Vegas Magazine

No Pain, No Gain: Vegas' Boutique Gyms

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Focused on fitness at Pure Barre

A Body in Balance
Relieve stress with private, semi-private, or small group Pilates sessions for a balanced body and mind at this popular spot. A Body in Balance is the sole studio in Las Vegas to offer the renowned BASI (Body Arts and Science International) block system for Pilates and Avalon resistance equipment. 1215 S. Fort Apache Road, 702- 269-9100

Barre Las Vegas
Get your heart pumping at Barre, Las Vegas’s first ballet workout studio specializing in MIXT barre classes. For a unique, total-body workout, Barre offers a blend of cardio combined with muscle building, core toning, body slimming exercises, and orthopedic stretching to target the arms, thighs, and core. 6521 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-362-2773; 3700 S. Hualapai Way, 702-243-2277

Body Heat
A hot Pilates and yoga studio, Body Heat uses state-of-the-art heating and humidifying equipment to create a detoxifying atmosphere. Amid a cozy, spa-like ambience, the hot power flow yoga class is taught in a room set at 95 to 100 degrees with 40 percent humidity for increased ease of poses and stretches. 8876 S. Eastern Ave., 702-432-0028

Core Studios
Feel 10 years younger with a sexy and energetic dance-a-thon at Core Studios, where a booty barre melds yoga, Pilates, and dance for the ultimate toning and strengthening session. If you’re looking for something with more of a kick, try the Pilates reformer cardio kick circuit—an advanced, fast-paced class that works muscles you didn’t know you had. 6070 S. Fort Apache Road, 702-413-4291

Inferno Pilates
This studio packs a powerful punch with hot Pilates classes, Zumba, kettlebells, and even a stretching yoga class called LSD: Long, Slow, and Deep. Founded by Gabriella Walters, Inferno Pilates makes you feel the burn with workouts focused on core strength training, muscle toning, and flexibility. 5752 S. Fort Apache Road, 702-262-5557; hotpilateslasvegas.com

Method Motivation
To get timely results, head over to Method Motivation for goal-oriented fitness programs for men or women of any age. Work with a personal trainer in the privacy of a cutting-edge training studio (opt for the comprehensive health and fitness assessment) to determine your body’s ultimate potential. 3700 S. Hualapai Way, 702-233- 0914

The Pilates Body
Find your inner Zen at The Pilates Body, an exclusive studio that highlights the practice of authentic, traditional Pilates developed by Joseph Pilates. Improve your physical strength, posture, and flexibility through a range of exercises tailored to benefit each individual in a meaningful way. 6253 Dean Martin Dr., 702-806-7790

Pure Barre
Founded by dancer, choreographer, and fitness guru Carrie Rezabek Dorr, Pure Barre is an effective fusion of Pilates, ballet, and weights that delivers quite the punch to your workout routine. Pure Barre gets you on your feet and tones thighs, abs, and arms through isometric movements at the ballet barre. 3330 S. Haulapai Way, 702-525- 3454

Rapid Rehab
A state-of-the-art physical therapy studio makes Rapid Rehab the go-to spot for a complete body and mind restoration. Offering a range of physical therapy, Pilates, and nutritional counseling, Rapid Rehab helps to heal the body through progressive and innovative techniques in addition to the latest Matrix equipment, featuring 17-inch flat-screens. 8751 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-982-2232; 6070 S. Fort Apache Road, 702-730-2001

The 10 Best Burgers in Las Vegas

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

KGB’s BBQ bacon burger with applewood bacon, lettuce, homemade BBQ sauce, smoked Gouda, and onions on an onion roll

BLT Burger
The brainchild of acclaimed chef Laurent Tourondel, BLT Burger’s menu options include lamb tandoori, veggie falafels, and turkey burgers. After the savory sides and 100 percent-certified Angus beef burgers, indulge in signature desserts such as Krispy Kreme doughnut bread pudding with rum raisin ice cream. The Mirage Hotel & Casino, 702-792-7888

Bottles & Burgers
Kick back at this 1950s-inspired burger joint with an old-fashioned ice cream bar and soda fountain, the newest venture from the Double Helix Wine & Restaurant Group. Sink your teeth into a classic burger, paired with a handmade shake or malt. Tivoli Village, 702-431-5453

Burger Bar
For posh diners eager to satisfy their inner carnivore, Hubert Keller’s “ultimate burger experience” offers the Rossini—a succulent fusion of Kobe beef, sautéed foie gras, and shaved truffles. For dessert? A cheesecake burger on a glazed doughnut bun, of course. The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, 702-632-9364; mandalaybay.com/dining

Five Guys
With more than 250,000 possible ways to order a burger, it’s no wonder this casual joint has fans lining up out the doors. The East Coast favorite’s endless list of free toppings includes classic A.1. Steak Sauce and jalapeño peppers. Three locations; fiveguys.com

Holsteins Shakes and Buns
The food at Holsteins brings a homegrown flavor to Las Vegas with its organic, eclectic menu, packed with natural, homemade snacks and “bam-boozled” alcoholic shakes (try the Drunken Monkey). Make the Gold Standard your first pick for its delicious fusion of dry-aged beef sirloin, smoked bacon, and aged goat cheddar cheese. The Cosmopolitan, 702-698- 7940

I Love Burgers
Foodies with a soft spot for anything involving burger buns, cheese, and everything inbetween can’t go wrong at I Love Burgers. Enjoy the alcoholic milkshakes or the popular I Love Bacon, a blend of ground sirloin and applewood-smoked bacon topped with smoked Gouda. The Shoppes at The Palazzo, 702-242-2747; Town Square, 702-675-7800

In-N-Out Burger
This family-owned West Coast burger joint long ago reached cult status. Simple and fresh, it boasts only a handful of menu items, such as hand-cut French fries and real ice cream milkshakes. Go for the off-the-menu favorite Animal Style, a worth-it mess of secret sauce, cheese, and grilled onions. 10 locations; in-n-out.com

KGB: Kerry’s Gourmet Burgers
Celebrity chef Kerry Simon is known for his rock ’n’ roll flair, and KGB is no exception. Choose from masterpieces both kitschy (Thanksgiving Turkey Burger) and creative (the Burger Cobb salad). And don’t miss the sweet potato tots and waffle-fry nachos. Harrah’s Las Vegas, 702-369- 5065

LBS
With a roadhouse-chic rustic interior, this cozy spot has the look of a Texas saloon and a wide selection of American fare. We recommend The Perfect Burger, with its delectable fusion of Gruyere cheese, herb mayo, smoked bacon, and exclusive LBS burger sauce. Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, 702-835-9393

Le Burger Brasserie
Le Burger Brasserie is a French interpretation of an American classic. Its signature dish, a sirloin masterpiece at $777, is a mouthwatering burger made from Kobe beef and Maine lobster topped with caramelized onions, imported Brie, crispy prosciutto, and aged balsamic vinegar served with a bottle of Dom Pérignon Rosé Champagne. Paris Las Vegas, 702-946-4346

At the Project Dinner Table

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:33:00 -0400

A Project Dinner Table event

Launched in April 2010, Project Dinner Table is a monthly dinner series that pairs local chefs and charities. Created by entrepreneur and sustainable foodie Gina Gavan, the event brings together people from all over the city, from community leaders to artisans to casino, hospitality, media, and culinary professionals. Served at one long, white linen cloth-covered table, dinners include an average of 150 guests and have a strong sense of community and conviviality. Meals include several farm-to-table courses served family-style, and locations are always different, not to mention fun and out-of-the-box. Dinners are $140 per person, including alcohol pairings, and a portion of the proceeds goes to the month’s affiliated charity.

Upcoming Project Dinner Table Events:

When: Saturday, May 19, 6 PM
Who: Executive chef Philipp Norsetter of T-Bones Chophouse at Red Rock Casino
Where: Downtown at Jackie Gaughan Plaza at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino

When: Saturday, June 30, 6:30 PM
Who: Executive chef Geno Bernardo of Nove Italiano at Palms Casino Resort
Where: University Nevada Cooperative Extension Orchard (UNCE)

When: Saturday, September 8, 6:30 PM
Who: Executive chefs Royden Ellamar and Edmund Wong of Bellagio
Where: Bellagio

A Wicked Good Time

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:42:00 -0400

Last year’s announcement that Wickedwould play in Las Vegas caused a pandemonium countdown among local Broadway buffs. The record-breaking Wizard of Oz prequel tells the story of how the witches of Oz–both good and bad–came to be. Thanks to The Smith Center, real Broadway touring shows are now a staple in Las Vegas and Wicked will officially kick off the performing arts venue’s first full-length Broadway series season when it opens on August 29. Tickets for the six-week run go on sale at 7 AM on May 19 at The Smith Center Box Office. Choice seats will undoubtedly sell-out quick. Following the box office sale, remaining tickets can be purchased online at 10 AM. 361 Symphony Park Ave., 702-982-7805

Openings: The Container Store

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:51:00 -0400

Las Vegas has finally gotten an outpost of the country’s premier storage retailer, The Container Store, located in Town Square. The 22,000-square-foot store opened May 12 and features more than 10,000 multi-functional products that can tackle everyday living and workspace problems.

From closet organizational pieces to travel essentials to dorm room staples, 16 different lifestyle departments cover numerous options tailor-made for stylish neat freaks. You’ll even find home décor accents, gift-wrap, and shelving. We love the store’s hanger selection, with a whipping 80 styles to choose from.

Shoppers can also create unique, customized shelving and drawer systems with a little help from The Container Store’s elfa modular system designers, who are on hand to offer free design advice. Town Square

Tui Lifestyle Perfects Turnkey Design

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

A Mandarin Oriental condo furnished with Tui Lifestyle’s Avenue collection

A new brand of turnkey interior design hopes to lure buyers of second or third homes to Las Vegas with affordable luxury-room packages now available at CityCenter. Brokers are excited to welcome the company, Tui Lifestyle, whose designs seem tailor-made for the type of high-rise buyer attracted to the Strip.

“In CityCenter, it’s about buying into and being part of a residential community,” says Nicole Nejezch, director of sales for CityCenter Realty. “We’re located in the heart of the Strip and our buyers have access to all the excitement of Las Vegas.” The turnkey option is an attractive choice for second-home buyers, she says, because of the time savings. “It allows them to immediately begin enjoying the lifestyle they envisioned when they purchased at CityCenter.”

Miami-based Tui offers a dozen interior options that can be mixed and matched inside Helmut Jahn’s 37-story, 335-unit Veer Towers and the 47-story, 225-unit Residences at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. Prices start at $12,995 for a one-bedroom residence, and include custom-made upholstery, case goods, and mattresses.

Add to that the Turnkey Collection for $6,995, which features more than 144 items, including fine art, bed linens, bath towels, cookware, fine porcelain china, glassware, custom-made flatware, scented candles, and bathroom essentials, right down to the soap dish, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Tui keeps costs down by designing, manufacturing, and marketing the collections itself. A complete home remodel can be done within 14 days.

“We searched them out; we like that Tui is commensurate with CityCenter quality and aesthetics,” says Tony Dennis, executive vice president of CityCenter’s residential division. “We have tried to position turnkey furniture packages within five percent of the purchase price.”

Tui comes to Vegas on the heels of successes such as the relaxed, upscale style found at downtown Miami’s 67-story Marquis Residences, designed by Arquitectonica. The four-year-old firm counts Francis Ford Coppola and Jennifer Lopez among its clients; it has also provided complete interiors for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Tui, headed by former Marine-turned-CEO Jason Atkins and Palm Beach interior designer Noranit “Tui” Pranich, boasts a 7,500-square-foot showroom in New York’s SoHo district alongside Ralph Lauren and Armani, as well as locations in Miami, Toronto, Atlanta, and Scottsdale. Tui Lifestyle, which opened in 2008 with three employees, today has more than 65 employees, along with a 285,000-squarefoot distribution center and 22 buildings with 46 design models throughout the United States.

“We are very excited to enter the Las Vegas market and showcase our collections,” Atkins says. “CityCenter was a perfect fit. We believe Las Vegas buyers will benefit from the flexibility offered by our collections.” Ready-to-go Tui packages carry names like Sophisticated, Innovative, Deluxe Lazy, Riviera Avenue, Metropolitan, and East Hampton. Sophisticated, for example, features modern luxury furniture with an Asian twist, including sofa and lounge chairs upholstered in silk-blend fabric flanked by ebonized teak cubic side tables. The custom coffee table has a built-in space for a specially made porcelain vase and flower arrangement. The Metropolitan package is all black leather, polished stainless steel, and dark walnut finishes.

“It’s really hard to come by immediate gratification,” Dennis says. “But Tui Lifestyle comes as close as possible with a proven track record for delivering value-added products with little or no effort on behalf of the buyer.”

Veer Towers and Mandarin Oriental have 560 condominiums, with 162 units still available for purchase. At Mandarin Oriental, one-, two- and three-bedroom units range from 1,110 to 4,000 square feet, with prices starting at $975,000. Veer Towers offers studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom flats, as well as penthouses from 500 to 3,300 square feet, with prices starting at $350,000.

CityCenter broke ground during the height of the real estate boom but finished during a deep recession, forcing owner MGM Resorts International to take hundreds of millions of dollars in write-downs on the condominium supply. As a result, CityCenter, which had 2,400 condominiums available when it opened in December 2009, began a rental program for both unsold and owned condominiums late last year. In addition, sales efforts for the unsold residences inside the 57-story Rafael Viñoly-designed Vdara were halted; the 1,500-unit, crescent-shaped building now operates as a nongaming hotel.

Brunch Plans: Postrio Bar & Grill

Sat, 12 May 2012 02:22:00 -0400

Lobster club sandwich at Postrio Bar & Grill

The new weekend brunch at Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio Bar & Grill is positively crave-worthy. “We're seeing it grow in popularity every weekend,” said executive chef Michael Tiva of the menu, which he's stacked with sweet and savory dishes like corned beef hash topped with fried organic eggs, buttermilk pancakes with candied pecans and maple butter, and an Italian-style breakfast sandwich layered with prosciutto and wild arugula. Order a side of Puck’s famous truffled potato chips with blue cheese and you’ve got the perfect marriage of old and new. And there are more new dishes to come: “We've already expanded the selections by a few items, but we haven't yet made the menu as large as we plan to,” added Tiva. We spoke with the chef to get more insight on the brunch and the restaurant's genius Bloody Mary recipe.

What was the inspiration for the new brunch menu?
MICHAEL TIVA: We have several restaurants that offer full-time breakfast within the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, but some of the inspiration was taken from the original Postrio restaurant in San Francisco, where breakfast was offered daily. We have updated some classic WP brunch items, and there are a couple of brand new items as well.

Who worked with you on developing the menu?
MT: Wolfgang himself, as well as the corporate culinary team and our sous chefs.

The brioche donuts with jam are so delicious. Have the sweet dishes been more popular than the savory ones?
MT: We find that earlier in the day, the sweeter items sell better. The heartier, more lunch-oriented items sell better later in the day. But this is Vegas, so a traditional morning for our guests doesn’t always occur. It's never cut and dry what the guests will want.

Postrio’s Bloody Mary
SERVES TWO

9 ounces tomato juice
2 ½ ounces sweet dill pickle juice
1 ¼ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
¾ teaspoon of horseradish
¼ teaspoon curry powder
¼ teaspoon Sriracha
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon celery seed
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a martini shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with pickled green bean, olive, or lime wedge.

Brunch is available Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM–3 PM. The Grand Canal Shoppes, 702-796-1110

Advanced Anti-aging at Canyon Ranch SpaClub

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:29:00 -0400

Using British skincare line Medik 8, the posh Canyon Ranch SpaClub is now offering what is perhaps its most restorative anti-aging program yet. Dubbed About Face Advanced Aesthetics, the new program includes four facials designed to cleanse, lift, and revitalize. (The program marks the British line’s first introduction to American spagoers.)

Combining Medik 8 green cosmeceuticals and the latest in state-of-the-art facial technology, the most basic of the four facials is the Pure treatment, a 50-minute cleansing and exfoliating facial. For flawless skin on a big night out, the longer 80-minute Uplifting facial uses microdermabrasion, steaming, extractions, and red and blue light therapy to lift, tone, and reduce fine lines.

The Detail facial is 50 minutes and ideal for men, while the Ultimate Microdermabrasion facial gives a quick 30-minute detoxification with a hyaluronic acid mask that adds glow and clears up scars or discolorations associated with acne.

About Face treatment prices range from $95 to $295. For an extra $75, clients can add boosters like a quick lifting treatment, hydratone gel mask, oxygen boost, or crystal-free microdermabrasion. Bonus: locals receive a 10 percent discount on any service.The Venetian/The Palazzo, 702-414-3600

Kenny Horowitz Gives Lollipops a Vegas Spin

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400


	Horowitz plans to roll out new products to expand his candy business

Casino dice inspired Kenny Horowitz’s success, but unlike many people who arrive in town, he didn’t rely on luck to make it in Vegas. “You have to be unafraid to make that next move,” he says. Maybe it’s easier to roll the dice when they’re yours—and made of candy.

Horowitz is the man behind Sin City Suckers, the dice-shaped lollipops found at checkout counters citywide. (Tourists buy them by the handful at the airport before leaving town.) Now celebrating seven years in business, the one-time caterer who started off making the pops by hand in a rented kitchen will oversee a spring/summer shipment of 900,000 suckers, a number so high he seems uncomfortable even talking about it.

A native of Long Island, NY who started cooking at summer camps in his teens, Horowitz graduated from UNLV’s prestigious hospitality industry school before managing at Strip restaurants, including The Palm and Spago. After two years with Wolfgang Puck, he started his own catering business, and even built a food and beverage program at what is now the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa. Later, he started a side business in a rented catering facility hand-making the now-ubiquitous candy pops in the shape of dice. Flavors include Lucky Lemon and Grape of Spades, although his most sought-after pop is red (the standard color of real casino dice) and called Cherry Cherry Cherry after a high slots payoff.

At first, Horowitz developed his own flavors and colors and made the pops in small batches. “But once they hit the market, I saw that they had a mind of their own,” he says. “People would bring one home to their friends just to stick it in the mug on their desk. It started growing into bachelorette parties, corporate events, mom-and-pop candy shops across the country, even bunko games in small towns where people have never even been to Vegas.”

To stay ahead of demand, Horowitz had to go all in. While at a candy expo in Chicago, he decided to take the big leap into mass production. “My dad taught me that you have to spend money to make money,” he says. Now he’s taking the next step in this confectionary evolution by developing complementary products to continue the expansion of his business.

Horowitz’s sweet success has garnered him a few brushes with fame. Sin City Suckers has been featured on Food Network’s candy-themed show Unwrapped, and in 2008, Horowitz found an unlikely ally: Lil Wayne. The video for the rapper’s huge hit “Lollipop,” filmed in Vegas, included the dice pops in several opening shots. “The image of Lil Wayne with my suckers, wearing all his bling in Vegas was pretty cool,” Horowitz says. “I started getting calls from all over—old-school vinyl record stores in the South and deep in the heart of New York City. They all wanted the suckers.”