, $5. Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush Street, Las Vegas.

702-229-6383. artslasvegas.org CASEY DONAHEW BAND & KEVIN FOWLER: 9:30 p.m., free. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd.

S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. mirage.com RON WHITE: Through Dec. 5, time TBA, $59.99. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. mirage.com CARL PALMER: 8 p.m., $20. Boulder Station, 4111 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas. 702-4327777. boulderstation.sclv.com DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN HOLIDAY PARADE: Through Dec. 5 & Dec. 1124, 7 p.m., free. Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, Las Vegas. downtownsummerlin.com CHANCEY WILLIAMS AND THE YOUNGER BROTHERS BAND: Through Dec. 6, 10 p.m., $5-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. treasureisland.com

BIG & RICH: 10 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-3857111. goldennugget.com/lasvegas

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JEWEL NEW MEMBER EVENT - VODKA LATKE: 8 p.m., cost TBA. The Ogden, 150 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas. For more information and to purchase tickets, email marni@jewishlasvegas.com NASHVILLE UNPLUGGED: 9:30 p.m., $25. Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas MERCEDES IN THE MORNING'S NOT SO SILENT NIGHT: 8 p.m., $40.50. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702693-5555. hardrockhotel.com TRICK PONY: 7:30 p.m., $20.18. Suncoast, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. suncoast.com LAS VEGAS GREAT SANTA RUN: 9 a.m., $10-$45. Downtown Las Vegas. opportunityvillage.enmotive.com/ BOOK SIGNING & PRESENTATION - THE DREAM PUPPY BY CARLA MASTERSON: 2 p.m., free.

West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-229-4800. artslasvegas.org CASEY DONAHEW BAND & ROGER CREAGER: 9:30 p.m., free. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. mirage.com

HAPPY Chanukah

Come in for Holiday Favorites Jelly Donuts Potato Pancakes 301 N. Buffalo Drive 255-3444 www.thebagelcafelv.com

Mannheim Steamroller 12.3

WhereTheLocalsEat.com

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LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC - THE SNOWMAN: Through Dec. 6, times vary, $26. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com

TERRI CLARK: 10 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-3857111. goldennugget.com/lasvegas HOLIDAYS WITH THE LAS VEGAS BRASS BAND: 2 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-5073459. lvccld.org

TRACE ADKINS: 10 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas.

702-385-7111. goldennugget.com/lasvegas

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7 CHILDREN OF THE KINDERTRANSPORT: 2 p.m., cost TBA. Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center, 4794 Eastern Avenue, Suite A Las Vegas. 818-606-0793 or susandubin48@gmail.com.

JFSA MENORAH LIGHTING: 5 p.m., free.

Magical Forest at Opportunity Village, 6300 W Oakey Blvd., 702 379-1721 or Barbara. raben@gmail.com.

12TH ANNUAL TOYS FOR TICKETS ALL STAR JAM: 7 p.m., free in exchange for a new, unwrapped toy. Red Rock Hotel, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-797-7777. redrock.sclv.com DALLAS SMITH: 10 p.m., free. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. mirage.com EIGHT NIGHTS OF CHANUKAH FUN PRESENTED BY THE JCC & DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN Through Dec. 13th, free.

Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, Las Vegas. downtownsummerlin.com

CURTIS GRIMES: Through Dec. 8, 12 a.m., free. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. southpointcasino.com JOSH THOMPSON: 10 p.m., free. Westgate Las Vegas Resort, 3000 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-732-5111. westgatedestinations. com/LasVegas GLEN TEMPLETON: Through Dec. 8, 10 p.m., free. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. mirage.com REBA AND BROOKS & DUNN: 7:30 p.m., $59.50-$205. Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-731-7110. caesarspalace.com TRAVIS CLOER - CHRISTMAS MY PLACE: 6:30 & 8:30 p.m., $50. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-7492012. thesmithcenter.com

Trace Adkins 12.5

MERLE HAGGARD: Through Dec. 8, 10 p.m., $19.

Golden Nugget, 129 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas.

702-385-7111. goldennugget.com/lasvegas

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LOCASH WITH RAINEY QUALLEY: Through Dec. 9, 11 p.m., $5-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. treasureisland.com

THE DISTRICT MENORAH LIGHTING: 6:30 p.m., free. The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2240 Village Walk Drive, Henderson. rabbimendy@chabadofgreenvalley.org.

LGBTQ MISSION TO ISRAEL - INTEREST MEETING: 6 p.m., free. The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas. For more information, contact marni@jewishlasvegas. com. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

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YOUNG ISRAEL AISH YEAR END COCKTAIL PARTY: 7 p.m., $180. Palms, 4321 W Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Young Israel Aish at 702-360-8909.

CODY JOHNSON: Through Dec. 12, 11 p.m. & 12 a.m., free. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-796-7111. southpointcasino.com A THOUSAND HORSES: 10:30 p.m., free.

Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas.

702-791-7111. mirage.com LEANN RIMES: 10 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-3857111. goldennugget.com/lasvegas

Merle Haggard 12.7-8

ART & WINE - A PERFECT PAIRING: 5 p.m., $34-$42. Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-693-7871. bellagio.com

16 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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KATE GILMORE AND FRANKLIN EVANS - SHELF LIFE: Through Jan. 3, times vary, free. Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com UNLV JAZZ CONCERT SERIES: UNLV VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE & "JAZZMIN" WITH THE UNLV GRADUATE COMBO: 7 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

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FRIENDS OF THE IDF 5TH ANNUAL LAS VEGAS GALA: 6 p.m., $250. Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 646-274-9659 or abigail.amsel@fidf.org.

THE CADILLAC THREE: 10:30 p.m., free.

Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas.

702-791-7111. mirage.com LOCASH WITH OLIVIA LANE: Through Dec. 12, 11 p.m., $5-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. treasureisland.com ALABAMA: Through Dec. 11, 10 p.m., $19. Golden Nugget, 129 E. Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702385-7111. goldennugget.com/lasvegas

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JOE RUSSO'S ALMOST DEAD: 9:30 p.m., $30. Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

The Nutcracker 12.12-20

THE TEXAS TENORS: Through Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., $30.28. Suncoast, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. suncoast.com GARY ALLAN: Through Dec. 12, 9:30 p.m., $39.50. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5555. hardrockhotel.com EASTON CORBIN: 10:30 p.m., free. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-7917111. mirage.com RON WHITE: Through Dec. 12, time TBA, $59.99. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. mirage.com AN EVENING WITH LAURA OSNES: Through Dec. 12, 7 p.m., $39. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-7492012. thesmithcenter.com SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: 8 p.m., $33. Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-942-7777. palms.com

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JOE NICHOLS: 10 p.m., free. Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. mirage.com NEVADA BALLET THEATRE - THE NUTCRACKER: Through Dec. 20, times vary, $29. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com

LeAnn Rimes 12.9

PUSCIFER: 8 p.m., $43. Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-942-7777. palms.com

MARTIN NIEVERA: 7 p.m., $32-$46. The M Resort, 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Henderson.

702-797-1000. themresort.com

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NEVADA CHAMBER SYMPHONY’S HOLIDAY FAVORITES: 2 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas.

702-507-3459. lvccld.org

AHAVAS TORAH CENTER ANNUAL GALA: 5:30 p.m., $125. The Terrace, 1361 W Warm Springs Road, Henderson. 702-845-1435, rabbifromowitz@gmail.com.

JEWISH REPERTORY THEATRE OF NEVADA GALA BENEFIT & SHOW 7 p.m., $45-$65, Temple Sinai, 9001 Hillpoint Rd., Las Vegas.

818-994-7050 jewishreptheatrenv.com LIGHT UP THE NIGHT WITH LIBERACE: Benefits the Las Vegas Philharmonic Youth Concerts. 5 p.m., $85. guildtreasurer@lvphil.com / 702-858-9311 to purchase. lvphil.com

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JOHN BROWN'S BODY WITH PURE ROOTS: 8 p.m., $15. Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

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X107.5 HOLIDAY HAVOC: 7 p.m., $40.50.

Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5555. hardrockhotel.com www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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TONY ORLANDO CHRISTMAS SHOW: Through Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m., $45. South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-7967111. southpointcasino.com SCOTTY ALEXANDER BAND: Through Dec. 19, 10 p.m., $5-$20. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. treasureisland.com

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SANTA BABY HOLIDAY SHOW WITH THE BEVERLY BELLES: 7 p.m., $10-$15.

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush Street, Las Vegas. 702-229-6383. artslasvegas.org KRISTEN HERTZENBERG AND PHILIP FORTENBERRY - HOLIDAYS FROM THE HEART: 2:30 & 7 p.m., $26. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702749-2012. thesmithcenter.com WINTER BLOOD DRIVE: 11 a.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

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JEWEL’S ANNUAL LIGHT IT UP EVENT - YOUNG ADULT CHANUKAH PARTY: 9 p.m., cost TBA. The Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. Jewishlasvegas. com/lighitup15

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JERRY SEINFELD: Through Dec. 27, 7:30

Carly Rae Jepsen 12.30-1.2

p.m., $82.50-$165. Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-731-7110. caesarspalace.com LIPSHTICK - THE PERFECT SHADE OF STAND UP - LISA LAMPANELLI: Time and cost TBA. Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-414-1000. venetian.com

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CARLY RAE JEPSEN: Through Jan. 2, times vary, $55.50-$75.50. Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-414-1000. venetian.com CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER: 9 p.m., $49.50. Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5555. hardrockhotel.com

MAROON 5: Through Dec. 31, times vary, $99.50-$225.50. Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. mandalaybay.com

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PRETTY LIGHTS: Through Jan. 1, 10 p.m., $59.95. Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas PLAIN WHITE T'S: 8 p.m., $50. The Sayers Club at SLS Las Vegas, 2535 Las Vegas Blvd.

S., Las Vegas. thesayersclublv.com NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE SMITH CENTER: 7 p.m., $39. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com

Maroon 5 12.30-31

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.

18 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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devour Tuna & Beet Carpaccio The midwinter season often calls for a dish to lift spirits, enchant the eye and satisfy your yearning for fresh and light. Chef Tyson Wong of Sushi Roku at The Forum Shops at Caesars delivers the tuna & beet carpaccio.

“I approach this dish as both a chef and a florist, because the finished product looks like a floral arrangement,” Wong says. “The colorful beets (red, yellow) are carefully arranged and presented. The soft tuna pairs well with the crunch of the beets, and the yuzu miso vinaigrette enriches the flavor of the dish.”

Sushi Roku, The Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-733-7373.

Crispy Socca

Cachaça

A staple on the newly opened Rivea’s menu, the Crispy Socca is an original Niçoise salad in chickpea wrap and one of chef Ducasse’s signature dishes. The socca – a thin crêpe made with chickpea flour, olive oil and water, fried until crispy – is delivered with ingredients from a Niçoise salad – French green beans, tuna, fennel, baby gem, black olives, quail eggs, spring onions, tomatoes, parsley and basil – all seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice.

Cachaça, pronounced kah-SHAH-sah, is Brazil’s most popular distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane juice. Via Brasil Steakhouse owner Adam Gomes’ grandfather would make a version of the cocktail in Brazil to keep guests toasty during or after their meal. Warmed honey is mixed with the green apple- and cinnamoninfused cachaça, which is set atop a glass of hot water to retain the heat. The concoction tastes like apple pie in liquid form.

Recipe: • 750 ml Leblon cachaça • 3 cinnamon sticks • 1 Granny Smith apple, diced into large cubes Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight jar in a dark place for about a week. Shake the mixture vigorously at least once daily.

To make the cocktail: • 1.5 ounces cinnamon/apple-infused cachaça • 1 teaspoon warm honey Stir the honey into the cachaça until it dissolves. The drink is served in a snifter, resting on a half-full glass of boiling water to keep warm.

Pierre Monetta

Rivea, Delano , 3950 Las Vegas Blvd., S., Las Vegas. 702-632-9500.

Via Brasil Steakhouse, 1225 S. Fort Apache Road, Las Vegas, NV 89117. (702) 804-1400. www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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desire

Comfort & Joy

You’ll feel loved while wrapped up in this lavishly soft and luxurious throw with a plush texture on one side and micro-cuddle on the other. $89. Soma, Town Square Las Vegas, 6671 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-270-0168.

The best Italian mills create this cashmere hoodie, making it famously soft. If you treat it with love, it will last forever. $238. Jcrew.com.

Styled at the crown with a fox fur pompom, Barneys New York’s beanie is crafted of cotton blend and brown mink fur knitted in a diamond pattern. $325.

Barneys New York, Grand Canal Shoppes, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-629-4200.

You won’t stop touching this scarf because it’s super soft. Comes in butterscotch (pictured), navy, cinnamon and pink sand. $150. Jcrew.com.

The “Birche” by UGG combines the coziness of slippers and socks for a lounge-perfect style. Soft jersey and cozy wool line the interior of the sumptuous sheepskin. $79.95. Nordstrom, Fashion Show, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-862-2525.

20 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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Kate Spade’s zip-up gloves are as much about form as function. They feature a shiny zipper, with a charming bowshaped pull. $68. Kate Spade New York Grand Canal Shoppes, 3377 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-564-2812.

This warm and versatile high-performance men’s hooded down jacket picks up where other premium goose down leaves off. Coated 850-fill DownTek™ repels water, plus the innovative wind-resistant Pertex fabric shell is ideal for hours on the trail or backyard. $229. llbean.com.

For a gentleman’s luxury at a moment’s notice, wrap up in this handsome scarf.

Made of pure, soft cashmere, it features white and tones of blue with a greatlooking, knocked-down appearance. As versatile as it is comfortable, it can be worn any time of year. $128 Tommy Bahama, Town Square Las Vegas, 6635 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-948-8006.

Stay stylish even when you slumber with Charlotte Olympia’s satin ‘Cat Nap’ set, complete with “Sleeping Kitty” motif slippers, a feline-shaped eye mask and large embroidered carrying pouch. $595. Charlotte Olympia, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Las Vegas. 702-895-7510.

We can’t help but love the function and the funk of these faux fur wireless earphones from Henri Bendel. Comes in gray or black, you’ll never be caught with cold or quiet ears. $148. Henri Bendel, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd., S., Las Vegas. 702-893-4800. www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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discover A Musical NYE One night, five performers, broadway favorites and classics galore. Vegas headliner Clint Holmes is joined by host Erich Bergen of Jersey Boys Las Vegas, and the movie as well as CBS’ Madam Secretary; Tony-winning singer and actress Patina Miller, also appearing on Madam Secretary, and in Hunger Games; Norm Lewis, from Phantom of the Opera on Broadway (also the first black Phantom); he previously appeared on ABC’s Scandal; and Capathia Jenkins (Newsies), who sings with world-renowned orchestras.

Dec. 31. At 7.p.m.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas.

Thesmithcenter.com.

December to Remember Families will enjoy the Neon Museum’s annual “December to Remember” family holiday celebration, which will take place Saturday, Dec. 12, from 2 to 6 p.m. It begins with ornament-making in the Boneyard Park, which is followed by hot chocolate and caroling by Las Vegas Academy choir in the festively illuminated Neon Museum Boneyard from 5 to 6 p.m. “December to Remember” is part of the City of Las Vegas Cultural Corridor’s holiday festival. This event is free and open to the public; reservations are not required.

Neon Boneyard and the La Concha Visitors’ Center are located at 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North in Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.NeonMuseum.org.

Culinary Celebration Ultimo – A Weekend of Excellence (The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas) plans to take culinary extravagance to new levels Dec. 17-20. Echoing an Earth, Water, Air and Fire theme, each of life’s elements will be celebrated during a weekend-long celebration. Chef luminaries Jérôme Bocuse, Daniel Boulud, Josiah Citrin, Shaun Hergatt, Gavin Kaysen, Thomas Keller, James Kent and others will provide lavish feasts. From the Grand Banquet, set on the sumptuous table spanning the iconic Grand Colonnade of The Venetian, to a floating luncheon on the Grand Canal, and an open flame cooking extravaganza, this event won’t disappoint.

The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. For tickets, call The Venetian and The Palazzo box office, 866-641-7469.

22 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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24 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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mingle JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SOUTHERN NEVADA BARBEQUE COOKOFF FESTIVAL Venue Temple Beth Sholom

Date Sunday, October 25

Event How do I get to Temple Beth Sholom?

On that perfect fall Sunday afternoon the answer was simple, “Look for the smoke then follow your nose.” Barbeque heaven in a parking lot was the desired destination, fun, food and friendship the imperative. Tickets in hand, attendees were able to sample the competition fare and vote for their choices as champion grill team. A celebrity panel of Las Vegas chefs took charge of selecting the event grand prize winners. This year a Kids Backyard Burger Competition was added giving the adults a run for their money and reassuring all that the future of kosher grilling was in good hands.

Seth Turner and Rick Foell’s acoustic renditions of country and rock favorites entertained the crowds and the Smoque Shack food venue served kosher southern comfort food all afternoon.

After the awards ceremony concluded and the champions were given their awards and congratulations, a tired and happy community went their own ways satisfied in the knowledge that everyone who participated in this terrific event were winners.

Photos courtesy: Marc Frye & Ryan Aaron Reisman www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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mingle VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA ANNUAL BALL Venue The Venetian Las Vegas

Date

1

Saturday, November 7

Event Close to 600 benefactors and community members attended the event, which honored Donald D. Snyder, a philanthropic and community leader who supports VMSN’s distinct mission of providing charitable and accessible

2

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health care to every man, woman and child in Southern Nevada. All proceeds raised during the fundraiser will support VMSN’s day-to-day operations.

Photos 1.

(left to right) Mr. & Mrs. Wallace Ward with Stella and Dr. Godwin Maduka

2.

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(left to right) Dr. Lydia Wyatt, Honeree Don Snyder and Dr. Florence Jameson.

3.

Ross and Mareah Randolf

4.

MC Sue Manteris.

5.

Ronn Bailey and friend

6.

Dr & Mrs. Jacks.

7.

Dr. & Mrs. Warren Volker

8.

(left to right) Aurora and Buck Wong

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with Dr. Florence Jameson.

Photos courtesy: Cashman Photography

26 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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Pierre Monetta

live

New Years Peeved @ 28 Todd Polikoff @ 32 Grand Openings @ 34 For the Love of Latkes @ 38 GRAND OPENINGS pg 34

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www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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New Year’s Peeved

speak

My Resolution: To Ring Out This Miserable Holiday

By Corey Levitan

“H

appy New Year!”

You know why we always say that to each other? Because we’re rooting for this one to be different. But always, it’s the same. And I’m pretty sure that’s the clinical definition of mental illness.

Happy is the most difficult thing to be on the evening of Dec. 31, when mediocre restaurants across America sprout velvet ropes and charge you $250 to eat and drink, kiss people you either don’t know or don’t like, pretend never to have seen fireworks before and then argue with your significant other on the drive home. (Whether you’re single or coupled, New Year’s Eve costs more money that doesn’t lead to sex than all other holidays combined.)

It’s fitting that the two songs we’re obliged to sing on this night define unhappiness: “Auld Lang Syne” reminds us of old friends we’ve left behind, while U2’s “New Year’s Day” describes the sup-

pression of Poland’s Solidarity movement by martial law in 1980.

(I’m going to pretend I knew that without having to look it up.)

Not a single one of my New Year’s eves has been happy. In recent years, my wife and I treat them like approaching Las Vegas summers. We know they’re coming, we can feel them. But we try not to think about them too much until they’re here and prove way less tolerable than we anticipated.

Probably our worst, among many unfortunately close contenders for that title, was NYE 2011. As Ryan Seacrest counted backwards from 10 – which always impresses me – my wife offered me a kiss and a champagne toast to what would be “our best year yet.”

This moment is on my list of time-machine stops, by the way. Instead of clinking the glass and smiling back, I somehow considered it preferable to be honest and reply that, while I appreciated my wife’s sentiment, 2011 would probably be the year I lose my job and,

28 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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JCC/JU - David LV Ad - 11/13/15 Bleed: 0.125” | Trim: 3.875” W x 4.8125” H

Jewish University A new initiative by the JCC of Southern Nevada Join us for exciting lectures, insightful classes and symposia.

For more information, visit jccsn.org/jewish-university

INAUGURAL LECTURE Jewish University in partnership with The Mob Museum

THE KOSHER NOSTRA A CONVERSATION WITH OSCAR GOODMAN Thursday

January 7, 2016

The Mob Museum

Tour of the Museum starts at 6 p.m. with lecture following at 7 p.m.

along with it, my entire newspaper career. My doomsaying was 100 percent correct, by the way, and so I simultaneously had to tackle both hopeless unemployment and a months-long marital rough patch due to spoiling New Year’s Eve. My single New Year’s eves were even more fun than that. Hooking up was always impossible. For a guy who doesn’t resemble Bradley Cooper, going out alone on the last night of the year was like a test everyone knows you failed. (Clearly, no other woman you’ve ever met finds you desirable enough to be her New Year’s Eve date, so get away from me.)

And while going home alone on New Year’s Eve was always bad, it was worse when I began New Year’s Eve with a girlfriend. Such a formal public declaration of romantic status, the holiday forces a clear defining of exactly where things headed. And for Robin in 1989, Kelly in 1999 and Jen in 2003, the destination was the same: not into the next year with me.

I knew NYE 1990 was going to be different, though, because I had a gut feeling. I decided to finally watch Dick Clark’s ball drop in Times Square – without the aid of a TV. This was before bucket lists, so there was no expression for it yet, but I was crossing this item off mine. I mean, unlike most of the rest of the world, I lived only 30 blocks away. And, besides, how could something you do with half a million screaming drunk people not be fun?

There were no takers among my friends. None of them had gone either, but nobody was interested in breaking that streak.

In fact, they looked at me as though I had just asked for help moving that night. So screw them. I went to Times Square alone on New Year’s Eve. Who needs the company of anyone you know to have fun anyway?

It was 35 degrees out, which I prepared for by wearing a warm jacket. Unfortunately, the jacket wasn’t waterproof and it started www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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raining. (Forget smartphones; there wasn’t even an Internet yet for up-to-the-minute weather.) My lack of an umbrella wouldn’t have been so bad if my head weren’t situated precisely in the runoff streams from the two people on either side of me who were more prepared. And if that falling water didn’t remind me of something I needed to do, very badly, but couldn’t or I’d lose my place in the crowd. From which I couldn’t even see the freaking ball anyway because I was too short. But at least the woman behind me was kind enough to blow a party streamer directly into the back of my sopping wet head every seven seconds for four hours. Oh, and a 20-minute ride home on the subway – it wasn’t heated back then – that lasted three hours was a special bonus.

But I really didn’t start cursing my gut feelings about New Year’s Eve until 1998, when my ex-girlfriend Robin (1989, remember) gushed about a monumental party that erupted next door to the cabin she rented every year at Vermont’s Mount Snow resort. My buddy Roy and I drove my parents’ car all the way up from New York City just on this irrefutable tip, without even a place to crash, because (or so the logic went) that would make us have to hook up with women for the night.

By the time we arrived, Robin was nowhere in sight and not answering her cell phone. That meant that Roy and I were greeted by a male stranger saying, “Sorry, guys, private party,” a front door slamming in our faces and, oh yeah, a mini-blizzard. So Roy and I spent the first four hours of 1998 driving back to New York City at 40 mph on ice-slicked highways, and then attempting to sleep in the parking lot of a Connecticut hospital at 3 a.m. in a Toyota Camry, interrupted every 20 minutes by the need to restart the engine for 30 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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life-giving heat.

I get the significance of most holidays. Christmas honors Christ.

Thanksgiving honors how nice the Native Americans were to cook us dinner before we killed them all. Veterans Day honors our war heroes – although Memorial Day does the same thing but I’m not complaining because that would make me unpatriotic.

New Year’s Eve honors a calendar change; that’s about it. Because of this amazing achievement, coupled with having the next day off work, we for some reason must have more fun on this night than we’ve ever had before. This fun must involve imbibing copious amounts of alcohol, because driving under the influence is normally a bad thing but not on New Year’s Eve. And we must force everyone we know to have an equivalent amount of fun, asking what their plans are and pouncing on the slightest hint of “just staying home.” Because everyone will be out having fun on this night, and if they’re not, too, then there is something seriously wrong with them.

Some triskaidekaphobes (OK, technically paraskevidekatriaphobes) fear Friday the 13th so much, they won’t get off the couch except for emergency bathroom and kitchen runs. While they’ve got an irrational fear, their coping skills are actually more rational than ours. They know that Friday the 13th is coming and they adjust their expectations, schedules and behavior accordingly. We, on the other hand, surrender to this annual mass-amnesia denial of how utterly unpleasant every New Year’s Eve ever went when we consciously tried to force having fun on it.

So what’s seriously wrong with us?

By the way, what are you doing for New Year’s Eve? www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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know

Todd Polikoff Challenges Excite the Incoming President & CEO of Jewish Federation of Las Vegas

By Lynn Wexler

32 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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T

odd Polikoff returns to Southern Nevada, this time as the new president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. He brings more than 20 years of Jewish communal experience, most recently as managing director of donor stewardship for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. From 2005-11 in Las Vegas, he was southwest regional director of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, presiding over pro-Israel coalition building in 63 congressional districts.

JFLV Board Chair David Stone calls Polikoff “a wonderful hire.

He comes to us with the knowledge, skills, experience, passion and commitment to lead JFLV into the future. We’re excited and confident that we have found our next ‘chief advocate’ for the organization, and for the Jewish community of Southern Nevada.”

In the years since 1997, Polikoff has been Midwest director for the then United Jewish Communities; senior development officer for Combined Jewish Philanthropies; and campaign director for the Jewish Federation of Delaware.

Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, Polikoff earned his BA in psychology from Stockton University and an MBA from Cleveland State University. He and his wife Leah have three children, ages 5, 9 and 11.

DAVID: You’ve dedicated your professional life to the needs and interests of the Jewish community. What led to that career path?

POLIKOFF: I didn’t grow up with religious observance, but my Jewish identity was strong. I’m a link in the chain, and far be it (for) me to end up a weak link in that chain. After graduating from high school, I went on what people now call a ‘gap year’ to Israel, where I lived and worked on a kibbutz for seven months until my mom called me home. Desert Storm just broke out and she was concerned. I went to college and did a lot of Jewish community service – actually I was a Jewish campus leader. After graduating, I returned to Israel for a year working with Project Otzma, which was essentially a fellowship between local federations and the national federation movement. I also worked there with (the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization).

DAVID: Why did you come home after a year?

POLIKOFF: I was ready. I had great contacts from my college days and there were opportunities I wanted to pursue – though I had not yet had that turning point moment, which would secure my decision to commit to working on behalf of the Jewish community.

DAVID: When was that moment?

POLIKOFF: The then United Jewish Appeal invited 30 campus student leaders from around the country to visit the Hillel in Moscow, of which I was fortunate to be one. While there, I met U.S. Ambassador Thomas Pickering. We were both from New Jersey and really hit it off! It was Hanukkah and we visited a Russian Jewish family in their tiny, damp, walk-up flat and ate a cold dinner that was generously laid out for us. Afterwards, the father motioned us to a narrow cabinet in a dark corner. He opened it and pointed to nine burn marks on the bottom of one of the shelves. They would light the Hanukkah candles each night but had to then hide them behind the closed cabinet door.

That was it for me. If these Jews could risk life and limb to keep our traditions – and for a holiday that I had always taken for granted – the least I could do was dedicate myself to strengthening the Jewish people, making sure no one had to ever do that again. I thought about my grandfather who made his journey as a butcher passing through Japan to Seattle to Philadelphia, seeking a better life as a Jew. It was now my turn and this would be my journey.

DAVID: The Jewish community here is in need of growth and unity. What do you see as the challenges ahead?

POLIKOFF: What I see are numerous opportunities to change the Jewish community paradigm. The culture of the monolithic federation is not going to work for much longer. I see many conversations and meetings that must be had; questions that must be asked; answers that must be heard and incorporated; voices from throughout the community that must be included; subject experts from all spectrums of the community coming together around the table to enlighten and advise; and partnerships between the federation and the synagogues that support specific programming aimed at helping the community grow. Synagogues, after all, are the gateway into a community. People call synagogues before they call federations.

DAVID: That’s a tall order. Where do you intend to begin? What are your short- and long-term goals?

POLIKOFF: We have a job to do, to be sure, but it’s exciting. As my grandmother of blessed memory used to say, ‘It’s in my kishkes.’

There are some 70,000 Jews in Las Vegas and there were only 1,100 donors to the recent annual campaign that supports the entire Jewish community. That’s not to say that this is not a phenomenal community with great heart and soul. It’s incumbent upon the federation to reach out to people and ask them what they want to see in a community … what does their ideal community look like. I want people to know what their federation does. While not their fault, most have no clue. I’m sitting here with three packed pages of what the federation does for so many. It has to come off the page. And I know it’s in our DNA to offer the occasional complaint, but it’s more productive to take what is not working and ask what the federation can do about it and how we can each help to bring about the change.

Through the federation I want to carry out the wishes and beliefs of the community – not my idea of community.

DAVID: What about giving? How will you increase that?

POLIKOFF: First of all, we must recognize and embrace the many different ways that people give. We have great human capital in our community. There are seniors and retirees with expertise who can offer valuable volunteer services throughout the greater community.

Our job is not just to take care of Jews but to take care of all people in a Jewish way. There are many who serve on committees, sell tickets, chair events. That’s valuable. And the $100 donor is just as important as the $1 million donor and should be treated as such. And my job is not to raise money. That’s right, I’m not a fundraiser. I sell insurance.

DAVID: How so?

POLIKOFF: It’s my job, through the federation, to ensure the strength, vitality and security of this community. It takes money to do that. It’s my job, through the federation, to make sure every Jew – wherever they fall on the spectrum – has what they need to live a Jewish life. I don’t ask for a gift … for money. Instead, I offer people an opportunity to help me – the federation – to do what is needed for the community. We’re the only organization in the community charged with assessing and addressing the needs of an entire community. I offer people an opportunity to help the federation to do its job and to do it well!

DAVID: Where do you see the federation in two to three years?

POLIKOFF: At (a) minimum, I want to double the number of donors to the annual campaign. I want to meet with as many people as possible to know what the community wants for itself, so that we can accomplish it in that time frame. I want the federation to have a robust set of committee structures, each with subject matter experts – like marketing professionals – whose voices will inform the changes, growth and progress we make. And, finally, I want to see us as a community that moves from talking about what we want to be into acting like the community we are. www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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taste

Grand

Douglas Friedman

Openings

Carbone Dining Room

Four New Restaurants Aim To Redefine Strip Dining Once Again

By E.C. Gladstone

T

he Las Vegas restaurant scene is like the movie industry in one big way: Both like to save their big openings for certain times of the year. To be specific, Hollywood and the Strip love to debut their big properties during the holidays, when people are traveling and energy is high. And this year is no different.

While the emphasis seems to have shifted from chefs and creative food toward marquee brands from other cities, one thing has not

changed: Dining on the Strip remains a special event unlike almost anywhere else in the world.

If you’ve got something big to celebrate — or are trying to seal a deal—there’s probably no restaurant better to make that special impression right now than Carbone. Transplanted and expanded – as usual – from the New York City original, this collaboration between chef Mario Carbone and noted restaurateurs Rich

34 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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dining, both the rear opulent room and the slightly more subdued front room dominated by “captains” in Zac Posen designer uniforms (straight from a Marcello Mastroianni movie), who perform so much cooking and display so much food on carts you wonder what actually happens in the kitchen.

Carbone balks at current restaurant trends in two big ways: Whereas small plates and informality are all the rage, this place wants nothing to do with either. The menu you receive is almost comically large, and it isn’t shy about selections or pricing. It needs

Curtesy MGM Resorts International

Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick (how come his last name doesn’t get a restaurant?) mirrors its French neighbor Bardot in Aria, making the second-floor restaurant cul-de-sac a faux street scene. Inside, like the Michael Mina brasserie, Carbone creates an archetypal version of itself: an early 20th century Italian-American restaurant in all its flamboyant glory; you’d think it existed only on a movie set (trivia: the massive chandelier, I’m told, was rescued from a former Ferrari dealership), with almost all the leather-lined tables in the fancier room circular and angled toward each other. This is performance

Rivea Dining Room

to be pointed out, though (something they don’t do terribly well) that almost all portions here are of sharable size — pastas being the exception — and the kitchen works with several local distributors to use some rather exclusive quality ingredients. Bucca di Beppo it’s not.

The only experience I can compare this to is when I dined at the famed Luchow’s as a teenager. Old school is the order here, from the complimentary antipasti, including a big hunk of reggiano on a hand-painted plate, to the metal straws in the classic cocktails, tableside services, including the Caesar salad tossing, truffle shaving (Why not?), Dover sole piccata deboning, bananas flambeeing, after-dinner house made limoncello, clementines and walnuts … you get the idea. They almost never leave you alone, except when

they are similarly fussing over the next table. The food is described, perhaps, as the best version of East Coast Italian you might have; the famous veal parm is massive, tender but still laden with cheese; the creamed escarole so decadent it’s barely touched by vegetables; the Spaghetti Julian (named for artist Julian Schnabel, whose canvases line several walls) tossed with uni, a particular standout.

It’s all good, but it isn’t just about the food. And you’ll likely think about going for a long time before you actually cross the threshold.

When you do, order advisedly — and don’t skip the carrot cake.

For those who want a great “view” restaurant, Rivea is hard to beat, now that the restaurant atop the Delano hotel (attached to Mandalay Bay) has refreshed itself in design and concept from its www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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Carbone’s Chicken Massimo

former incarnation as miX. The restaurateur remains the same, France’s revered Alain Ducasse, as do the bones (the glass bubbles in the dining room, the ovular bar in the lounge, now dubbed Skyfall, the bathrooms with observation windows). Décor now is more midcentury cool than late-90s fashion, and there’s far more emphasis on the outdoor patio than previously. The concept now follows similarly named spots in London and St. Tropez, combining French and Italian influences under executive chef Bruno Riou. Lots of small plates here, from a starter-sized vitello tonatto to an unusual striped bass carpaccio to eggplant “caviar” and Ducasse’s famed cookpot of farmer vegetables. And they are truly small plates — the menu advises two to three per person — though they aren’t necessarily priced that way. Main courses tend to be less surprising, a roasted duck breast being, perhaps, the least common offering, although Ducasse’s commitment to vegetables continues throughout. To continue the fantasy of being on the Riviera, you’ll want to finish with his limoncello baba, a whimsically cross-cultural creation.

As Skyfall, the lounge is more subdued but still sexy, with an extra platform added behind the dramatic bar. Spirits are divided between “local” and “imported,” an amusing notion, and martinis are probably the way to go here. The creative cocktails are still a work in progress.

Back at Aria, another restaurant that is set to take advantage of outdoor space is Herringbone, the San Diego concept, opening at the end of December. Brian Malarkey is the celebrity chef/owner name here (as at Caesars Palace’s Seersucker).

But the more exciting news for locals is that Geno Bernardo, formerly of Nove Italiano at the Palms, will be making his return ArthritisFndnAd.pdf 1 11/19/15 AM course, best to town as the executive chef.

Bernardo6:56 is, of

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Pierre Monetta

known for Italian food. But as the Jersey Shore native points out, “I opened up an oyster bar in Providence, Rhode Island, (and) all I did in Cabo San Lucas was fish all day … seafood is definitely in my wheelhouse.”

Bernardo already has secured some exclusive purveyors, making direct deals with day boat fishermen and “following the seasons and getting the best sustainable ingredients we can.” Fans can exhale, now: Bernardo also promises a return of his famous squid ink seafood pasta.

Taking over the former Gold Room on the Aria’s second floor, the restaurant’s redesign will focus on a large outdoor space overlooking the pool deck. “I think this is going to be a game changer for Vegas,” Bernardo says. “Great food and a really fun scene.”

Last but, they will assure you, certainly not least comes the long awaited arrival of London/Beverly Hills phenom Mr. Chow, the artist-owned, silver-platter service Chinese restaurant that’s been magnetizing celebrities for decades. Soft opening Dec. 15 in the space that formerly held another high-end Chinese concept above Rao’s, Mr. Chow’s also emphasizes a formality of service over culinary originality. The circular room overlooking the Garden of the Gods pool deck will have a kinetic Michael Chow sculpture as its focal point, if the famed Beijing duck service doesn’t distract you.

Hand-pulled noodles, green prawns and squab lettuce cups are some of the other dishes waiters will no doubt point you toward.

“We’ve been flirting with Las Vegas for decades,” Michael Chow says. “With Caesars, we’ve finally found a home.”

Expect lavish New Year’s Eve events to be announced for each of these restaurants, the new crop on the Strip that collectively create a trend of dramatic dining for special occasions.

Rivea’s Provence-style Vegetable Caponata

www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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For the

taste

Love of Latkes

Gerald Chin’s Mirepoix Latke

Giving a Holiday Classic Some New Spins

By E.C. Gladstone

F

or most Jews of a certain background, no food is more emblematic of Chanukah than the humble potato latke, which became associated with the Miracle of Lights mostly for being fried in oil (certainly the Maccabees never knew from potatoes, which are South American in origin). I’m a big latke lover myself—they may be one of my greatest carbo-indulgences, and ever since I discovered a foolproof recipe in a 60-year-old Jewish Cookery book about 10 years

ago, I’ve found my cooking getting strangely popular around this time of year with family and even friends.

But even if I may have found some secret mojo to put into my recipe (I’ll never tell!), I’ve been feeling lately like the exercise is losing its appeal. And a dollop of sour cream or a schmear of applesauce can only go so far. So I reached out to some of my favorite local chefs for some new ideas.

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Kim Canteenwalla — Four Seasons Latkes I started, logically, with restaurateurs Kim Canteenwalla and Elizabeth Blau, who always find a way to celebrate the Jewish holidays in at least one of their local restaurants (Buddy V’s, Honey Salt, Andiron and Made L.V.). It turns out they have a bit of a family rivalry! While Elizabeth likes to adapt the recipe of chef Steve Gold that won him the James Beard Foundation’s Third Annual Latke Lovers’ Cook-Off (who knew?) [http://www.tastebook.com/ recipes/775602-Grated-Potato-Latkes], which leaves the potato skins on and uses cake flour, chef Kim can stake an arguably greater claim.

Back in Toronto, where Canteenwalla first rose to prominence, he made latkes at the original Four Seasons for none other than hotelier Isadore Sharp, certainly someone with exacting tastes!

“Mr. Sharp used to come into the restaurant, of course, all the time with his family,” chef Kim told me. “And, so, we had the latkes on the menu. And I don’t mean during the holiday season — it was on the menu all the time! They aren’t fancy. I like them to look a little uneven, in fact. But depending on what you top it with, you can make it fancy.”

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Eating at kosher delis was always a happy time, and I always ordered latkes. I like using them on menus now because it’s a more natural product than [bread with] tons of bleached flour and butter.”

Krohmer’s latke itself is fairly traditional—it’s in the topping where things really get interesting.

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Nevada’s only Funeral Home and Cemetery combination dedicated exclusively to the Jewish Community Sonia Al-Nawal — Sweet Potato Latkes Sonia Al-Nawal (Rooster Boy Granola; Intuitive Forager Farmers Markets) didn’t grow up with latkes: in fact, it’s probably safe to say they were hard to find at all in her childhood home in Beirut, Lebanon. But from working under Julian Serrano, Jean-George Vongerichten, at Paris’ famed Fauchon and in Mexico City and Miami, she’s picked up nearly as many different influences as imaginable. She recalls cooking Jewish holiday meals for one of her favorite private clients on Park Avenue (NYC again!), where she created many varieties, including this version with sweet potatoes. I asked her to switch it up again and suggest some interesting varieties for toppings, too.

“I first started using sweet potatoes for guests who wanted to avoid starch,” chef Sonia recalls. “But now they have made a huge comeback! I love the color, and I like how they cook differently — but, really, I love all latkes!”

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Gerald Chin — Mirepoix Latkes StripSteak executive chef Gerald Chin may not look like he knows from latkes, but Chin grew up in the Bronx, in close contact with every ethnic community it contains (and he talks like it). Of course, that doesn’t mean to expect anything traditional from him!

“I was inspired by the autumn season when creating this latke,” chef Gerald told me. “The mirepoix flavors remind me of Thanksgiving stuffing. Paired with other ingredients, like pears, kale and roasted acorn squash, it has robust fall flavors that capture the essence of the season. The pear is a play on the traditional applesauce served with potato latkes.”

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Settling In @ 42 Star Wears @ 46 One, Desert Wetland @ 52 STAR WEARS pg. 46

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Settling In Downtown Summerlin Expands Holiday Programming, Courts Community in First Year

By Brian Sodoma

W

hen Andrew Ciarrocchi arrived from Seattle in March 2014 to become the senior general manager at Downtown Summerlin, he got a first hand loo at what a destination shopping experience can truly mean to a community.

In its previous incarnation, under the General Growth roperties banner, the acre site ust south of the ed oc esort Casino originally called he Shops at Summerlin Centre had become a symbol for many bro en real estate dreams in the Las Vegas Valley. han s to the reat ecession, construction was halted in and wouldn’t resume until , after a ban ruptcy and spinoff put it into the hands of the Howard Hughes Corp. For four solid years retail starved area residents ga ed at steel sprouts ba ing in the desert sun. It was a symbol of something they wanted to forget, but it also fostered hope.

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“I noticed quickly how much this (Downtown Summerlin) project meant to the local community,” Ciarrocchi says. “Everyone was so excited. … With the open steel reminiscent of the economic downturn, I learned it was not only about convenient shopping but as much about an economic rebound, too.”

Ciarrocchi and his team realized that Downtown Summerlin needed to be as much a community meeting place for area residents as a valley shopping destination. That thinking shaped how they reached out to the Summerlin community this past year, with team members attending HOA meetings and gatherings to bring a noticeable presence and a ready ear to learn how the site could best serve its neighbors.

Monique Clements, Downtown Summerlin’s marketing director, says the “community is really great about bringing suggestions.

We really value that and need it.”

And now, with a bigger-than-ever holiday season event schedule under way, Downtown Summerlin has that same grand-opening spirit seen slightly more than a year ago. With 40 additional stores opening since then — the total is 125-plus — Ciarrocchi says those behind Downtown Summerlin have found ways to maintain its uni ue flair, while watching out for the needs of nearby residents and neighbors.

A gathering place from the start

In October 2014, Downtown Summerlin made a grand entrance, kicking off with a four-day festival, light shows and “a party for everyone,” Ciarrocchi says.

His team has maintained that opening day energy with a constant run of community events, from free lessons sponsored 44 DECEMBER 2015 | www.davidlv.com

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by the U.S. Tennis Association on Saturday mornings to Fit4Moms programs several days a week, and the October Summerlin Festival of the Arts. Weekly concerts, other small events and being a pet-friendly site also have helped make the shopping venue a hit with locals.

Downtown Summerlin’s Pavilion, on the northwest area of the site, was completed recently. As the developers seek a third ma or anchor tenant for the site, the public will benefit from a community gathering space, one with plenty of grass for concerts and events.

“No one wants to look at a gravel pad site,” Ciarrocchi says. “We built something there that people can enjoy now.”

Such moves have generated considerable foot traffic for the property. Downtown Summerlin sees about 1 million visits a month.

The property’s dining arroyo has been a star attraction as well.

“It’s comfortable enough to take family and friends,” Ciarrocchi adds, “even if they’re not shopping. It’s a great place to people watch. And the lighting at night is incredible.”

Holiday season ramp-up

Nov. 20 marked the start of the property’s holiday programming schedule, a greatly expanded effort from last year.

Clements said the idea is to “build a long-standing tradition.

Nothing we’re doing (is considered) a one-time thing. We want people to know every holiday season, Downtown Summerlin is doing something to bring the family down here.”

Weekend evening parades run for about half an hour. They bring eight floats, toy soldiers, snowfla e princes and princesses, 11/24/15 1:11 PM

dancers, drummers, penguins, polar bears, reindeer characters and festive music to the streets. And from Dec. 11-24, the processions will be held on a nightly basis.

Last year’s “Rock Rink,” which opened this year on Nov. 13, is back. It offers ice skating until Jan. 18. Tuesdays are a mix of pop culture theme nights at the rink, and Fridays and Saturdays bring DJ’s. Per community request, this year also incorporates a VIP lounge area as well, which can be rented for events.

Chanukah at Downtown Summerlin

Last year’s single night of Chanukah festivities has morphed into “Eight Crazy Nights of Chanukah” this time around.

The festivities are organized in partnership with the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada and other valley Jewish organizations.

Starting Sunday, Dec. 6, eight nights of Chanukah activities will bring something for all types of audiences.

“We are giving it a new vision this year, for sure. … We want everybody to be able to celebrate Chanukah in their own way, with their own age group,” says Gina Bronsoiler-Retke, volunteer chair for “Eight Crazy Nights of Chanukah.”

Chanukah festivities kick off on Dec. 6, with Yiddish Night and the winners of a Latke competition showing off their skills. The Bet Emet adult choir will perform, beeswax candle making will be done and, of course, the Menorah will be lighted.

There will also be an “Orthodox Night” with a laser show, a “Chanukah in Israel Night” hosted by the Israeli American Council, with Israeli musicians and artists, and a family skate night at the Rock Rink. Another night will center on the theme of Jewish 42_45_think_DTSummerlin.indd 45

youth camps, complete with a faux campfire and information about almost a dozen camps. Dec. 12 will be “Parents Date Night,” including an adult scavenger hunt and wine tasting. On the 13th, the last night of the celebration, there will be a sports theme, hosted by the JCC and Maccabi Youth Sports Group, with golf lessons, kids’ workouts, wreath making, crafts and other events.

“We know there are a lot of other Chanukah events around town during this time. … We’re not really competing, but we’re just trying to provide an option for people,” says JCC Executive Director Jeff Metz. “We’re hoping people spend one or two of those nights with us.”

First year momentum, 2016

For Ciarrocchi, Downtown Summerlin’s first year involved tending to site details and establishing a presence with community members. 2016 will bring a host of new store openings and announcements, he says.

Additional leasing activity at the site’s One Summerlin office complex, along with the completion and leasing of Constellation, a 124-unit luxury apartment offering, is expected to bring more daytime foot traffic to Downtown Summerlin.

With it, Ciarrocchi and Clements know, will be more input from new area residents and visitors. But Downtown Summerlin as a gathering place for shoppers, diners and casual observers will continue to drive the conversation about how to expand and make the retail shopping destination better, the two agree.

“It’s been an incredible first year,” Ciarrocchi says. “We’re always out there walking the property and asking ‘what else do we need?’ … We want to make this a place where folks want to be.” www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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STAR WEARS

A Force in the Fashion Universe Awakens

By Marisa Finetti

Haute couture dresses featuring the binary suns of Tatooine, the Death Star, Yoda, Luke Skywalker, and other imagery from the saga, by Rodarte.

I

n a galaxy far, far away‌ people made fashion choices that were interestingly eclectic, to say the least. Brown-hooded robes, variegated tunics, black plastic helmets with matching floor-length capes. Multi-layered clothing, topped with robes and the accessories of choice: sashes, belts, riding boots and, oh yeah, light sticks. Along with all these rather drab neutrals, styles of the time also required these denizens of deep space to paint their faces entirely white one day and twirl their locks into cinnamon buns around their ears. www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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Did we see this style trend coming to our galaxy? Indeed, with the opening of Star Wars: Episode VII, the fashion world makes a couple of direct nods to Star Wars and offers up plenty of options for a budding space princess and Jedi knights.

Now, let’s not judge too quickly. If we gave one thought to Star Wars style, most of us would admit that George Lucas and his wardrobe department were ingenious in coming up with unique wardrobe pieces. So cool were they that a new museum in New York City features dozens of original costumes from the seven Star Wars movies. Star Wars has become so pervasive that even kids who haven’t seen these films are roleplaying Star Wars.

But it’s certainly nobody’s idea of everyday fashion, let alone catwalk material. Or is it?

And, so the role-playing has gone from Star Wars conventions, direct to the runways, and now, the racks. How about a Yoda skirt for your first day at work? Or a Luke Skywalker gown for the company party? Starting with Rodarte’s 2014 fashion collection, featuring Star Wars prints, the Force began a surge of Star Wars-inspired numbers for everyday dress to evening wear.

Left: Burberry Prorsum’s pre-fall 2015 collection, comes complete with Chewbacca tributes. Right: Emerging designer Edeline Lee is known for her bold color contrasts, including her latest “stormtrooper” look.

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While designer Rick Owens was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, his fall 2015 collection also resembled Jedi knights.

Known for her innovative shapes, London-based Edeline Lee offers a boxy black-and-white storm trooper ensemble. Mugler by David Koma shows off a C-3PO circuitry skirt with glistening metallics – perfect with a white T and coordinating R2-D2 crossover bag, available at loungefly.com. Itching for some fuzzy chic? Burberry Prorsum’s pre-fall collection came complete with Chewy’s furry looks, with its teddybear coat – brown shaggy and cuddly.

As for designer Rick Owens, whose fall 2015 collection was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Mayaninfluenced architecture, fashion show spectators only saw armies of gold and silver-faced C-3POs and furfringed Chewbaccas and Ewoks. Layers upon dimensional layers of tone-on-tone materials paid homage to Jedis, Obi Wan Kenobis, Yodas and even the Dark Side.

More to talk about in the board room, is the officially licensed Star Wars® cuff links, featuring Darth Vader’s menacing visage in 14-karat gold. $4,200. Neiman Marcus.

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For a more subtle nod to Star Wars, there’s the gold Darth Vader and Yoda cufflinks from Neiman Marcus, Vans’ Star Wars print lace-ups, and Hot Topic’s Darth Vader Patent Dome Bag, and ThinkGeek.com’s Princess Leia fleece-lined beanie (there are those cinnamon buns).

Accessories are all the rage, from Chewbacca’s Messenger Bag, perhaps the galaxy’s manliest man purse.

Perfect for toting a MacBook and other essentials, the bandolier-style shoulder strap is adjustable for heights from Ewok to Wookiee. The Tie Fighter silk cravat is elegant and dapper, but loosen it to avoid accidental Force choke. Then let’s not overlook the Skywalker Light saber Lace Up Heels. If it already sounds a little crazy to have heels in your closet that look like Luke’s light saber, take a step and blue lights are flashing. But wait. There’s more. You can also make these shoes play different sound files from Star Wars.

Vans Star Wars collection, so cool we will all go over to the dark side.

For an elegant fashion statement that doesn’t scream Star Wars but is still in keeping with the spirit, Saint Laurent’s C-3PO-esque draped dress in gold satin lamé is a modern and edgy option for a night out.

Balenciaga’s vanilla white crepe draped dress shows off Leia’s understated look.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of looks reminiscent of classic costumes from the films. David Koma’s black mini dress (with leather trim and a triangular neckline) is particularly inter-galactic chic. Alexander McQueen’s hooded, knee-length fur coat is cozy enough to keep Princess Leia warm on the ice planet Hoth. London label KTZ presents a collection heavy on hoods and all-white looks. Marjan Pejoski visited the dark side with jetblack looks accessorized with oversized gold jewelry, as well as a head-to-toe gold metallic outfit.

Star Wars style is happening present day in our galaxy. Don’t be surprised if someone says, “You look very C-3PO today.”

Star Wars Ewok coin purse and Darth Vader dome handbags and purse all available at loungefly.com

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One, Desert Wetland

Critically Aclaimed Photographer Commissioned to Create Unique Water Themed Art Installations for One Las Vegas

By Jaq Greenspon

A

s CEO of DK Las Vegas, owner of One, the high-rise condo complex on the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard, Uri Vaknin gets a bit excited when speaking of his company’s latest offering. The building has been redesigned around the theme of elements, with water being the most prevalent, an “oasis,” if you will, for the residents.

“They come here, drive down this long, 600-foot drive … and then once you get here you’re in this oasis of living. And oasis, obviously, brings on this concept of water,” he explains. “Not to get overly conceptual here, but it’s also an amazing visual. People love the concept

of water, and so there is no other person I know of who creates imagery that’s as compelling, dynamic as Marilyn.”

He’s talking about Marilyn Suriani, an Atlanta-based photographer commissioned to create a three-wall triptych that ultimately will cover 54 linear feet in the building’s lobby. Suriani’s central work highlights an overall theme for the property, says Vaknin. “In every elevator lobby in the building,” he says, “we’ll have her photography as well. So it’s not just one image. It’s the main image.

And then the theme is carried throughout both towers in every elevator lobby.”

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Big Picture 7 Digital image on acrylic, 24” x 72”. 2013

Suriani, a professional for 36 years, discovered photography relatively late in life. At 28, after completing a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology, and well on her way to a master’s in the same field, she found herself “tired of being in my head, and tired of writing papers. And it just didn’t seem like I was going in the right direction.” She knew she needed something more relevant, a more hands-on approach to the world. As luck would have it, she

found herself enrolled in a photography class, and that was it. She was hooked. Her first instructor approached the frozen image as a strictly black-and-white affair and “wanted us to start going around photographing people. And that was something I loved,” Suriani says now. She found it evoked her sociological training. “Most of the people in the class were having a really hard time but I was really enjoying it.”

Big Picture 6 Digital image on acrylic, 24” x 72”. 2013

She started following photographers whose images had changed the world, notably Lewis Hine and Jacob Riis. “They were both responsible for changing (child labor) laws,” she says, excitement creeping into her voice. “I thought, ‘Wow, I could do this!’ It really resonated with me because of my own background.” These thoughts led to a year of classes at the “Portfolio Center” in Atlanta, and an assignment from her instructor that would be life changing.

It was the early ‘80s and Atlanta Magazine wanted to do a piece on dancers in local strip clubs. Suriani picked up the assignment after one of her professors realized she would be a better fit for the subject. The problem was she was too good a fit. Her pictures never made it into the magazine. “With my background in sociology, the way I like to look at things, they thought it was too raw,” she says. “It was meant to be a fluff piece, and during www.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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Big Picture 8 Digital image on acrylic, 24” x 72”. 2013

that period, the strip joints in Atlanta were proliferating. Atlanta Magazine had already lost its more intense documentary side and was moving more into the fluffy world.” So she took what originally was intended for the disposable pages of a glossy monthly and turned it into the critically praised book Dancing Naked in the Material World (1992).

With this success, Suriani turned her attention to the same sub-

jects many of her photographic heroes had captured. She created documentaries about women in prison, and Storefront Churches, which focused attention on urban, non-corporate congregations.

In 1996, she was one of the few artists chosen to create installations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport to honor the Olympic spirit and welcome incoming athletes. Her piece is still in place nearly 20 years later.

Big Picture 2 Digital image on acrylic, 24” x 72”. 2013

Then everything changed.

About 12 years ago, Suriani got remarried. Husband Bill (“He’s really good at coming up with the nitty gritty marketing ideas and that kind of thing. He lets me be the artist. It’s not easy. We don’t fit the mold. I’m glad I don’t fit the mold.”) had a beautiful 4,800-square-foot house on the shores of Berkeley Lake, about an

hour outside of Atlanta. Suriani sold her city house and, suddenly, this Philadelphia-born, Atlanta-raised urbanite, known for photographing life’s underbelly, found herself living a pastoral, suburban existence. “It had a very good effect on me,” she says, laughing. “I would say that I’ve always been pretty much a cynic and tense, so this was a departure. But it was a good one. I felt I needed it. It kind of balanced me out a little bit.”

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Big Picture 4 Digital image on acrylic, 24” x 72”. 2013

“Every time I go somewhere I take pictures,” Suriani says. “That’s how it goes.” While wandering the grounds of her new home, she mused, “What am I going to do now?” At first, nothing really spoke to her: “It wasn’t like I was really excited about photographing anything out there.” But then it did.

“I was never really a nature girl,” she acknowledges. “I guess being out on the boat, in the fresh air, the beautiful sunsets … I just start-

ed falling in love with all that. And that was all new to me. Because of that, I felt the urge to see what I could do and do it in a way that was different.” She wondered what most people saw as they took in her landscape. She discovered that “most people view the water.”

But how could she make water pictures interesting? She decided to take an abstract approach, a reversal of the hard realism of her earlier work. On the lake, she pointed her camera down, eliminating

Big Picture 1 Digital image on acrylic, 24” x 72”. 2013

context. Her Hasselblad digital froze the ever-changing surface, capturing a unique moment, but one passively familiar.

It worked.

While critical success had long been part of her résumé, commercial success had eluded her. “There were probably some mercenary aspects to that. I wanted to start selling my work. I’ve done some

great documentaries, and I’ve gotten some great grants and publicity. But as far as making a living off of that, that’s not easy to do.”

She found buyers for the new stuff. “I sold a lot of my work, a lot of the nature, water work, to art consultants. Art consultants sell my work to hotels, health care settings and corporations.” Her works, for instance, now hang in all corners of the world, from Abu Dhabi to the Caribbean. “I have some work in a lot of the major citwww.davidlv.com | DECEMBER 2015

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The eye behind the lense, Marilyn Suriani.

ies. I’m in several corporate collections.” And some museum curators are placing Suriani pieces in permanent collections.

An old friendship from her Atlanta days helped win her the commission at the One condo project in Las Vegas. Before he became a condo impresario, Vaknin was an art dealer in Georgia’s capital and had crossed paths with Suriani, the photographer. When she wanted to sell her home in Atlanta and move to the lake, Vaknin was hired to help find a buyer. “I was probably his best client,” Suriani says now, “because I did pretty much whatever he suggested I do. He sold the house in two weeks. Paid for my girl’s college education, new car, all sorts of things.”

Soon Vaknin, now living in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and Suriana were on opposite sides of the country. But they stayed in touch via Facebook. Vaknin remembered the large-scale installation, Liquid Emerald, she had done in Buckhead, an Atlanta suburb. And though she wasn’t his first choice for the One Las Vegas project, the two local artists he considered “hadn’t pulled off a project of this magnitude. So I really had to go with an artist who I knew could successfully do this. It’s not just the (photographic) image. … it’s also knowing how to do the printing, how to do an installation of this caliber.” And once he’d seen the space up close, he knew Suriani’s work was what he needed. “There’s a Hebrew word, b’shert, which means ‘it was meant to be,’” he says. “Marilyn was meant to be the artist for this project.”

Suriani was thrilled over the opportunity and excited about the “water” theme. “Here it’s Vegas,” she says, “and these condominiums can be somewhat of an oasis within the desert. Of course, dealing with the water issue, how timely that is, right now, in terms of the lack of water. Just what it means to be in a desert. And he wanted

blue, so all three pieces are blue.”

The timing couldn’t have been better. Coming off the Liquid Emerald installation, she had several beautiful blue pieces she had been unable to use. She selected the most appropriate shots and presented them to Vaknin, who had final say. “Marilyn’s work speaks exactly to the feeling,” he says, “the visual of the indelible mark we’re trying to create at One Las Vegas.”

In Georgia, Suriani’s installation was mounted on glass and backlit, creating a luminescent effect. In Vegas, her triptych will have a more solid feel. All three pieces will be printed on polyester photographic opaque film made by Fuji, and affixed to an acrylic plexi using an optically clear adhesive. The entire piece will be mounted on Sintra, a hard board with a white coat on it. While the installation will be opaque, the white will help illuminate it by reflecting through the photos’ lighter areas.

Suriani’s pieces will represent some of the final touches as One prepares for a grand reopening. “Everything is coming together now,” Vaknin says. “We’re going to have a vernissage, which is a French word for an art opening.” Suriani will be on hand to answer questions, he says, or “to give a lecture to talk about her work and the importance of her work, so people understand more than just on a visual basis.” For Vaknin and Suriani, it will represent a marriage of form and function.

“In some ways,” Vaknin says, “it could be as fluff as people want it to be. And in other ways it could be as conceptual as people want it to be. For me, that’s what makes great art, when it touches on all aspects and all facets of the mind.”

For more information on January’s vernissage, or on other One Las Vegas events, go to www.TheOneLV.com.

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