desert companion - june 2014

THE PHOTO ISSUE

JUNE 2014

LIFE BEFORE I-15

GRAB KIDS, DO THIS

LOCAL CHEF SAYS TRUCK IT

THE PARKWAY: DRINK, LOVE, PRAY

FOCUS ON NEVADA PHOTO CONTEST

WINNERS INSIDE

Tickets and information 702.693.7871 • bellagio.com/bgfa

Painting Women

February 14 – October 26, 2014

Works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Left image: Gretchen Woodman Rogers, Woman in a Fur Hat, Gift of Miss Anne Winslow, Photography ©2013 Museum of Fine Arts, BostonRight image: Marie Louise Elisabeth Vigée-Le Brun, Portrait of a Young Woman, Robert Dawson Evans Collection, Photography ©2013 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The Land Rover LR4 has undergone a transformation. Its new design cues are bolder and more distinguished than ever. That’s why Land Rover LR4 is always in its element, whether it’s crossing town or taking everyone way beyond the city limits for the weekend. To experience the 2014 Land Rover LR4 for yourself, visit Land Rover Las Vegas for a test drive today.

NOW GETTING THERE CAN BE AS ENJOYABLE AS BEING THERE.LAND ROVER LR4:

JUNE 2014 DesertCompanion.Com2

EDiTOR’S NOTE

It’s easy to get lost in Las Vegas — well, not get lost, ex-actly, but lose touch with a sense of place. If the Strip riotously channels everywhere but here, the cityscape that flanks our neon lagoon insists on placelessness: It can often present itself as, at best, a suspiciously

Southwestish melange of strip malls, tract homes, weedy lots with political billboards. Landmarks, icons? We’ve got a few. But considered through the smeared lens of edifying hangover, they can often seem like last night’s bad tattoos. (Ahem, let’s hope there’s a removal service that can professionally and discreetly scrub off that un-fortunate Slotzilla on our ankle.) Maybe the reason so many would-be Southern Nevadans who end up doing the pass-through shuffle feel a lack of connection isn’t because of all that bad, sad stuff on whatever Nevada re-port just came out; maybe it reflects a hunger for iconog-raphy, a desire for visual anchors in the desert sea that signal home.

If I’m describing you — if you keep a suitcase close, certain boxes unpacked — I prescribe a therapeutic regi-men of photography. Download an app with all those fil-ters that add cinematic streaks and glares, or splurge on a high-end point-and-shoot that instantly uploads to the social media Skynet. See Nevada solely through a lens for a while. Why: Not so much an art form or pastime any-more so much as, I dunno, this strange and permanent

collective cybernetic appendage we’ve all grown, photography nurtures an eye for the markers of place. That was the pri-vate buzz I got from being a judge in our second annual “Focus on Nevada” photo contest: a crowdsourced affirmation of all the different and distinct wheres that tell us where we live: the topos of the

Strip, revived and re-envisioned; cityscapes and land-scapes through different lenses both literal and figura-tive; people and animals being their true and best selves in their native habitat. (Totally forgot how cool crows look.) I’ve heard a pro shooter here and there grumble how, woe is me, everyone’s a photographer these days, how Instagram has emboldened the hordes and flooded the optical marketplace — online life itself is a photo con-test, really — but I’m glad of it: It fueled our contest to the tune of more than 1,400 entries.

This year we matured the process a bit. We created themed categories to encourage breadth of vision: Ar-tistic/Abstract, People/In the moment, Landscapes/Nature, Places and Smartphone. To dose the enterprise with some experimental community cred, we brought on a bevy of judges — designers, photographers, artists, architects, stylists, tastemakers — to judge category fi-nalists on three criteria: impact, expression of the “Focus on Nevada” theme, and technique. The results? Totally wanna go, “See for yourself!” (p. 41), but I also want to wax wishful that we had two dozen more pages to share all the rich sense of place. But the good news is that you can get there from here.

And speaking of eye candy: On May 2, Desert Companion won a much-cov-eted Maggie Award for Best Cover at

the annual Western Publishing Associa-tion banquet in Los Angeles. Considered “the Oscars of publishing,” the Maggie awards celebrate excellence in editorial, design and advertising. The award was for the cover of our April 2013 spring fashion cover — photo by Robert John Kley, design by Art Director Chris Smith. *Fistbump.*

Place holders

Andrew Kiralyeditor

Next MONth Get your

fork out:

It’s our

fifth annual

DEALicious

Meals!

Follow desert comPanionwww.facebook.com/DesertCompanionwww.twitter.com/DesertCompanion

4 color process

The will to do wonders®


®

®

SUPPORTING OLDER INDIVIDUALSCaesars Foundation’s primary emphasis is supporting nonprofit advocacy

and service-delivery organizations dedicated to helping older individuals

live independently, maintain optimal health and proper nutrition, avoid

social isolation, and enjoy mental and physical vitality through every stage

of the aging process. We are proud to support dozens of organizations

that share our passion for helping older individuals.

Visit caesarsfoundation.com for more information.

facebook.com/CaesarsFoundation @CaesarsFdn

4 color process



®

®


www.desertcompanion.comJUNE 2014 VolUme 12 IssUe 06

1 Corey Levitan doesn’t want his infant daughter to grow up to be a stripper.

“But, crap, good-looking 18-year-old Las Vegas females can earn 10 times what I do in a year by grinding into male crotches to Def Leppard’s ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me,’” he wrote in our May issue. His lighthearted account of trying to raise a Wonder Bread girl in Jelly Roll City sparked some pole-arized (hehe) reactions. Summer James considered the essay a dehuman-izing affront to the dignity of sex workers:

“Women who do sex work deserve your respect. They are everyday people in your community. They are mothers, volun-teers, community advocates; and they are also just people trying to do their jobs.

... Frankly, Mr. Levitan, I think that you or anyone would be very, very lucky to have a daughter who turned out as well as I have, one as well-read, well-traveled and well-educated as I am, one who has made her own way and paid for it all by herself to boot. ... I am a sex worker, and I am an up-standing member of the community, your community and mine, and I am here to stay.” Hold that applause! Reader Howard

Watts III argued that Levitan’s hope for a “normal” daughter itself is rotten with em-bedded sexism: “Stereotypes not only allow us to make classifications that are likely false (like tattoos + heels + short dress = stripper), they actually are the first step on a road to dehumanizing people. Deciding on appearance that women are strippers or asking for sex is the first step in legitimiz-ing the physical and psychological abuse of women.” Other readers were moved to pine for fleeting, toned, supple, jiggle-free youth. Rose Sailcat wrote: “Never even thought about ‘titty bars’ till I lived in Vegas. I’ve talked to many high school girls who are waiting to be of age so they can ‘be on the pole.’ In a city that offers pole classes and rentable poles in case you don’t have your own, I think I’d be tempted if I was 18. But at 61, that temptation has left the station.” Indignant elderly sex workers: She said it, not us!

2 On the Desert Companion blog, Andrew Kiraly wrote about the City of Las Vegas seeking a $1

million grant to help scoot along the delicate and iffy private purchase of the Huntridge (a wish the Centennial Grant Commission granted May 19). Lotsa armchair urban theorists chimed in on what should be done. “... If (Hunt-ridge Revival LLC principals) Joey (Va-nas) and Michael (Cornthwaite) can’t figure out a way to fund it, I guess the time isn’t right to turn it into a for-profit business. Let all the machinations go their natural course, then decide maybe the city should buy it and turn it into a cultural center, with Huntridge Reviv-al morphing into a not-for-profit foun-dation to support and run it.” Review-Journal music journo Jason Bracelin

offered some cautionary industry-side insight: “Why would anyone reopen this venue when the market forces that caused it to be shuttered years ago are far more pronounced currently? Look at the venues that have opened in the ensuing years, most of them booked by corporate powerhouses like AEG Live or Live Nation, who could easily out-bid the Huntridge for bands. And so the Huntridge would have to get in bed with a company like that, which would create the very scenario it would os-tensibly serve to counteract: high ticket prices, over-priced drinks, etc.”

3 Elsewhere on the Desert Compan-ion blog, Heidi Kyser wrote about a General Accounting Office report

detailing the unappreciated stresses and strains of drone operators. Reader Terri Skyer appreciated the concern, but points out that you can relieve military-career stress, but you can’t completely remove it — nor should we necessarily try: “The stress these jobs produce are inherent to the job itself. The mitigation of stressors is a welcomed goal that should be applied to all men and women in such fields; however, the nature of the job will not change nor will the dual realities these workers must live with. Besides implementing frequent rotation shifts by adding more qualified personnel, there is little else to alleviate the condition of jobs such as drone operators.

‘Burnout’ is de rigueur to these jobs, be-cause of the dedication required of employ-ees. These were never ‘normal’ jobs to begin with and, as such, require individu-als who can live this type of life. You must believe in what you are doing and in doing so, the stresses become manageable.” And if they don’t, hey, there’s always stripping.

May 2014 DesertCompanion.Com28 I LLUSTR ATION brent holmes

picked the most difficult American city in which to do our only real job. According to the 2012 UNLV report

“Sex Industry and Sex Workers in Nevada,” approximately 12,000 exotic dancers are registered with Metro, a third to a half of whom reside here with young children intent on befriending and influencing yours. (Okay, I lied. This report mentioned nothing about children. But how many strippers do you really think aren’t single moms?)

Even if we manage to avoid sex work-ers during our daily routine, we still must walk our children past barely clad cocktail waitresses just to see a Disney movie, and explain hooker billboard trucks when we visit cousins staying in town. And fully half of all middle-class Las Vegas females under age 40, at least judging by my ongoing, nonscientific survey, sport a tramp stamp or some other visually stimulating tattoo. (The woman at my daycare wore a butterfly, encircled by barbed wire, on her ankle.)

A more scientific study, by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in 2012, ranked Nevada the 46th most desirable state in which to raise a child. Stripping-like-lihood wasn’t among this report’s indicators, but it did include economic well-being, health, safety, education, community engagement, social relation-ships and emotional well-being. And those things all sound pretty related to stripping-likelihood to me.

As long as I provide strong, positive values — so I’m assured by fellow hostages of this predicament — they will neutralize any skeezeball influences seeping into my daughter’s impres-sionable gray matter. I believe there’s some truth to this. I’ve seen firsthand the important role played by bad father-ing in stripper production. In my 20s, I dated an exotic dancer myself. (Don’t judge me. This was back when I still had closure to achieve for my high-school loser self.) Okay, so maybe I didn’t “date” Amber. We had one date and it ended in tears — first hers, then mine after she

my 3-year-old daughter and I watch as a mom signs her son into daycare ahead of us.

Her zero-percent body fat is stuffed into a short beige dress and towering black heels. The Glade PlugIns perfume cloud and giant, exhaustion-concealing

sunglasses tell me she’s not a patent attorney.

The father of a little girl has only one real job in life, the great philosopher Christopher Rock once orated, and that’s to keep her off the pole. Fellow dads of Vegas daughters: We have

The G-string theory of Vegas girlhoodMy daughter will not grow up to pour some sugar on you (I hope) B y C o rey L evi tan

ALL Things open topic

Fa m i ly

016_ALL THINGS.indd 28 4/23/14 8:19 PM


www.desertcompanion.comJUNE 2014 VolUme 12 IssUe 06

PH

ot

oG

RA

PH

Y:

Ve

nu

s A

t t

He

Wil

d C

At

bR

ot

He

l b

Y j

ef

f s

CH

eid

, H

on

oR

Ab

le

me

nt

ion

, P

eo

Pl

e/

in t

He

mo

me

nt

56 Visions of Maryland Three photographers, one parkway: a multi-layered visual odyssey.

41 focus on neVadaEntries in our second annual photo contest were so packed with eye-pleasing wonder, we needed a batch of judges to arrive at these winning images.

Features

For tickets, please visit TheSmithCenter.com or call 702.749.2847 | TTY: 800.326.6868 or dial 711 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89106

2014 / 2015B R O A D W A YL AS VEGAS ® S ER I E S

EIGHT-SHOW SERIES STA RTI N G AT $28 5 | AVAI L A B LE TH R O U G H J U N E 13

GHOST THE MUSICALAugust 12 – 17, 2014

KINKY BOOTSNATIONAL TOUR LAUNCHES AT

THE SMITH CENTERSeptember 4 – 14, 2014

PIPPINNovember 25 – 30, 2014

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

January 20 – 25, 2015

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

February 24 – March 1, 2015

NEWSIESMarch 17 – 22, 2015

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA April 28 – May 3, 2015

ANNIEMay 26 – 31, 2015

WICKEDOctober 8 – November 9, 2014

SE ASO N SPECIAL AD D - O N

© Disney


Gu

tt

er

Cr

eD

It L

ef

t

departments36

26

30

18

JUNE 2014 VolUme 12 IssUe 06

on the coVer

Athletes preparing for the start of the 2014 Rage Triathlon at Boulder Beach

PHotoGRAPHY Matthew Carter

all things

15 GrievAnces Cliven Bundy is no Dann sisters

18 UrBAn Anti-poverty league has big new plans

20 zeit Bites Shake it, shake it, shake it like a Polaroid picture

22 Profile Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto!

24 trendsetter Nickolas Jensen

26 historyTake a trip down the Arrowhead Highway By Mark Hall-Patton

30 faMilyGot kids? These themed activity itineraries will keep their minds and bodies active By Sarah Vernetti

35 dining

36 the dish Brash Mexicue

39 eAt this now! Oodles of noodles

75 the guideDon't tell us there's nothing to do in Las Vegas

80 end noteOh, snaps!

www.desertcompanion.com

Excitingly Laid-back

Mesquite is the perfect escape, no matter how you define it. If you’re looking to let loose, Seasons Lounge at Eureka showcases live music, dancing and some of the liveliest shows around. If you want to soothe your senses, The Spa & Salon at CasaBlanca is a world-class retreat, complete with therapeutic massages and a full menu of salon services. In your spare time, you can always strike up some fun at the Virgin River Bowling Lanes. No matter what you’re into, you’ll find it in Mesquite.

To plan your getaway, go to VisitMesquite.com.


Publisher Melanie Cannon

AssociAte Publisher Christine Kiely

editor Andrew Kiraly

Art director Christopher Smith

dePuty editor Scott Dickensheets

stAff writer Heidi Kyser

GrAPhic desiGner Brent Holmes

Account executives Sharon Clifton, Tracey Michels, Favian Perez, Carol Skerlich, Markus Van’t Hul

MArketinG MAnAGer Lisa Kelly

subscriPtion MAnAGer Chris Bitonti

web AdMinistrAtor Danielle Branton

trAffic & sAles AssociAte Kimberly Chang

AdvertisinG coPy editor Carla J. Zvosec

contributinG writers Chris Bitonti, Cybele, Alan Gegax, Michael Green, Mélanie Hope, Debbie Lee, Christie Moeller, Mark Hall-Patton, Geoff Schumacher, Sarah Vernetti

contributinG Artists Linda Alterwitz, Ilka Hartmann, Aaron Mayes, Jakob McCarthy, Brian McCormick, Chris Morris, Sabin Orr

Editorial: Andrew Kiraly, (702) 259-7856; [email protected]

Fax: (702) 258-5646

advErtising: Christine Kiely, (702) 259-7813; [email protected]

subscriptions: Chris Bitonti, (702) 259-7810; [email protected]

WEbsitE: www.desertcompanion.com

Desert Companion is published 12 times a year by Nevada Public Radio, 1289 S. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89146. It is available by subscription at desertcompanion.com, or as part of Nevada Public Radio membership. It is also distributed free at select locations in the Las Vegas Valley. All photos, artwork and ad designs printed are the sole property of Desert Companion and may not be duplicated or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The views of Desert Companion con-tributing writers are not necessarily the views of Desert Companion or Nevada Public Radio. Contact Chris Bitonti for back issues, which are available for purchase for $7.95.

Mission stateMentDesert Companion is the premier city magazine that celebrates the pursuits, passions and aspirations of Southern Nevadans. With award-winning lifestyle journalism and design, Desert Companion does more than inform and entertain. We spark dialogue, engage people and define the spirit of the Las Vegas Valley.

PuBL IShe D By N e VA DA PuBL IC RADIo

ISSN 2157-8389 (print)ISSN 2157-8397 (online)

LOVE,DEATH,

In Between& Everything

US THAT’S TAH HAKESPEARE FESTIVALU S

B A R D . O R G | 8 0 0 - P L A Y T I X

C E D A R C I T Y

ShakespeareFestival

TWELFTH NIGHT

HENRY IV PART ONE

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

INTO THE WOODS

BOEING BOEING

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FINAL ADVENTURE

OUR 2014 SEASONJUN 23 – OCT 18

Most credit union members get started the same way – through a family member referral. And usually it’s a personal introduction. At Clark County Credit Union, we have some families who are on their fourth generation of membership. The reason? When you talk to someone at CCCU, or go in to see them at a branch, they will most likely know your dad, or sister, or a co-worker ...maybe even your grandparents. It’s that way because the tradition of service and personal connection has lasted and brings value to their accounts. Even with all the technology of the day at your fingertips, the personal touch at CCCU is still the thing that matters most. Money-saving advice about auto loans, guidance with mortgages, wise investments that are in your best interest. Your not-for-profit financial membership at CCCU will always benefit you, rather than some banking stockholder. Go ahead and decide. Will you take your daughter down to become a customer at a bank? Or will you help her become a member of something that will last a lifetime? Same name since 1951 – CCCU. Same owners for four generations – your family.

Online at www.CCCULV.org,or call 702-228-2228


Board of directors

Officers

susAn MAlick brennAn chair Brennan Consulting Group, LLC

cynthiA AlexAnder, esQ. vice chair

Snell & Wilmer

tiM wonG treasurer

Arcata Associates

florence M.e. roGers secretary Nevada Public Radio

DirectOrs

shAMoon AhMAd, M.d., MbA, fAcP

kevin M. buckley First Real Estate Companies

louis cAstle director emeritus

PAtrick n. chAPin, esQ. director emeritus

richArd i. dreitzer, esQ. Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP

elizAbeth fretwell chair emeritus City of Las Vegas

JAn Jones blAckhurst Caesars Entertainment Corporation

John r. klAi iiKlai Juba Wald Architects

GAvin isAAcs

lAMAr MArchese president emeritus

williAM MAson Taylor International Corporation

chris MurrAy director emeritus

Avissa Corporation

Jerry nAdAl Cirque du Soleil

williAM J. “bill” noonAn director emeritus Boyd Gaming Corporation

kAthe nylen PBTK Consulting

Anthony J. PeArl, esQ. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

MArk ricciArdi, esQ. director emeritus Fisher & Phillips, LLP

Mickey roeMer director emeritus Roemer Gaming

follow desert coMpanionwww.facebook.com/DesertCompanionwww.twitter.com/DesertCompanion

(702) 452-52723433 Losee Road, Suite 4North Las Vegas, NV 89030schillinghorticulture.com

Design | Installation | Renovation | Consultation | Maintenance | Tree Care Hardscapes | Small Jobs | Irrigation | Lighting

licen

se 0

0572

80

Design in BloomSchilling Horticulture Group approaches the design,

installation, and maintenance of your landscape as a combination of art, science, and craftsmanship. As horticulturists, designers, arborists, and ‘plant people’, we fulfill our clients’ desires as we create and transform outdoor living spaces, strive for sustainability, and reveal the beauty desert plants have to offer.

2 0 0 72 0 0 82 0 0 92 0 1 02 0 1 12 0 1 22 0 1 3

Opuntia basilaris

Desert Companion’s first pub crawl brought plenty of cheers... so we brought it back for a second round on May 1 in Town Square. The evening featured signature Davalos Tequila concoctions and scrumptious bites served up in four beautiful settings - Brio Tuscan Grille, Double Helix Wine & Whiskey Lounge, English’s: A British Pub, and Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar.

View more images at desertcompanion.com/dcscene. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/desertcompanion or follow us on Twitter @desertcompanion.

June 2014 DesertCompanion.Com 15

06 14

we j ust c an ' t Qu i t c l i ve n b u n dyThese are the Polaroids

you're looking for page 20

PhoTogr aPhy Ilka Hartmann ©2014

Ranchers, heirs to the land, claim ancestral rights and battle the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies over who controls it. Supporters flock to

their side and celebrities lend aid. Federal officials become involved, and the outcomes aren’t exactly what anybody wanted.

This refers to the Dann sisters. Who were you thinking of?The Cliven Bundy story offers the same basic prem-

ise. How their stories differ speaks volumes about the Western — and the American — past and present.

For the Danns, the trouble began in 1863, more than a century before their fight with the BLM. The combina-tion of the Western Shoshone attacking travelers across

grIevances

This land is whose land?Cliven Bundy wasn’t the first to fight the feds over public land in Nevada — but the details of those fights make all the difference

B y Mi c h ae l G re e n

Family ties:

The Dann

sisters in

1979

June 2014 DesertCompanion.Com16

ALL Things issues

Nevada Territory, and the army forcing Native Americans to work as scouts led to a treaty negotiation. Territorial Governor James Nye and the Western Shoshone leader Te-Moak agreed to the Treaty of Ruby Valley, which eased the immediate problem.

Unfortunately, it created another. The treaty said, “The several routes of travel through the Shoshone country, now or hereafter used by white men, shall be forever free, and unobstructed by the said bands, for the use of the government of the United States, and of all emigrants and travellers under its authority and protection, without molestation or injury from them.” Nowhere did it say that the Shoshone gave up any land.

But, obviously, they lost it. Or did they? In 1946, Congress established the Indian Claims Commission so tribes could sue the federal government for redress — namely, money for lands taken from them. Some of the younger Western Shoshone were agreeable, but older ones insisted that they remained the rightful landowners and wanted no money.

Mary and Carrie Dann were among the latter. In 1974, the BLM charged them with illegally grazing their cattle on federal land. The Danns

replied that they had been on their land, and sued the feds. A young filmmaker, Joel Friedman, turned the story into a documentary, Broken Treaty at Battle Mountain, narrated by Robert Redford, an advocate of environmentalism and Native American rights. The film sympathized with the Western Shosho-ne’s plight, and other documentaries and reports raked the BLM over the coals.

But the government didn’t give up, and in 1985, the U.S. Supreme Court held

that the tribe had ceded its rights to the land — not in the 1863 treaty, but when the Indian Claims Commission set aside money for the claimants in 1979. However, the Native Americans could sue for “original aboriginal rights,” and U.S. District Judge Bruce Thompson of Nevada held that the Danns could graze their cattle on the land but couldn’t claim ownership.

When the Bundy family gained its land depends on who’s telling the story. Cliven Bundy said his family’s claim goes back to 1877, when Mormons settled Bunkerville. But 13 years before that, the Nevada Constitution had ceded control of the land to the federal government. Also, KLAS Channel 8’s I-Team found that the Bundys didn’t start grazing cattle there until 1954.

Meanwhile, Sean Hannity of Fox News and other conservative media outlets defended him against the BLM, which had dunned him for more than $1 million in grazing fees, which he had refused to pay for two decades.

The Dann sisters certainly were tough and difficult, by anyone’s definition. They denied the authority of the federal gov-ernment over the land they claimed. Even some members of the tribes resented the Danns and their allies for delaying a settlement, much as other ranchers and advocates of federal divestiture of public lands feel that Bundy has hurt their cause far more than he has helped it.

But neither of the Dann sisters ever went quite so far as to say, “I don’t rec-ognize the United States government as even existing,” or claim that the sheriff of their county had the power to disarm the U.S. government. No militia groups showed up to help them, or talked about placing women and children on the front lines in case of violence. Nor did the Dann sisters discourse on how slavery had shaped the African-American experience.

Some of the comparisons between Mary and Carrie Dann and Cliven Bundy are apt: the use or abuse of federal gov-ernment powers; vast differences in how the land is used and perceived; the sense that all of them may have belonged to

an earlier time and certainly seemed to prefer that time to this one. In certain ways, they served as equally attractive representatives of the causes for which they fought.

But they also had their faults. The Danns and their allies fought for a principle rooted in centuries of mis-treatment of Native Amer-

icans, but there’s also such a thing as knowing when to hold ’em and knowing when to fold ’em.

Bundy’s faults have become well-known and certainly are legion. Beyond his views of African-Americans and choosing not to acknowledge the U.S. government, he and his allies promote several fallacies, including that the land should be his to use as he pleases. If the land belongs to the public, it belongs to all of us. By his logic, he should have to avoid portions of the land belonging to those who don’t want him grazing cattle on it.

But the main fallacy is the contention that the land isn’t the federal govern-ment’s because it extorted Nevada’s acreage as the price of statehood — which would be fine if anyone had forced Nevada to become a state. No one did. Nevada could have remained a territory forever, completely under federal control, down to the president choosing the governor, his cabinet and the courts. Bundy wouldn’t much like that, either.

The Danns ultimately represented a cause — Native American rights — centuries in the making. Meanwhile, Bundy and his allies demanded that the sheriff arrest BLM representatives and threatened a lawsuit over his and the governor’s failure to act. In a subsequent attempt to confront the BLM, Bundy’s supporters drove their ATVs over sacred Native American land to protest federal control of public lands. Like the Danns, they claim to have rights, and they will keep claiming them. The question is how many other Americans feel similarly — and how many feel that those claims are trampling their rights.

Hear more Should the

states con-

trol land in

the West?

Hear a

discussion

on “KNPR’s

State of

Nevada”

at desert companion.com/hear more

“The several routes of travel through the Shoshone country, now or hereafter used by white men, shall be forever free, and unobstructed by the said bands, for the use of the government of the United States, and of all emigrants and travellers under its authority and protection, without molestation or injury from them.”

June 2014 DesertCompanion.Com18 PhoTograPhy Brent HOlmes

ALL ThingS community

Poor North Las Vegas. Mired in debt, its tax base shriveling, a city limping along as the state considers

taking over its finances. Then — insult to injury — some Bunkerville rancher cashing in his 15 minutes of fame piles on with a racist monologue that singles out North Las Vegas as all that’s wrong with coddling, entitlement-drunk, socialist America. Cliven Bundy certainly didn’t do North Las Vegas any favors. But maybe, in his cringe-inducing monologue on race, welfare and big government, Bundy did a solid for the Las Vegas Urban League. The league leveraged his headline-hogging bit of demagoguery to hype the opening of its new offices on Cheyenne Avenue: The sub-ject line for its April 28 press release reads,

“North Las Vegas Non-Profit Will Rally to Dispel Bundy Remarks and Restore Hope.”

Enterprising and clever, sure. You might also say it marks a new phase of visibility and vigor for the anti-poverty nonprofit. Since its new CEO Kevin Hooks took the helm a year ago, the Urban League has expanded its budget,

shaken up its services and boosted its profile. Even the office move has the scent of rebrand.

“We wanted a place that, when someone walks in, not only gives off a sense of being inviting, but also this idea of dignity,” Hooks says as he leads a recent tour through a maze of cubicles, meeting rooms, offices. “The last thing you want people to do is walk into an environment where they have a need, and be reminded by that environment of where they find them-selves economically.” The shift in HQ from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Owens Avenue to west Cheyenne is itself a signal flare for a broader vision. “We’re not the Urban League of black people, and not the Urban League of North Las Vegas,” says Hooks. “In order to show that, we’ve got to expand our footprint.”

Hooks knows about brands. He’s an out-of-town hire who was previously senior vice president of branded entertainment for PR giant Weber Shandwick. “I was not only impressed with his resumé,” says Tony Bourne, a league board member, “but

his ideas were refreshing. He realized that one of our biggest issues was that many people see us as an organi-zation that’s always asking

for money, but those people can’t quite articulate what the Urban League actually does. He immediately started making connections in the community to raise awareness.” That awareness already seems to be bearing fruit. This year’s budget, which Hooks estimates at $30 million, is notably higher than that of previous years, which ranged between $10 million and $12 million.

“But," Hooks says, "I’d also say that we’re still in a very difficult situation because of the nature of our funding sources. The majority of our funding comes from state and federal money

— grants, contracts, workforce opportu-nities. How do we grow membership revenue, foundation revenue? How do we grow donations from high net-worth individuals who believe in our cause?”

Some of the league’s new programs are decidedly different than its traditional offerings of resumé-writing classes, child-care assistance, baby formula and food subsidies. For example, Hooks brought on a senior vice president of agency innovation, Michael Maxwell, who launched ITECH702, a four-week course that immerses students in at-risk schools in basic HTML coding. To Maxwell, it’s a digital-age deployment of the league’s core mission. “This embodies what we’re trying to do: to make people self-sufficient,” he says. “But we wanted to do something proactive, teaching kids skills they can use, and get paid for, right now. It’s very empowering.”

Hooks is looking beyond that right now and considering the long-term trickle-down. “What happens when they graduate from high school is going to be interesting. How many of them are going to be offered jobs right out of high school, $60,000-, $70,000-a-year jobs? That completely changes their family tree, the reality of their family, the generation that follows them. All because we were willing to think differently.”

urBan

A league of their ownWith a new leader, the Las Vegas Urban League starts to think big

B y an d rew K ir aly

Man on a mission:

Las Vegas Urban

League CEO Kevin

Hooks is shaking

up the league's

programs.

Tickets from $69* • For tickets: 866-606-7111 • zumanity.comPerformances at 7:30 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BYDOMINIC CHAMPAGNE & RENÉ RICHARD CYR

Zumanity™ has been created for guests 18 years or older. *Plus tax and service fees.

June 27 – July 1GuestStarNENE LEAKES


ALL ThingS zeit bites

trendIng

'Roid rage Polaroid, that is. At the Las Vegas Camera Club, the once-obsolete photo system enjoys a new snap

Colson

Whitehead’s

The Noble hustle: Poker,

Beef Jerky and Death (Dou-

bleday, $24.95) is the latest big

memoir about playing in the

World Series of Poker. It’s not

the best — that honor would

go to either Al Alvarez’s The Biggest game in Town or James McManus’ Positively Fifth Street. But to Whitehead’s credit, he isn’t trying to

compete with those acclaimed titles.

In fact, it’s not entirely clear what Whitehead, a

respected literary novelist, is doing, other than taking

full advantage of his original assignment to write

about playing in the tournament for Grantland.com.

But that sounds like a knock, when it’s not necessar-

ily the case. It’s true that The Noble hustle is a rather

slight work, hardly up to his finest fiction (John henry Days, Sag harbor), but it is dappled with apt

and funny observations about life and gambling. For

example, he expends considerable effort explaining

what a wretched individual he is. Although it verges

on annoying after a while, this tangent does yield

some near-LOL one-liners: “I’d long aspired to the

laid-back lifestyle of exhibits at Madame Tussaud’s.”

What gives the book ballast, however, are two

smart observations about Las Vegas. Whitehead

wisely resists the temptation to condescendingly

critique, analyze and summarize the city. But he does

see Las Vegas in a wider social context — and nails it.

• “We go to casinos to tell the everyday world

that we will not submit. There are rules and codes

and institutions, yes, but for a few hours in this tem-

ple of pure chaos, of random cards and inscrutable

dice, we are in control of our fates.”

• “The mere fact of Vegas, its necessity, was an

indictment of our normal lives.”

Locals may recognize these sentiments, but it’s

easy to underestimate the intoxicating power that

Las Vegas projects beyond its borders. Because

Las Vegas — at least the city of gambling tables,

nightclubs and pool parties, of drinking, dancing and

doing it — is very different from “back home.” Back

home, “rules and codes and institutions” still reign.

Whitehead doesn’t say whether he’d prefer “our

normal lives” to be more like Las Vegas, but you

get the impression he’s not thrilled with much of his

“everyday world.” “The world is a disease you shake

off in the desert,” he writes, somewhat optimistically,

upon arriving here. But he later takes it back: “Do

not hope for change, or the possibility of transcend-

ing your everyday existence, because you will fail.”

Despite the occasional merry rhetorical flourish,

The Noble hustle is not exactly the feel-good hit of

the summer. — geoff Schumacher

THE BOTTOM LINE ›› mOre reasOns tO Bar Ben aFFleck FrOm casInOs 1. Fewer GiGli-themed Flash mobs 2. may help keep that bastard matt damon away 3. more showgirls For Clooney! 4. still peeved about DareDevil 5. pre-peeved about batman

Impossible brand iPhone Polaroid

Custom laser-cut Polaroid camera skins

In-house repair desk for all your Polaroid fixing needs

Faux moss customized camera skin

In-house photo book library, for club members only

Polaroid film

Film on ice

Locker stuffed with custom equipment and cameras

The Las Vegas Camera Club, 1071 S. First St., in Art Square. Member-ship: $85 for the rest of 2014; gets you discounts on classes, gear, film.

poker, faced

Po

la

ro

iDS

aT

la

S v

eg

aS

ca

me

ra

cl

uB

: B

re

NT

ho

lm

eS


Join us as we honor the 2014

Best Doctors of Southern Nevada

More information at desertcompanion.com

DESERT COMPANION ISSUE PARTY

AUGUST 07 SAVE THE DATE

AT TPC SUMMERLIN

BEST DOCTORS

2014Donato Cabrera Criteria Steve Aoki

New music director, LV Philharmonic big vegas job

Globetrotting DJ, spins at Hakkasan, Wet Republic

Takes over Philharmonic after troubled reign of out-of-towner David Itkin

in the news because …

First international DJ to actually move to Las Vegas

No will actually live here? Yes

“All the groundwork is being laid” for “Las Vegas to completely transform itself into a real, grown-up city in a way …” (to the review-Journal)

earnest cliché about vegas’ potential

“I’m excited about what Tony Hsieh is doing there with the Downtown Project and seeing a real culture developing for the locals.” (to las vegas Weekly)

“I’ll be at a jazz concert, or at the Las Vegas Academy working with young people, working with the choir.” (rJ)

where to find them off-duty

“Looking deeper outside the Strip for really great food options, including organic food options.” (Weekly)

dOnatO caBrera vs. steve aOkI

Assessing the newbies

Donato Cabrera debuts as conductor Sept. 27Steve Aoki spins at Hakkasan and Wet Republic

For most of my hiking life, I was strictly goal-oriented. I looked for the easiest way to a peak or the

deepest point in a canyon. It wasn’t until I started organizing and guiding with groups that I realized just how much I’d been missing. Once I slowed down, the Mojave became an entirely new desert.

Southern Nevada’s limestone is a 250-million-year-old treasure chest, and a keen, patient eye will spot countless fossils in the shale that hurrying hikers trot right past. On a spring trek to Gass Peak, a fellow hiker spotted a trailside rock the size of a coffee table, with a dozen obvious fossils in it. I’d traipsed past that rock at least five times, maybe even walked across it, and never noticed.

It’s not just sight, either. It turns out the Mojave has some of the best-smelling flora on the planet. Sagebrush gets all the press, but the lesser-known yerba santa, with its thin, leathery leaves, produces a heavenly

scent reminiscent of peppermint and laven-der. The hands-down winner: the creosote bush (above). Rub its tiny leaves between your hands to release the unmistakable aroma of desert rain. It’s glorious.

The most dramatic reward of slow hiking is, of course, the fauna. Eons of evolution have created animals that blend in so perfectly they’re hard to spot if you’re in a rush. Bighorn sheep roam craggy hillsides throughout Southern Nevada, and they stay above potential predators, including hikers. So slow down and look up.

On a human level, hiking at a leisurely pace brings people of all ages and abilities together. Even those who can fly up the trail can also slow down. You’ll have more breath for conversation, for exploring fellow humans while exploring the desert.

If you’re going to make the effort to venture into our wild lands, take the time to soak them in. Slow down. — Alan Gegax

Slooow ...

THE BOTTOM LINE ›› mOre reasOns tO Bar Ben aFFleck FrOm casInOs 1. Fewer GiGli-themed Flash mobs 2. may help keep that bastard matt damon away 3. more showgirls For Clooney! 4. still peeved about DareDevil 5. pre-peeved about batman

OutdOOrs

Stop and smell this.

JUNe 2014 DeSeRtCoMPAnion.CoM22

L ike a small bee swarm, the Basic High School robotics team descends on physics teacher Mark Reed’s class-room. They push desks to the periphery, lay out plastic

tubing and wood panels, and puzzle over how to conjure a ring like those used at the VEX Robotics Competition, their Super Bowl. The moment a functional square takes shape, some abandon the construction work and start running their ’bots through drills.

In a corner near the door, Reed catches up with Rick Stater, plant manager at Tronox, a titanium processing facility located in Hen-derson’s industrial zone. How many kids are showing up lately, Stater wonders. (About a dozen.) How did they do in the March compe-tition? (Won some; lost some.) His interest is more than casual. Tronox is one of the team’s three major sponsors, providing funds for robots, competition fees and other necessities, and Stater has a lot to do with that.

Someone shoves a joystick into his hand; senior Jasmine Breciado, one of the four members of Team A, takes another. Before you know it, Breciado and Stater, who’s never seen Team A’s robot before today (and who’s a chemical engineer), are controlling its locomotion and mechanical arm, respec-tively. Within minutes, Stater has the robot picking up plastic red balls and putting them in marked spots. He falls easily into the team’s cheerfully focused mode. It illustrates something he’d said an hour earlier, sitting in a company conference room: It doesn’t matter how students learn science, so long as they learn it; it’ll apply to whatever specialty they choose later on. That’s why Stater got involved in robotics programs at three Henderson schools. He’d learned that Robert L. Taylor Elementary had a robotics class and could use help with it. He responded by writ-ing checks, but soon felt that wasn’t enough.

With Tronox making headlines lately for less humanitarian efforts (it recently settled bankruptcy litigation, related to toxic dumping, with Anadarko Petroleum, which acquired former Tronox parent company Kerr-McGee in 2006), it would be easy to write off Stater’s efforts as whitewashing his company’s polluted past. But at Basic High, his interest seems genuine. “It’s not enough to check a box on your company forms that says, ‘Yeah, we contribute. We gave you $2,000, now go away,’” he says. “That’s why we got our employees involved.” In 2012, he persuaded two staff members to help — on paid company time — with Taylor’s after-school robotics club; last year, he added another at B. Mahlon Brown Junior High. Their hope, shared by Reed, is to spark interest early, so that by high school, kids are comfortable with the STEM skills robotics fosters. “The biggest thing, I think, that helps the kids is our ability to trouble-shoot,” says Tronox Senior Process Engineer Kevin McIntosh, a Taylor volunteer. “And also their self-confi-dence.” “Tronox has been so awesome,” Reed says of the company’s sponsorship, which covers all the club’s costs. He plans to triple the number of teams at next year’s VOX competition, from two to six.

Stater has personal motivation, too. The youngest of 10 children, his father died when he was 12 years old, leaving his mother a sin-gle parent. He quickly figured out that if help wasn’t available at home, he’d have to get it at school. He may also have a sense of unfin-ished business as a parent, acknowledging that neither of his two children, now grown and in the real-estate business, showed an interest in science and math. “A lot of (local) kids are coming out of high school without competency in math and science,” Stater says. “They may want to go into it in college, but then it’s too late to catch up. We want to help prevent that.” — Heidi Kyser

rIde alOng

Rick StaterChemiCal engineer

PhoTograPhy cHrIstOpHer smItH

ALL ThingS people

JUNe 2014 DeSeRtCoMPAnion.CoM 23


5 T h i n g s i c a n ' T l i v e w i T h o u T

ALL Things style

PhoTograPhy cHrIstOpHer smItH

1 John Varvatos Classic

fragrance, $64-$84, Macy’s in the Fashion Show Mall

2 Cynthia Sylvia Stout Beer

shampoo, $9.95-$29.95, LUSH in the Fashion Show Mall

3 SkinnyGuy Kamikaze Attack

Collabo jeans by Naked and Famous, $260, shop.tateandyoko.com

4 John Varvatos Schooner

boat shoe, $198, John Varvatos in the Forum Shops at Caesars

5 Thomas Pink Blomqvist

Jacket, $750, Thomas Pink in the Forum Shops at Caesars

YoUR PeRSonAL StYLe? My personal style is best described as a “multi-tool” without looking like one. I’m open to looks that get me out of the door in 15 minutes or less while conveying effort at the same time. Sometimes I play by

the fashion rules, other times I go commando. Since I work long hours, form and function come into play as I often go straight from work to dinner with clients or friends.

tRiCkS FoR SPiCing UP Men’S LookS?

No tricks or secrets here — Vegas summers bring enough spice. A cuffed chino for summer and lightweight cotton chemise but-ton-down shirts for this demonic heat are at the top of my list. SoCkS oR no-SoCkS? Keeping with the form and function concept, I wear a no-show sock. Although I practice in wonderworking, I can’t walk on water.

BiggeSt FAShion Pet Peeve? It would be a celebrity death match between Crocs and socks with sandals.

WhAt’S on YoUR DeSeRt iSLAnD

CLothing LiSt? Shwood handcraft-ed sunglasses from their brand-new Louis Slugger Collection (shwoodshop.com); John Varvatos dip-dyed, ultralight linen, short-sleeve Henley ( johnvarvatos.com); and a tie between the incredibly rugged Iron Heart

selvedge Paraffin Coated 22-ounce Cotton Duck Five Pocket Jeans (ironheart.co.uk) or Wilson volleyball seen in the movie Castaway. No offense, Iron Heart, but I will need someone to talk to, and it’s easier to make friends without pants.

Who ARe YoUR StYLe iConS? I like a classic gent look with a killer fashion sense. My style icons are Nickelson Wooster, Steve McQueen and Patrick Bateman. Who doesn’t like good hair, fast motorcycles or a high-quality business card?

WhAt iS YoUR toP StYLe tiP FoR gUYS FoR SUMMeR? Buy a motorcycle. Even grandma looks cool on a motorcycle.

JeReMY SCott oFFeRS to MAke YoU A CUStoM PAiR oF SneAkeRS. WhAt

Do theY Look Like? Run DMC would definitely be my inspiration. I would go for the classic shell-toe so I didn’t look I jammed my foot into a Beanie Baby’s business end.

trendsetter

Nickolas JensenChief technological thaumaturgist, Ideabox Media Group Inc., developer of automation systems for homes and businesses

B y C h r i S T i e M o e l l e r


Above: A postcard

portrays a picturesque

Arrowhead Highway.

Right: a map of the

historic link between Salt

Lake City and Los Angeles

PhotograPhy brent holmes

history

Interstate 15 is an umbilical cord to Southern California, bringing countless party-minded tourists and profit-driven business trips from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. But long before I-15 became such a lifeline, a decidedly rougher road connecting L.A. to Las

Vegas went by another name: the Arrowhead Trail Highway. (Today, its most recognized vestige is Las Vegas Boulevard.) Indeed, I-15 is just the latest ver-sion of a highway that was developed to provide a well-maintained (or at least tolerably drivable) road from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City through Southern Nevada. It’s interesting to consider that I-15 we know today was born as a rough passage that has been a trading route, a desert driving challenge and even an irresistible draw for horse thieves.

But before any of that, the Arrowhead Trail was the Old Spanish Trail — which, actually, was neither old nor Spanish. It would have been more accurate to call it the Mexican Trader Trail. Attracted by the valley’s springs, in 1829, Mexican traders gradually developed a new trail through the harsh Mojave Desert. Having found the abundant water available in the Vegas Valley, the dogged explorer and merchant Antonio Armijo blazed the original trail to Cali-fornia with his team, braving desert heat, unforgiving terrain, thirst and hunger (sometimes allayed by eating one of their mules) to trade wool goods for horses, which he then sold in New Mexico.

But horse thieves soon caught wind of the trail, tempted by the California mis-sions and ranchos that frequently used the Arrowhead. These thieves were known as Los Chaguanosos, and began their depredations about 1832, when Juan Jesus Villapando led the first band over the trail to California, posing as horse traders

The road much TraveledThe highway we know today as I-15 got its start as a rough, raw, dusty — and sometimes dangerous — road. (Keep an eye out for horse thieves) B y M ark H al l - Pat to n

JUNE 2014 DesertCompanion.Com 27

New MyAccount tools break down your energy and how you use it in a simple, easy-to-use system that now makes staying updated on your power as easy as tweeting a pic of your selfie. Getting reliable energy to you every day is complex. But keeping track of it all is simple. Sign up for MyAccount today at nvenergy.com.

Everything about your energy,under one roof ‒ your phone.

We’re putting all of our energy into your energy.

BILLING SUMMARIES

OUTAGE NOTIFICATIONS

OUTAGE MAPS

BILLING ALERTS

Desert Companion ads_JUNE_Check Mark ad_2014-05.indd 1 5/14/2014 4:31:40 PM

to gain trust before making off with their victims’ stock. Horses stolen by these Ch-aguanosos bands were often led back over the trail and sold for a fat profit in Santa Fe. Sometimes, the thefts were brazen in their ambition and scope. In 1840, a group of Chaguanosos led by Tennessean Philip Thompson made quite a haul, stealing more than 3,000 head from missions and ranchos ranging from San Luis Obispo to Los Ange-les. The Chaguanosos drove the horses and mules over the trail through the Mojave Desert — with an angry posse not far be-hind, intent on getting their property back. Alas, the members of that posse should have known when to cut their losses: Near Cajon Pass, the Chaguanosos ambushed the posse and killed two of its members, dissuading the rest from continuing pursuit.

The rugged Arrowhead Trail was the focus of, let’s say, more heavenly pursuits as well. With the move of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the promised land of Utah and the Great Salt Lake, the borders of this promised land were ill-defined. Brigham Young con-sidered all the area that is today’s Neva-da — and that part of California east of the Sierra Nevada — as part of his new

his

to

ric

ar

ro

wh

ea

d h

igh

wa

y P

ar

aP

he

rn

al

ia c

ou

rt

es

y b

ob

st

ol

da

l


OPERA LAS VEGAS

Set in 18th Century Seville, Spain, “Barber” tells the tale of a scheming doctor who wants to marry his beautiful ward before she is lured away by a handsome and resourceful Count. The Count is assisted in finding true love by the help of his devious barber. Fully staged and costumed. Performed in Italian with English subtitles. Lead soloists and conductor Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera.

TICKETS ON SALE NOWUNLV Box Office

(702) 895-2787

Although Opera Las Vegas is a non-profit organiza-tion,Tickets to its productions are not tax deductible.

Gioachino Rossini’s Opera Of Laughter and Love

Count Almaviva

Robert McPherson

FigaroDaniel Sutin

Dr. BartoloPeter Strummer

Don Basilio Philip Cokorinos

Rosina Renée Tatum

Friday, June 6 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 8 2:00 p.m.

Judy Bayley Theatre, UNLV

$95 * $75 * $55

The Barber Of Se ille

history

land. With movement to set-tle the land, it was necessary to have routes that provided access, and the Old Spanish Trail became a part of that trail system.

GrowinG uP fast

The Old Spanish Trail would grow up fast as America settled the West. By the early 20th century, the business-led movement for transcontinental highways became aware of the route and saw in it a vital piece of America’s slowly developing transportation network. Boosters in Utah, Nevada, and Southern California began promoting the route through Southern Ne-vada. The Automobile Club was supportive of the effort to have an all-weather high-way, since the Lincoln Highway, which ran through the northern part of the state, was typically closed during the winter. With a lot of hype, the Arrowhead Trail Highway association formed in 1916 and got to work on transforming the trail into a full-fledged roadway. Celebrity endorsements certain-ly helped. Between 1915 and 1916, race-car driver Charles Bigelow drove the entire route many times in the twin-six Packard he named “Cactus Kate.” By 1917, the Go-odrich Tire Company had gone over the road, setting up its familiar signposts to help travelers. These signs (you can see an exam-ple in the Clark County Museum) consisted of a heavy steel plate with a center circle in red and white, and arms in black with the names of towns and mileages noted in deep drilled dots on the black surface. These signs were meant to survive in the harsh

desert climate, and many did.The road was eventually rerouted many

times, and today’s Interstate 15 and Las Ve-gas Boulevard follows only a few parts of the road. Between Barstow and Las Vegas, the final route was in contention for a number of years, eventually settling into something closer to what we know as I-15 today. The 1920 Automobile Blue Book, which gave exact directions for someone trying to fol-low the road, is interesting to review. Just to get out of Las Vegas going north you had to go from “Fremont and 1st Streets, bank on the left. Go east on Fremont four blocks. At .3 miles, 5th Street (end of pavement); turn left. Thru irregular 4-corners at cemetery 1.7. Follow winding but direct road across desert. Pass well on right 11.1, running onto rough stretch across flats 28.4” And this just got you out of town.

As the routes for the road changed, the newspapers covered the attempts to drive the route that took the shape of publicity stunts. A spectacular trip by a U. S. Army vehicle in 1917 showed what could be ac-

Left:Auto club booklets extolled the highway's scenery. Right:

Historic postcards and photos

capture the adventures

(and headaches) the Arrowhead

Highway offered.


LIVE ENTERTAINMENT RANDY ANDERSON BAND

HENDERSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION & PARKING

SHUTTLE SERVICE AVAILABLEFROM FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL

Glass containers, alcohol, fireworks and barbecues are prohibited. No pets. Subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. Management reserves all rights.

HENDERSONLIVE.COM | 702-267-2171

FRIDAY, JULY 4THMISSION HILLS PARK

6PM - 9PM | 551 E. MISSION DR.

FIREWORKS SHOW AT 9PM

Bike Valet Availablecomplished over the new road. To test how long it would take to get to Salt Lake City from Los Angeles in case the telegraph and railroad were both knocked out, Captain O. R. Bird and three others drove a truck with a mounted machine gun over the proposed Arrowhead Trail Highway route. In spite of road troubles, including a broken axle at St. George and torrential rain south of Salt Lake City, the actual driving time was 36 hours and 14 minutes — almost 60 hours less than the previous record.

Estimates of 2,000 travelers over the highway in 1919 led to renewed efforts to lock in the route and build the roadway. (The highway was not paved, but the ef-fort was initially to build a gravel road-bed over the finalized route.) Autos in the 1920s were still not the most reliable overland transportation. They tended to overheat in the desert, and many entre-preneurs would build service stations in the open stretches between towns.

The Arrowhead Trail Highway eventual-ly became known as the Salt Lake Highway, and when the federal government began numbering highways rather than naming them, it became Highway 91. Until the cre-ation of I-15 in the early 1960s, it was the only sensible route from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and on to Salt Lake City. Our own “all-weather” highway helped Las Vegas become the destination it is today. If you get a chance, try driving a piece of it — even if it is only the Strip.

Start bidding in 3 easy steps:

BID. WIN. SUPPORT.

June 5-June 12

More inforMation at knpr.org

RegisteR

online1

Place youR

bid3

bRowse the catalog of moRe than 2000

items

2

30 june 2014 DesertCompanion.Com

Family

Explore galore:

Clockwise from left,

Springs Preserve,

Spring Mountain

Ranch State Park,

the Neon Museum

The end of the school year means the beginning of the war on summer doldrums: How do you keep your kids from nesting on the couch, merging with their video games while the three-month seasonal brain-drain sets in?

One solid strategy: Get ’em out of the house. But don’t just shoo them outside or take them to see random “interesting” sights. Do what Vegas has done so

well: Add a theme for maximum enjoyment. Herewith, three examples.

Live in the past

Las Vegas may feel like the mecca of new, but families can find historical adventures that highlight the city’s recent and not-so-recent past.

Book your tickets ahead of time and start your day at the Neon Museum (770 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-387-6366). Take a 60-minute guided tour of the Boneyard, learning about the city’s glittering past thanks to dozens of retired signs. Kids will particularly love the large “ugly duckling” sign and the famous Sahara camels. The museum’s visi-tor center, the transplanted La Concha Motel lobby, is a space-themed example of the 1960s design aesthetic that is becoming harder to find in Las Vegas.

Next, proceed farther down the historical timeline at the nearby Las Vegas Natural History Museum (900 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-384-3466). This isn’t the largest, most state-of-the-art museum, but it is the perfect size for kids with short attention spans and can be explored in an hour or two. Learn about rocks and minerals, take a journey

Step away from the tV!With summer break upon us, these all-day itineraries will keep your children’s bodies — and brains — active B y sar ah ve rn e t ti

ph

ot

os

co

ur

te

sy

sp

rin

g m

ou

nt

ain

ra

nc

h,

sp

rin

gs

pr

es

er

ve

,

ne

on

mu

se

um


Kindred Healthcare is committed to delivering care from hospital to home with quality and compassion. Our post-acute care services in Las Vegas—including transitional care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home care—allow us to help patients return home as soon as possible while also providing care and services that will promote wellness.

We are committed to playing a leading role in solving the challenges of care following traditional hospital stays by managing and coordinating the unique care and rehabilitative needs of each patient. Come see how Kindred continues the care every day at KindredVegas.com.

In the Las Vegas area Kindred offers services in: 3 Transitional Care Hospitals • Subacute and Transitional Care Unit • Outpatient Rehabilitation Services • Outpatient Wound Clinic • Home Health • Hospice Care • RehabCare Contract Rehabilitation.

CONTINUE THE CAREkindredvegas.com

Care That’s Built Around You

TO REFER A PATIENT, CALL: 702.784.4333 • 888.378.9431

into a faithfully reproduced tomb of Tut-ankhamun, and watch the stingrays dine on their lunches. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop, where you’ll find one of those beloved penny-press machines. Crunch your shiny penny with the image of a dinosaur before you leave.

Continue your historical explorations west of town at Bonnie Springs (16395 Bonnie Springs Road, 702-875-4191), modeled after an 1880s mining town. If the kids are feeling hungry, stop by the Wild West-inspired restaurant for a bison burger. Then check out the petting zoo and take a stroll through “old town.” You might even witness a faux gunfight along the way. Finish your history-themed day at nearby Spring Mountain Ranch State Park (6375 Highway 159, 702-875-4141). Take a self-guided tour of the main ranch house or check out one of the park’s living history programs offered in spring and fall. However, if the kids have absorbed all of the historical good-ness they can for one day, expend some energy outdoors. Walk up to little Lake Harriet or take the Overlook Trail, which ends with a sweeping view of the desert. Those spending the day with older kids can embark on the more challenging Sandstone Canyon trail. If you brought snacks along, enjoy them at one of the picnic tables near the parking lot on the way back to your car.

Make a spLash

Rather than spend another Satur-day by the pool, plan a family-friendly day that will keep the kids happy while giving their brains a workout. The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay (3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-632-4555, sharkreef.com) is unique thanks to its focus on the more aggressive side of life underwater. Along with less-threatening aquarium staples like colorful fish, jelly-fish and horseshoe crabs, the Shark Reef is home to predators such as sharks and piranhas. Before you leave, say hello to the ancient-looking komodo dragon and the formidable golden crocodile.

For further water-themed learning, head to Springs Preserve (333 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-822-7700). The flowing

Featuring Chef Wes Kendricks’ contemporary American cuisine including fresh fish, wild game, duck, lamb, Certified Angus Beef, and comfort food classics. Conveniently located off the 215 and Warm Springs. Dinner Tuesday - Saturday 5pm until closing (around 10pm)

600 E. Warm Springs RoadLas Vegas, NV (702) 263-0034

Table 34

32

6275 South Rainbow, Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89118

(702) 818-4100www.igandco.com

AT INTERIOR GARDENS WE

SELL THE FINEST INDOOR

PLANTS, CONTAINERS

AND ORCHIDS FOR

YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

VISIT OUR NEW RETAIL SHOWROOM

VISIT OUR RETAIL SHOWROOM TO

RECEIVE 10% OFF OF YOUR FIRST

PLANT PURCHASE*.(Excluding Orchids

& Potted Arrangements)

*Ad must be presented at time of purchase.

Busy bodies:

Clockwise from

right, Discovery,

Blue Man Group,

Henderson Bird

Viewing Preserve

june 2014 DesertCompanion.Com

Family

springs that once existed here played an important part in Las Vegas’ history, providing a habitable environment for people and wildlife. Explore the unique, nature-themed playground and stroll through the botanical gardens. Inside the Origen Museum, the flash-flood display demonstrates the power and danger of rapidly moving water, while the Hoover Dam exhibit provides a visual representa-tion of just how much water Southern Ne-vada uses each year. Head back outside to check out the desert animals that live be-hind the Origen Museum, and take a min-ute to cool off in the mister on hot days.

Now that you’ve learned a thing or two, it’s time for a break. Drive to Crab Corner (4161 S. Eastern Ave., 702-489-4646, crabcornerlv.com) for Mary-land-style seafood. Parents can enjoy the hard-shell blue crabs, which are flown in daily, while kids who aren’t so sure about seafood can order the chicken tenders instead. End your water-themed day by getting soaked. Splash pads become es-

sential parenting tools during spring and summer when the kids need to get ac-tive. Luckily, numerous splash pads can be found throughout the valley. In the northwest, try the colorful and imagina-tively designed Centennial Hills Park (7101 N. Buffalo Drive), which offers two water play areas. At Aliante Nature Dis-covery Park in North Las Vegas (2600 Nature Park Drive), kids can run through the water feature when they aren’t dig-ging in the sand or feeding the ducks. If the family dog is in desperate need of re-lief from the heat, head to Heritage Park in Henderson (350 E. Racetrack Road). This park’s splash pad is designed specif-ically for pooches.

Get active

While pure fun might be the top priority for kids, parents seek fami-ly-friendly activities that engage the mind and help keep the body healthy too. Spend a day getting active — mentally and physically — at these inspiring spots p

ho

to

s c

ou

rt

es

y h

en

de

rs

on

bir

d p

re

se

rv

e,

dis

co

ve

ry

mu

se

um

, b

lu

e m

an

gr

ou

p


For more information or to

reserve your seats, please visit

knpr.org/summertravel

F R I D AY

AUGUST 1 THRU

S A T U R D AY

AUGUST 2

You will see four plays:

THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL

DRIVING MISS DAISY

NUNSENSE

LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR

2014

F R I D AY

JULY 25 THRU

S A T U R D AY

JULY 26

You will see your choice of four plays:

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

HENRY IV PART ONE

TWELFTH NIGHT

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

INTO THE WOODS

MEASURE 4 MEASURE

F R I D AY

SEPTEMBER 26 THRU

S A T U R D AY

SEPTEMBER 27

You will see three plays:

BOEING BOEING

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FINAL ADVENTURE

TWELFTH NIGHT

1289 S. TORREY PINES DR. LAS VEGAS, NV 89146

KNPR.ORG CLASSICAL897.ORG

around the valley. Start your morning at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (350 E. Galleria Drive, 702-267-4180, cityofhenderson.com/parks). Home to nine ponds, the park is a popular hangout for waterfowl and desert-dwellers alike. Walk, don’t run, and use quiet voices to increase your chances of spotting a great-er roadrunner or a common gallinule. Kids will get a kick out of donning their binoculars and recording their observa-tions in a field journal, so don’t forget to bring along your bird-watching gear.

Next, head to the Discovery Children’s Museum at Symphony Park (360 Prome-nade Place, 702-382-3445, discoverykidslv.org). Although this museum offers all kinds of interactive displays for kids, the high-light is The Summit, a three-story climbing structure located in the heart of the muse-um. Climb, stair-step and slide your way through this 70-foot-tall obstacle course of learning. Educational displays are located throughout the tower, ensuring that the kids’ brains and bodies will get a workout. Active kids will also want to check out Fan-tasy Festival, where they can board a pirate ship or climb to the top of a medieval-in-spired castle.

For further active fun, visit Sky Zone Las Vegas (7440 Dean Martin Drive #201, 702-560-5900, skyzone.com/lasve-gas). Offering age-appropriate sessions (so that the little ones won’t get lost in the bouncing), this indoor trampoline park is the perfect place to keep kids active while they attempt to defy gravity. Prac-tice your slam-dunking skills on the Sky-Slam basketball court or jump into a sea of spongy blocks in the Foam Zone. End your day with three colorful gentlemen who exemplify the intersection of active minds and active bodies: the Blue Man Group (Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, 877-459-0268, montecarlo.com). This show encourages its audience to contem-plate everything from table manners to the human brain to the magnificence of modern plumbing. Once you’ve watched the Blue Man Group, get ready to move. The show ends with the Blue Men urging audience members to get active them-selves and join the fun before dancing their way out of the theater.


Ou r c i t y ' s be st sp Ot s tO e at & drin k

06 14

The Dish 36

eaT This now 39

PhoTograPhy By sabin orr

Pig, meet potatoes: TruckU's barbecue pork fries

June 2014 DesertCompanion.Com36 PhoTograPhy sabin orr

Dining out

HigH on tHe HogWith a personality to match his flavors, Mike Minor is unleashing his own brand of Mexicue on the masses

B y D e BBie L e e

It’s late afternoon in downtown Las Vegas and Mike Minor is ready for throngs of hungry locals and tourists to flood the streets at First Friday. Standing inside his new food truck, TruckU Barbeque, he waves a spoon in my face. The plastic utensil is lacquered in crimson.

“Taste,” he insists. “This is just to give you an idea of what I’m doing here. Do you get that Mexican influence coming through? It’s smoky. It’s spicy. It’s sweet.”

His confidence in the recipe is justified. It’s all of those things. It’s also unlike any barbecue sauce I’ve ever tried. Made with habanero chili peppers and molasses, the complex condiment is part Oaxaca, part Kansas City, and 100 percent representative of Minor: unique and in your face.

Armed with that colorful persona, as well as some formidable pitmaster

Above The spice man cometh: Mike Minor's Mexicue is on fire. beLoW TruckU's short rib torta opposite pAge pulled pork tacos


620 South 7th St

Las Vegas NV 89101

o: 702.366.9339

c: 702.219.0131

Fine Art ConsultingCollection ManagementArt Handling

mcqfineart.com

Johns.Do you know yourJaspers from yourSinger Sargent’s? skills, the 41-year-old local chef is using

his souped-up truck to chase his biggest dreams.

TruckU (truckubbq.com), which de-buted in April, is a four-wheeled mash-up of Minor’s professional experience and personal passions. Up until late last year, he served as the executive chef at Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger’s local outpost of Border Grill at Man-dalay Bay. But when his own interest in barbecue prompted him to leave his decade-long post, he made sure to take his modern Mexican cooking skills with him.

“Over the last 10 years I traveled throughout Mexico with Mary Sue and Susan,” explains Minor. “We would take a week or two on each trip and eat the streets all day and night. Then we’d take notes and develop our own menus.” He cites a particular fondness for Yucatán cuisine — “I love the fact that they love pork as much as I do” — but draws inspi-ration from various regions for his own recipes.

“His passion, interest in learning, and creativity is inspirational not only to his whole team but also to Mary Sue and myself,” Feniger writes in an email. “I love that he’s taking these steps to go out on his own.”

Ring of smokeFeniger and Milliken’s influence is

clear. A quick scan of the TruckU menu — chock full of chilis — is enough to in-duce heartburn. Wagyu steak tacos are spiced up with serranos, short rib enchi-ladas get a bath of ancho-flavored mole sauce, and fries are smothered with ja-lapeños. Even the mayo is spiked with smoky chipotles.

That south-of-the-border flair may make some barbecue purists wary, but rest assured that his technique with meat is spot-on. “I’ve been developing these recipes my whole life,” says Minor, whose love of good ’cue is also in no way limited to a single region. “The brisket is Texas-style, the pork is Carolina-style, and the ribs are Kansas City-style.” He regrets to say that he hasn’t done nearly as much travel-related research for mas-tering the art of barbecue. “But in the age of the Internet,” he says, “YouTube can be your best friend.”

The self-trained chef opens the truck’s vertical three-foot smoker to provide proof. He removes and unwraps a foil package to reveal his special “Dinosaur Bone”: a full pound beef rib cooked with Negra Modelo beer and dressed with his Oaxacan barbecue sauce. Once dissect-ed with a knife, each slice reveals a pink “smoke ring” on the outer edges. Anyone in the know recognizes it as the hallmark of proper barbecue.

may we recommend...Short rib tortaMinor’s jumbo beef ribs are sliced

to order and served on a rich

brioche bun with fresh cole slaw

and guacamole. Is it just like the

kind you’d find at a street cart in

Mexico City? Not at all — it’s better.

bbQ pork frieSFried in duck fat, these rich fries are

made even better (but not necessarily

better for you) with the addition of

crispy pork belly and chorizo cheese

sauce. It puts poutine to shame.


Dining out

postrio american | the venetian

796.1110

wolfgang puck bar & grillamerican | mgm grand

891.3000

wolfgang puck pizzeria & cucinaitalian | crystals at citycenter

238.1000

spagoamerican | the forum shops

369.6300

CUTsteak | the palazzo

607.6300

lupoitalian | mandalay bay

740.5522

Burn unit: Spice infuses everything on Minor's menu.

‘With my peopLe’Minor hasn’t overlooked the respon-

sible foodie contingent, either. He envi-sions a sustainable menu down the road, with its ingredients supplied by local farmers. It’s a philosophy he could af-ford to subscribe to at Border Grill, but for now, he’s doing as much as he can.

“Stop flying things around the world because you want to be the cool chef,” he begs of his peers. “Yeah, I can go get some fancy peach wood that’s been soaked in bourbon from Kentucky for my barbecue. But I use what’s near and available to lower my carbon footprint. That’s why sometimes it’s mesquite, and other times it’s hickory. As a chef, these are some of the things I want to teach to others.”

While most aspiring chefs hope that a food truck will serve as a cheap launch pad for an even more successful brick and mortar, Minor has a different per-spective. The Strip veteran says that TruckU represents freedom and an all-time career high.

“This has all turned out to be so much more than I ever thought,” says Minor. “After 10 years of being in a casino, it was time to do my thing and be with my peo-ple. I want to be in the community that I grew up with while this exciting thing with food is happening.”


Tim Hunsaker, Au.D.Doctor of Audiology

702-605-9133 phone702-678-6159 fax

Las Vegas501 S. Rancho Drive, Suite A6

Las Vegas, Nevada 89106

Henderson1701 N. Green Valley Parkway

Building 8, Suite BHenderson, Nevada 89074

Learn what you need to know before you fall for a marketing scheme that doesn't fit your hearing care needs.

Desert Valley Audiology and Dr. Tim Hunsaker have created consumer education videos and useful information to help you understand the first step to better hearing. Visit www.LasVegasHears.com today to get started.

Help is here!

Confused about hearings aids?

Overwhelmed by all the hearing aid ads?

Buffalo soldier at Rock’N’oodles1108 S. Third St., 702-522-9953, rocknoodles.com

Tucked into the heart of the Arts District, Rock’N’oodles is tiny — maybe five tables

inside and out — but their ambitions are grand. Rock’N’oodles serves pasta inspired

by world cuisine, from a tikka masala plate to a Southern barbecue chicken bowl

to a spicy chipotle concoction. Like all their entrées, the Buffalo Soldier starts with

a heaping portion of pasta (elbow macaroni, in this case) served in a rich, creamy

blue cheese sauce. But the centerpiece is the fried chicken. Breaded, boneless

Buffalo chicken chunks, worthy of any bar in upstate New York, are layered on

the pasta. Julienned carrots and celery cut the heat from the Buffalo sauce, and

potent bits of blue cheese take this decadent dish over the top. — Chris Bitonti

Crispy pig tails at Public HouseIn the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, 702-407-5310, publichouselv.com

For a clever update on ordinary chicken wings, brace yourself for these

chili-glazed chunks of fried pig tails and pork fat. A pool of buttermilk

dressing is an improvement on the usual gluey bottled ranch, and whis-

pers of shaved radish are a spicy alternative to waterlogged celery sticks.

It’s undoubtedly rich, perhaps to the point of being offensive, but it’s still

a dish that belongs on every porkophile’s bucket list. — Debbie Lee

HoT PLaTE

eat tHis now!

Subaru of Las Vegas 5385 West Sahara Avenue (702) 495-2100 Subaruoflasvegas.com

Welcome to Desert Companion’s second annual “Focus on Nevada” photo contest. A quick note before you feast your eyes on the pages of terrific imagery that follow: This year,

to bring a heightened mojo to these proceedings, we enlisted a cohort of judges — folks whose aesthetic sophistication jumped the decision-making process to a new level.

And there was plenty to judge: We received 1,442 submissions covering every conceivable permutation of our five categories: People/In the moment; artistic/abstract; landscapes/nature; places; and smartphones. The entries were strong, too; collectively they remind us what a vivid, diverse, fantastically interesting place we call home. We’re glad we had help picking the winners.

Now: eNough of these words — oN to the photos!

JUNE 2014 DesertCompaNioN.Com 41

FOCUS ON NEVADA

JUNE 2014 DesertCompaNioN.Com42

Honorable mentions

People/in the moment

M i k a y l a W h i t M o r eprofessioNal

Artistic/abstract

l i s a C h e u n g amateur/stuDeNt


M i C h a e l C o n t r e r a ssemi-professioNal

Artistic/abstract

a l e x i s a l l e namateur/stuDeNt


Honorable mentions

Places

a n t h o n y M o j i C a semi-professioNal

Places

r a C h e l B e l l i n s kyamateur/stuDeNt


Honorable mentions

Smartphone

C a r e y C h r i s t e n s e namateur/stuDeNt

Landscape/nature

s t e p h e n t i d W e l lamateur/stuDeNt

Smartphone

l u C e r o g o M e z o C h o a amateur/stuDeNt

Smartphone

l i n d a a l t e r W i t zphotographer levelamateur

Landscapes/nature

r a d a M e s F e r n a n d e zamateur/stuDeNt


1st Placej u l i e h a M i l l

amateur/stuDeNt

Phone iphoNe 4s

App(s) sNapseeD

2nd PlaceC r i s t i a n g h i l a namateur/stuDeNt Phone iphoNe 4s

App(s) sNapseeD, pixlr-o-matiC

Smartphone

judges giNger BruNer artist

sCott DiCkeNsheets Desert Companion deputy editor

Betsy fretwell Las Vegas city manager

kristeN petersoN arts journalist


Landscapes/nature

2nd Placee r i C W r i g h tsemi-professioNal Camera NikoN D7000

Lens NikoN 18-55mm


Landscapes/nature

1st PlaceM i k e W e t z e lamateur/stuDeNt Camera CaNoN 6D

Lens CaNoN ef 16-35mm f/2.8l ii

ISO 5000

Shutter Speed 30 seCoNDs

f-stop f/2.8

judges JuliaN kilker UNLV associate professor flo rogers Nevada Public Radio CEO Jo russ artist J.w. ZuNiNo landscape architect


Artistic/abstract

1st Placej e F F s C h e i d

professioNal

Camera CaNoN 5D mark ii

Lens 16-33mm

ISO 1000

Shutter Speed 1/400

f-stop f/5

2nd Placeg e o F F r e y M e z aamateur/stuDeNt

Camera peNtax k-3

Lens tamroN sp af 90mm f2.8

ISO 100

Shutter Speed 1/40

f-stop f/16


Artistic/abstract

judges liNDa alterwitZ artist DiaNe Bush artist patriCk Duffy arts patron BreNt holmes Desert Companion designer Jerome thym curator toDD VoNBastiaaNs gallerist/artist



1st PlaceM a t t h e W C a r t e r

professioNal

Camera NikoN D7100

Lens NikoN afs 24-70 f/2.8

ISO 640

Shutter Speed 1/6400

f-stop f/4

2nd Placej e F F s C h e i dprofessioNal Camera CaNoN eos-1D mark iV

Lens 200mm

ISO 160

Shutter Speed 1/320

f-stop f/8



judges Camila DeriBeprey fashion blogger Bill hughes photographer Jerry metellus photographer ViCtor roDrigueZ creative director DaNa satterwhite gallerist Christopher smith Desert Companion art director


Places

1st Places C o t t W a r n e r

professioNal

Camera NikoN D800

Lens Nikkor 16-35mm leNs

ISO 250

Shutter Speed 10 seC

f-stop f/11

2nd PlaceM a x h a g u eprofessioNal Camera NikoN D800

Lens 24-70mm f/2.8g

ISO 500

Shutter Speed 25 seC

f-stop f/4


Places

judges toNy flaNagaN photographer aNDrew kiraly Desert Companion editor toDD-aVery leNahaN designer miChael moNsoN photographer


Grand prize

M a x M o o r esemi-professioNal

Camera

CaNoN 6D

Lens CaNoN 50mm f/1.2

ISO 500

Shutter Speed 1/100

f-stop f/7.1


Grand prize

Why shoot Maryland ParkWay instead of, you know, that other big, insanely photogenic street a few miles away? Why, when we assigned these three photographers to capture that elusive quality known as sense of place, did we opt for the understudy instead of the diva? Easy. Visual as the Strip is, we didn’t want the usual dream-factory celebrations. No pretty-city glamour shots. We wanted striking images that would also aggregate as a multifaceted portrait of the city as we know it, as we live it every day: filled with incredibly varied residents, unexpected visions, strange juxtapositions; enlivened by vitalities old (UNLV) and new (the Gay and Lesbian Center), encrusted here and there with history (the Huntridge Theatre), occasionally rattled by conflict (the Huntridge again) and resonant with the kind of big, failed dreams that just might’ve changed the city (the Midtown project, Flavor Flav’s House of Flavor). That's Maryland Parkway, and a lot of it is captured on these pages. Las Vegas Boulevard might be the boulevard, but Maryland Parkway is our boulevard. that’s Why.


photography by

l i n d a a l t e r W i t z ( l ) fine art

a a r o n M a y e s ( a ) people

J a k o b M c c a r t h y ( J ) architecture

Vis ions of Mary land

( J )


( J )

( J )

( l )

( a )


With the vast cultural, economic and historical diversity

along Maryland Parkway, it’s easy to become lost in the showcase of

what the thoroughfare has to offer. Some places are so deeply rooted

in Vegas history that it’s hard to imagine this city without them, while

other landmarks are making their own claim to Vegas. Providing a strong

visual context as the foundation of this photo essay was paramount in my

creative approach. Highlighting the underlying characteristics of what

makes the buildings religious, cultural, economic or educational is always

a challenge. This diversity along Maryland Parkway shows us where

Vegas has been, and where it’s going.

— Jakob McCarthy

( a )

( l )


( l )


PhotograPhing on Maryland Parkway

was a visit to my past, to the area of my teenage

days. I was both excited and skeptical — I didn’t

want to alter those great memories, yet my

nature is one of curiosity. For this project, I did

the unexpected: I elected to use film. And not

just any film, one I have never used before, one

that shifts colors from the expected to the un-

expected. It was my attempt to add an element

of chance to the experience of exploring an area

I once knew but that was unfamiliar to me now.

Pushing the process further, I shot with two

low-tech cameras. I guess I really didn’t want to

face Maryland Parkway straight on and chance

disturbing any precious memories.

— Linda Alterwitz

( a )

( l )

( a )

( J )


brainstorMing this ProJect on Maryland Parkway

brought memories of childhood trips to the mall, harrowing

time spent in the neonatal unit with my twins, and a

lifelong love affair with UNLV. So intertwined has "The

Parkway" been in my life, I thought documenting it would

be a simple and fun exercise. But as it should be in

documentary work, the process was more educational than

recapitulatory. What I found were lost souls and blight,

feisty entrepreneurialism, and those who refuse to give

up on their neighborhoods. What I found was how little

I understood the street of my life.

— Aaron Mayes

( a )

( a )

( l )

( J )


( a )

( a )

( a )

( l )


( a )

( J )

( l )

JUNE 2014 DesertCompanion.Com 65( a )

66

Exciting educational services abound within the Las Vegas Valley

Las Vegas Day School offers students numerous advantages, including a traditional envi-ronment; a fully secured cam-pus; parent involvement and communication; and a rigorous academic program, work and study habits, and discipline.

Parents should begin shopping for schools approximately one year in advance. It is vital that parents look at all their choices for their children’s education, because their selection of a school needs to match their family’s values and philosophy. Most importantly, parents need to think long-term to deter-mine their hopes and dreams for their child and where they want them to be in the future.

The biggest reason parents send their children to private school is to give them every advan-

tage that a quality education can provide for high school, college and their adult busi-ness life. The school needs to be large enough to provide the full school experience, yet the teacher-student ratio must be at a level that meets the needs of each child.

Parents should inquire about the history of the school, stan-dardized test scores, colleges the graduates are attending, etc., and teachers should be asked about their goals and ex-pectations for their classes. It’s also important to ask about the curriculum and overall mission and philosophy of the school. Parents should look for strong administration, as well as staff hiring and program continuity. LVDS seeks to find, hire and keep the finest possible educa-tors, and has very little teacher attrition. Parents also should

feel welcomed by the adminis-tration to discuss their child’s needs or any school concerns.

Additionally, visiting schools is a critical part of the deci-sion-making process. Every school has a different mission and purpose, which is only apparent upon visitation. While on campus, parents can witness the interaction between teachers and students, the learning envi-ronment, educational materials and if students seem happy.

Las Vegas Day School

Las Vegas Day School, located at 3275 Red Rock St. in the Southwest Valley, features a Kinderschool program, as well as elemen-tary and middle schools. For additional informa-tion, call 702-362-1180 or log on to www.lvds.com.

FANTASTICs c h o l a s t i c

special advertising

section

Preparing Tomorrow’s Health Care ProfessionalsRoseman University’s Unique Educational Model Yields Successful ResultsWhen Roseman University of Health Sciences was founded in Henderson in 1999 as the Nevada College of Pharmacy, the insti-tution aspired to create the best Doctor of Pharmacy program in the world. Today Roseman is on the forefront of preparing tomor-row’s health care professionals, thanks to its proven educational model and the strong dedication of its board of trustees, faculty and staff, students, alumni, partners, supporters and friends.

During the past 15 years, Rose-man has experienced remarkable growth that has seen expansions into the fast-growing and high-de-mand fields of nursing, pre- and post-doctoral dental medicine, health care business and medical research. The university’s commit-ment to Southern Nevada and the region as a transforming force in vital areas of health care education is steady as it continues its plan to establish an allopathic medical school in Las Vegas.

Much of the university’s success is due to how it’s different. Rose-man created a highly effective pedagogical model that is unique to health professions education. The Roseman Educational Model is immersive and incorporates mastery learning, problem-based and active learning, cooperative or team-based learning, and a block system curricular design specifically engineered to support attainment of learning outcomes and the highest level of achieve-ment for all students.

Roseman University has campuses in Henderson and Summerlin, as well as the Salt Lake City sub-urb of South Jordan, Utah. The university is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and each of its current academic programs is accredited by its respective accred-iting body.

Roseman University of Health Sciences is located at 11 Sunset Way. For additional information about Roseman University, call 702-990-4433 or visit the web-site at www.Roseman.edu.

Applications accepted April 1 through July 31.Visit Nevadas529.com to apply!

The Silver State Matching Grant Program* can help boost your savings.· Dollar-for-dollar match into your SSgA Upromise 529 Plan· Up to $300 matching per calendar year, for up to �ve years· Household income must not exceed $74,999· Must be a Nevada resident

A college savings plan in a class of its own.

COLLEGE SAVINGS

Your investmentin their future has met its match.

Administered byNevada State Treasurer

For more information about the SSgA Upromise 529 Plan, call 1-800-587-7305 or visit www.ssga.upromise529.com to obtain a Plan Description and Participation Agreement. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other important information are included in the Plan Description; read and consider it carefully before investing. Upromise Investments, Inc. Distributor.

If you are not a Nevada taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state’s qualified tuition program.

*Matching grants are subject to availability of funds, and there is no guarantee of the continued operation of the Silver State Matching Grant Program.

68

Get ready for a complete weather experience when The Magic School Bus™ Kicks Up A Storm at DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, May 24–Sept. 1. The traveling exhibit is based on the popular Scholastic Entertain-ment books and television series now available on Netflix.

The Magic School Bus has been transformed into a flying weather observatory where dif-ferent types of weather can be created, experienced and mea-sured. Visitors are immersed in the weather exhibit in a unique-

ly Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus way by visiting “Ms. Frizzle’s Classroom,” climbing aboard the converted-bus “Weather Observatory” or visiting the “Walkerville Weather Center.” Through these three interac-tive environments, guests can explore the water cycle and its relation to weather, as well as how influences from air, heat, water and land combine to create weather.

The Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus museum exhibit is an ideal way for children, par-

ents and teachers to have a real in-person Magic School Bus experience through Ms. Frizzle’s one-of-a-kind approach to making science fun. Everyone can learn about the different types of weather and their characteristics, and how to read natural world indicators to pre-dict the weather. Plus, they can manipulate scientific measure-ment tools, such as thermome-ters and anemometers, and get the behind-the-scenes scoop on how to read maps and graphs like a real meteorologist.

The museum’s summertime hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday. General admission is $12 per person or free for museum members. Visit www.DiscoveryKidsLV.org for more information.

special advertising

section

Da Vinci The Exhibition in the Imagine Exhibitions Gallery at The Venetian follows the Renais-sance master Leonardo da Vinci on a journey of innovation, creativity, science and wonder.

Developed by Aurea Exhibitions and produced by Imagine Exhibitions Inc., Da Vinci The Exhi-bition is a hands-on examination of da Vinci’s life, research and art. Featuring more than 65 fully built life-size inventions, more than 20 fine art studies and dozens of stunning dis-plays, guests will learn the complex beginnings and lifetime achievements of da Vinci through his discoveries in art, engineering, flight, hydraulics, music, light and more.

Each invention featured within the display was handcrafted utilizing a modern translation of da Vinci’s unique mirrored writing style in an ancient Florentine dialect. Trained artisans used these translations to construct full-scale models and bring the master’s two-dimen-sional plans to life.

In addition to da Vinci’s role as an inventor, the exhibition investigates a collection of da Vinci’s most renowned paintings, includ-ing some controversial works traditionally attributed to him but not yet authenticated.

Throughout his lifelong devotion to the sciences and fascination with nature, da Vinci also extensively explored the world of anatomy. Da Vinci The Exhibition’s in-depth and enlightening explanations of his famous studies on subjects such as the golden ratio and “Vitruvian Man”

are complemented by enlarged examples of the artist’s sketches and notes made during his controversial research on the human body.

Da Vinci The Exhibition is open for a limited en-gagement. Exhibition hours of operation are 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, with the last ticket being sold at 6 p.m., and 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with the last ticket being sold at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available for purchase at The Venetian box office and are priced at $27.50 for adults; $22.50 for seniors, military, Nevada residents and students with a relevant ID; free for one child age 12 or younger who is accompanied by one paying adult; and $20.50 for additional children. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.venetian.com/entertainment.html.

Renaissance ManDa Vinci Exhibit Examines Life and Art of the Master

Climb Aboard!It’s All About the Weather in Museum’s Newest

We’re on a journeyto redefine the

experience of school.Now enrolling students6 weeks old - 2nd Grade

Summer and 2014-2015School Year

310 S 9th Street, Las Vegas702.724.1436

9thBridgeSchool.com

SOUTHERN NEVADA’S MEDICAL SCHOOLEducating healthcare professionals to serve our communityFor more information about Touro University Nevada or if you are interested in a campus tour, please call 702.777.3100 or visit tun.touro.edu

874 American Pacific Drive, Henderson NV 89014Touro University Nevada is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and licensed in Nevada by the Commission on Post-Secondary Education. Touro University Nevada is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Touro University Nevada does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities.

APRIL 2014 DesertCompanion.Com 69

70

Touro University Nevada is part of a system of Jewish-sponsored nonprofit institutions of higher and professional education. It was established to help address the need in Nevada for health care and education professionals. TUN opened in 2004, and today it is a thriving campus with more than 1,300 students enrolled in a variety of degree programs, many of which are the first of their kind in the state.

TUN is Nevada’s largest medical school, which offers six additional health care-re-lated degree programs including Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Science in Medical Health Sciences, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Bachelor of Science in Nursing for new practitioners, and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Also offered are Master of Education and Master of Camp Administration and Leadership degree programs.

The university is committed to devel-oping strong educational partnerships in the community. It partners with the Clark County School District’s Cen-ter for Teaching Excellence, offering advanced education for Southern Nevada teachers. TUN also partners with Valley Hospital’s graduate medical residency program to provide residency opportuni-ties for Touro students.

The Touro University Nevada Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities is a one-stop multidisciplinary source for children with autism and other developmental disorders. Families can receive neuropsychological evaluations, occupational therapy, applied behavior analysis, speech-language therapy and group social skills all under one roof.

TUN also operates a multispecialty health center, staffed by faculty members specializing in various fields, including rheumatology, primary care, geriatrics and osteopathic manipulative medicine. Third- and fourth-year medical students do clinical rotations at the center and residents with Valley Hospital assist in the practice.

As the health care industry changes, Touro has the ability to assist Nevada with its critical health care needs. In less than 10 years, Touro has graduated more than 1,500 health care professionals and continues to work and partner with the Southern Nevada community.

For more information, go to www.tun.touro.edu or call 702-777-3100.

University Addresses Needs in the Valley Touro Committed to Health Care and Education of Community

special advertising

section

Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus Kicks Up A Storm exhibit was created by The Children’s Museum of Houston with cooperation from Scholastic Entertainment Inc. with major funding from the National Science Foundation; and in consultation with The National Weather Service, The American Meteorological Society, and the Oklahoma Climatological Survey.” TM & © Scholastic Inc. Based on the Magic School Bus book series. © Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. All Rights Reserved.

Kicks Up A StormKicks Up A StormKicks Up A StormKicks Up A StormKicks Up A StormKicks Up A StormKicks Up A Storm

DiscoveryKidsLV.org

Join Ms. Frizzle™ for a journey into the wonders of weather, it’s Wild Ride Certified! Learn how heat, water and air interact to create sun and make a storm at the Weather Mixing Dash-board, report the latest weather at the Frizzle News Station and much

more. This hands-on traveling exhibit is based on the best-selling Scholastic books and the ever-popular television

series now available on Netflix.

KM XB KLUC KXTE KXST KXNT FM /AM

At 9th Bridge School, where an inspired world of boundless curiosity is envisioned and a focus on creativity and entrepre-neurship is ever present, a unique ap-proach for educating children is offered based on neuroscience and social-emo-tional learning.

Throughout the year, this private school’s curriculum cultivates creativity and inde-pendence. It also features an artist-in-res-idency program to help inspire students, and it continually seeks community partnerships and involvement to spark and foster students’ passions.

The school welcomes and encourages family involvement as well, and the start of every day begins with Connections, a time when students and their families, staff and administration personnel come together to participate in a schoolwide activity. Con-nections helps make 9th Bridge a close-knit community, allowing families to stay con-nected to the school’s happenings and staff.

Currently, 9th Bridge School is enrolling students 6 weeks old through second grade for its nine-week summer program and 2014-2015 school year. For the summer program, which runs June 9 – Aug. 8, parents can choose to enroll their child in any or all weeks of the program.

The summer program features play workshops that provide opportuni-ties for children to explore personal interests through focused theme studies. Students’ days will also include sand and water exploration, dramatic play, gardening, music, art and yoga.

Information sessions to learn more about 9th Bridge School will be held on June 10 and June 24 at 6 p.m. The school is located at 310 S. 9th St. in Las Vegas. You also can find out more about the school and its programs at www.9thBridgeSchool.com. To schedule a tour of the facility, contact [email protected] or call the school at 702-724-1436.

71

Transforming Education 9th Bridge Redefines the Experience of School

Give Your Child Every AdvantageWe’ll challenge and inspire your child in a caring environment with programs that have successfully educated thousands of children in Las Vegas for more than fifty years.

3275 Red Rock St. • 702-362-1180 • LVDS.com

Kinderschool,Elementary &Middle School

Advanced Innovative CurriculumState-of-the-Art

Computer TechnologySpanishMusic

Competitive SportsEExtra Curricular Activities

State LicensedAdvancED National Accreditation

Call for Admissions

Information & Campus Tour

APRIL 2014 DesertCompanion.Com72

B E Y O N D V E G A SGet ou t of tow n a nd e x per ience a w hol e ne w v ie w of t he sou t h w est

SpEciAl ADVErtiSiNG SEctiON

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway did not just happen. It required foresight, planning, financing and, most of all, vision. Construction of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in the rugged Chino Canyon on the north edge of Palm Springs, Calif., was an engineering challenge and soon became labeled the “eighth wonder of the world.” The super-lative was earned because of the ingenious use of helicopters in erecting four of the five supporting towers of the tramway. Twenty years later, the tramway was designated as a historical civil engineering landmark. Its inaugu-ral ride occurred on Sept. 12, 1963, with local and state dignitaries and celebrities on hand for the occa-sion. In 1998, the tramway announced it was embarking on an ambi-tious modernization program and, beginning in September 2000,

its passengers were riding the world’s largest rotating tramcars ever constructed. Last year, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway marked its 50-year anni-versary of taking riders from the desert floor of Chino Canyon to the pristine wilderness of the Mount San Jacinto State Park in Idyllwild, Calif.Tramway hours of operation are 10 a.m. (up) to 9:45 p.m. (down) Mon-day through Friday. On Saturday, Sunday and holidays, the first tram up is at 8 a.m. Cars depart at least every half hour. Tramway tickets are $23.95 for adults, $16.95 for children ages 3-12 and $21.95 for seniors ages 62 and older. Annual passes are available for $150 for adults or seniors and $90 for children. Prices and hours are subject to change without notice. For more information about the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway or to purchase tickets, visit www.pstramway.com.

EASY tO rEAch, hArD tO FOrGEtTown of Pahrump Is a Great Place To Get Away

Vegas is home to some exciting sights, but if you want to explore the true Nevada, you’ll have to head just a little further west.Located an hour west of Las Vegas and an hour east of Death Valley, Calif., the town of Pahrump, Nev., is easy to reach but hard to forget. Set amongst the scenic backdrop of Southern Nevada’s striking beauty, Pahrump is a fantastic destination for an experience miles away — 60, in fact — from the chaos and clamor of Vegas. Unconventional yet comfortable, unique yet familiar, and untamed yet friendly, Pahrump can be summed up in one word: real. You’ll find good food, good people and a good time.Whether you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of big city life or just want to try something new, Pahrump is the ultimate “base camp to adventure.” For visitors who want to unwind and relax, Pahrump offers leisurely activities, includ-ing visits to two award-winning wineries, two top-notch golf courses and miles of picturesque trails for hiking. For a more adventurous experience, guests can enjoy high speeds at the Spring

Mountain Motorsports Ranch or Pahrump Valley Speedway, precision self-defense classes at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute or off-road explorations on ATVs or in Jeeps. Pahrump is close enough to Las Vegas for a day trip but unique enough for a vacation. And there are always great events — from car shows to poker runs and everything in between — taking place. Sixty miles west, 180 degrees different; that’s Pahrump. And that’s true Nevada.Check out www.visitpahrump.com to see what’s going on. Or, just make the short drive and experience it for yourself. You won’t be sorry … until it’s time to leave.

74

EiGhth WONDEr OF thE WOrlD cElEBrAtES MilEStONETramway Offers One-of-a-Kind Rides for More Than 50 Years


06 14 5take

your Arts+EntErtAinmEnt cAlEndAr for junE

28I zel Ballet FolkorIcoWinchester cultural center

No, it’s not Cinco de Mayo

or Mexican Independence

Day. But do you really

need a heavily marketed

cultural excuse to check

out the lively, colorful

dancing of Mexico? No,

you do not. Here’s your

chance to engage in some

trans-border cultural

understanding. 6:30p, $10-

$12, 702-455-7340

13chelsea handlerthe cosmopolitan las Vegas

Sure, she has mad skillz

on the teevee, with her

successful E! shows Chelsea

Lately and After Lately, and

she can occupy the stage

as a stand-up — but we love

her for the comic sprezza-

tura of her classic book title,

Are You There, Vodka? It’s

Me, Chelsea. In other words,

she’s a very funny human.

8p, $85 and up, thecosmo-

politanlasvegas.com

20the amazIng las Vegas comIc consouth point

Pop culture is building

irrevocably toward peak

nerd, a year hence, with

the release of Avengers 2.

Events like this — mingling

comics creators with com-

ics fans — help make Vegas

a cool base camp along

the way. Just ask Deadpool

creator Rob Liefeld, Infinity

Gauntlet artist George Pe-

rez and Walking Dead actor

Michael Cudlitz, among the

announced guests. through

June 22, $25-$60, amazin-

glasvegascomiccon.com

21gregg allmanthe pearl at the palms

The South will tour again.

8p, $53-$95, palms.com

02al Isha kerl Inclark county goVernment center

Roadrunners: zippy, darty,

a blur of motion! What

if, artist Alisha Kerlin

wondered after seeing a

roadrunner doorstop at

a swap meet, you turned

them into heavy, immobile

sculptures with overtones

of Italian futurism? That’ll

put some meep-meep in

the Rotunda Gallery! Road-

runners that Won’t Run

Far shows through July

25 in the clark county

government center, 500

s. grand central parkway.

reception 6p, June 5


The Escape Artist

Texas Tenors: You Should DreamTuesday, June 10 at 7:30 pm

Sundays, June 15 and 22 at 9 pm

Freedom Summer: American Experience

Tuesday, June 24 at 9 pm

Channel 10

Australian Pink Floyd: Eclipsed by the Moon

Tiger: Spy in the Jungle

Death in Paradise

Sunday, June 1 at 8 pm

Tuesdays at 8 pm, starting June 12

Masterpiece Mystery!

Mondays at 10 pm, starting June 16

Visit VegasPBS.org to see the complete schedule today.

3050 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89121 • 702.799.1010

ART

SEEKING SILENCEThrough June 6, Mon-Fri, 9a-4p; SaT, 10a-2p. A solo exhibit of fine art prints, drawings

and installation artwork by CSN Professor of

Printmaking and Drawing, Anne Hoff. Free.

csn Fine arts gallery, csn.edu/artgallery

MAHOGANY SHOWCASE SPRING EXHIBIT 2014Through June 7, Wed-Fri, 9a-6:30p; SaT, 9a-5:30p. Award-winning artist Brenda Dumas presents

glass transformed into jewelry, plates, bowls

and other pieces of art. Carolyn Hurst is a

master quilter. Gaile Ferguson is a student of

photography and cinematography in the film

department of College of Southern Nevada.

The three combine for a holistic multimedia

exhibit. Free. West las Vegas arts center

community gallery, 702-229-4800

BYWAYS: ANY ROAD OR PATH OTHER THAN THE MAIN ONEThrough June 14. A theater musician and circus roustabout

with a large dose of wanderlust, photog-

rapher Bill Payne barnstormed the US for

many years in his truck and trailer with his

wife, Danise, by his side. These two had

great travel opportunities that provided

many compelling picture-taking moments.

These photographs reflect that adventure.

Free. sahara West library art gallery,

lvccld.org

MAD SCIENCE MANIAThrough June 21, SaT-Sun, 11a and 1p. Mad scientists roam the Preserve with

interactive experiments that are different

every week. Free with general admission.

springs preserve

SUSTAINABLE STYLE: FASHION AND PHOTOGRAPHYThrough July 13. Fashion items utilizing sustainable or envi-

ronmentally friendly materials. The exhibit

also includes photos of each piece, shot

with models on location at the Springs.

Free with paid general admission. Big

springs gallery at the springs preserve

LITTLE GREEN MENThrough July 14, Mon-Thu, 7a-5:30p. The artists in this exhibit were asked to ex-

plore a subject that relates to life on other


THE GUIDE

planets or in other galaxies, space travel,

UFO sightings, and the famous Area 51 in

the middle of the Nevada desert, as well as

any other phenomena that centers on any

of these topics. Free. las Vegas city hall

chamber gallery, 702-229-1012

ARMAND THOMAS: EGYPTThrough aug. 5. Beyond the breaking news, away from

the glare of television cameras, daily life

continues in Egypt much as it has for

eons – carefully, cautiously, steadily. In this

photography exhibit, Thomas attempts to

depict the duality of contemporary Egypt,

a nation caught between stability and

change, tradition and modernity, histo-

ry and progress. Free. West las Vegas

library art gallery, lvccld.org

THE RHYTHMS OF AFRICAThrough ocT. 11, Tue-Fri, 12-5p; SaT, 10a-3p. The exhibition will feature African statues,

masks, musical instruments, baskets,

African cloth and various other artifacts.

Also featuring paintings by internationally

known artist, Calvin B. Jones. Free. left of

center art gallery, 2207 W. gowan road,

leftofcenterart.org

FASHION 2 ART OLYMPICSJune 6, 5-10p. An open-mic event where local fashion de-

signers share the stage with musicians and

other performers. Vendor booths and other

entertainment throughout. $10, includes

red carpet picture. circus circus hotel and

casino, fashion2artolympics.com

WHY, MASTERWORKS?June 19-aug. 23, recepTion June 19, 5:30-7:30p. Artists in this invitational exhibit will select

one or more elements and principles of art,

which are the tools or building blocks the

artist, sometimes intuitively, employs to

make a unified piece of artwork. The artists

will be asked to make a piece of artwork

that explores and defines the particular el-

ement and principle chosen. Free. mayor’s

gallery at the Fifth street school. call for

appointment, 702-229-3515

JEFF FULMER: POSTSJune 26-Sep. 6, Wed-Fri, 12:30-9p, SaT, 10a-6p; recepTion June 26, 5:30-7:30p. Fulmer studied sculpture, art theory and

graphic design, receiving his Master of Fine

Arts from UNLV in 2000. He has taught

at UNLV, Wabash College, Herron School

of Art and most recently at CSN. Free.

charleston heights arts center, 800 s.

Brush st., fulmerdesign.com

DANCE

USA BALLROOM DANCESJune 21, 7-10:30p.Presented by USA Dance Las Vegas Chap-

ter #4038, a local chapter of the national

nonprofit volunteer organization, dedicated

to the promotion of ballroom dancing. $10

adults; $5 military/students ages 13-25.

charleston heights arts center, 800 s.

Brush st., usadancelasvegas.org

MUSIC

THE BARBER OF SEVILLEJune 6, 7:30p; June 8, 2p. Celebrate the 200th anniversary of this

comic masterpiece with soloists Victor

Ryan Robertson, Daniel Elijah Sutin, Peter

Strummer, Philip Cokorinos and Renee

Tatum. $55-$95. Judy Bayley theatre at

unlV, 702-895-arts

DYNAMIC TROMBONE QUARTETJune 7, 2p. Walter Boenig leads the Dynamic Trom-

bone Quartet in a concert of eclectic mu-

sic, from classical compositions to popular

contemporary standards. Free. charleston

heights arts center, 800 s. Brush st.,

702-229-6383

JAZZ IN THE PARK: DAVID BENOITJune 7, 6p. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnics to

the amphitheater to enjoy this contemporary

jazz pianist and composer who is known for

more than 25 recordings, many award-win-

ning. Free. clark county government center

amphitheater, clarkcountynv.gov

A TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CASH, TRAINS, AMERICA AND SOME FRIENDSJune 7, 7p.Jimmie Ray as Johnny Cash, and Cyndi

Cantrell as June Carter, Patsy Cline (and

more), along with their band, Black Train

– plus a large-scale model railroad. $13

residents, $15 non-residents. starbright

theatre, suncity-summerlin.com/star-brighttheatre.htm

SUMMER CELEBRATIONJune 8, 2p. Enjoy popular musical favorites as well

as traditional brass band repertoire with

the Las Vegas Brass Band, a traditional

British-style ensemble made up of talented

professional and amateur musicians from

Southern Nevada. Free. main theater at

clark county library, lvccld.org

SOUL MEN AND LADY SOUL STARRING SPECTRUM AND RADIANCEJune 13-15, 7p. Award-winning vocal quartet Spectrum and

its stunning sister-group Radiance perform to-

gether in a tribute to Motown and R&B music.

$34-$37. cabaret Jazz at the smith center

SOPHIA LELIS WITH THE WOODY WOODS QUINTETJune 14, 2p. Lelis will sing one or two of Woods’ com-

positions and many hits drawn from The

Great American Songbook. $10 advance,

$12 concert day. Winchester cultural

center, clarkcountynv.gov

A JOURNEY THROUGH LATIN AMERICA WITH CLASSICAL GUITARIST MICHAEL NIGROJune 14, 2p. Known for his engaging commentary and

expressive playing, Nigro will perform

works by Jose Luis Merlin, Antonio Lauro,

Isaac Albeniz, Maximo Diego Pujol, Jorge

Cardoso (and many others) in a concert

celebrating Latin American music and

composers. Free. main theater at clark

county library, lvccld.org

MICHAEL CAVANAUGHJune 20-21, 7p; June 21, 3p. Paying tribute to the greatest hits of piano

legends Billy Joel and Elton John, this

award-winning performer will wow you

with his signature style. $35-$55. cabaret

Jazz at the smith center

DJANGOVEGAS!June 21, 6p. pre-concerT cockTailS, 5p. Celebrate the music of Django Reinhardt

and other gypsy jazz musicians past and

present. Featuring internationally renowned

guitarist Robin Nolan, the Icy Hot Club of

Los Angeles and The Hot Club of Las Vegas.

Food and Django merchandise will be avail-

able for purchase. $10 advance, $15 concert

day. Fifth street school, artslavegas.org

A TASTE OF LOVE: A POETRY PERFORMANCE WITH LIVE MUSICJune 26, 6p. Join Lee Mallory “The Love Poet” and musical


back-up by Nate “The Mad Slapper”

Segundo in performances that range from

tastefully erotic to romantically sublime.

After the show, Lee will sign copies of his

latest collection, Now and Then. Free.

ichabod’s lounge, 3300 e. Flamingo

road, 702-451-2323

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’June 28, 7p. Gorgeous harmonies and introspective

moments combine with historical narrative,

energetic dancing and good laughs to create

a truly touching walk down memory lane,

complete with music from The Mamas and

The Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell,

and others. $15 residents, $18 non-residents.

starbright theatre, suncity-summerlin.com/starbrighttheatre.htm

THEATER

IMPROV KINGDOMJune 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 8p. Drop-in class with Paul Mattingly, 6p. Come-

dy show featuring both short- and long-form

improv from some of the Valley’s most expe-

rienced improv actors. Wine and concessions

available. $10 show, $15 for both drop-in

and show. Baobab stage theatre,

6587 las Vegas Blvd. s., baobabstage.com

VEGAS FRINGE FESTIVALJune 6-16. The two-weekend Festival of Live Theatre will

feature an exciting buffet of new and estab-

lished plays and performances of no more

than one hour each, performed multiple times

throughout the festival. See the website for

specific days and times of each play. $10-$12.

las Vegas little theatre, lvlt.org

50 SHADES! THE MUSICALJune 7, 7:30p. This hilarious parody opens with a ladies

book club deciding to read Fifty Shades

of Grey. Through their interpretation of the

novel, the audience is led on an uproarious

roller coaster ride of this unlikely bestseller.

The show is full of dance numbers and

original songs delivered by an outrageous

cast with a live band. $24-$79. reynolds

hall at the smith center

JEWISH REPERTORY THEATRE OF NEVADA PRESENTS: WHO IS FLOYD STEARN?June 7, 8p. Michael Raynor created and performs his

off-Broadway hit show, which explores his

fantastical relationship with his estranged

father. This is a story about growing up and

the problems faced by adults trying to deci-

pher childhood memories. $38-$42 troesh

studio theater at the smith center

THE BOOK OF MORMONJune 10-July 5, Tue-Sun, 6:30p; SaT-Sun, 2p. From South Park creators Trey Parker and

Matt Stone, this religious parody tells the

story of two young missionaries sent to a

remote village in Uganda where a brutal

warlord is threatening the local population.

They try to share their scriptures - which

only one of them has read - but have trou-

ble connecting with the locals. $39-$150.

reynolds hall at the smith center

THE GET COMEDY VARIETY SHOWJune 25, 8p. Grey Envelope Theatre presents something

for everyone who loves comedy, including

sketch and improv! Aruba Lounge, 1215 las

Vegas Blvd. s., greyenvelope.com

LECTURES, SPEAKERS AND PANELS

OUT WEST WITH BUFFALO BILLJune 5, 7p. With friends such as flamboyant Irish poet,

lecturer and playwright Oscar Wilde and

acclaimed 19th Century French painter

Rosa Bonheur, who carried a government

permit to dress like a man, William F. Cody

was as “unprejudiced as a man could be,”

according to prominent western historians.

Was Buffalo Bill gay-friendly before the

term existed? Free. Jewel Box theater at

clark county library, lvccld.org

NEVADA’S STORY: A SES-QUICENTENNIAL CELE-BRATIONJune 12, 7p. Celebrate Nevada’s 150th birthday with a

cavalcade of local writers who contributed

to the official book of the sesquicentennial,

Nevada: 150 Years in the Silver State. A

book signing and reception will follow the

talk. Free. main theater at clark county

library, lvccld.org

FAMILY & FESTIVALS

FORE! THE PLANETThrough Sep. 1, 10a-6p. Eighteen holes of serious indoor fun.

Explore a tropical rainforest, navigate a

polluted waterway and learn how to make

a wildlife refuge in your own backyard, all

while playing a game of indoor miniature

golf. Free with paid general admission.

springs preserve

REGGAE IN THE DESERTJune 14, 12-11p. Las Vegas’ largest Reggae festival show-

casing both the unifying power of Reggae

music and the Caribbean lifestyle will

include Caribbean-inspired vendors and a

beer garden. $25 advance, $30 concert

day, Vip tickets $100. clark county am-

phitheatre,

reggaeinthedesert.com

14TH ANNUAL LAS VEGAS JUNETEENTH FESTIVALJune 19, 6-9p. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865,

when Union General Gordon Granger rode

into Galveston, Texas, to deliver the message

that the last American slaves were now

free. This announcement resulted in days of

celebration. Please bring low-back chairs and

blankets. Food will be available for sale at the

event. Free. sammy Davis Jr. Festival plaza

in lorenzi park, 700 twin lakes Drive,

june19lv.com

DIDGERIDOO DOWN UNDERJune 26, 11:30a. A high-energy, Australian-themed program

that combines music, culture, science, pup-

petry and comedy that is perfect for the

whole family. Free. main theater at clark

county library, lvccld.org

FUNDRAISERS

EVENING OF HOPE EPICUREAN EXPERIENCEJune 6, 7p. A night of culinary tastes from

top Las Vegas restaurants, beautiful and

heart-warming children’s art, great silent

and live auction prizes in a cocktail party

setting. Live entertainment provided by DJ

C01 and John Colombo. Benefits Candle-

lighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of

Nevada. $150. World market center,

495 s. grand central parkway #2203,

bit.ly/1cvDl8n

PINWHEELS FOR PREVENTIONJune 7, 9a-2p. Family-friendly community resource

fair that will include children’s activities,

characters such as McGruff the Crime Dog,

silent auction, and performances by local

children’s groups. Benefits Prevent Child

Abuse Nevada. Free. tivoli Village,

preventchildabusenevada.org


Behind the shutterThey didn’t win our Photo Contest, but something about these shots made us want to know more

END NOTE

PhotograPher: Tony FounTain

It caught our eye because: We liked the eerie, almost taxidermied calm of the bighorn sheep and the incongruous suburban setting.The story: “A co-worker told me about a location in Boulder City where big-horn sheep come down to graze in Hemenway Park. So my wife and I drove there one Sunday morning. To my surprise, we noticed groups of five to sev-en coming down slowly from the mountain into the neighborhood. I parked my car to take photos. Gradually, they started walking down the street to-ward the park, right by my car. I had the window down. A couple of sheep walked right by my door without fear or hesitancy. I took great shots of a few females and a couple of rams. We’ve been back to the park in Boulder City several times to just hang out and watch the herds.”

PhotograPher: Lisane ForeLLo

It caught our eye because: It could be the composition, it could be the ca-sually naturalistic style or it could be the horse in line at Starbucks.The story: “My husband, Dushon, usually rides his horse, Misty, a black Morgan, between Southern Highlands and Blue Diamond. One morning he called me and said he was going to pick up a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Since the line inside was too long, he decided to go to the drive-through. I decided to meet him and, getting out of the car, I saw him on Misty and thought it was a unique situation. We need some horse poles at Starbucks so he can tie his horse.”

PhotograPher: ChrisTine FenCL

It caught our eye because: The unusual mix of lightning and … Dumpster? Also, the intriguing possibility that she’d captured the arrival of a terminator from the future.The story: “Taken east of Boulder Highway, down the street from where I work. I was about to leave for the day when I noticed that a rain cloud and lightning were traveling through. Thankfully I had my camera, because I wanted to capture a shot with one side of the frame being the dark cloud/rain/lightning, and the other side of the frame to be the clear blue sky. Because I love shooting urban decay (finding the beauty in everything), I waited until the rain cloud traveled over the area of the Dumpster and was lucky enough to get that streak of lightning with this shot. That is why I titled it ‘Chaos & Calm.’ Left of the photo represented the strength, beauty and ugliness harsh weath-er can bring, and the Dumpster just added to the atmosphere.”

LASVEGAS2014 LEADERSHIPCONFERENCE

August 6 & 7 at MGM Grand® Las Vegas

Join hundreds of motivated women along with a dynamic lineup of engaging and inspirational speakers for a two-day journey designed to enhance your career, build

your professional network and maximize your leadership potential.

For more information, please visit mgmresortsfoundation.org

SAVE THE DATE for the 2014 Women’s Leadership Conference

desert companion - june 2014

Documents

bostonthe land rover

land rover las vegas

museum of fine arts

photo issuejune

nevada report

bostonright image

bostonleft image

young woman