Vegas Magazine

DVF's New 'It' Bag

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400

Head to Diane von Furstenberg at The Forum Shops at Caesars or The Shoppes at the Palazzo and add some new “baggage” to your spring wardrobe. DVF’s 440 small colorblock satchel ($545) puts a spring in your step with its sleek calfskin material and structured shape. The bag’s aesthetic is right in line with both the colorblocking trend and hot coral and apricot colors of the season. Construction-wise, it's got tonal topstitching, two zip pockets, silver hardware with a front clasp, and a shoulder strap that’s both removable and adjustable, for all you cross-body fans. Another fun touch? A hanging leather ID tag features the brand’s logo and signature lip pout decal.

Q&A: Bill Maher's Views on Vegas

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Bill Maher will have new material when he arrives in June, but he prefers his Vegas old-school.

With his lethal wit, his news savvy, and certainly his foul (and funny) mouth, Bill Maher entertains America weekly on his live HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher. But when he isn’t moderating Real Time’s often-intense discussions among politicians, professors, journalists, and celebrities, the political provocateur is on the road, bringing his signature humor to audiences across the country. Before the launch of his limited Pearl residency at the Palms, Vegas sat down with Maher to discuss stand-up comedy, what Obama should do in his second term, and how Las Vegas is going old-school.

So many people know you from your current HBO show. Will your shows at the Palms follow that format?
Bill Maher: [Laughs] No, no. I’m a stand-up comedian. The HBO show is a hybrid of comedy and serious talk, but no, no, no. Stand-up comedy is all about laughing, constantly and hard, so I take that very seriously. The subject matter is similar—I’m interested in politics and what’s going on in the world. I don’t do trivial stuff about dogs and cats.

How much do you have to change your stand-up routine, since current events dictate your material?
BM: No comedian turns over an entire act in a night. But if you saw me in March and then came back to see me in June, yeah, a lot of new stuff would have happened that I would be commenting on.

Vegas is certainly a unique city. What do you think of it?
BM: I love Vegas. And I love it more now than when I first was here in the ’80s. I remember when I was here opening for Diana Ross, David Brenner said to me, “You know, they still look at me as the newcomer.” Now it’s great, because they know who I am and the crowds could not be better. And I love the fact that Vegas seems to be returning to actual old-school entertainment: people as opposed to f****** dolphins and that kind of stuff. When I was first in Las Vegas, you could see a person at every hotel—Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Buddy Hackett, Shecky Greene. I feel like we’re getting back to humans, human entertainment. I hope it’s a trend.

You’re in town a lot. What do you like to do when you come here?
BM: Last time, my girlfriend and I found a lounge. I was looking for the olds chool lounge with a lounge act, you know? Live entertainment. And everybody kept saying, “Oh, they don’t exist anymore.” Well, we found one. We danced the night away to this little trio playing rock ’n’ roll covers.

What would you like to see Obama do with his final term?
BM: I keep saying, “Second-term Obama: Django Unchained!” I certainly would like him to get serious about the environment before the planet literally melts. I certainly would like to see him cut the defense budget, because at some point somebody has to make the connection between always writing a blank check to the Pentagon and the fact that we have no money. These are all liberal fantasies perhaps.

Bill Maher performs at the Palms June 8 and 9

Q&A: Heather Marianna of Beauty Kitchen

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Heather Marianna

With beauty, brains, and an eye for style, Heather Marianna has quickly made a name for herself in Las Vegas. First spotted on Oxygen’s My Shopping Addiction, Marianna is social media sensation, with hundreds of thousands of Twitter followers and YouTube fans clamoring for her "how-to" videos, in which she makes beauty products using everyday items found in the kitchen. And just recently, in January, Marianna launched Beauty Kitchen, her own line of wine-themed soaps, natural oils, sugar scrubs, bath bombs, and bath soaks. Here, the resourceful cosmetics queen, who will soon be seen on the CW’s Vegas Unlimited, premiering May 23, tells us more about her growing brand.

How do you come up with the recipes for these DIY beauty products?
HEATHER MARIANNA: It’s all about experimenting. I always have to practice and test everything before I blog or make a video about it. The YouTube segments came first and really took off. People kept asking me where they could buy my at-home remedies and that is when I decided to come up with my own 100 percent organic and gluten-free line. One of my favorite collections is the It’s Wine Time Soap Collection. I love wine, so it seemed appropriate.

Do you have any beauty secrets, tips, or tricks to share?
HM: Witch hazel for tired eyes, Irish moss for hair regrowth, and add cayenne pepper drops to any lip balm for instant lip plumper.

Are you going to open a store at any point?
HM: I prefer to give other stores great wholesale deals and sell in retailers. Right now you can find my It’s Wine Time Soap Collection at the Kardashian Khaos store at The Mirage Hotel & Casino. I would love to keep growing Beauty Kitchen [and] add more lines or more products.

Late-Night Eats at Ferraro’s

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:33:00 -0400

Pappardelle Mimmo at Ferraro's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar has a new late-night Mezzanotte menu to satisfy night owls in search of more than just a nosh. Served from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the restaurant's bar and patio, the menu boasts dishes like osso bucco, gnocchi, house-made meatballs, and sausages at half the regular dinner menu price. Our favorite is chef Mimmo Ferraro's Pappardelle Mimmo, tossed with scallops, lobster, , asparagus, butter, sage, and truffle oil. There's also an extensive wine list with 18 options by the glass, as well as specialty cocktails, which during these late-night hours are offered at 25 percent off. 4480 Paradise Road, 702-364-5300

Tissot Celebrates 160 Years with the Powermatic 80

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

—ROBERTA NAAS, ATimelyPerspective.com

This year marks the 160th anniversary of Swiss watch brand, Tissot. To honor the milestone, the brand has been very busy, and this year unveils multiple new movements and a host of really cool new timepieces that move it to the next level of sophistication.

Among the new pieces is the Powermatic 80—an automatic watch with 80 hours of power reserve. The watch was made possible thanks to the revolutionary new caliber, the Powermatic 80 movement. To achieve this technical prowess, Tissot strongly reduces the consumption of energy of the watch. The oscillation frequency of the Powermatic 80 is therefore brought down from 4 to 3 Hz. A high-performance synthetic material is used in the construction of the escapement to reduce friction. Thanks to a reduction of the diameter of the barrel-arbor’s core, the mainspring is stretched, thereby increasing the power reserve even further. Finally, the precision is increased with a new and innovative balance.

Making the watch even better is the fact that it is a COSC-certified chronometer. It is available in two sizes appropriate for men and women—33mm and 41mm—and is crafted in steel, steel, and gold-plated, and in versions with diamond adornments. The watch, which looks great and offers superb craftsmanship and precision, retails for a wow price of $1,075 to $1,575 depending on the model.

Founder and editor-in-chief of ATimelyPerspective.com, Roberta Naas is a veteran award-winning journalist in the watch industry with more than 25 years of experience. She was the first woman watch editor in the US market—breaking in to an “all boys network” with a pioneering spirit that would be her signature to this day. Naas brings responsible, factual—yet always timely and insightful—reporting of the watch industry to the forefront.

Cocktails Worthy of a King

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

For the rest of the world, a 10th anniversary is traditionally marked by a gift of tin or aluminum. Not so in Vegas. To celebrate a decade of providing readers with an in-depth look at a city where “fabulous” is an everyday experience, we are toasting with Sin City’s priciest cocktails.

“Las Vegas is a prime spot to celebrate,” says Francesco Lafranconi, executive director of mixology and spirits education at Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada. “People come from all over the world and are willing to spend money.” Whether it’s a single pour or a cocktail whose price can run into thousands of dollars, there are two reasons the bill can balloon: rare ingredients or an added-value package, often jewelry.

Wynn nightclubs offer both at once. At XS, you’’ll find the Ono, a $10,000 combination of the ultrarare Rémy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl Cognac (which can command $80,000 or more——if you can find one of the fewer than 800 bottles produced), Charles Heidsieck 1961 Champagne Charlie, orange juice, apricot purée, and rose nectar, served in a jewel-encrusted Champagne glass. Oh, and don’’t forget to take home your new Tahitian black pearl necklace and pair of 18k gold Mont Blanc cuff links.

Meanwhile, over at Tryst, enjoy a Ménage à Trois for $3,000. It’’s a blend of Cristal Rosé Champagne, Hennessy Ellipse cognac, Grand Marnier 150, liquid gold syrup, and edible gold flakes——and at the end of the night, guests get to keep the gold-plated straw with a diamond accent.

While nightclub extravagance attracts young high-rollers who want to make a statement, Bellagio’s elegant Lily Bar & Lounge takes a different tack. You’ll find a number of pricey cocktails featuring rare and unusual spirits. Order a 1914 Sidecar ($400) and enjoy Ferrand Cognac Memoire 1914 (almost a century old), Grand Marnier Quintessence ($800 a bottle at the few places that sell it), and lemon juice, all served in a cinnamon-sugar-rimmed martini glass. Or for $450, down Elit by Stolichnaya Pristine Waters Series Himalayan Edition vodka. Limited to 300 bottles worldwide, each costing about $3,000, this unusually silky vodka starts with water from the Langtang National Park in the Himalayas.

Finding upmarket booze isn’t all that hard. Cognacs, vodkas, and tequilas all have high-end variants. Whiskies regularly release rare or vintage single-barrel expressions that sell at auction for tens of thousands of dollars, with new records set practically every season. Even rum is getting into the act: Last year Angostura released what it claims to be the world’s most expensive rum, Legacy by Angostura, at $25,000 a bottle (the custom-made Asprey of London crystal decanter and sterling silver stopper help boost the price).

The Balvenie last year released a special 50-year single malt whisky in honor of its malt master, David Stewart, who has been with the Scottish Speyside distillery for half a century. The whisky was laid down in 1962, when JFK was president, and bottled in 2012. Only 10 bottles were released to the US, and The Talon Club at the Cosmopolitan snapped up the first. For the serious whisky drinker, the opportunity to sample a special release like this could be siren call enough to drop $3,400 for a single pour.

For a more affordable yet still unique whisky experience, head over to Rí Rá, where a dram of Bruichladdich 1964 will set you back $550, a 40-year Glenfiddich sells for $650 a pour, and the lovely Dalmore 1974 goes for $350. Fans of Irish whiskey will find Knappogue Castle Vintage 1951 (from the company’s old distillery) for $350 a serving.

And when you’re ready to go all-out for an unforgettable evening, head to Hyde Bellagio. For $250,000, Fountain Package guests sit center stage at the prime patio table overlooking the Fountains of Bellagio. Enjoy drinks and music throughout the evening, and when the music stops, your server delivers a gold box with a red button inside. After perusing the accompanying song menu, push the button and enjoy a custom Fountain Concert and a 30-liter bottle of Armand de Brignac “Ace of Spades” Champagne.

Summer's Best Beauty Buys

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:45:00 -0400

Randy Char: Real Estate King

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

From a balcony at One Queensridge Place, Randy Char sees a bright future for the Vegas real estate market.

Unlike most kids, who dream of becoming firefighters or policemen, Randy Char wanted to be the next Gordon Gekko, the fictional tycoon in Oliver Stone’s 1987 film Wall Street. “I never wanted a salaried job,” he says. “I wanted to be in a performance-based environment.”

His career gamble has paid off. Char moved to Vegas from San Diego in 1995 and sold 29 homes in six weeks, resulting in executive positions with some of Southern Nevada’s biggest builders. Last year he closed on 13 homes, totaling $20 million, at One Queensridge Place. That marked a 1,000 percent annual increase for the dual tower high-rise in Summerlin, a performance that led to Char’s promotion to senior vice president of operations in January. And in the first two months of 2013, he had already sold more than he did in all of 2012.

“Luxury California buyers are looking for Vegas high-rise living right now,” Char says. “These buyers can take advantage of the tax benefits of establishing residency in Nevada and desire an exclusive environment, but don’t want the upkeep of a huge custom home. They want the amenities, such as fitness centers, spas, and pools. And the support, from the concierge to valet, is appealing to people and their busy lifestyles.”

Best Investments
Even though many insiders say the real estate market has bottomed out, Char doesn’t think you should look at investment periods as so black and white: “To get the best deal, you have to look in the rearview mirror, because by the time you realize it’s time to buy, the market has already bounced off the bottom. It could be argued that the best deals were a couple years ago, but that was also a high period of uncertainty. Today the future looks much more stable. Vegas remains arguably the most undervalued market in the country, and therefore there’s a considerable amount of room to grow.”

Bright Future
Char zeroes in on what the modern buyer is searching for—mainly anything but “mega-mansion” living, he says. “Buyers are looking for the right-size home and functionality, not pretentious displays to outshine the neighbor. The days of keeping up with the Joneses are over. They want residences that fit their needs, whether that be for family, entertaining in the kitchen, or specialty spaces in the home. They are considering what school district the home is in, proximity to the airport, to work, or to outdoor activities. Now that the industry is coming back, it’s about fundamentals.”

New-home shoppers like the ones Char caters to are looking to skip the drama that has become synonymous with real estate in Nevada. “They want to select the community, the home, everything down to the details of the finishes,” he says. They also don’t want to worry about the unforeseen expenses that may crop up with resales. “Today’s new-home buyer wants peace of mind.”

Sportswear at Fashion Show Mall

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Robert Graham’s new store caters to dynamic Vegas men.

Robert Graham’s eclectic classic-meets-contemporary line of American sportswear makes its long-awaited Las Vegas debut this spring with the company opening its sixth freestanding US boutique, at Fashion Show. The focus is on menswear, although the store also sells premium denim and women’s sportswear. The men’s collections include signature separates cast in bold, vibrant prints; university inspired polo shirts; sharp sports coats; and tailored trousers updated with cuffed hemlines, slim fits, lightweight fabrics, and other details. “We create dynamic clothing using unique fabrics and pattern combinations,” says CEO Michael Buckley. “Opening in Las Vegas is ideal because it has such a dynamic and creative mix of gentlemen from all walks of life.” The Spring collection highlights some of this season’s biggest trends, from color blocking and cropped hemlines to bright primary shades. Fashion Show, 702-477-0370

Tenth Anniversary Party

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:43:00 -0400

Vegas celebrates ten fabulous years with cover star Heather Graham at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas.

Top Vegas Art Galleries

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The Natural Wonders Gallery at tthe Palazzo specializes in fine nature photography.

Brett Wesley Gallery
This Arts District gallery, winner of a 2009 Mayor’s Urban Design Award for its sleek, contemporary building, exhibits internationally renowned artists such as David LaChapelle, Paul Morrison, and Marilyn Minter. 1112 S. Casino Center Blvd., 702-433-4433

Emergency Arts
This collective is the hub for Downtown artists, a haven where they can gather and share work. The former Fremont Medical Building houses the galleries Get Up, TastySpace, 5th Wall, Tanya Watler’s Lil’ Art Bodega, pbth, Counterspace, and others—plus the well-known coffeehouse, record store, and hangout The Beat. 520 Fremont St., 702-686-3164

Jeff Mitchum Gallery
If sunlight had a best friend, it would be Jeff Mitchum. Using natural light, he infuses his panoramic photography with spectacular colors. Mitchum waited years to snag his Bellagio space and uses it to its full potential: His vibrant photos radiate from every wall. The artist also offers handmade eco-furniture. Bellagio, 702-693-4700

Kush Fine Art
Vladimir Kush, a Russian-born artist and the creator of a Surrealistinspired style called “metaphorical realism,” has four galleries in the US—two of them in Vegas. His oilbased works earned him first prize in painting in 2011 at the Artistes du Monde in Cannes. Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, 702-363-1990; The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-650-3444

Martin Lawrence Galleries
This 27,000-square-foot megagallery, home to more than $50 million worth of art, including works by modern and contemporary masters such as Picasso, Warhol, Chagall, and Haring, opened in 2011 and now offers free individual and group tours. The Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-991-5990

The Natural Wonders Gallery
Natural Wonders features fine-art photography by Art Wolfe, Robert Park, and Robert Rotella. Wolfe, who received the North American Nature Photography Association’s award for lifetime achievement in March and the Photographic Society of America’s Progress Medal in 2010, hosts Travels to the Edge on public television. The Shoppes at The Palazzo, 702-431-6030

Oh My Godard Gallery
The playful paintings of art’s “rock star,” Michael Godard, bring to life characters such as drunk grapes and rockin’ olives (which grace a popular local casino game) and have fun with our favorite vices: drinking, smoking, and gambling. The UNLV grad will hold meet-and-greets May 25 and 26 to unveil his newest art. Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, 702-699-9099

Richard MacDonald
“The Art of Richard MacDonald,” presented by Cirque du Soleil Fine Art Gallery, features sculptures by the internationally acclaimed master of human detail. MacDonald has been immortalizing dancers, acrobats, and athletes in exquisite figurative bronzes for 25 years, making this a natural pairing with Cirque’s celebration of the human form. Bellagio, 702-730-3990

Wyland Galleries
A visit to this gallery will make you forget you’re surrounded by desert. Described as the “marine Michelangelo” (and known only by his last name), Wyland, who first found fame in the ’80s with his life-size whale murals, has scoured the world’s waters for inspiration. The celebrated artist, philanthropist, and environmental activist will hold meet-and-greets on May 24 and 26. Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, 702-699-5363; Grand Canal Shops at The Venetian, 702-699-7100

New Watch Collection Glows in the Dark

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Tondo by Night, de Grisogono ($9,400– $17,500). Crystals, CityCenter, 702-834-6600

As the glamour-loving women of Las Vegas know, not every timepiece is serious and conservative. Some are downright whimsical, such as the hit Tondo by Night watches from de Grisogono. Unveiled last year, the collection has just begun to make its way into luxury jewelry stores in the last few months. In addition to being mechanical works of art, these timepieces possess an unusual quality in the luxury watch world that begs them to be worn amidst the neon lights of the Strip: They glow in the dark.

Designed by Fawaz Gruosi, the founder and president of de Grisogono, the Tondo by Night is intended to be a capricious, playful timepiece that stores light during the day and then frees it after the sun goes down. The case is created from a pearly photoluminescent fiberglass composite—with pieces of mother-of-pearl blended into the fiberglass for extra shimmer—then further bedecked with color-coordinated gemstones.

“It has such wide appeal because it is fashionable, hefty, and different from everything else on the market,” Gruosi says. “Still, I never dreamed Tondo by Night would be such an amazing success. The demand is much higher than what I produced, which was extremely unexpected.”

Each Tondo by Night watch is equipped with an exclusive in-house mechanical movement, specially developed to display the gem-set oscillating weight on the front side. Built in collaboration with an outside lab, the Tondo by Night timepieces are offered in an array of colors, each with a row of 48 gemstones on the bezel, plus another 60 on the dial (and a black diamond on the crown). The colors include white with white diamonds, yellow with yellow sapphires, pink with pink sapphires, green with tsavorites, purple with amethysts, and orange with orange sapphires. And three new shades were unveiled at the Baselworld show in April: a vivid green case with a tourmaline bezel, a blue case with a blue sapphire bezel, and a coral case with a spinel bezel. The most expensive watch in the collection is currently the white (diamond) version, which retails for $17,500.

“I dedicate this watch to happy summer days and glamorous nightlife,” Gruosi says. “It’s not only a luxury timepiece but also can be worn as a magnificent jewelry piece, with a twist.”

Neiman Marcus Raises Money for Charity

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Roland Mouret will appear in person to present his new looks for fall.

Neiman Marcus’s annual fashionable fundraiser, A Flair for Care, ups the ante this year with a personal appearance by French designer Roland Mouret. While the company has always put on a fabulous fashion show to go with its formal gourmet lunch, Mouret’s Fall 2013 collection will be presented on May 13 at Wynn Las Vegas by the designer himself, celebrated for his sophisticated, body-conscious silhouettes. All proceeds benefit Southern Nevada’s Nathan Adelson Hospice, and attendees will have the chance to win designer jewelry, handbags, and shoes in an exclusive drawing. Neiman Marcus, Fashion Show, 702-731-3636

Water Features Revamp Vegas Real Estate

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

In a desert town like ours, one standout element can often turn a buyer’s eye away from a short-sale deal and toward the luster of a brand-new home: the newest technology in backyard water. Infinity edge pools, poolside martini bars, spas with televisions, pool-area kitchens—these have become key to enhancing value and making the sale.

“Pools, spas, and water features have been a huge part of our success over the last couple of years,” says Tyler Jones, founder and CEO of the high-end custom home designer/builder Blue Heron, which has built homes in luxury communities like Marquis Seven Hills and Stone Canyon. “We focus very much on the outdoor living space, and the pools and spas are a critical part of our appeal to convince people to buy our homes over resales. Because of the great bargains in the resale market, you have to be special.” The latest designs integrate water seamlessly into the architecture so it becomes part of the home, almost like a floating room. In one example, Blue Heron built an outdoor dining and seating area between two pools and covered it with a large deck that spanned the property.

“When seated in this area, the guest is at eye level with the two pools, and you get the feeling that you’re almost submerged between the water elements,” Jones says. Blue Heron is also building pools with black bottoms, which reflect like a mirror, and designs that allow air to cross the water into open doors and windows, creating natural air-conditioning. “We believe that what we’re doing is the trend and trigger point to entice people to buy a custom home,” he says. “The water elements are a big financial commitment, but we did it intentionally.”

For homes valued at more than $500,000, ensuring that water is a key part of the design is critical to the success of high-end builders, says Steve Bottfeld, principal of Marketing Solutions, a Las Vegas–based firm specializing in real estate economics. “You’re seeing hot and cold pools, and indoor pools,” he says. “Or a bar in the pool, like at a luxury resort.”

In fact, mimicking luxury resorts has been a growing trend, says Leslie Parraguirre, founder of the Vegas design firm Colours, which has designed homes in The Ridges, Red Rock Country Club, and Queensridge South. Her favorite trend is the deck-level pool, whose water is at the same level as the surrounding deck. But one of the most popular new features, she says, is an expensive saltwater pool, which eliminates the need to deal with chlorine in the hair and on the skin. People are also forgoing diving boards and opting for plain rectangular designs, which Parraguirre calls “simple European elegance,” rather than the lagoon and kidney shapes that were once commonplace.

“It’s now about cleaner and simpler shapes and European style, and no more mini-Mirage-type backyards,” she says. “Families are building play pools that are only three or five feet deep, where they can play volleyball or basketball.”

Many are following the trend of hotels such as Red Rock by installing furniture and umbrella sleeves in their pools or decks. Backyard barbecues are being turned into outdoor kitchens, with a roof, fireplaces, furniture, heaters, and fans.

Homeowners are also focusing on spas. The current vogue is to install a spa on the balcony or rooftop of a luxury home, where there’s more privacy, says Renée Gibbs, owner of Spas by Renee. Spas with marble and stone can cost more than $25,000; others may include a television, a wireless sound system that syncs with a home stereo, and Bluetooth to allow it to be operated via a smartphone app.

Even in existing homes, buyers are choosing to incorporate the latest water features by enlisting high-end renovators such as Christopher Homes Renovations, says Erika Geiser, the company’s vice president of marketing and business development. One of the most popular additions is an infinity edge pool, especially if the home is situated on a hillside. Poolside kitchens and entertainment areas are also trendy. “Buyers are not just viewing the backyard as a place to swim in the pool, but as a place to entertain,” she says. “They’re taking advantage of the weather and using [the backyard] as a retreat.”

Luxury-home buyers might also tear out and replace a pool that’s not to their liking. Broker Jerry Masini, owner of Award Realty, recently sold a $7 million home in Queensridge that featured a pool with a waterfall and a meandering river. Amenities such as waterfalls with light fixtures and firebowls—gorgeous glass bowls with flames inside—are important to luxury buyers. “If they’re paying more than $3 million for a house, having a pool that’s less than $35,000 turns them off,” Masini says. “They want a lot of wild features.”

6 Hot Watches from BaselWorld 2013

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

—ROBERTA NAAS, ATimelyPerspective.com

Stay tuned on ATimelyPerspective for more BaselWord coverage>>

Spring Scent: Nest White Narcisse Collection

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:04:00 -0400

Nest Fragrances White Narcisse Collection

Launched in April, Nest Fragrances' limited-edition White Narcisse Collection oozes spring with the intoxicating white narcisse flower, boasting notes of French mimosa, sandalwood, and muguet. Available as a candle ($48), body cream ($34), and eau de toilette ($54), items in the collection feature stunning floral art designed by Russian artist Alexander Solodukho.

Founded by Laura Slatkin in 2008, Nest started out as a home fragrance brand but has unfurled to include reed diffusers, hand soap, bar soaps, perfumes and votives, all exquisitely packaged with a sophisticated aesthetic. One of our other recent favorites from the brand is its Fine Fragrances Collection ($30-$115), which encompasses three distinct scents: Amazon Lily, Midnight Fleur and Passiflora. With its notes of jasmine, exotic woods, patchouli, and black amber, the Midnight Fleur scent is a cult favorite, and comes in a rich body cream, rollerball, and eau de parfum spray.

To boot, the Nest Fine Fragrances Collection has been honored with several recent FiFi Award nominations, the fragrance industry’s version of the Oscars. Ready to shop? In Vegas, Nest can be found at Neiman Marcus in the Fashion Show Mall. 3200 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Road Trip: BottleRock Napa Valley Festival

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Zac Brown Band highlights the BottleRock Napa Valley musical lineup

Sunny spring weekends call for road trips to wine country, and as if we need an additional tease to jaunt to Napa vineyards, this weekend oenophiles will be toasting incredible live music. The inaugural BottleRock Napa Valley festival held May 9-12. A four-day affair with stellar music, vintners, culinary cache, and comedy.

"This is a festival for music-lovers with a palate," says BottleRock co-founder Bob Vogt. "BottleRock offers festival-goers the best in Napa Valley food, wine, and beer. Where else can you see this many musicians and comedians and have access to shaded areas, seating, and restrooms? [It] has something for everybody.”

First, the musical lineup: Leading bands include The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, The Black Crowes, Jane’s Addiction, Zac Brown Band, The Shins, The Avett Brothers, The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, Alabama Shakes, and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, among others. With more than 80 bands performing over four days, the musical gamut crosses nearly all genres and will certainly pack a loud punch. Held on three stages over 26 acres of the Napa Valley Expo grounds, the music alone is worth tapping those frequent flier points.

Next, the epicurean extravaganza. On tap at Bottle Rock are more than 50 wineries and artisan brewers, with featured vintners including Silver Oak, Miner Family, Rombauer, St. Supery, Grgich Hills, Beaulieu Vineyard, and Hahn Family Wines, to name a few. Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Cindy Pawlcyn will helm the festival’s culinary execution, sharing the spotlight with celebrity chefs Masaharu Morimoto, Ken Frank, and Todd Humphries. The list of participating Napa eateries and food purveyors is equally of note, including Mustards Grill, Oenotri, ZuZu, Grace’s Table, The Girl & the Fig, Azzurro Pizzeria and Enoteca, Tra Vigne, Fish Story, Farmstead, The Model Bakery, C Casa, Barbers Q, and Gott’s Roadside.

And let’s not forget there’s comedy, to boot. In the midst of all this wining, dining, and dancing, the country’s top comics promise plenty of laughter, too. Jim Gaffigan, Demetri Martin, Aasif Mandvi, Anthony Jeselnik, Tig Notaro, Jim Breuer, Greg Behrendt, Wyatt Cenac, Rob Delaney, and Kristen Schaal, among others, ensure no dull moments.

Given the staggering lineup of musical acts, we asked Nicholas Allen, founder of Carte Blanche Wine and Soulshine Music LLC, for some festival and wine cliff notes. Following are his Top 5 “pairings” of rock and wine, focused on micro-cult wines crafted by acclaimed vintners that have mastered the art of bottling terroir. If you can’t make it to Napa with us, at least you can create a playlist, sample some vino, and pretend you’re there.

1. The Black Keys & Carte Blanche 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. “The Black Keys are one of the best, if not, top, acts on the national touring circuit,” says Allen. “I’d pair this complex rock ‘n roll with a big red—the CB Cabernet is layered, surprising, with big notes, and a real powerful driving force behind it, just like the band.”

2. Jane’s Addiction & 2010 Keplinger Sumo. “If you’ve seen front man Perry Farrell perform, then you know that a bottle of red is most likely in his hand. I’d suggest he drink the Keplinger Sumo--a spicy, bold red that gets you fired up, and can perfectly handle the band’s hard-hitting rock.”

3. Zac Brown Band & Morlet Family Vineyards Couer de Vallée. “It's such a nice blend of cabernet culled from the top to the bottom of Napa Valley, and Zac Brown's music is such a nice collaboration of musical instruments and different musical genres, from country, to bluegrass, to reggae, to rock ‘n roll!”

4. The Black Crowes & 2010 Macauley Cabernet Franc, To Kalon Vineyard. “The Crowes consistently stay in the realm of blues-driven rock ‘n roll, but both the band and this wine offer so much more than one varietal or style could have ever been thought possible. Wines and acts like these are extremely rare, intricate, and passionate, and need to be embraced for the long haul.”

5. Alabama Shakes & Bure Family Wines 2010 Duration. “A perfect pairing for Alabama Shakes; it's got that power and elegance from the cabernet, and that depth and extra ‘umph’ (fruit) and nuance from the Cabernet Franc. These two—the band and the wine—will be around for a long time. Bure is becoming a staple Napa wine for cult-boutique collectors, and The Shakes are becoming a sought after staple on the music scene. I dread another ill-fated and ill-timed loss of talent such as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Amy Winehouse. Like the finish on the Duration wine, I hope to see longevity in their musical careers.”

For BottleRock Napa Valley festival passes, pricing, and additional information visit bottlerocknapavalley.com

Women Turn to Mechanical Watches

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Savvy women expect more than just a pretty face when it comes to what they wear on their wrists. Fresh off the heels of this year’s BaselWorld, the category of automatic and mechanical watches, once reserved for men, is undergoing its own women’s liberation movement.

Not reliant on battery power, mechanical watches come in two categories: hand-wound and automatic. With a wind watch, turning the crown transmits energy to the main spring, where it is stored. As the wound spring uncoils, it releases the energy necessary to activate movement in the gear train and causes the watch to tick. An automatic watch is fitted with a rotor that allows the timepiece to wind itself, when the wearer moves her wrist and the rotor or oscillating weight spins.

Typically, mechanical calibers are hand-assembled from hundreds of tiny parts to form a horological marvel that keeps time in perfect harmony. The movements are often elegantly finished with engraving and detailing that is visible via a transparent caseback.

These highly engineered timepieces feature such functions as calendars, moon phases, and chronographs. The Roger Dubuis Excalibur 36, for example, offers classic craftsmanship within a beautiful case that is popular here. “The combination of form and function offers an incredible keepsake with a style that transcends time and trends,” says Gianfranco D’Attis, president of Roger Dubuis North America.

“We have been improving the ladies’ line,” says Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe Worldwide, which has been creating women’s mechanical watches for more than a century and a half. “Even though we have a lot to offer women, our female clients have been requesting something more complicated. Now we can deliver that.” Stern’s wife, Sandrine, is head of the design division and is bringing a woman’s eye and touch to the newest ladies’ complex mechanical watches.

Similarly, Blancpain has been dedicated to building a key collection of women’s mechanical timepieces, focusing on alluring, modern designs and functions that run the gamut from complete calendars to the just-unveiled grande date chronographs. All of its calibers are built in-house.

Vegas Scores Exclusive Louis Vuitton Trunk

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Deftly running her hands over a wide swath of coated canvas, an artisan carefully considers how she will place one of the world’s most recognized prints onto a seemingly simple box crafted from poplar. Her task is far from routine, as this is no ordinary box, and while the canvas may be abundant, its placement needs to be perfect.

Welcome to the workshop of Louis Vuitton, located in bustling Asnières, a suburb northwest of Paris that was still considered the countryside when Vuitton built his home and workshop here 154 years ago. Today it’s one of a dozen Louis Vuitton workshops throughout France, although this location is undeniably the most high-profile: It is where the company’s historic special-order trunks are handcrafted. There may be no more storied pattern in fashion history than Louis Vuitton’s monogrammed canvas, just one reason its positioning must be painstakingly considered with each new project. Examine any Vuitton piece sporting the iconic print and you’ll notice how the petals of its golden flowers line up perfectly along the seams, while its signature LVs are placed with flawless symmetry so they always appear whole, as per the workshop’s time-honored saying: “You never cut through Louis Vuitton.”

As Louis Vuitton’s great-great-grandson, Patrick-Louis Vuitton lives this philosophy every day. Like his father, Claude-Louis; his grandfather Gaston-Louis; and other family members before him, Patrick-Louis has carried the banner of Vuitton pride even as he has established his own unique corner of the label’s luxe universe. As both an ambassador of the house and the head of special orders for Louis Vuitton Maison, he travels the world to work with clients in designing special-order trunks. In his 37-year tenure, he has fielded a vast range of requests, such as a case to hold a pair of Champagne glasses (the owner didn’t care for the glasses used in her preferred airline’s first-class cabin), and a trunk fitted with solar panels so its owner would have a fully charged laptop and Wi-Fi—no matter where he was on the planet. Always at hand is Patrick-Louis’s own custom Vuitton case with the watercolors and papers he uses to sketch each design. Like every member of the Vuitton family, he can build a trunk from start to finish, and he crafted this custom case himself.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the company’s presence in Las Vegas. Today you’ll find five Louis Vuitton boutiques within a 1.5-mile stretch of the Strip: at Via Bellagio, Wynn, the Forum Shops at Caesars, Fashion Show, and, most recently, one of the brand’s most significant statements, a 14,000-squarefoot, three-story boutique at Crystals at CityCenter. It opened in 2009, and its combination of size (the largest Vuitton store in the US and fifth-largest in the world) and selection earned it the designation Louis Vuitton Maison, one of only six in the US. “A Louis Vuitton Maison is conceived as a travel destination influenced by the aesthetics of the city it is located in, making each unique,” explains Valérie Chapoulaud, North America president and CEO of Louis Vuitton. “This experience of luxury extends beyond the collections offered and is carefully integrated throughout the store [in] its architectural elements and exhibition spaces for art.” Designed by renowned architect Peter Marino, the CityCenter boutique features a 31-foot chandelier containing 1,600 titanium-plated LV flowers and the rainbow-hued Lucky Colors installation by Belgian artist Lionel Estève.

Special-order trunks are particularly key to this store, with a section of the mezzanine level dedicated to custom clients and product personalization. Until very recently, the centerpiece of the mezzanine was the Malle Casino, an exquisite example of the custom work produced in the Asnières workshop. Designed to stand upright, the Malle Casino opens to reveal a working roulette wheel in the top section, while drawers below house playing cards, poker chips, dice, even a professional green gaming felt. Patrick-Louis notes that, like any special order, the Malle Casino required that the Asnières craftsmen raise their game, so to speak. “With each new idea, each new special order,” he says, “you must reconsider your savoir faire, because each project is a new challenge.”

Wait a minute: Until very recently? you ask. While the Malle Casino was originally conceived as a showpiece—a Las Vegas–specific example of the stratospheric heights of craft that could be achieved in Asnières—one customer apparently could not live without it. Louis Vuitton execs demur when asked the price, but artisans are already building a replacement, which will be welcomed onto the CityCenter mezzanine sometime this fall.

Sharing space on that mezzanine is another category that’s grown in importance for Vuitton in recent years: jewelry. The glass cases were designed not only to house the brand’s growing selection of watches and fine jewelry, but also so Las Vegas would become a requisite stop when the highjewelry pieces made their global rounds. (Like the custom trunks, the high-jewelry collection often contains one-of-a-kind items meant to showcase the house’s artistry.) As on that monogrammed canvas, here again you see the codes of the house, with the signature flowers or LV logo interpreted in diamonds or adorning the face of a status watch. Among the high-jewelry pieces, a standout is a yellow- and white-diamond choker, its graphic design seemingly abstract, until you realize that the artisans have duplicated a Paris street map, with yellow diamonds where the monuments would be.

Vuitton once partnered with outside workshops to craft its jewelry, but newly created jewelry workshops above Paris’s Place Vendôme boutique, which opened last year, have rendered that unnecessary. “You cannot ask a designer to design and then send the design out and have it made elsewhere, because it’s not the same mood, it’s not the same spirit,” says Hamdi Chatti, Louis Vuitton’s director of fine jewelry and watches. “The designer and the workshop have to work together because everything is about this beautiful stone. It requires patience and passion because it’s a long process. But at the same time, there are beautiful surprises.”

Back in Asnières, a descendant of Louis Vuitton not only understands this attitude more than most, he’s also confident that it will continue with future generations: Patrick-Louis has two grandsons, both of whom have shown a keen interest in the watercolor case he built from scratch. He smiles as he thinks of them and speaks of the Vuitton métier, employing a favorite phrase used yesterday, today, and in all likelihood tomorrow: “Here, everything is possible.”

Heather Graham Talks 'Hangover Part III'

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

A lot of people go to Las Vegas to live out a forbidden fantasy or revel in the decadence of the city’s guilty pleasures. Heather Graham is no different—although her secret desire is unexpectedly G-rated. The star of The Hangover Part III admits she became so obsessed with Cirque du Soleil when the movie was being shot in the city, she arranged a private backstage visit to Kà in order to attempt one of its dazzling aerial maneuvers. But when she realized how death-defying the trick was, she nearly chickened—and passed—out. “I was like, ‘I want to do this, but do I?’” she confesses, her big blue eyes growing as wide as saucers. “It was so frightening!”

Of course she went through with the warrior-worthy stunt; Graham is not the kind of woman to back down from a challenge, a toughness belied by her ethereal beauty. “Heather has no fear, and she loves to mix it up,” says Todd Phillips, director of The Hangover and its sequels. “That makes her a perfect member of the Wolfpack.”

Although Graham’s character, Jade, the stripper with a heart of gold and a baby named Carlos/Tyler, was absent from the second Hangover film, set in Thailand, she has returned for more high-stakes high jinx with the guys (Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms) in the final, return-to-Vegas installment of the $1 billion franchise, out May 24. “Heather brought such a nice light to set every day,” says Galifianakis. “There is a calmness about her that is hard to describe. She is a friendly, classy lady.”

The script, of course, is as highly guarded as the Hand of Faith at Golden Nugget, but Graham will allow that Carlos/ Tyler, now 6, is played by the same actor, and that Jade is no longer working the pole. “It’s not just a perfunctory thing,” says Helms about Jade’s return (his character, Stu, married Jade in a quickie Strip wedding in the first movie). “It’s worked into the story in a smart and relevant way.”

Graham is aware of her good fortune at being cast in a role that every actress in Hollywood coveted. “It’s pretty awesome,” she says, sipping a glass of basil lemonade at a café near her Hollywood Hills home. “Being the only girl with a bunch of guys, you get a lot of attention.” Also awesome, she says, was seeing how super-successful the actors in the Wolfpack—a nickname coined by Galifianakis’s character in the first Hangover—got after that movie became the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy in US history. While they have bigger trailers this time around, she says, they’ve all remained grounded. “Bradley is super cool and supportive. Ed’s so sweet and charm- ing. Zach is a unique and original person with this crazy comedy brain.”

In fact, Graham was so impressed by their comedic skills, she was inspired to take improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. “I wanted to understand more about what they were doing,” she says. Combining her comedy skills with the inspiration she took from a female-empowerment class, she wrote her first screenplay, which she has secured financing for and plans to direct. “I wanted to write something that cracked me up,” she says of the romantic comedy about female friendships, sex, and relationships. Although Graham has appeared in more than two dozen films, she feels there’s a shortage of quality movies told from a woman’s point of view. “I’m intrigued by that,” she says, “and want to empower women the way I want to be empowered.”

Graham’s own empowerment was hard-won, and is still a work in progress. Growing up in Milwaukee in a strict Catholic family, she became torn between her traditional upbringing and her desire to be an independent woman. “A lot of times we’re brought up to please other people or take care of other people,” she says. “It’s ingrained in our nature to be motherly. I had to step outside of that and go, ‘What makes me happy?’ I had to completely rethink that.”

She also faced a struggle between the way she was raised and Hollywood’s sexualized culture. “You get a million mixed messages about how you should behave,” she says. “So how do you learn how to have a healthy point of view and feel good about your sexuality?” Bucking her buttoned-up background, Graham has done some impressively racy scenes in films such as Drugstore Cowboy, Boogie Nights, and About Cherry. Her choice of risqué roles reportedly caused a rift between Graham and her parents early in her career, but she hints that their relationship is better today: “I’d say just that I feel more accepting of their point of view. I don’t have the same point of view, but I [got] more accepting that this is how it is.”

Despite her conservative upbringing, sex is a topic that Graham talks about openly and enthusiastically. “I was taught to be demure,” she says, “so it was harder for me to learn how to stand up for myself and go, ‘What do I want? What are my desires?’” When asked what exactly her desires are, she says with a laugh, “Good sex!”

It’s hard to believe that would be a problem for Graham, who’s been in practically every men’s magazine’s “sexiest” rankings and has an epic list of alleged Hollywood lovers. Just a sampling of her reported boyfriends: Edward Burns, James Woods, Matt Dillon, Kyle MacLachlan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio Del Toro, Russell Crowe, Scott Speedman, Matthew Perry, and Adam Ant. Of course, while she seems happy to talk about her viewpoints in theory, getting her to reveal juicy details about her love life is not going to happen. “I do have some great stories; I’ve definitely lived,” she says with a mischievous smile. “Maybe when I’m 80 and everyone’s dead!”

Graham, at 43 and single again after her relationship with TV personality and director Jason Silva ended last year, has never felt pressured to get married. “I’m not against it,” she says. “I would definitely do it if I was in the right situation. I would like to be with someone I could settle down with and be with for the rest of my life. But I don’t feel like I need to.”

Graham allows that perhaps being raised to be a pleaser is a factor in her not having found Mr. Right. “I want to choose better for myself,” she says. “I think everyone I’ve dated has been great, but maybe not the most compatible match.” Potential suitors should consider enjoying yoga, meditation, traveling to Asia for her charity work with the Cambodian Children’s Fund, and marathons of Homeland, Girls, and Downtown Abbey. But make no mistake, Graham is just fine on her own. “I kind of feel like I dodged a bullet,” she says. “I’d rather be happily single than unhappily married. In the meantime, I’m having a lot of fun.”

Although Graham is in the proverbial transitional decade for women in Hollywood, she has managed to continue landing quality projects. “I’m so happy I get to keep working,” she says. “I admire people like Susan Sarandon. She’s older, and she’s really vibrant and alive.” Graham doesn’t feel as if she needs to conform to the stereotype of what her age means in show business: “I’m open to playing different kinds of parts. It’d be great to stretch, but at the same time I want to feel hot. I feel really young.”

With perfect porcelain skin and long, lean legs that reach to the heavens (she does Pilates and takes “really hard” yoga classes), Graham doesn’t feel the need to nip and tuck and plans to age naturally. “I have not ever opted to do surgery, because it’s scary,” she says. “Maybe some people get it done and you can’t tell and that’s great, but I feel like it makes your face look weird. I think if you’re happy, then that’s the glow.”

Graham, whom Helms calls “this little beacon of sunshine and joy and beauty,” certainly has the glow. “It’s a difficult thing to explain,” adds director Phillips, “but she brings ‘light’ with her. And that is just an amazing thing to have.”

King Baby to Host Grand Opening Party

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:35:00 -0400

Caesars Palace has a new rock ‘n’ roll resident in King Baby Studio, a high-end men’s and women’s lifestyle brand known for its metal cuffs, dog tags, rings, pendant necklaces, earrings, and leather accessories. Created by go-to rock star jeweler Mitchell Binder, King Baby jewelry is handcrafted with sterling silver, solid 18-karat gold, leather, precious stones, and onyx beads. Designs have a Sons of Anarchy meets Bruce Springsteen (who’s a real life fan of the brand) appeal, with pieces sporting everything from crosses to skulls to brass knuckles. King Baby’s signature style also extends to your wardrobe via T-shirts, leather jackets, and most recently, sunglasses. True Blood’s Joe Manganiello is a big fan of the T-shirts.

Though the boutique has been open since February, King Baby will celebrate the official grand opening of its Caesars Palace flagship (just next door to Nobu in the Appian Way Shops) on Thursday, May 30, from 7-10 p.m. The RSVP-only event will feature a performance by Smitty on Steel and plenty of Champagne.