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BLVDS Las Vegas Magazine July/July issue 20
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issue 20
c o m m u n i t y l c u l t u r e l d e s i g n l f l a v o r
Your card gets you intowhatever you’re into.
Free with Museums on Us ®
Participating museums in Las Vegas:Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Lied Discovery Children's Museum, Springs Preserve
Visit bankofamerica.com/art to sign up for monthly email or text reminders.
Just show your Bank of America check, credit or ATM card to over 100 museums nationwide on the first weekend of every month for free
admission to art, science, history . . . whatever it is you’re into. It’s on us.
Offer valid the first full weekend (Sat. and Sun.) of the month through December 31, 2010. Photo ID and any valid Bank of America check, credit or ATM card must be presented. Free admission limited to cardholder atparticipating institution. Excludes fundraising events, special exhibitions and ticketed shows. Not to be combined with other offers. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. © 2009 Bank of America Corporation. SPN-121-AD
Artist’s rendering. Card not available.
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and our experience. Prior results do notguarantee a similar outcome. Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2010 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Contact: Mark G. Tratos inLas Vegas at 702.792.3773. °These numbers are subject to fluctuation. §Greenberg Traurig was selected by Chambers and Partners as USA Law Firm of the Year, 2007. 9730
www.gtlaw.com
[ 1 7 75 AT TORNEYS IN 32 LOCAT IONS ° | U SA LAW F I RM OF THE YEAR , CHAMBERS GLOBAL AWARDS §]
3773 Howard Hughes ParkwaySuite 400 North
Las Vegas, NV 89169702.792.3773
builtforprogress | Celebrating Five Years in Las Vegas
As we celebrate our five-year anniversary as Greenberg Traurigin Las Vegas, we reflect on the involvement our attorneys andstaff have had in helping shape our Nevada community.We aregrateful to have been a part of our state’s colorful history, itsmany successes and its tremendous growth.
Today, GT’s Las Vegas office is home to 40 attorneys withdecades of experience working in the Nevada business, legaland governmental communities. We are proud to offer theresources of an international law firm to our international city.
for the opportunity to serve you... for decades asNevada lawyers, and as Greenberg Traurig since 2005.
Thankyou
9730-0410-LV-lvMKG_Boulevards:Layout 1 5/6/2010 3:41 PM Page 1
Water should notbe like a box of chocolates.As SNWA Lab Manager, Linda Blish makes sure our water meets or surpasses federal drinking water standards – with no surprises. Linda oversees a busy, highly trained sta� . Did we mention busy? Together, they analyze our water 500,000 times a year.
be like a box of chocolates.As SNWA Lab Manager, Linda Blish makes sure our water meets or surpasses federal drinking water standards – with no surprises. Linda oversees a busy, highly trained sta� . Did we mention busy? Together, they analyze our water
Go to snwa.com, or call 258-3930.
If you have questions about water quality – or if you’re looking for a supplemental water treatment system – contact the SNWA. No one knows more about water quality than your local water agency.
SNWA_Linda_BLVDS_8.75x8.75.indd 1 5/18/10 8:48:12 AM
G O L D E N R A I N B O W W O U L D L I K E T O T H A N K :
G O L D E N R A I N B O W ’ S 2 4 T H A N N U A L
J U N E 1 3 T H , 2 0 1 0 | H I L T O N T H E A T E R | L A S V E G A S H I L T O N
w w w . g o l d e n r a i n b o w . o r gDedicated to serving those living with HIV/AIDS in southern Nevada
Performances Including Casts From Phantom, Jubilee,Viva Elvis, Jersey Boys and many more!
b l v d s l v . c o m issue20 f a m i l y , k i d s & p e t s B L V D S L a s V e g a s 5
what’s insideA R T I C L E S & H I G H L I G H T S
Roos-N-More18
Children’sCulturalSeries27
HauteDogs34
SuccessisaFamilyAffair40
in th
is issue
ON THE COVER:PhotographycontestwinnerGavriella’s Playhouse©Jodi Nelson-Springberg
THIS PAGE:Snork©Adam Shane;Historic5thStreetSchool©City of Las Vegas;stylishpooches©Greg Warden;milkandcookiescupcake©James Tanksley
C O M M U N I T YSpotlights
Kathleen Boutin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Frances Mar y Michael . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Cord Blood America, Inc.Bank ing on Parents’ Desire to Hedge Against Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Roos-N-MoreAn Ed-Zoo-Cational Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
C U LT U R EGreat Expectations: A New MusicalA Beloved Classic Takes the Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
The Downtown Children’s Cultural SeriesAffordable Ar ts for All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Upcoming EventsCheck Out the BLVDS Events Calendar for Upcoming Local Events . . . . . . . . . 30
D E S I G NHaute DogsVegas Rock Dog Makes Fido Fashion For ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
F L A V O RSuccess is a Family AffairLocal Businesses Thrive in Tough Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Metro PizzaKids Make I t—We Bake I t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
6B L V D S L a s V e g a s f a m i l y , k i d s & p e t s i s s u e 2 0 b l v d s l v . c o m
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THEBLVDSTEAMJan Craddock President&PublisherSherri Kaplan COO&Co-PublisherPat Marvel ConsultingEditorKimberly Schaefer ManagingEditorRandi Daniels ArtDirection&DesignDiane Bush PhotoEditor
EDITORIAL BOARDBrianPacoAlvarezDuretteCanditoJackChappellAudrieDodgeRobertDorganGinaGavanNancyHigginsWendyJordanWendyKveckPamLangDebraMarchRandiChaplin-MatushevitzJasonRothKimberlyMaxson-RushtonKarenRubelKristinSandeRickSellersShaunSewell
CONTRIBUTING WRITERSBeckyBosshartLauraCoronadoHektorEsparzaBrockRadkeKimberlySchaeferEricSchellhornShaunSewell
PHOTOGRAPHYAdamShaneTaiShaneJodiNelson-SpringbergJamesTanksleyGregWarden
CONTAC T US1000N.GreenValleyPkwy,Suite440-178Henderson,NV89074(p)386.6065 (f ) 386.6012blvdslv.com
Thisyearcelebratesour4thissueofFamily,Kids,andPetsatBLVDS,andIwould
liketodedicatethisissuetomyDad,JohnE.CraddockII,whopassedawayonMay
3rdafterawell-livedlifeof88years.
Hewasafathertosevenchildren,afatherfiguretonumerousneighborhoodkids,
andtoleratedawildrangeofpetsthatmysistersandIbroughthome.Therewere
nightsatourhousewhentherewere12to20peoplearoundthedinnertable. I
don’tknowhowheeveraffordedthis,butallwerewelcome.
MyDadwasalargemanwhowasalwaysnoticedwhenhewalkedintoaroom.He
hadathirstforadventureandcouldreciteastory,joke,orquipwordsofwisdom
withanodofhisheadanddevilishsmile.HelovedLasVegas,hishomesince1952.
Hewasalocaldentist,aviator,sailor,chef,gardener,andagreatcitizen.
Dadissurvivedbymymother,Nancy,whowastrulyhisotherhalfandanincredibly
amazingwomaninherownright.Aswecontinueon,thethingsthatImissmost
aremyDad’ssenseofhumor,hisfriendship,andhisbeliefinwhatIamdoing…my
Dadliveson.Gogiveyourlovedonesabighug.
JanCraddock,Publisher
Copyright2010,byBLVDS,Inc.,allrightsreserved.NopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformwithoutwrittenpermissionfromBLVDS,Inc.Everyeffortwasmadetoensuretheaccuracyoftheinformationinthispublication,however,BLVDS,Inc.assumesnoresponsibilityforerrors,changesoromissions.BLVDS,Inc.acceptseditorialandphotographysubmissions.Sendallsubmissionsto:[email protected].
Follow us on Facebook & Twitter.
SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLET TER. Just email [email protected] with the subject “Subscribe.”
Mydadandme,Father’sDay1996.
com
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WE’RE PROUD TO SPOTLIGHT KATHLEEN BOUTIN, A HENDERSON
CITY COUNCILWOMAN WHO BRINGS HER OWN EXPERIENCES
WITH YOUTH HOMELESSNESS TO HER ADVOCACY FOR
THE RIGHTS OF HOMELESS CHILDREN. FRANCES MARY
MICHAEL IS A MOM WHO SHOWS US IT’S NEVER TOO LATE FOR
DREAMS TO COME TRUE. MANY PARENTS ARE CHOOSING TO
BANK THEIR BABY’S UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD. LEARN ABOUT
THIS CONTROVERSIAL “BIOLOGICAL INSURANCE POLICY” AND
LOCAL STORAGE FACILITIES. TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
AT ROOS-N-MORE, A ZOO OFFERING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
WITH SOME OF NATURE’S MOST EXOTIC ANIMALS.
THIS PAGE: Ian gets up close with Sayid ©Adam Shane
blvds communitythe local spotlightARTICLES
Spotlights
Kathleen BoutinFighting for the Valley’s Homeless Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Frances Mary MichaelLiving the Life Imagined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Cord Blood America, Inc.Banking on Parents’ Desire to Hedge Against Disease . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Roos-N-MoreAn Ed-Zoo-Cational Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
800-PLAYTIXbard.org
June 28 – October 23, 2010Macbeth • The Merchant of Venice
Much Ado about Nothing • Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 StepsGreat Expectations, a New Musical • Pride and Prejudice
The Adventures of Pericles • Greater Tuna The Diary of Anne Frank
Cedar CityCedar City
June 28 – October 23, 2010
Find Your Passion!
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SPOTLIGHTS
KATHLEEN BOUTINFIGHTING FOR THE VALLEY’S HOMELESS
Sometimes a single traumatic incident in a
person’s life can spark a fire so intense that even
after many years that fire burns just as brightly as
the day it was ignited.
Some people react to adversity with bitterness and
resentment. Others accept defeat and cope with
quiet resignation. Not homeless youth advocate
and Henderson City Councilwoman Kathleen
Boutin. Instead of accepting that indignity and
injustice are part of life for Southern Nevada’s
homeless young people, she has worked heroically
for more than a decade to brighten the futures of
children that systems and society have failed.
It all started when Boutin was 12 and was arrested
for being a runaway in Henderson. As she
recalls, “Back then it was illegal to be a homeless
child, and when I was arrested they treated me
horribly.” Although she was only a child in an
absolutely desperate situation, she was treated
little differently than an adult being punished for
criminal behavior.
Two years later, after escaping an intolerable
home-life, she found herself in Child Haven. It was
a time she describes as “the two most peaceful
weeks of my childhood.” Two years after that, at
the age of 16, she was legally emancipated from
her mother.
In charge of her own destiny, she powered her
way through college earning a bachelor’s degree
and other credentials. Early in her career, Boutin
developed an eye for spotting opportunities and
solving problems. While working for the Southern
Nevada Health District, Boutin saw a need for
services for homeless children in the city. When
it was revealed that existing
institutions and charities were
legally barred from providing
vital services to homeless
youth. With help from like-
minded friends and colleagues
she successfully lobbied to pass
“Right to Shelter” legislation
in 2001, allowing minors to
receive services from homeless
youth care providers.
Today Kathleen is still a
formidable (read: ferocious)
champion for homeless children.
She is the Founder of Nevada
Partnership for Homeless
Youth (NPHY) and serves as
the Executive Director of the
Foundation for Homeless Youth.
Since its creation in 1999, Nevada Partnership for
Homeless Youth has provided services to some
5,000 different children across the Las Vegas
Valley. Why should you care? Aside from the
obvious reasons, Boutin says that 50% of homeless
youth become homeless adults.
And why does Boutin still care so much? The
answer is best expressed in her own words: “There
was a point when I said to the universe, ‘I get it.’
And I am going to drive this thing through until it
is finished.”
With whom would you like to trade jobs?
I would want to have been someone who
worked with Abraham Lincoln.
What’s your greatest indulgence?
Chocolate.
What’s one thing you want to do
before you die?
Get a law degree. I could see myself taking a
job as a prosecutor in L.A. County putting away
pedophiles when I’m in my sixties. I think that
would be fun.
Where would you most like to travel?
Italy to see the countryside. I would also love to
see the inner workings of the Roman Catholic
Church.
What’s next?
Opening an NPHY drop-in center in Henderson,
then setting up an office in San Diego where
services are badly needed for the area’s many
underserved homeless youth.
Sometimes a single traumatic incident in a person’s
life can spark a fire so intense that even after many
years that fire burns just as brightly as the day it
was ignited.
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“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
English novelist George Eliot’s words, although
penned long ago, seem utterly apropos to
describe the life and passions of Frances Mary
Michael. Like many moms, Michael put her own
dreams on the back burner to care for her family.
But now, with her children grown and raising
children of their own, she is following her own
dreams—as a singer, as a writer of poetry and
children’s books, and as a cookbook author.
The North Carolina native relocated to Las Vegas
to remain close to her retired parents. Michael
studied dance growing up and in college, all the
while writing poetry. While in graduate school, her
interests turned to music. “I had always wanted
to be a singer. I thought, ‘I could be Madonna. I
can dance like that and sing like that.’ So I started
writing songs,” she recalls.
The difficulties of the music industry, and her own
changing life—raising two children as a single
mother—led her to evolve
from an aspiring pop star to
a writer and performer of
children’s music, a genre that
she says allows her music to
have more longevity. “It won’t
go out of style. It’s classic,”
she explains. So she wrote
her own songs and sang
them all. She did all of her
own silly, kid-friendly voices
on her CDs. She even got
her young family members
involved. Her nephews lent
their voices to the recordings.
Michael sells her CDs online
on her eponymous website
francesmary.com.
Michael’s poetry writing has
continued throughout her
life, too. Last year, she self-
published a volume of her
poems. She has also written
several children’s books
and is seeking illustrators
to work with her on those projects. She is also
currently working on a cookbook featuring
primarily vegetarian recipes that focus on utilizing
homegrown fruits and vegetables.
And then there is her passion for music. Despite her
numerous other projects, Michael wants to create
another children’s CD while her three grandchildren
are still little enough to enjoy them. She sees
music as an opportunity to touch children’s lives
and encourage them to follow their dreams. She
says that as adults, we should not stand in the way
of those dreams. Instead, we should “nurture the
imagination and say ‘yes’ to their dreams.” Surely a
belief that can apply to children and to adults who
still have their own dreams to follow.
Why do you get out of bed every morning?
I believe there’s a purpose for my life. I’m very
purpose-filled. I believe that we’re here to do
something to make a difference. I get a chance
to make a difference in every moment with
every interaction I have in the world.
Who is your favorite fictional character?
I was always very fond of Alice in Wonderland.
I would read that book over and over and over
again.
Where would you most like to travel?
Bali and Thailand. Thai massage. Thai food.
Flowers. I love photography and flowers are one
of my favorite subjects.
What’s next?
Completing some projects that have been going
on for a long time. Completing the cookbook is
huge. I have been wanting to do that for years.
The difficulties of the music industry, and her
own changing life—raising two children as
a single mother—led her to evolve from an
aspiring pop star to a writer and performer of
children’s music.
FRANCES MARY MICHAELLIVING THE LIFE IMAGINED
Recovery Isn’t Simply a Goal, It’s Our Mission.
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Kindred Healthcare understands that when people are discharged from a traditional hospital, they often need continued care in order to recover completely. That’s where we come in.
Kindred offers services including aggressive, medically complex care, intensive care, short-term rehabilitation and compassionate long-term care for dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Doctors, case managers, social workers and family members don’t stop caring simply because their loved one or patient has changed location. Neither do we. Come see how we care at www.continuethecare.com.
Dedicated to Hope, Healing and Recovery
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E R I C S C H E L L H O R N
CORD BLOOD AMERICA, INC.BANKING ON PARENTS’ DESIRE TO HEDGE AGAINST DISEASE
It’s tempting to view the 20 waist-high, cylindrical
freezers lined up in a climate-controlled cryogenic
storage room at Cord Blood America, Inc.’s new
Las Vegas headquarters near McCarran
International Airport as the stuff of science fiction.
But to company founder, chairman, and CEO
Matthew Schissler, there’s nothing otherworldly
or fantastical about the liquid-nitrogen units that
store about 20,000 umbilical cord blood stem cell
samples for individuals and families throughout
the United States. To him, they’re simply tools of
a highly competitive and growing trade.
About 30 U.S. companies now offer such private
storage services, which amount to what Schissler
calls “biological insurance policies” that can cost
between $85 and $200 per year after a one-time
collection fee of $1,500 to $3,000. Ultimately,
parents who buy in are hoping that stem cells
harvested from their infant’s umbilical cord blood
at birth could, if necessary, be used later in the
child’s life to treat deadly or debilitating diseases,
including various leukemias and anemias.
“This is a growth industry,” Cord Blood America
states in its online investor prospectus. “Only a
few years ago, 5 percent of the 4 million women in
the U.S. giving birth knew about preserving their
umbilical cord blood, and 2 percent of these took
advantage of [the service]. The number of samples
stored has since been growing by 50 percent a
year, and more than 4 percent of all those giving
birth now preserve the umbilical cord.”
There is little question that stem cells derived
from cord blood may be valuable for therapeutic
or research purposes. But private cord banks
like Cord Blood America have more than their
share of vocal critics. The American Academy of
Pediatrics, for one, generally discourages parents
from banking their children’s own cord blood
stem cells. “There currently is no scientific data to
support [self ] transplantation,” the organization
states. “Most conditions that might be helped by
cord blood stem cells already exist in the infant’s
cord blood and would not be used.” The AAP
recommends as an alternative that parents donate
to public cord blood banks, which make stem
cells available to anyone in need of a transplant.
The exception, the group says, is when parents
know that “a full sibling in the family has a medical
condition that could potentially benefit from cord
blood transplantation.”
With these sorts of criticisms in mind, Schissler
recently scored a coup by hiring 25-year-old New
Yorker Natalie Curry as a company spokeswoman.
Curry credits her success at surviving Fanconi
Anemia, a chronic disease that ultimately leads
to bone marrow failure, to the transplant made
possible by her parents’ decision to bank her sister
Emily’s cord blood stem cells. Curry’s mother,
Lea Ann Stiller—an equally impassioned advocate
for private cord blood banking—was recently
tapped to lead Cord Blood America’s business
development efforts. The family’s experience
serves as an unusually powerful testimonial to
the benefits of private cord blood banking.
To Stiller, the most compelling argument in favor
of private cord blood banking is what science
may yet discover about the utility and value of
umbilical cord stem cells. “I can’t stress enough
that if someone doesn’t understand the potential,
they should educate themselves,” she says. “It’s all
about the future. You have one chance to do this.
You can’t go back and get this [blood] later.”
A penny stock publicly traded on the Over the
Counter Bulletin Board, Cord Blood America booked
$3.2 million in revenues last year and reported
its latest net loss of $9.8 million, bringing the
company’s accumulated deficit to $34.7 million.
This precarious position has, by the company’s
own admission, “raised substantial doubt about
our ability to continue as a going concern,” as its
2009 annual report states. At the end of last year,
the company was entirely dependent on external
financing to fund its operations.
But Schissler insists he’s laying the groundwork to
make the company profitable. “Over time, we need
FACING PAGE: Cord blood samples at CBAI ©Adam Shane
Ultimately, parents who buy
in are hoping that stem cells
harvested from their infant’s
umbilical cord blood at birth
could, if necessary, be used later
in the child’s life to treat deadly
or debilitating diseases, including
various leukemias and anemias.
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to solve our market-cap issues,” he admits.
But he claims to have raised $30 million from hedge
funds. And his refusal to follow the pharmaceutical
industry’s customer-acquisition model, as many of
his competitors do, will facilitate a move into the
black, he says. Rather than assigning sales teams
to visit obstetrician’s offices, Cord Blood America
is working to forge strategic relationships with
health insurance providers. “While the sales cycle
is longer, once established, [this] approach builds
loyalty and reoccurring sales,” the company notes
in its annual report.
A self-described “quintessential entrepreneur” with
the rapid-fire patter and boundless confidence
you’d expect from a former sales executive and
ad agency owner, Schissler has engineered
several recent transactions and acquisitions that
he believes will enable his company not only
to survive, but to solidify its place among the
industry’s top players and withstand the shakeout
he sees as inevitable. Earlier this year, the company
inked a license agreement with AXM Pharma, Inc.
that will provide Cord Blood America with royalties
and an equity interest in AXM’s Chinese subsidiary,
which is building a massive cord blood storage
facility in China. Cord Blood America also recently
acquired a large stake in Stellacure GmbH, a
German cord blood banking concern.
In addition, Schissler has taken aggressive steps
to scale back costs even as he looks at adding to
his overall headcount, which stood at 21 employees
at the end of 2009. Moving the company’s
headquarters from a 2,300-square-foot
Santa Monica, Calif., office space to the cavernous,
17,000-square-foot new Las Vegas facility on Helm
Drive—accomplished with the help of incentives
arranged with the assistance of the Nevada
Development Authority—gave the company the
ability to process its own cord blood samples and
provided ample space for growth. Ultimately, he
says, he could add freezers that would allow for the
storage of up to 500,000 samples for his company
and others at the Las Vegas headquarters.
For more information about Cord Blood America, visit their website at cordblood-america.com.
Another local option for storing your child’s cord blood:
CellFreeze
8851 West Sahara Avenue Suite 110 Las Vegas 89117 360.4855 24 Hour Hotline: 496.5425 cellfreeze.com
The Cleve land Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain
Heal th is now seeing pat ients and conduc t ing
research. The Smith Center for the Per forming
Ar t s is under const ruc t ion. And a luxur y bout ique
hote l by Char l ie Palmer is in the works. Symphony
Park is t ransforming downtown Las Vegas in to a
communit y of wor ld - c lass medicine and cul ture.
www.symphonypark.com
©2010 Actual development may vary from developer’s vision. No guarantee can be made that development will proceed as described.
WE ARE EXPLOR ING THEI N N E R W O R K I N G S O F T H E M I N DI N T H E H E A R T O F L A S V E GA S
OB/GYN Care with a personal touch
Dr. Haslett specializes in: – General Gynecology– General Obstetrics– Adolescent Gynecology– Abnormal Bleeding– Pelvic Pain– Abnormal PAPS– Menopause– Bioidenticals– Essure– Fibroids and Ovarian Cysts– Contraception, and
educating womenAccepting most insurances.
2940 South Jones, Suite CLas Vegas, NV 89146
243-0202
BlvdsMagazineApril2010_print.indd 1 3/31/2010 2:48:12 PM
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18 B L V D S L a s V e g a s f a m i l y , k i d s & p e t s i s s u e 2 0 b l v d s l v . c o m
Ever dream about stroking the striking, striped
hide of a zebra? Have you ever wondered what
the inside of a kangaroo’s pouch looks like? Would
you want to have a monkey “groom” you? Well,
your dreams can come true, your questions can
be answered, and you really can have experiences
that seem downright unreal. And you won’t have
to travel very far to do it.
You and your family can do all of this and much,
much more at the aptly named Roos-N-More.
Located in the rural area between Las Vegas and
Mesquite, Roos-N-More makes the town of Moapa an
animal lover’s paradise. It’s also a dream-come-true
for veterinarians Valerie and Jay Holt and their family.
Lifelong lovers of animals of every stripe, spot,
feather, scale, and size, the Holts met while
studying to become veterinarians in Louisiana.
After graduation from Louisiana State University
veterinary school, the couple found themselves
in Las Vegas running their own clinic. But Valerie
always knew that her true passion was the care of
zoo animals, not the average family pet.
A diagnosis of chronic lupus and a self-described
“pity party” led Valerie to follow her dream of
raising exotic animals. It all began with a wallaby
joey in 2002, followed by several more baby
kangaroos. As Valerie explains it, “They’re like
potato chips. You can’t have just one.” Jay got in
on the exotic animal scene when he set his heart
on owning a camel—a decision that lead to the
family’s relocation to a larger piece of property
in Moapa. They didn’t plan to have a zoo in their
yard. They didn’t plan to share their love of animals
with so many other people. But that is exactly
what they are doing now at Roos-N-More.
The Holt family now shares their compound with
nearly 200 animals including two camels named
Sayid and Jafar, a zebra named Razbe, otters
named Snork and Sushi, and so many kangaroos
that you may just think you’re in Australia. Of
course, there are also lemurs, llamas, emus, two
types of porcupines, and a bearcat. Commonly
known species such as pigs and goats share their
desert home with species you may have never
heard of before like kinkajous, coatis, and cavies.
And the ringleader of all this fun is a capuchin
monkey named Caico who seems to run the joint.
ROOS-N-MOREAN ED-ZOO-CATIONAL EXPERIENCE
K I M B E R LY S C H A E F E R
FROM LEFT: Charlie with coati ©Adam Shane; Ian holds a baby kangaroo ©Tai Shane; mama and joey; Caico gets in on the fun ©Adam Shane
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Make no mistake, this is not a zoo where you’ll
be looking at animals from behind bars. Every
visit to Roos-N-More is an interactive, hands-on
experience where your guide will share not only
information with you, but also the chance to
TOUCH the amazing creatures in the zoo. You
can pet a camel, feed a zedonk (a cross between
a zebra and a donkey), stand face-to-face with
a sloth as it suns itself in a tree, and true to the
establishment’s name, you can even pet, feed, and
see into the pouch of one of the many kangaroos
on site. In addition to their open zoo days each
month, Roos-N-More can also play host to school
groups, family reunions, and birthday parties.
Keeping 200 animals well-fed and cared for is
a labor of love for the Holts, but it also requires
a steady cash flow beyond the entrance and
party fees that the organization earns. Friends of
Roos-N-More is a 501(c)3 non-profit which allows
them to accept donations from visitors or from
those interested in supporting the zoo’s mission.
Donations can be made online via their website.
Roos-N-More is licensed by the State of Nevada
Department of Wildlife and is accredited by the
Zoological Association of America.
So, load up your family and head down the
highway. You can make your own dreams come
true in Moapa, just like the Holt family and all of
their furry and feathered friends.
Roos-N-More
746 Snowden Ranch Rd. Moapa, NV 89025 467.3585 roosnmore.org
June Open Zoo Dates
Thursday, June 10 Tuesday, June 15 Saturday, June 19 Thursday, June 24 Wednesday, June 30
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Last tour begins at 2 p.m
Entrance fee is $10 No reservations required
The Holt family now shares
their compound with nearly 200
animals including two camels
named Sayid and Jafar, a zebra
named Razbe, otters named
Snork and Sushi, and so many
kangaroos that you may just
think you’re in Australia.
cultu
reTHIS SUMMER THE UTAH SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL MOUNTS
AN AMBITIOUS MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF CHARLES DICKENS’
CLASSIC, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, THAT EXPRESSES THROUGH
SONG AND STORY THIS BELOVED TALE OF FRIENDSHIP,
REJECTION, FAMILY, AND LOVE. THE DOWNTOWN CHILDREN’S
CULTURAL SERIES RETURNS WITH BANJO TO BEATBOX AT THE
HISTORIC FIFTH STREET SCHOOL. CHECK IT OUT FOR A HIGH
QUALITY CULTURAL EXPERIENCE THAT’S AFFORDABLE AND
ENTERTAINING FOR ALL AGES.
THIS PAGE: Randall L. Jones Theatre ©Utah Shakespearean Festival
blvds cultureentertainment & activitiesARTICLES
Great Expectations: A New MusicalA Beloved Classic Takes the Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
The Downtown Children’s Cultural SeriesAffordable Arts for All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Upcoming EventsCheck Out the BLVDS Events Calendar for Upcoming Local Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
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Veteran Broadway and TV actress Ellen Crawford
alights on the stage in an old lace wedding
dress, a frizzy white updo and pallid skin, playing
the iconic Miss Havisham, one of the most
manipulative characters in English literature. Not
only does the audience see how she pulls the
strings, it also hears her sing about it.
The Utah Shakespearean Festival’s world premiere
of Great Expectations: A New Musical is based on
Charles Dickens’ classic about an English boy in
love with a girl trained to be heartless by a bitter
spinster. Diabolical, indeed, but Miss Havisham
also has her own sad story and dramatic arc.
“She goes from being this weird arch-villainess
to someone who reaches remorse, and one
would like to think, redemption,” says Crawford,
who has played her share of old, intimidating
women. “You understand a little more of who she
is when you understand what happens to her
when she’s younger.”
The audience learns Miss Havisham’s history in
a song she sings with the younger, dewy-eyed
version of herself, revisiting the day she is jilted by
her fiancé. Miss Havisham stops all the clocks in
Satis House at the time she first learned her fiancé
was gone, and her heart turns bitter and vengeful.
Despite its popularity in high school literature
classes, Great Expectations, playing July 1st to
August 28th in the Randall L. Jones Theatre, is a
risky endeavor for the Utah company. Of its six
summer productions, the Festival is investing the
most into this one, about $900,000, because of
the large cast of 22, two-story set, and musical
arrangements.
Festival Executive Director Scott Phillips selected
Great Expectations for the summer season after
seeing its developmental production in Los Angeles.
He listened to the music on his drive back to Cedar
City, Utah, and couldn’t get it out of his mind. He
enthusiastically petitioned the Board to bring the
musical to the Festival.
“It will be a phenomenal production, and it will
go on to another life beyond this,” Phillips says.
“It deserves to be seen by other people on a
New York stage, and it deserves to be in London.”
But first, it willl premiere in Utah. Phillips expects
many theater fans will come up from Las Vegas.
In past years, about 30 percent of Festival
attendees have come from Southern Nevada.
The Utah company also produces three shows
in the fall.
Nancy Slitz, a Las Vegas realtor, has made the Utah
city, with a population of 28,000 and 3,000 hotel
rooms, her retreat from high-priced Strip theatrics.
“This is just such an incredibly affordable way to
be enriched,” she says.
Being a Festival supporter for the past 12 years has
its perks. Slitz recently hosted four cast members,
the lyricist, and music writer for a rehearsal session
FACING PAGE: Pip ©Utah Shakespearean Festival
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: A NEW MUSICALA BELOVED CLASSIC TAKES THE STAGE
B E C K Y B O S S H A R T
“It will be a phenomenal
production, and it will go on to
another life beyond this,” Phillips
says. “It deserves to be seen by
other people on a New York stage,
and it deserves to be in London.”
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before a Las Vegas fundraiser. She had her piano
tuned for the occasion. Slitz is vice chair of the
nonprofit theater organization, which has an
annual budget of more than $6 million.
“We try to do our best, so that Las Vegas
understands we’re only a two-and-a-half hour car
ride from some of the greatest classical theater in
the region,” she says. “We won the Tony for best
regional theater in 2000. We really are a class A
theater group.”
Great Expectations has been adapted for stage and
screen more than 250 times. Work on the musical
started about 15 years ago with school teacher/
writer Margaret Hoorneman. The music was
crafted by Richard Winzeler, with lyrics by Steve
Lane. Director Jules Aaron believes this complex
plot, released as a serial novel from 1860 to 1861,
is perfect for a musical. It has hidden identities,
unrequited love, and scheming relatives.
“The challenge that came with this is also Dickens’
incredible plot,” he says. “As John Irving said in an
introduction to a newer edition, it’s the greatest
plot in the English language.”
So what do you cut out? As a specialist in new
musicals, Aaron says music heightens the emotion
of a character, so he wanted to make sure the
key moments happened in a song and that every
scene led up to that musical crescendo. No major
characters were cut, but many details had to be
left out. The key characters and their stories were
allowed to unfold, Aaron says.
“Miss Havisham is so compelling because we
love to watch manipulative characters do what
they feel they need to do to get what they want,”
says Aaron, a director for 30 years who has his
theater doctorate from NYU. “There’s something
fascinating with watching the machinations of
what she does.” Crawford, best known for her
10-year role as a nurse on the Emmy Award-
winning show ER, believes this production will
give the audience a deeper insight into the novel.
“I think every human being has been hurt and
has experienced anger,” she says. “Every human
has contemplated revenge of some sort. Every
time you play a character like this, you go to
those places where you understand her. You have
to root for your own character, especially when
you’re playing a villain. You have to see it from that
person’s point of view. It’s your job to make the
case for that person.”
Tickets range from $30 to $65, below the average
price for a Strip show, where you may see a few
wedding dresses, but not on a 19th century
dramatic character. Visit the Festival online at
bard.org or call 800-PLAYTIX for information.
This summer, Utah Shakespearean Festival will
also present a number of other productions. You
won’t want to miss the Bard’s own Much Ado
About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, or Macbeth.
Tickets are also available for Pride and Prejudice,
Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, The Adventures of
Pericles, and the always touching and inspiring
The Diary of Anne Frank.
In addition, USF is presenting the comedy Greater
Tuna beginning in September. During August and
September, The New American Playwrights Project
will also be presenting three new plays: Behold,
The Zapruder Film, and Making Waves.
“The challenge that came with
this is also Dickens’ incredible
plot,” he says. “As John Irving said
in an introduction to a newer
edition, it’s the greatest plot in
the English language.”
Great Expectations: The Musical
Thursday, July 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 p.m.
Monday, July 5th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 p.m
Friday, July 9th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 14th . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 p.m.
Friday, July 16th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 19th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 21st . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 22nd . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 24th . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 25th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29th . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 31st . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 p.m.
Performances continue through August. For additional dates and times or to purchase tickets, visit bard.org.
Tickets may also be purchased by calling 800-PLAYTIX.
All performances held at Randall L. Jones Theatre.
Ticket prices are $30 to $65. Some showsfeature two-for-one ticket pricing.
MOXIE (mäk-sē) noun,1. energy, pep
2. courage, determination3. know-how, expertise
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While many often decry the lack of family-friendly
activities in the glittering adult playground that is
Las Vegas, with a little help and just a little work,
parents can find fun, entertaining, cultural activities
to enjoy with their kids— especially during those
summer months when the kids are out of school.
The Downtown Children’s Cultural Series aims to
provide the kind of entertainment and learning
experience that both kids and parents can enjoy. This
summer’s season will mark the series’ second year.
Brian Kendall, of the City of Las Vegas Office of
Cultural Affairs, is in charge of the Historic Fifth
Street School’s Downtown Special Events division.
He explains why the cultural affairs folks created
the series: “It’s another outlet for families and kids
to enjoy quality, affordable, cultural experiences.”
This summer, the series will present Banjo to
Beatbox with Cathy & Marcy and special guest
Christylez Bacon on July 15th. Billy Jonas Band (no,
he’s not related to the Disney sensation, the Jonas
Brothers) will perform on July 22nd in the Historic
Fifth Street School Auditorium.
When seeking artists to perform in the series,
Kendall says he “looks for groups that don’t dumb
down their performances to kids, but that still
perform to the kids’ level.” He seeks artists that
also provide an educational experience, as well.
Kendall notes that the Historic Fifth Street School
Auditorium was also “made for just this kind of
performance. Even though it seats 400,” he says,
“it’s still a really intimate setting where the families
and kids are close to the stage.”
Cathy & Marcy, known otherwise as Cathy Fink
and Marcy Marxer, are a Grammy award-winning
duo that has been performing together since the
1980s and recorded their first children’s album
in 1984. One of the duo’s most popular songs
performed in Banjo to Beatbox is “Hip Hop Humpty
Dumpty,” a re-imagining of the favorite nursery
rhyme. The song topped the Sirius-XM Kid Place
Live channel’s hit parade for weeks. Hip hop artist
Bacon uses beatboxing and freestyle rapping to
THE DOWNTOWN CHILDREN’S CULTURAL SERIESAFFORDABLE ARTS FOR ALL
S H A U N S E W E L L
THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: Cathy and Marcy ©Irene Young; Bongo Billy ©Billy Jonas
When seeking artists to perform in
the series, Kendall says he “looks
for groups that don’t dumb down
their performances to kids, but
that still perform to the kids’ level.”
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THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: The pensive bucketeer ©Billy Jonas
reach out to children. Kids are interested in hip hop,
and “People are pleasantly surprised at how well
these genres of hip hop and children’s folk music
mix,” notes Fink. Bacon’s beatboxing and Fink and
Marxer’s banjos mixed well enough to earn the trio
a Grammy nomination for the album produced as a
result of their collaboration.
Fresh from performing alongside Justin Bieber
and the cast of Glee for the President, First Lady,
and all the kids at the White House Easter Egg Roll,
Billy Jonas brings his fun, family show to Las Vegas.
Jonas’s show might best be described as STOMP for
kids and parents, and that’s not a comparison Jonas
minds. He says, “We [STOMP and Jonas] began at
the same time . . . What they have done has helped
open people’s minds and ears to all manner of
percussive possibility and sonic surprise.”
Indeed, the possibilities of rhythm and the
surprise of sound are what makes Jonas’s show so
interesting to kids. Like STOMP, he uses all manner
of “homemade and found object” instruments like
a big, blue trashcan and giant paint buckets in
his show while talking to kids about beats
and movement.
Ashley Farmer, one of Jonas’s band members, says
one of their most popular songs is “What Kind of
Cat Are You?” It’s a participatory call-and-response
song that gets the audience involved, and the CD
the song is on won the Parents’ Choice Gold Award
from the Parents’ Choice Foundation.
Parents will enjoy these performances, too,
something which Jonas readily acknowledges.
Jonas might sit down thinking a song he wrote
was “for kids” or “for parents,” but when the songs
are performed, they “find a home with a different”
audience. “‘To Be One’,” he notes, “was a song I
dreamed. I assumed it was for adults.” Later, with
the addition of sign language, the song became a
nice one “for family audiences, as well.”
Nancy Deaner, the manager of the Offi ce of
Cultural Aff airs, says, “Our mission is to target our
communities, to know who our audiences are
around our facilities, and to bring our programming
to those audiences.” Years ago, Deaner reports, the
children’s series was held at the various cultural
centers around Las Vegas and it was discontinued.
There was still a need for it, though.
Even in the current budget crisis, Deaner says the
Office of Cultural Affairs will continue to fulfill its
mission to bring quality, affordable, accessible arts
programming to those who otherwise might not
be able to access it. It’s a goal to which city leaders
are committed, she says.
With ticket prices that are so inexpensive, the two
productions of the Downtown Children’s Cultural
Series should sell out!
Historic Fifth Street School
401 S. Fourth StreetLas Vegas 89101artslasvegas.org banjotobeatbox.combillyjonas.com
Banjo to Beatbox with Cathy & Marcy and special guest Christylez Bacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 15th
Billy Jonas Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 22nd
Tickets $3 or $10 for a family four pack.Children under 2 are free.
Featuring Academy Award Winningmusic and lyrics by Phil Collins
Regional Premiere Exclusively at TuacahnJune 7 - Oct 15 • $22 - $56
(866) 321-5063 seeitoutside.orgIvins UT, Just 90 minutes north of Las Vegas
Snow Canyon - Home of the Tuacahn Outdoor Theater
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UPCOMING EVENTSCHECKOUT THE BLVDS EVENTS CALEN-DAR FOR UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
J U N E
Welcome to My GardenNOW - JUNE 11, 2010Randi Chaplin-MatushevitzWinchester Cultural Center455-7340
Jack and the BeanstalkNOW - JUNE 13, 20102 or 7 p.m.The Rainbow Company Youth TheatreCharleston Heights Arts Centerrainbowcompany.info
Nevada: The Photography of Cliff SegerblomNOW - JUNE 13, 201010 a.m. - 6 p.m.Springs PreserveBig Springs Galleryspringspreserve.org
Downtown ContemporaryNOW - JUNE 19, 2010Rosemary’s RestaurantWest Wing Gallery869-9002rosemarysrestaurant.com
Burden of AmbitionNOW - JULY 27, 2010Brett Wesley Gallery433-4433brettwesleygallery.com
Friday Night Lakeside Music SeriesNOW - JULY 30TH7-10 p.m.MonteLago Villagemontelagovillage.com
Saturday Night Jazz on the LakeNOW - JULY 30TH7-10 p.m.MonteLago Villagemontelagovillage.com
CatsNOW - AUGUST 14, 2010Tuacahn AmphitheatreIvins, Utahtuacahn.org/cats.php
Growing Up With the Berenstain BearsNOW - SEPTEMBER 07, 2010Lied Dicovery Children’s Museumldcm.org
Tarzan - The Stage MusicalNOW - OCTOBER 15, 2010Tuacahn AmphitheatreIvins, Utahtuacahn.org/tarzan.php
Music on Main StreetNOW- OCTOBER 30, 20106-9 p.m.Fridays & Saturdays at The District at Green Valley Ranchshop-the-district.com
Outdoor Picture ShowNOW- OCTOBER 30, 2010DuskFridays & Saturdays at The District at Green Valley Ranchshop-the-district.com
Willy WonkaJUNE 10, 2010 - JUNE 26, 2010Super Summer TheatreSpring Mountain Ranchwww.supersummertheatre.com
Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage ChoirJUNE 11, 20108 p.m.City of HendersonHenderson Events Plazahendersonlive.com
Jazz On The Green featuring Brian BlombergJUNE 12, 20107 p.m.City of Las VegasCentennial Hills Parklasvegasparksandrec.com
401 K Money RunJUNE 12, 2010Nevada Federal Credit UnionLas Vegas Outlet Centernevadafederal.org
Reggae in the DesertJUNE 12, 20102-10 p.m.Clark County Amphitheaterreggaeinthedesert.com
Islander’s United for Human Rights LuauJUNE 12, 20105-9 p.m.Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre of Las Vegas731-1500
24th annual “Ribbon of Life”JUNE 13, 20101 p.m.Golden RainbowLas Vegas Hilton384-2899, goldenrainbow.org
Open MicJUNE 13, 20107-9 p.m.Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre of Las Vegas731-1500
Anti-Drug Open HouseJUNE 15, 20104-9 p.m.Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre of Las Vegas731-1500
Naked EyesJUNE 18, 20108 p.m.City of HendersonHenderson Events Plazahendersonlive.com
Downtown Cultural Series - Lee Hughes TrioJUNE 18, 201012-1 p.m.City of Las Vegas Downtown Cultural SeriesLloyd D. George U.S. Courthouseartslasvegas.org
Annie MeadowsJUNE 18, 20107-10 p.m.MonteLago Village Resortmontelagovillage.com
The Randy Anderson BandJUNE 19, 20108 p.m.Dixie State CollegeTanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah435-652-7994dixie.edu/tanner/index.html
10th Annual Las Vegas Juneteenth FestivalJUNE 19, 20104-10 p.m.Clark County Government Center Amphitheater255-3001, june19lv.com
Toto Zara BandJUNE 20, 20102-5 p.m.The Village at MonteLagomontelagovillage.com
St. George Contemporary DancersJUNE 25–26, 20108 p.m.Dixie State CollegeTanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah435-652-7994dixie.edu/tanner/index.html
Michael KaeshamerJUNE 25, 20108 p.m.City of HendersonHenderson Events Plazahendersonlive.com
Viva Rock VegasJUNE 26, 20104 p.m.Henderson Events Plaza267-2171, hendersonlive.com
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b l v d s l v . c o m issue 20 f a m i l y , k i d s & p e t s B L V D S L a s V e g a s 3 1
Phil Wigfall QuartetJUNE 27, 20102 p.m.Vegas JazzClark County Library Theater (Flamingo)vegasjazz.org
Open MicJUNE 27, 20107-9 p.m.Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre of Las Vegas731-1500
Utah Shakespearean FestivalJUNE 28 – OCTOBER 23, 2010Cedar City, Utah800-PLAYTIX, bard.org
J U LY
First FridayJULY 02, 20106-10 p.m.Arts Districtfirstfriday-lasvegas.org
The Wild PartyJULY 2-24, 2010Insurgo Theaterinsutgotheater.org
Red, White & TunesJULY 03, 20108 p.m.Springs Preservespringspreserve.org
Fourth of July CelebrationJULY 04, 20106 p.m.City of HendersonBasic High School Henderson Events Plazahendersonlive.com
Independence Day CelebrationJULY 04, 20106 p.m.City of Hendersonhendersonlive.com
MonteLago 4th of July CelebrationJULY 4, 20102-9 p.m.The Village at MonteLagomontelagovillage.com
The Way to Happiness Open HouseJULY 06, 20104-9 p.m.Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre of Las Vegas731-1500
Infertility SeminarJULY 7, 20106 p.m.Fertility Center of Las VegasW. Sahara Officefertilitycenterlv.com
Ain’t Misbehavin’JULY 07 – 24, 2010Super Summer TheatreSpring Mountain Ranchsupersummertheatre.com
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now ChangeJULY 09 – 25, 2010Las Vegas Little Theatrelvlt.org
TumblewingsJULY 9-31, 2010Insurgo Theaterinsutgotheater.org
Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights Open HouseJULY 13, 20104-9 p.m.Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre of Las Vegas731-1500
Banjo to Beatbox: Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Special Guest Christylez BaconJULY 14 – 15, 2010City of Las Vegasartslasvegas.org
Most WantedJULY 17, 20108 p.m.Dixie State CollegeTanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah435-652-7994dixie.edu/tanner/index.html
Target’s Arts & Wonder Free Family EventJULY 17 – 18, 201010 a.m. - 5 p.m.Springs Preserve Museum and Lied Discovery Children’s Museum
Slid’n and Scatt’nJULY 18, 20102 p.m.Vegas JazzSummerlin Library Performing Arts Theatervegasjazz.org
Anti-Drug Open HouseJULY 20, 20104-9 p.m.Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre of Las Vegas731-1500
Billy JonasJULY 22, 20102 & 7 p.m.City of Las VegasHistoric Fifth Street Schoolartslasvegas.org
Dance in the Desert FestivalJULY 30 – 31, 2010College of Southern Nevadacsn.edu/pac
A U G U S T
Performing & Visual Arts Summer Camp for Kids 2010AUGUST 04, 20101 p.m.City of Las VegasClark County Library Theaterartslasvegas.org
First FridayAUGUST 06, 20106- 10 p.m.Arts Districtfirstfriday-lasvegas.org
MacbethAUGUST 6-28, 2010Insurgo Theaterinsutgotheater.org
Legends of Classic CountryAUGUST 07, 20108 p.m.Dixie State CollegeTanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah435-652-7994dixie.edu/tanner/index.html
Infertility SeminarAUGUST 11, 20106 p.m.Fertility Center of Las VegasHenderson Officefertilitycenterlv.com
Damn YankeesAUGUST 11 – 28, 20108 p.m.Super Summer TheatreSpring Mountain Ranchsupersummertheatre.com
Operation Medicine CabinetAUGUST 14, 20109 a.m. - 5 p.m.Location TBDoperationmedicinecabinetlv.org
Claudia Russell QuartetAUGUST 21, 20108 p.m.Dixie State CollegeTanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah435-652-7994dixie.edu/tanner/index.html
Crazy for You - The New Gershwin ComedyAUGUST 26, 2010 - OCTOBER 16, 2010Tuacahn AmphitheatreIvins, Utahtuacahn.org/crazyforyou.php
Mike Tobian Jazz BandAUGUST 28, 20108 p.m.Dixie State CollegeTanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah435.652.7994dixie.edu/tanner/index.html
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TWO HENDERSON RESIDENTS HAVE TAKEN FASHION TO THE
DOGS WITH THEIR HIP, FUN, AND HIGH QUALITY APPAREL
FOR OUR FURRY BEST FRIENDS. FROM ASIAN INSPIRED GARB
TO T-SHIRTS AND TANKS, VEGAS ROCK DOG IS FOR FASHION
FORWARD CANINES AND THEIR PEOPLE.
FACING PAGE: Three rocking dogs © Greg Warden
blvds designarchitecture & styleARTICLES
Haute DogsVegas Rock Dog Makes Fido Fashion Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
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Fashion has gone to the dogs. Henderson
residents Samantha Ratcliffe and James D’Arrigo
created Vegas Rock Dog for hip dogs and the
humans that love them. The brand features doggy
dresses, jackets, t-shirts, tank tops (also known as
“cat beaters”), and a kimono—all designed with
rock star flair.
But why do dogs need apparel? They are, after all,
dogs. “It’s just an extension of the owner’s fashion
sense,” explains Ratcliffe. However, the husband
and wife business team clarify that dog apparel can
be functional, too, such as protecting a pooch with
a skin rash from constant scratching or keeping a
shorthaired dog warm during the winter.
Established in 2005 and originally inspired by
their own dog, Galaxy, Ratcliffe and D’Arrigo
decided to create their own line of doggy wear
after shopping for Galaxy and encountering
shoddily made pieces. Ratcliffe describes the
selection they found as, “. . . a bit lame. There
was nothing rock and roll about them. There was
nothing cool.” The enterprising duo already had
plans to start an online business and D’Arrigo
says, “This became the idea when Galaxy told us
to do it.”
Product quality is an obsession at Vegas Rock
Dog. If the quality of the design does not meet
their standards, the company will not sell it.
Ratcliffe confirms that they test their products
through wash and wear. “I don’t want it to be a
throwaway piece,” she states. Dog clothes require
constant laundering, so the quality must be high
for the piece to handle it. In addition, the apparel
must fit well to avoid annoying the dog, and the
fabrication or any added embroidery must not
itch. Ratcliffe and D’Arrigo take special care to
consider all of this.
This level of design integrity is vital, as Vegas
Rock Dog products are gaining popularity among
the Las Vegas community and can be found in
the homes of celebrities such as Howie Mandel,
Kathy Griffin, members of the band The Fray, Eva
Longoria, and Janet Jackson. In fact, Mandel’s son
Alex recently posted a photo on Twitter showing
off his Vegas Rock Dog for humans t-shirt. “Hey,
look, I’m representing,” the up-and-coming actor
tweeted. Originally, Vegas Rock Dog did not
include human clothing, but after creating t-shirts
for themselves to wear to promotions and events,
customer requests for human Vegas Rock Dog
items prompted Ratcliffe and D’Arrigo to extend
their line.
Vegas Rock Dog’s very first design, an
embroidered logo dog t-shirt, also happens to
be the brand’s most popular, more than likely
due to its clean, classic look and tattoo-inspired
logo. It’s the kind of shirt James Dean’s dog would
have worn. Dachshund Max agrees. “He likes
HAUTE DOGSVEGAS ROCK DOG MAKES FIDO FASHION FORWARD
L A U R A C O R O N A D O
THIS PAGE: Kirby channels Elvis ©Greg Warden FACING PAGE: Tootsie strikes a pose ©Greg Warden
This level of design integrity
is vital, as Vegas Rock Dog
products are gaining popularity
among the Las Vegas community
and can be found in the homes of
celebrities such as Howie Mandel,
Kathy Griffin, members of the
band The Fray, Eva Longoria,
and Janet Jackson.
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wearing the clothes. Everybody looks at him and
asks questions about what he’s wearing and if
they make stuff for humans, too,” explains Max’s
owner, Leilani Ehlers of the Las Vegas Hot Diggity
Dauschand Club and Rescue.
“People love their Asian inspired clothes line. They
are beautiful. They look like kimonos. Some people
want the clothes to fit them. They’re so pretty!”
exclaims Lulu’s Doggy Salon and Spaw Manager,
Joni Akselrad. “Vegas Rock Dog’s quality is
excellent. They have a very young, hip style which
appeals to my customers. When a dog wears Vegas
Rock Dog she or he doesn’t look like they came
out of a chain store,” she continues.
While there is currently not a Vegas Rock Dog
store, Ratcliffe says, “I’m just itching to have
a store. We’re ready to go. I just don’t know
where it’s going to be.” Until then, dog lovers
can purchase Vegas Rock Dog products online
at VegasRockDog.com, at Lulu’s located at 1000
North Green Valley Parkway in Henderson, or at
pet events, such as Pet-a-Palooza.
THIS PAGE: Galaxy, the original Vegas Rock Dog ©Greg Warden
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FOR SOME OF OUR VALLEY NEIGHBORS, BUSINESS IS A FAMILY
AFFAIR. WE FEATURE ENTREPRENEURS FROM A RESTAURANT
AND TWO BAKERIES AND LEARN HOW MIXING TOGETHERNESS,
TRUST, LOVE, AND LOTS OF HARD WORK IS THEIR RECIPE FOR
SUCCESS. THE RECIPIENT OF NUMEROUS AWARDS FOR THE BEST
PIZZA IN LAS VEGAS, METRO PIZZA HAS BEEN BAKING SMILES
FOR GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES SINCE 1980.
THIS PAGE: Retro Bakery cupcakes ©James Tanksley
blvds flavordining & retailARTICLES
Success is a Family AffairLocal Businesses Thrive in Tough Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Metro PizzaLas Vegas’s Neighborhood Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
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“A successful restaurant creates an environment
of an extended family. No matter what you do, the
more successful you are in creating that family
environment, the more successful your business
will be. There is an intangible feeling, a spirit of
togetherness and camaraderie that becomes
essential to success.”
These are the words of Bob Ansara, whose family
has been serving Las Vegas some of its favorite
Mexican food since the first Ricardo’s restaurant
opened in the Meadows Mall in 1979. His
daughter, Sara, is his right-hand-woman, handling
everything from extensive catering to day-to-day
operations. His wife, Nin, works on weekends.
His brother, Jim, runs the kitchen graveyard shift.
And he employs families, sons and grandsons
who work together, husbands who work in
catering and wives who hostess. Ricardo’s is a
family affair in every possible sense, so it’s safe
to say Ansara knows what he’s talking about.
When considering the teamwork and togetherness
that exist within a restaurant’s staff, and the
passion for cooking, baking, service, and
management so many Las Vegans bring to their
businesses, it’s easy to understand why families
dominate the food and beverage world. “It’s also
one of the safe havens for immigrant families, one
they know they can do even in their new home,”
Ansara says. “The restaurant industry is definitely
fertile ground for nepotism.”
In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Ricardo’s blossomed into
four different locations, including one at the
MGM Grand opened in 1997. Today the lone
restaurant is on the corner of Flamingo Road and
Decatur Boulevard. Ansara says the closeness
of the staff, as well as faithful families who dine
there regularly, have been key factors in keeping
the business afloat. Ricardo’s will be celebrating
its 31st anniversary in October by creating a
7,500-gallon margarita to set a new Guinness
World Record. “Our people are what help us
distinguish ourselves and survive tough times, and
a lot of our customers keep coming back because
they want to see local businesses survive. They
thank us for being open because they are so used
to seeing us.”
One of the longest running local businesses of any
kind is Freed’s Bakery, which started out in 1959
as a small bakery and café and has grown into one
of Vegas’ favorite go-to shops for custom wedding
cakes and other decadent, delicious creations.
Max Fried’s grandparents, Milton and Esther Fried,
decided to go into business here when they were
traveling to Los Angeles from New Jersey.
“My grandpa was a musician, and when they were
passing through he was playing on the Strip,” Fried
says. “Like a lot of people at the time, they decided
to stick around. And when they first opened the
bakery, they were running around town buying
all the best stuff and re-selling it.” Of course, they
soon bought ovens and started cranking out
their own goodies. From the very beginning, they
spelled the business name “Freed’s” so people
wouldn’t mispronounce the name (like “fried
chicken.”) That slightly altered family name came
to represent the company’s mission of tremendous
customer service, essential to establishing loyal
repeat customers.
FACING PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Kari and Brian Haskell ©James Tanksley; Freed’s fruit tarts; on the rocks; carne asada tacos ©Greg Warden
SUCCESS IS A FAMILY AFFAIRLOCAL BUSINESSES THRIVE IN TOUGH TIMES
B R O C K R A D K E
Ansara says the closeness of the
staff, as well as faithful families
who dine there regularly, have
been key factors in keeping the
business afloat. Ricardo’s will be
celebrating its 31st anniversary
in October by creating a
7,500-gallon margarita to set a
new Guinness World Record.
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THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: Freed’s custom cake ©Greg Warden; crazy baker Kari ©James Tanksley
Following in the founders’ footsteps, the new
generation of Frieds continue to work as a team to
adapt their business for continued success. “Trends
come and go as far as baking is concerned, and
the fact that we are still doing well attests to the
foundations of Freed’s,” Fried says. “We’ve been
able to weather a string of big changes and do
different things. Now it’s cupcakes, before that it
was croissants, before that it was cookies. But no
matter what the demand is, our values of quality,
consistency, and good service stay the same.”
There are plenty of Frieds at Freed’s. Max’s aunt,
Joni, is the owner, her daughter helps out, and
Max’s wife, brother, sister, and brother-in-law all
contribute to the baking bonanza. “As children, we
were all expected to work at the busiest times, the
holidays,” he says. “It’s funny because there are so
many kids working on cookie trays, it’s like Santa’s
little elves. But I didn’t always plan to be the
general manager. It just turns out that I really like
it here, and I like it in Las Vegas, and it’s awesome
to be a part of something big. And it’s a challenge.
It’s important that we don’t lose sight of the vision
my grandparents had.”
Across town, there’s a different, younger
bakery, but the theme of family is proving
equally important for success. Retro Bakery has
established a unique niche with creative cupcake
flavors and an edgy style, but it’s a classic Vegas
family business—mom, dad, everyone else—
they’re all in.
“I think at the start, the only people who truly
believe in you and what your business is, is
your family,” says Kari Haskell, who owns and
operates Retro with her husband and custom
cake specialist, Brian. “For us, our whole family is
invested in this, this is our whole life savings. There
are no back-ups or safety jobs, so that’s why we
work 24/7. It’s hard, but in the end we know we
are together and it could be worse.”
It could be a lot worse for Retro, which has
become well-known since opening in early 2008.
A big part of the business’s success is the family’s
personality, which, thanks to Internet outlets like
Kari’s blog and Twitter, seems to be on display
as much as the bakery’s colorful cupcakes. Take,
for example, this recent Tweet: “You know you’re
a family business when you’re writing orders in
CRAYON.”
The Haskell kids may not be old enough to chip
in as official employees, but they’ve found other
ways. “Abby turns 12 in September, and she helps
out a lot behind the counter, and Lucy . . . well,
everybody knows Lucy,” Kari says of her 5-year-
“It’s funny because there are so
many kids working on cookie
trays, it’s like Santa’s little elves.
But I didn’t always plan to be the
general manager.”
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THIS PAGE: Retro Bakery ©James Tanksley
old. “Lucy is actually quite talented in the fondant
department, believe it or not. She rolls and cuts it
herself. I see her as a baker for sure. But we have
customers who come in just to see Lucy. They
have children her age.” Besides Retro’s cherubic
young mascot, Kari’s retired mother also helps out,
balancing books and even doing deliveries. “She
says she feels like a florist,” Kari recounts.
Since Retro is still new and still small, the owners
have had to take on duties that weren’t part of the
business plan. But that’s just part of doing business
and being able to count on your fellow employees,
which might be easier when it’s your husband.
“In our initial planning I thought it would be me
and a couple of friends going into business, but
they had their own jobs. And Brian has so much
restaurant experience, we realized, wow, we can
really do this on our own,” Kari says. “So it was him
doing the business and me doing the creative, but
after that first year we evolved from cupcakes into
a cake shop, and now it’s pretty equal between
the two. But Brian didn’t know he could be such a
cake master. He’s amazing, and what he does is an
integral part of what Retro is.”
All the entrepreneurs agree that trust is the main
ingredient. Ansara sums it up: “In our business, it’s
all hands on deck all the time, and you need to
be able to trust and rely on each other to make it
work.” And if you can’t trust your family, then who
can you trust?
Are you ready for an icy cold margarita and some spicy fresh Mexican food? Is your sweet tooth bedeviling you? Craving a cupcake? Have we whetted your appetite for some of these family-run foodie havens? Then here’s your guide to their locations.
Ricardo’s of Las Vegas
4930 W. Flamingo Rd.Las Vegas 89103227.9100ricardosoflasvegas.com
Freed’s Bakery
4780 S. Eastern Ave.Las Vegas 891199555 S. Eastern Ave. Suite 250Las Vegas 89123866.933.5253freedsbakery.com
Retro Bakery
7785 N. Durango Dr.Las Vegas 89131586.3740retrobakerylv.com
“In our initial planning I thought
it would be me and a couple of
friends going into business, but
they had their own jobs. And
Brian has so much restaurant
experience, we realized, wow, we
can really do this on our own.”
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B R O C K R A D K E
Is pizza the quintessential American family dinner? Think about it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re waiting together for Domino’s delivery,
tossing a fresh or frozen pie in the oven, or taking turns reaching
across the table at your neighborhood pizzeria for that magnificent
first slice—pizza just might be the most convenient meal around.
John Arena knows pizza, and he also knows how important food
can be in strengthening and maintaining the family dynamic. As
co-owner and co-founder of Metro Pizza, he’s been in business with
his cousin for decades, and Metro’s longevity and popularity in
the Valley have resulted in a family-based clientele that now spans
generations. “We have customers that were in high school when
we first opened in 1980, and now they’re coming back and they
have grandkids,” Arena says. “It’s a unique responsibility, to be here
for multiple generations of the same family and to live up to those
expectations.”
So how does Metro Pizza stay family friendly? On alternating
Wednesdays, all five locations offer “Kids Make It—We Bake It” days.
Children get to create their own pizza, from stretching the dough to
choosing their favorite toppings, right at their own table with mom
and dad helping out. Here’s the kicker: the kid-made pizza is free.
It’s nothing new: “Kids Make It—We Bake It” has been around for
about 10 years. It evolved out of the adult pizza-making classes
Metro has been holding for years. “A lot of people have stopped
passing down family traditions, and one of the big ones is cooking
and learning how to make your own food,” Arena says. “In my family,
we’ve always done it, so we have taken it for granted. But now, we’ve
got 8-year-olds who’ve been making pizza for a couple of years,
they expect to do it when they come in, and they’ve got it down. It’s
great, because they are having fun and learning to make food with
their own hands and be tied into the culture of what we do.”
For locations and information on upcoming events and classes
and dates for “Kids Make It—We Bake It” night can be found online
at metropizza.com.
METRO PIZZAKIDS MAKE IT—WE BAKE IT
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b l v d s l v . c o m issue 20 f a m i l y , k i d s & p e t s B L V D S L a s V e g a s 4 7
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