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Vegas/Rated takes a giant leap into spring with the March issue! In our version of “out with the old and in with the new,” we introduce you to all that’s fresh about Las Vegas this season.

In Pulse, I get the exclusive scoop from Neil Mofftt, founder and CEO of Angel Management Group, about Hakkasan Las Vegas, an 80,000-square-foot restaurant nightclub opening in April. (See Page 20.)

In Shop, photography duo Francis + Francis create a fantasy fashion scenario where our gorgeous “50-foot” model cuts loose on the Strip strutting spring/summer 2013 trends—tromping down sidewalks, peering in windows and running amok in the most stylish way possible. I’m simply in love with the street-savvy looks stylist Newheart Ohanian put together for this feature. (See Page 32.) Away from the Strip, we head Downtown to meet a fresh crop of local designers, boutique owners and trendsetters. (See Page 46.)

Because eating is defnitely one of our top pastimes in Las Vegas—and because St. Patrick’s Day arrives this month—Dine editor Grace Bascos gets hot on the potato and its various forms at the new Citizens in Mandalay Bay. (We even show you what beers best pair with the almighty french fry.) And for this month’s top foodie events, check out our culinary calendar. (See Page 64.)

In a playful state of mind? Starting on Page 88, meet several DJs who hide behind masks (and one who likes to wear a bow tie). Sticking with the DJ theme, we talk to Richard Beynon, all the way from St. Barth’s, where he was on vacation prior to starting his new residency at the reopened Body English at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Whereas many DJs are all hype and no talent, Beynon is a refreshing face on the scene, someone with the musical chops to back up his stellar reputation.

All around it is shaping up to be a beautiful spring with openings, events and new people to meet! Follow me on Twitter @melindasvegas for the month’s happenings as they go down.

from the editor

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MELINDA SHECkELLSEditor-in-ChiefFollow us on Twitter @vegasrated

What i eatForget the impressive roster of dJs—take me to Hakkasan and order me a duck salad. coming soon to the corner of tropicana avenue and Las vegas Boulevard. hakkasanlv.com.

Where i’ll be“one Night for one drop.” In some places, access to clean water is a luxury. cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté has been crusading to change this through his organization one drop. For one night on march 22, the who’s who in Las vegas (and beyond) converge at the Bellagio to raise money for this important cause. Get your tickets now at cirquedusoleil.com.

Who i adoreVegas/Rated senior contributing photographer anthony mair continues to impress me with his eye for the uncanny. mair has been with us since the frst photo was assigned back in august 2011, and I couldn’t imagine producing an issue without him.

saRah nispeRos by anthony MaiR

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Grace BascosBascos has been eating, drinking and writing in Las Vegas for more than six years. originally from chicago, Bascos travels far and wide for good food and proper techno. For this month’s issue she got up close and personal with the spud in all its delicious iterations, from french fry to tater tot to everything in between (Page 58). “I’m not a clothes horse, so my retail therapy: Grocery shopping and buying plane tickets. Grocery shopping for

immediate relief and plane tickets for long-term satisfaction.”

Jesse sUTHerLaNDBorn and raised in Las Vegas for all 21 years of his life, sutherland is Vegas/Rated’s graphic designer. He is a junior at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, working toward a bachelor’s degree in fne arts. When he isn’t in class or in the offce, sutherland enjoys exploring all types of art and design, singing in the car (he performs a mean “call Me Maybe”) and beating the dawn for early-morning gym sessions. “A new philosophy I have adopted—which is probably really obvious but I thought was this massive revelation—is that anything you purchase must make you feel something special deep inside. If you feel like you look good, you look like you feel good, and that is something people notice instantly.”

saBiN orrorr was specializing in photographing people and products when, out of the blue, he was commissioned to shoot food, and it was a perfect ft. He is grateful to reside in Las Vegas among some of the nation’s most well-respected culinary artists. This month, orr photographs the humble potato at the newly opened citizens in Mandalay Bay (“You say Potato … ,” Page 58). “Retail therapy translates into me working out, playing golf, watching sports, Oregon pinot noir, Call of Duty, betting sports and good movies. I rarely do impulse buys unless I absolutely know that I won’t feel like a ding-dong in 24 hours for buying it.”

Jessica acUñaBorn and raised near the strip, acuña is no stranger to the fashion capital that Las Vegas has become. refective of her hometown’s ability to constantly reinvent itself, her personal style blends the best of what this city has to offer: nightlife glitz meets Downtown fair. Vegas/Rated tapped her to profle six up-and-comers (“ahead of the curve,” Page 46). “A self-justifed, overindulgent shopping excursion is my defnition of retail therapy. It’s a chance for personal woes to temporarily fade beneath the sea of shoes at Nordstrom or wane in the glowing white décor of the Apple store. Acquiring material goods during a time of discontent is scientifcally proven to be therapeutic, as well as a guaranteed weight-loss program for one’s wallet.”

eric iTaoriginally from West africa, ita moved to the U.s. to study flm at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He bought a camera one day out of boredom, and promptly decided to quit his day job. His work has been published in magazines such as Sports Illustrated, Hollywood Weekly and Canadian Poker Player Magazine. When he’s not shooting for Vegas/Rated (“Hey Mr. DJ,” Page 92) or spending time with his German shepherd mix, Juicebox, ita has found another hobby: directing movie shorts. “Retail therapy would be more about rummaging at thrift stores or related places, where there are hidden treasures waiting to be found. It probably makes a person feel really good to fnd something amazing to wear, looking through someone else’s ‘trash.’ It’s not about fnding anything; it’s about the process of searching for nothing specifc.”

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Souvenir Shopping

JOIE shirt Neiman Marcus in Fashion Show;

ANTIPODIUM shorts Beckley Boutique in

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas;

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN shoes Wynn Las Vegas;

DANNIJO necklace Beckley Boutique in

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas;

SAINT LAURENT cuffs Neiman Marcus in

Fashion Show

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Sinful Fashion

get a leg up

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN jumpsuit and belt

Wynn Las Vegas;

GIANMARCO LORENZI shoes

gregorysshoes.com;

EDDIE BORGO necklace

Neiman Marcus in Fashion Show

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No Crosswalk NeCessary

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN jacket Wynn Las Vegas;

J BRAND pants DNA 2050 in

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas;

BRIAN ATWOOD shoes

Neiman Marcus in Fashion Show

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Sinful Fashion

Photography FRANCIS + FRANCIS francisandfrancis.com

Styling NEWHEART OHANIAN Current Studio currentstudio.com

Styling assistants JIMI URQUIAGA, ALISHA WEXLER

Hair HIWOT TESFAY

Makeup NATASHA CHAMBERLIN

Model KARMAY Wilhelmina New York

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Towering ProPorTions

SINGLE BY GALINA SOBOLEV shirt DNA 2050 in

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas; SINCLAIR pants,

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI shoes and RACHEL ZOE cuff

Neiman Marcus in Fashion Show; FALLON ring

Beckley Boutique in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

WHERE TO BUY

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Wynn Las Vegas, 702.369.0510;

alexandermcqueen.com

BECKLEY BOUTIQUE The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas,

702.698.7600; beckleyboutique.com

DNA 2050 The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas,

702.698.7610; dna2050.com

NEIMAN MARCUS Fashion Show, 702.731.3636;

neimanmarcus.com

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Faces to Watch

ahead of the curve

By Jessi C. ACuñAPhotogrAPhy Anthony mAir

There’s a revolution taking place in Las Vegas, spearheaded by creative

Gen Xers and millennials who are changing the face of fashion. These

catalysts are setting the standard for Sin City’s most chic denizens—

one store and trend at a time.

the loCAl design sCene is gAining momentum. meet the six PeoPle who mAtter right now

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Derek Smoot / the entrepreneur designer and owner of dapper Industries“It happened in Vegas,” loudly proclaimed a sign at a booth displaying neckties at the 2012 MAGIC apparel convention. After two years of trying to create a prototype, Derek Smoot, owner and designer of Dapper Industries, fnally found a seamstress to answer the question posed to him after a speech he gave at a marketing conference, “What if ties didn’t always point at the bottom?” Although his product and business weren’t yet polished, the Vegas native rushed showing at the fashion exhibition out of sheer confdence about the uniqueness of his ties. Using a mixture of bold prints and off-kilt pattern pairings, Smoot’s ties ($70-$120) and pocket wear ($25-$35), both of which can be purchased online, have been worn by fashion-savvy nightlife-industry hosts, and even MMA fghter Keith Jardine. “Dapper Industries is designed for the man who demands attention and respect,” Smoot says. And he practices what he preaches—he is often seen wearing his creations. dapperind.com

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Faces to Watch

Sam GlaSer / The SceneSTerSenior Buyer at StitchedWhen it comes to being a fashion leader, some command by example, while others drive the boat. Sam Glaser, a senior buyer for Stitched, the men’s lifestyle shop inside The Cosmopolitan, does both. The Oregon-raised Berkeley graduate draws inspiration from media, favorite brands and emerging trends—as well as the store’s extensive market research—to help determine his buys. “Stitched represents Vegas as a place of class and culture,” he says. Glaser helps set the tone for its fashion-forward clients’ purchases, which in turn allows for other gentlemen to follow suit. Keeping busy as a local fashion writer and Downtown DJ also “creates more visibility” and puts Glaser in a position of impact with his personal fashion choices. “Keep an eye out for pocket squares, whether in a suit or denim jacket,” he notes for the spring. In The Cosmopolitan; stitchedlifestyle.com

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Meghan Boyd / The leaderFounder and ceo of Stitch FactoryIf it weren’t for “a friend of a friend of a friend,” Meghan Boyd, owner of the new Downtown co-working fashion space Stitch Factory, wouldn’t be paving the way for a potential local garment district. Evacuating New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Boyd found herself in Vegas under the helpful hands of locals, including Channel 3 newscaster Jim Snyder. “He announced on the news one night that I needed a job in fashion merchandising or design to stay in Vegas.” Online retailer Zappos came calling. After six years as Zappos’ lead buyer, Boyd now sits across from her former employer’s relocation site. The open room at Stitch Factory features worktables and industrial machines to help foster a creative, communal environment for its members, who have the option of paying on a daily, weekly or long-term basis. In keeping with the tradition of Zappos and Downtown, Boyd is focused on building a community. “My dream is to help promote local talent on a national level.”300 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Suite 120, stitchfactory.com

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Dinner Want to fnd the simplest treatment of potatoes on the menu? Check under the chicken. Beneath half of a gorgeous, golden brown bird are roasted red bliss potatoes with the skin still on. Te scent of rosemary emanates from them once you lift the chicken. Te potatoes are so porous they soak up the herb-accented jus. $23

‘Spot’ OnDon’t try to connect Damien Hirst’s dots—the joy is in their inscrutable detachment

BY CYNTHIA BEHR WARSO

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In person, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have the same adorable repartee that you hope country’s biggest couple would possess. They trade compliments, answer each other’s questions and fll pauses in conversation. It’s almost as if you don’t need to interview them—just turn on the audio recorder and let the duo emote. For example, when asked which celebrity had given them the kindest compliment, Tim immediately volunteers that Tony Bennett had called Faith the “female Frank Sinatra.” In return, Faith tells a story of how Gwyneth Paltrow enthused about Tim’s stage presence.

Soul2Soul, their residency at The Venetian, brings that delightful energy to a stage that’s small enough for the audience to perceive it. “I like playing stadiums and arenas and big outdoor venues,” McGraw says, “but there’s something special about playing in a small room like this. There’s an intimacy here that keeps you plugged in

with the audience—you can see people. You look out there and you can see 12, 15, 20 rows back, and you can see that they’re absorbing the show.”

Expect an evening of each singer’s best hits, soul-touching duets and a real connection to the fans. We’re talking entries and exits through the audience, autographed guitar giveaways and a casual talk-to-the-crowd session—the last part being Tim and Faith’s favorite. “We like the spontaneity of that moment,” Faith says. Then Tim later offers a playful warning: “She’s usually worried about what I’m going to say.” And perhaps Faith should be—during a recent performance, Tim complimented her dress and then said he’d like to see it on the bedroom foor.

It begs the question: Does Soul2Soul refer to the married performers … or does it refer to their connection with the audience? Tickets start at $95.50; 888.823.7685; venetian.com

FroM THEIr Soul To ourSFaith Hill and Tim McGraw make the connectionBY C. Moon rEED

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MeetaLeXaNder mcQUeeN shirt and jacket Wynn Las Vegas; XXXX BY StItcHed bow tie and pocket square Te Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

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Meet

“If you work hard enough and if you believe in what you’re doing,

the outcome is incredible.”

aLeXaNder mcQUeeN shirt, bow tie and jacket Wynn Las Vegas; XXXX BY StItcHed pocket square

Te Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas; JameS JeaNS pants Coterie;

La martINa belt Te Forum Shops at Caesars

WHere to BUYaLeXaNder mcQUeeN

Wynn Las Vegas, 702.369.0510; alexandermcqueen.com

coterIe 515 E. Fremont St., 702.685.7741; facebook.com/coterie-downtown

La martINa Te Forum Shops at Caesars, 702.735.9763; lamartina.com

StItcHed Te Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 702.698.7630;

stitchedlifestyle.com

Styling Sam GLaSerGrooming NataSHa cHamBerLIN Grooming assistant taI SHaNe