ML - Vegas Magazine

British-born, New York – based Mark Ellwood has written regularly for the Financial Times Weekend, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Wall Street Journal Weekend, Bloomberg Business Week, and Departures, among other publications. He is the author of Bargain Fever: How to Shop in a Discounted World (Penguin-Portfolio) as well as a TV host and producer. Why is art important? And public art especially? Walking along a dreary city block with nothing but asphalt and concrete in sight is a dreary experience. Fill that same block with trees, plants, and some fun public art pieces and you've transformed the everyday into the exceptional. And have you seen how much unfettered joy a piece of public art can bring a toddler—running up to it giddy or climbing over it? Those moments alone make it worthwhile to me. Jennifer Leuzzi was born and raised in Hawaii. Her culinary interest began after college in Paris, studying at the L'Ecole Ritz Escoffier and cooking in Michelin- starred restaurants. Eventually she left the kitchen, returned to the US, and became a writer. For this issue she interviewed some of Las Vegas's greatest chefs about their own favorite chefs for our "Food for Thought" page. How did you decide which chefs to interview? I wanted to let the story write itself. I called Mario Batali and Daniel Boulud and asked each of them who their favorites are. Their answers led me to the next chefs to interview. It turned out to be a fun choose-your-own-chef- adventure story. A writer covering the entertainment field for more than 20 years, Todd Peterson interviewed Michael Gruber of Drai Enterprises for this issue's "Power Strip" story, focusing on the company's brand-new Las Vegas – based record label. How was your interview with Michael Gruber? I found myself genuinely surprised and intrigued. Drai Enterprises' plans for the Vegas scene surpass everything else other companies have imagined Vegas to be, and Gruber's plans portend a Las Vegas we have not yet envisioned. Gruber and Victor Drai's plans for Vegas nightlife are the sort of entertainment developments Vegas has been building toward for the last 20 years. As their ideas take seed, we will see a Las Vegas that has only been imagined begin to take shape. Photographer Eric Ita shot DJ Dash Berlin for our Vegas Aces feature. He's originally from Nigeria, has worked in the UK, France, and Africa, and lives in Las Vegas with his German shepherd, Juicebox. How was your shoot with Dash Berlin? When I intro- duced myself, he said, "Call me Dash." He was so cool and friendly. I was nervous about asking him to entertain any of my weird ideas, but out of nowhere he started really model- ing! I've never been excited to shoot a DJ. He completely transformed every idea I had. The whole thing went by pretty quickly, and when we were done he handed me a white Dash Berlin bracelet. What kind of music do you listen to? I listen to jazz and blues—I'm a really old soul. I also really like Calvin Harris's music, more so after realizing he actually sings and doesn't just produce. Mark ellwood writer/TV producer jennifer leuzzi food writer Todd peTerson entertainment writer eric iTa photographer 34  vegasmagazine.com ...wiThouT whoM this issue would not have been possible // october 2014

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