BLVDS Las Vegas Family, Kids & Pets

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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].

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SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLET TER. Just email [email protected] with the subject “Subscribe.”

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com

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nity

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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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 1 1

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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12 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

“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

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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.

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BlvdsMagazineApril2010_print.indd 1 3/31/2010 2:48:12 PM

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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.

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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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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

de

sign

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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