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exploring Charleston A sweeping yet intimate look at real lives on the other boulevard — the one that traverses the city’s cultures, history and rich diversity By S tacy J. Willis

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Thank You Thank you for working long hours. Thank you for making people in our community happier and healthier. Thank you for letting Subaru help you save lives every day. Thank you for not letting anything on the road ahead stop you from doing what you LOVE. For all you do, Subaru of Las Vegas supports you, and thanks the entire medical communityin the Las Vegas Valley.

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ing knowledge one-on-one with physicians otherwise far- flung from urban medical centers. Closing Finally, the healthcare gap takes a deeply personal toll in “‘I swear I will!’” (p. 46), a story about a mother’s epic struggle to find help for her suicidal son — in a city, she the learns, with an alarming shortage of mental health resources for children. After countless phone calls, false starts and dead ends, it was only through a lucky break gaps that this mother was able to save her son. How many others aren’t so lucky? here’s a saying: The future is here, it’s just not I’d be remiss not to call out this issue’s high notes, of evenly distributed. You could say the same for course: Our annual Best Doctors (p. 81) and Top Den- healthcare. For all our mind-blowing advances tists (p. 87) list some of the valley’s top medical and den- in medical tech, the magic wand of technology tal talent. And, finally, for a completely different dose of T somehow hasn’t been able to erase the barriers medicine, Dan Hernandez checks in with the recreational that keep millions of Americans from accessing quality, marijuana industry in Colorado (“Green and gold,” p. 36), affordable healthcare. Sure, we can cry for a systemic and considers what Las Vegas might learn as our grand overhaul until our throats are sore. In the meantime experiment with medical marijuana possibly blooms into — in the real world, on a human scale — more deceptively something much bigger. modest endeavors are making a big impact. I have in mind organizations such as Volunteers in Medi- * * * * * cine of Southern Nevada, which recently added a dental Last but not least, I’d like to wish a fond farewell toDesert clinic to its suite of medical services for the poor. On p. 23, Companion Publisher Melanie Cannon, who is leaving the Jason Scavone profiles the program from the vantage point position to spend more time with her family. She was much, of Jefferey Engle, a client. After Engle’s teeth began to fall much more than a name on the masthead. Melanie, the out due to diabetes, his self-esteem plummeted and self- founding publisher of this magazine, was the tireless prime image crashed. He eventually took a job as a graveyard-shift mover behind Desert Companion’s rapid security guard, only cementing his sense of isolation. To evolution from an annual cultural guide him, the Volunteers in Medicine program not only provided to the valley’s flagship magazine that truly him a new set of teeth, but a renewed sense of possibility. reflects, celebrates and explores (and, yes, That alone is a worthy goal; but more importantly, with new sometimes wrestles with) the experience research uncovering the link between oral health and total of living in Southern Nevada — and one wellness (imagine! your mouth is a freeway onramp for bac- that does it with integrity, a vital watch- teria!), the program is an investment in Engle’s future health word that Melanie branded onto the soul as well. of the publication. Her departure leaves a Elsewhere in Nevada, technology is helping to bring aid void, no doubt — but she also leaves a solid to those facing a different kind of barrier: distance. In “No foundation upon which incoming Desert country for sick men” (p. 74), Heidi Kyser dives into a health- Companion Publisher Flo Rogers will con- care crisis confronting rural Nevada, where hospitals, doc- tinue to build a great magazine. Andrew Kiraly tors and specialists are often hours away — a headache for editor check-ups and a nightmare for medical emergencies. But here, too, generous and enterprising minds are finding ways to bridge the gap. In programs such as Project ECHO, specialty doc- Next tors use the equivalent of Skype on MOnth steroids to confer with rural physi- Our culture guide is Follow Desert Companion your fall to-do list! cians on their patients. They’re not www.facebook.com/DesertCompanion just treating the sick; they’re shar- www.twitter.com/DesertCompanion

August 2016 10 DesertCompanion.vegas TheDistrictGVR Districtatgvr ShopGVR August 2016 VolUme 14 Issue 08 www.desertcompanion.vegas

Features

64 life on that 81 best 74 rural other boulevard doctors medicine Turn your head and check out Across vast tracts of sparsely An immersive journey among the our curated list of the valley’s top populated Nevada, trained people, culture, history and workaday medical practioners medical professionals are few world of Charleston Boulevard and far between. But new technologies and old-fashioned By Stacy J. Willis 87 gumption are helping some Top communities improve health dentists care. By Heidi Kyser Open wide for our list of highly

rated dental healers Bill H ughes factory: the arts

August 2016 12 DesertCompanion.vegas STORY CREATOR AND DIRECTOR JAMIE KING

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30 departments

All Things 36 business 55 Dining 106 The Guide 23 health A new life Does Las Vegas have 56 the dish Having a Hot August culture! thanks to dental care anything to learn from hoot at The Owl Colorado’s experience By Jason Scavone 112 End note 26 trending Pet with legal marijuana? sharing gives you paws 58 eat this now A Fallen Angel With the issue coming to club for vegans By Andrew Kiraly 28 zeit bites New a vote in November, we school construction — a sent our correspondent 58 cocktail of handy map to Denver to find out. the month Dreamy, By Daniel Hernandez creamy, orangey booze 30 Profile Raising a bar, fighting cancer 60 fork off Three 46 mental health linguines enter; one on the 32 object lesson When my son exhibited linguine leaves cover Nice glass! suicidal tendencies, I By Greg Thilmont thought help would be PHOTOGRAPHY 34 Open Topic My Bill Hughes chomptastic experience easy to find. I was wrong. at UNLV’s dental clinic By Anonymous arger: anthony mair; marijuana: anthony camera; mental health: michael waraksa; sliders:b in orr sa michael waraksa; health: mental anthony camera; anthony mair; marijuana: b arger: derek stone

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VISITTHESMITHCENTERCOM TO SEE THE FULL LINEUP TODAY 702.749.2000 | TTY: 800.326.6868 or dial 711 | For group inquiries call 702.749.2348 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89106 | publisheD By nevada public radio reimagineTHE CLASSROOM How do students with different learning styles learn best? Not by Mission sitting in a two-hour lecture. Interactive learning with peers and Statement instructors “in the round” optimizes student learning and magnifies Desert Companion is the premier city magazine content mastery. Roseman University of Health Sciences has been that celebrates the pursuits, passions and reimagining classroom learning since our inception in 1999. Using aspirations of Southern Nevadans. With award- the Six-Point Mastery Learning Model we train a different kind of winning lifestyle journalism and design, Desert student to thrive and practice in today’s complex world of medicine Companion does more than inform and entertain. We spark dialogue, engage people and define the and patient care. spirit of the Las Vegas Valley.

Challenge. Reimagine. Roseman. Publisher Melanie Cannon Associate Publisher Christine Kiely Learn more at roseman.edu Editor Andrew Kiraly Art Director Christopher Smith deputy editor Scott Dickensheets senior designer Scott Lien staff writer Heidi Kyser Graphic Designer Brent Holmes

Account executives Sharon Clifton, Parker McCoy, Favian Perez, Noelle Tokar, Markus Van’t Hul sales assistant Ashley Smith NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Couture Marketing 145 E 17th Street, Suite B4 New York, NY 10003 (917) 821-4429 advertising@couturemarketing Marketing manager Lisa Kelly print traffic manager Karen Wong Subscription manager Tammy Willis Web administrator Danielle Branton ADVERTISING COPY EDITOR Carla J. Zvosec Contributing writers Noah Cicero, Cybele, Mélanie Hope, Dan Hernan- dez, Jason Scavone, Greg Thilmont, Stacy J. Willis Contributing artists Bill Hughes, Anthony Mair, Chris Morris, Sabin Orr, Michael Waraksa Editorial: Andrew Kiraly, (702) 259-7856; [email protected] Fax: (702) 258-5646 Advertising: Christine Kiely (702) 259-7813; [email protected] Subscriptions: (702) 258-9895; [email protected] Website: www.desertcompanion.vegas Desert Companion is published 12 times a year by Nevada Public Radio, 1289 S. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89146. It is available by subscription at desertcompanion.vegas, or as part of Nevada Public Radio membership. It is also distributed free at select locations in the Las Vegas Valley. All photos, artwork and ad designs printed are the sole property of Desert Companion and may not be duplicated or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The views of Desert Companion contributing writers are not necessarily the views of Desert Companion or Nevada Public Radio. Contact Tammy Willis for back issues, which are available for purchase for $7.95. 11 Sunset Way | Henderson, NV 89014 | 702-990-4433 10530 Discovery Drive | Las Vegas, NV 89135 | 702-802-2841 10920 S. River Front Parkway | South Jordan, UT 84095 | 801-302-2600 ISSN 2157-8389 (print) @rosemanuhs ISSN 2157-8397 (online)

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This craftsman knows how to keep it glassy healthy mouth, healthy life page 32

Community Watch your mouth A new dental-care program for the poor is more than cosmetic. It’s a vital key in preventive health care By Jason Scavone

effery Engle was working in animal control for Carson City in 2009 when he was diagnosed with diabetes. He Jstarted having trouble with his vision, and he had no energy. He couldn’t keep up with the position, so he moved to Las Vegas where he took a job working security. After he was diagnosed, Engle’s teeth started breaking off in little pieces. In the ensuing years, he’d lose a piece here, a whole tooth there. Everyone’s had those nightmares where all their teeth fall out. Living it has to be a horror. By 2013, he

august 2016 illustration chris morris DesertCompanion.vegas 23 ALL Things community Hear more Why do was down to four teeth. He took a job new dental program, but he wasn’t some people medical director Dr. Rebecca working graveyard and started growing prepared for the degree of care go to Mexico Edgeworth puts it, “When out his mustache so no one would have he was going to receive. Dentists for dental their teeth are rotting out of to see the state of his mouth. at the clinic pulled his remaining work? Hear their mouth, I will never be a discussion “It’s embarrassing,” the 51-year-old teeth (which he called a relief, on “KNPR’s able to fix their diabetes.” says. “I got divorced five years ago and even making eating easier) and State of There’s a growing body of I haven’t dated in the last five years due are in the process of doing a full Nevada” research that confirms that oral to my teeth. It’s embarrassing having restoration, providing him with at d e s e rt health is a vital component of companion. people thinking maybe implant-supported dentures. com/hear overall health. The clinic offers "I had no idea you’re on meth. I haven’t “When they first told me about more a broad swath of services, but until I went taken drugs or anything it, I thought maybe they were going once things escalate to the in there. I in my life. It got to the to check out my teeth or clean the few level of surgery, cancer or other major point where it was really broken teeth I had left,” he said. “I had maladies, there’s a point where it goes started crying. embarrassing just to talk to no idea until I went in there. I started beyond the scope. The hope is that by I didn’t think anybody.” crying. I didn’t think this would ever providing comprehensive, preventive this would He was making too happen at this point in my life. I thought care, it doesn’t get that far. ever happen much money to qualify the rest of my life would be spent as a “Health begins in the mouth,” Wyatt for Medicaid, but not toothless old man." says. “Anything that’s going on in the at this point enough to afford private The program currently has six local body taxes your system to cure it. If in my life. I insurance. It was a grind dentists who volunteer, headed by Dr. you have periodontal disease, your thought the just to pay for insulin and Lydia Wyatt, who has been practicing body is constantly trying to get rid of blood pressure medication, dentistry in Las Vegas since 2004. The that infection. Your body is trying to rest of my all while his mouth was in clinic also involves students from Rose- heal it. That motor never gets turned life would be constant pain and he was man University and UNLV’s School of off to rest. It’s taxing, much like spent as drained from fighting off Dental Medicine where up-and-coming cardiovascular disease. Your blood infections. dentists can learn in a real-world setting. cells carry these antibodies in it and it a toothless Engle’s niece, a former makes the blood cells thick and heavy. old man." registered nurse, suggested Open wide It makes your arteries have to push he apply to be a patient at The Ruffin Family Clinic is a bright and work hard to get that thick blood Volunteers in Medicine of and winding complex that houses through the whole system. That makes Southern Nevada. The clinic is open to new equipment, an on-site pharmacy, your heart work harder. Some of the people whose household income is less multiple examination rooms, and now bacteria that live in our mouth we than 200 percent of the federal poverty a four-room suite for dental exams, now know have high associations with level (currently, that means $23,760 including X-rays. More than 5,300 ulcers, with colon cancers. Recently, for one-person households, scaling appointments were given to patients within the last year, there’s been a up according to the number of people in 2015, and that number is expected huge correlation with Alzheimer’s dis- under one roof ) and have no private or to top 6,500 this year, including dental ease. It’s complete care, and dentistry public health insurance. appointments. has to be part of it to be successful.” At a $9-an-hour job, Engle fit the bill. It’s all in the service of providing com- Engle had molds of his mouth taken He joined up two and a half years ago, prehensive care, including mental health July 8. Once he gets his temporary and was eligible for medical services and services, to underserved patients. Those dentures and strengthens his jaw, he’ll prescriptions at the Paradise Park Clinic types of patients can often encompass be able to get posts placed so he can on Harrison Drive. But that still didn’t recent immigrants who wouldn’t yet snap the implant-supported ones into help out the situation with his teeth. qualify for Medicaid; those who are place in his mouth, and live with a fully After Volunteers in Medicine added a disabled who are receiving disability restored set of teeth. If he doesn’t want second location, the Ruffin Family Clinic income but haven’t become eligible for to stay there, that means he can start on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, in Medicare, which typically takes two taking jobs that aren’t on the night shift. September, though, comprehensive care years to kick in; patients who didn’t pay He can live in the daylight again. became possible. The clinic expanded into the Medicare system earlier in life; “They’re the greatest bunch of peo- to offer dental services in April, and the and the working poor. ple,” he said of the clinic’s staff. “They clinic is going so far as to integrate social Those types of people may already sit and listen to you. They seem to really and behavioral services by the end of be suffering from ailments that are care, be concerned about everybody. I’ve the year. exacerbated by an inability to do things never had a bad experience there. It’s Engle was tapped to participate in the like eat a proper diet. As the clinic’s always been really positive.”

August 2016 24 DesertCompanion.vegas CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF FINE DINING

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business Send Rover right over Local startup Let's Join Paws aims to match owners of lonely pets with people who need a furry friend

By heidi kyser

hat do cars, homes, snow- boards and Spot all have in Wcommon? They’re part of the sharing economy — through Lyft, Airbnb, Spinlister and Let’s Join Paws, respectively. That last one, a pet-sharing service, is connects with someone in his area who Existing apps such as Rovr are for paid based right here in Southern Nevada. would love to spend time with a pet but professionals, and Moss says Let’s Join “People would have had trouble wrap- can’t commit to owning one — for health Paws is not transactional. It’s meant to ping their brains around it a few years ago,” or financial reasons, say. The two meet, work as it did for Barbara Caddoo. says Henderson resident Cheryl Moss, check each other out, and, if it seems like a After a stroke and car accident put Cad- who cofounded Let’s Join Paws with her good fit, arrange to “share” the pet. (What doo in the Kingman hospital last year, she husband, Russ Petersen, in 2014. “But happens after that is their responsibility, couldn’t speak, so no one could figure out today, we share our homes, our cars. It’s Moss notes.) When one neighbor is sick, why she refused to return to Las Vegas for easier to understand.” the other could volunteer to care for his urgently needed treatment. Hospital staff Moss works in the appraisal depart- cat. If a dog barks a lot during his owner’s called a contact in her phone, J.C. Melvin, ment at Bank of Nevada. For years, she long workday, a volunteer could alleviate CEO of Keller Williams Realty Southwest. says, she thought about what she’d do in the dog’s loneliness. Melvin and his wife drove to Kingman life after banking. Inspiration struck while Pet owners will immediately imagine and, after a couple hours with their friend watching an episode of the Dog Whisperer. the risks involved. A car or apartment can of 34 years, figured out that she wouldn’t In it, a family piled into the car, drove be insured and repaired, but can a stranger come home without her dogs Pookie and down the street and dropped their dog off be trusted with a member of the family? Muffin, who’d been placed in a Kingman at a retired neighbor’s house. “The critical piece is the vetting process,” shelter. Melvin promised to bring Pookie “The dog had two homes,” Moss says. Kenny Lamberti, director of strategic and Muffin back to Las Vegas, and Caddoo “The retiree got the benefit of having the engagement for the Human Society of the agreed to get in the ambulance. dog’s companionship, and the family got U.S., says. “You’d have to make really sure But what to do with the dogs then? some company for their dog.” there are safeguards in place, but that’s Melvin had no idea. Through a mutual She and Petersen launched Let’s Join true of dog-walkers and -sitters, too. Lots friend, he connected with Petersen and Paws at the Animal Foundation’s annual of pets struggle with a change of envi- found a family that fostered Caddoo’s dogs Best in Show fundraiser two years ago. ronment, or being left with someone they during her eight-month convalescence, Three website designs later, Moss says it’s don’t know. The most important consider- even taking them for weekly visits to the finally operating the way they imagined. ation would be the dog’s well-being, safety facility where she was healing. Recently, People willing to spend time with dogs and quality of life, and not the humans’.” Caddoo, Pookie and Muffin were reunited. join for free; those looking for someone to That said, Lamberti acknowledges “I was impressed with Let’s Join Paws,” spend time with their pets pay a fee rang- the therapeutic effect of having a furry Melvin says. “I know that without it those ing from $19.99 to $83.88 a month, with critter around and the potential benefit to dogs would have been either put down or services increasing proportionate to fees. everyone involved if a good match is made. otherwise gone, and Barbara would never In an ideal scenario, a pet owner He says he’s heard of similar concepts in have seen them again. … And they were who has to leave his pet at home alone recent years, but it’s not a common service. everything to her.”

August 2016 26 DesertCompanion.vegas ILLUSTRATION BRENT HOLMES THE 2016-2017 SEASON Subscriptions and single tickets on sale now. Attractive group pricing available. Tickets starting at just $30 • lvphil.org • 702.749.2000

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10, 2016 SATURDAY, OCT. 8, 2016 SATURDAY, NOV. 5, 2016 Opening night soars SUNDAY, OCT. 9, 2016 A trilogy of powerhouse with vivid lyricism Symphonic blockbusters composers

SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 2016 SATURDAY, JAN. 14, 2017 SATURDAY, FEB. 4, 2017 SUNDAY, DEC. 4, 2016 Inaugural performances A fantastic and A traditional holiday celebration of three works celebratory concert

SATURDAY, MAR. 4, 2017 SATURDAY, APR. 1, 2017 SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2017 SUNDAY, MAR. 5, 2017 Evocative, poetic and Theatrics and daring abound Star Wars and beyond life-affirming in this hearty program 2 ALL Things zeit bites 1 8 Lake Mead EDUCATION 4 Washingotn

Alta Charelston New Oakey 3 Sahara

Desert Inn kids Spring Mountain Flamingo on the Tropicana 7

Patrick block 9 Sunset 5 Your guide to new Windmill school construction

The Clark County School District wasted no time taking advantage of legislation that granted it 10 years of bonding authority for 6 Cactus new school construction and renovation. Here’s what the resulting $4.1 billion is being spent on so far: One 34-elementary-school-classroom addition, noted in red ; two replacement elementary schools, designed to accommodate 850 students each ; and six new, still-unnamed elementaries designed for 850 students each Heidi Kyser

3. Rex Bell Elementary School 6. Chartan Avenue and Pioneer Way 2900 Wilmington Way, Las Vegas How big: 100,399 square feet 1. West Prep Academy How big: 107,842-square-feet How much: $29 million budget 2050 Sapphire Stone Ave., Las Vegas (replacing original built in 1963) When: May 2017 How big: 54,554-square-feet How much: $28 million (addition to existing campus) 7. Dave and Wood Galleria When: June 2017 How much: $15 million (funding from the How big: 101,620 square feet 1998 Capital Improvement Program) How much: $29 million When: June 2017 When: June 2017 4. Antelope Ridge 8. Lamb and Kell Lane and Desert Foothills (adjacent to Ruben P. Diaz Elementary School) How big: 101,620 square feet 2. Lincoln Elementary School How big: 100,913 square feet How much: $27 million budget 3010 Berg St. N., North Las Vegas How much: $24 million When: July 2017 How big: 105,992-square-feet (replacing When: July 2017 original built in 1955) 5. Arville and Mesa Verde 9. Maule and Grand Canyon How much: $28 million How big: 100,532 square feet How big: 100,532 square feet When: June 2017 How much: $28 million budget How much: $24 million When: May 2017 When: June 2017

cocktail The Velveteen Rabbit bar on Main Street will be the setting for director Troy Heard’s theater version of the Jazz Age murder mystery, The Cat’s Meow. Steven Peros’ play is based on the real death, in 1924, of a guest aboard William Randolph Hearst’s yacht, in the company of glamorous Hollywood figures.T he production will flow throughout the bar, as though viewers were at the party. We asked Heard about the show. ¶ What about this play lends itself to this immersive staging? Stepping into Velveteen Rabbit is like falling into a rabbit hole: It’s dark, quirky and unique. You feel like you’re in a private club. That’s what made The Cat’s Meow a perfect fit. You feel like you’re at an exclusive party hobnobbing with the elite, and that’s exactly what it would’ve been like aboard Hearst’s yacht. ¶ Are there special challenges created by the site regarding such basics as positioning the audience? During rehearsal, we were very conscious of “spreading the love” — if one part of the bar had prime viewing of a scene, we made sure the next scene favored the other end. But the audience response after our workshop was great. Folks said that even if they couldn’t see one moment, they still caught it, and it added much to the cocktail-party atmosphere. 7p, Sundays August 7-September 4, Velveteen Rabbit, $25, brownpapertickets.com/event/2567899

august 2016 28 DesertCompanion.vegas Photography Richard Brusky CONTROL YOUR DIABETES WITH

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profile Derek Stonebarger skin cancer diagnosis was bad enough. Far worse was that it spread to his throat. Doctors had feeding tubes in Ahis stomach, but the chemo-induced regurgitation still took its traditional route. After surgery to remove cancer-infested lymph nodes, this was tremendously painful. But in the middle of that, Derek Stonebarger had a bit of a revelation: Sign a lease now, and what’s the worst that can happen?

Lot of upside there, really. So, in the Some of the stock in the joint goes way midst of treatment for cancer that saw him back — there are light fixtures from the go to UCLA on a day’s notice in September, Riviera and buffet booths from the Silver Stonebarger got his plans on lockdown for Slipper. It’s a Craigslist Chic aesthetic, but ReBar, a new spot on Main Street where there’s still quite a bit of forward-looking everything is for sale, from the glasses you planning going into the operation. The drink out of to the décor on the walls to the cocktail menu will be limited to a handful, stools you’re sitting on. Just, uh, don’t take but each one will be tied to a local charity. that too far. We’re pretty sure it stops with The Preservation Press, for example, the girl at the end of the bar. will kick a portion of the proceeds to the Nevada Preservation Foundation. Stonebarger helped turn Atomic Liquors from historical down-and-out When the call came in from UCLA watering hole to historical hipster spot that they wanted to start treatment in 2013. But the idea for ReBar had the next day, Stonebarger had to drop always been with him, starting from the everything and get out to Los Angeles. revelation at 14 years old that he could That is, as one would imagine, more fix up old cars and flip them for profit. than a little spendy. “I’ve always done that with antiques,” “In order to do that, I spent a substan- Stonebarger said. “It’s always been a tial amount of money, but who cares, I’m side project of mine. I’ve flipped stuff, about to die,” Stonebarger said. “With and I love the bar business. I spend a lot what I had left I said I’m going to throw of money myself when I get drunk, so I it all at this idea. I’ve wanted to do this figured other people probably do too.” forever. I don’t want to wait another Stonebarger signed the lease on moment of my life to do it. It was like, the former Amberjoy’s Vintage Closet I’m going to get this place open, even if location in November, smack in the this cancer is going to beat me. I think middle of chemo and radiation. Let it of things differently now. I think I’m never be said that your Saturday morn- willing to take more risks, and do what ing housecleaning with a hangover is I’m really passionate about with the rest that productive. of my life, no matter how long it is.” Jason Scavone

August 2016 30 DesertCompanion.vegas photography anthony mair August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 31 ALL Things community

To the soft-spoken Australian expat, it’s another example of the magical things you can make with glass — and, he says, a delicate token of a dying art form. Shield is the owner of the Hall of Antiquities shop in the Boulevard Mall and Studio Royal Glass Blowing Acade- my. He’s one of only a few glassblowers in Southern Nevada. Shield’s attraction to the craft was part romance, part pragmatism. As a kid living in the Gold Coast of Australia, he used to watch with fascination the glassblowers plying their craft in the markets and malls. And, after several years as an apprentice in a glass art factory, upon leaving he was at a career crossroads. “It was either going from the glassblowing apprenticeship to a studio or becoming the manager of a McDonald’s franchise,” he says. (Noting that most people nowadays would sooner buy cheap, mass-produced glassware from China than a handcrafted piece of art, he jokes that, hm, maybe he should’ve taken the McDonald’s gig.) Which isn’t to say that he didn’t suffer for his art along the way; when Shield first arrived in Las Vegas in 1994, he drove a cab for five years to pay the bills while he built his glassblowing business. “I had t’s kind of an epiphany when glass a studio in Henderson where I would Object lesson craftsman Robert Shield mat- teach students between rides, or after I Iter-of-factly points to a glittering finished my shift.” orb in his display case and says, “ ... and He’s been at the Boulevard Mall for Keeping that’s a vintage marble I made from about a year and a half now, but the dichro glass ...” majority of his business is from teach- Wait. You mean, like the marbles I ing glasscraft to eager new students. it glassy played with, collected, fawned over as a His charmingly cluttered shop is full Robert Shield is a master kid, rapt at how each seemed to contain of eye-catching curios and antiques, craftsman of a dying art form its own tiny blossoming cosmos? Yes, but it’s his glass creations that inspire there it is, a speckled supernova trapped double-takes. Here are a few of his By Andrew Kiraly in a gleaming sphere. And he made it! favorite things.

August 2016 32 DesertCompanion.vegas Photography christopher smith This is a replica of a horse and carriage that Shield made and sent to Prince Andrew and Sara Ferguson in 1986. “I had it sent from Sydney as a wedding gift.” He shipped it unsolicited, and he got a legit thank-you letter from Buckingham Palace in return. It took about 10 hours to make. He also made a glass tiger for — you guessed it — Siegfried and Roy.

This modest-looking glass leaf represents the gateway to glasscraft. This is the first thing students learn to make before moving on to bottle stoppers, pendants, icicles and marbles. “Glassmaking is a dying art,” Shield says. “But I try to keep it alive. That’s Glass swan. Don’t let why I do my Groupons and Living Socials for the delicate curves teaching classes.” When they get advanced fool you. These represent enough, many students clamor to learn how to workaday creation that make — you guessed it — pipes. harkens back to his glass factory days in Australia. “When I started in the factory, we made hand- blown swans all day. Not many glassblowers do hand-blown swans from a hollow tube.”

This is a marble Shield made from dichroic (or the more slangy “dichro”) glass, which is glass combined with metal Bird’s nest. “My very first piece was a little oxides to give it a sparkling, iridescent look. bird’s nest,” Shield recalls. “I did hundreds, Marbles are made through a painstaking thousands of them (for practice).” His latest process of shaping, layering, and then placed obsession is his “La mer” series — coral, dolphin, in a round mold and heated one more time in octopi — which he hope will sell briskly when the a kiln before being polished. Boulevard Mall opens its SeaQuest aquarium.

August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 33 ALL Things open topic

health

a prescription for pain pills. Because I have the Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check Up Card I didn’t have to pay for the emergency-room visit, but a few weeks later I received a receipt for its cost: approximately $1,800 for 20 minutes. I didn’t think it would be so much. If the bill had been $400 or $600, I would have thought, Whatever, rich people can pay it. But at $1,800, I felt bad. I didn’t mean to take so much money, rich people. When I got to the UNLV Dental Clin- ic, the waiting room was full of sad, poor people. People were complaining. One said the doctors messed up her teeth. Another looked like he had spent years living in the tunnels beneath Las Vegas. I was brought to a room, and they X-rayed my teeth. A young man, who looked so tired he could have fallen right to sleep, begged me not to get my tooth ex- tracted. I was too young to lose my teeth, he said, and it would only cost $800 total for a root canal and a crown. He wanted to help me, he believed that I could find the money, that I should keep my tooth. I believed him. “Okay,” I said, “let’s do it.” The young man quickly fixed the infection and put some globs on the crack to seal it. Then I had to register and commit to several appointments in order to get help from the clinic. I agreed to the whole thing. I needed my tooth Tooth and fixed, and also it seemed interesting to me, all these young science people doing things. I’m a humanities person, and all consequences my friends are humanities people. This would be a new experience. How the UNLV dental clinic fixed my mouth By Noah Cicero What I learned later was that dental students seek out patients who are reli- uring the summer of 2013, while I was living at the Grand Canyon, my left top able. In order to graduate, they must have molar cracked; a good-sized chunk just disappeared. I wondered if I had I eat- a certain number of experiences doing Den it. Can a person eat chunks of their teeth and live? I kept living. Two years each procedure. They need patients who later, in August 2015, now in Las Vegas, the cracked tooth began to hurt. Then my face will show up to multiple appointments, started to hurt, and eventually I had a pulsating headache. I didn’t know what to do. on time, over several weeks. But the I had Obamacare (Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check Up card). But the Nevada people who need the clinic’s services Medicaid and Nevada Check Up Card doesn’t cover routine dental care like fillings have very limited income. Most receive and root canals, only extractions. After the pain became unbearable, or at least terribly government aid and a lot rely on public annoying, I went to a local hospital to see if I could get an extraction. The hospital was transportation. The students often talked state-of-the-art. People were helped quickly and everyone was friendly. As I waited, two about how a patient didn’t show up. I young men handed me a pamphlet for the UNLV Dental Clinic. Then a doctor gave me must have looked reliable that morning.

august 2016 34 DesertCompanion.vegas ILLUSTRATION brent holmes When Nick pulled out the mold for my crown, he looked at it in his hand with a huge smile. I understood then: This was his art, his beauty. Science kids have their art, too.

The first step was scheduling two their bachelors’ degrees, all the tests in three-hour examinations. I was given a their dental classes, culminated in this new doctor, a young man with glasses final exam. After each student completed and a caring smile. I will call him Nick. his quadrant, I was led to another room, Nick started by giving me one X-ray where dentists from the board would after another. I lay in silence while he inspect my mouth to determine if the said “lingual” and “mesial” over and students would pass. The room was over, “lingual,” “mesial,” “lingual,” “mesi- strangely dark. I was put into a seat, and al.” It’s the mantra of dental students. three experienced dentists, all in their After six hours of studying my teeth, 50s or 60s, came over one at a time. They making molds and noting every piece of looked at my mouth, then at the comput- calculus, it was time for the root canal. er screen showing my X-rays, then back This was done by the tired young at my mouth, then back at the X-rays, man I met earlier. He looked a bit less and made notes. It seemed like the older tired now. It took two three-hour visits. generation was doing its best to usher I had to keep a rubber bag thing on my in the younger dentists, which made me face, and a block in my mouth. For three feel like I was participating in something hours. The student didn’t seem happy bigger than myself. about root canals on upper molars. I felt Both students who tested on my teeth bad for the guy. It seemed like he was passed. They’ll go on to become dentists, fighting a small war with my face. have careers and perform a service to After the root canal Nick gave me a our communities. crown, which took three more sessions. As the students spoke to me and to I wasn’t worried about the students each other, I learned that many owed messing up my teeth. Nick showed such more than $250,000 in student loans. confidence and enthusiasm, I believed None of the students I talked with had he could do it. Every time I felt pain, working-class families. They may have they gave me another shot. Surprisingly, had some tuition help from their parents I rarely felt in pain. When Nick pulled but had still accumulated $250,000 in out the mold for my crown, he looked student loans. What amazed me most, as at it in his hand with a huge smile. I a working-class person from a town in understood then: This was his art, his Ohio where no one dreams of becoming beauty. Science kids have their art, too. a dentist or doctor, was that these In March, the Western Regional Exam- students weren’t afraid of this $250,000. ination Board, which is like the bar exam They had absolute faith that they would for dental students, came to Las Vegas. be able to pay it off. I was asked to participate, but I had to The UNLV dental school saved me; show up, I needed to show up, on time. if not for the clinic, I would have had to If a patient misses this appointment, see a normal dentist and pay at least a the student has to go to Los Angeles or thousand dollars more, which I couldn’t Phoenix to take the tests. I was scheduled have done. I wouldn’t have received an for an SRP, a super tooth-cleaning, which SRP cleaning, and now my gums don’t for testing purposes is only done on one bleed, and my mouth is like new. If I still quadrant of the mouth. I would have two lived in Youngstown, where there isn’t a 501 S. Rancho Drive, Suite A8 Las Vegas, Nevada 89106 quadrants done. Nick would test on one, dental school for 60 miles, I would have and another student I hadn’t met would been fated to lose my teeth. do the other. On my last visit with Nick, he told me 8460 S. Eastern Avenue, Suite C That morning, the students were it was his last week before graduation Henderson, Nevada 89074 nervous but excited. This was the and that I was his last patient. He moment, the final test. All the tests they’d thanked me for showing up on time and ever taken, from kindergarten through being reliable.

august 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 35 business Green and gold There’s a lucrative pot rush under way in Colorado. With Nevada about to vote on recreational marijuana, a few lessons from that Rocky Mountain high By Dan Hernandez

[DENVER, COLORADO] he first thing Mike Eymer says Green mind: to the 30 or so people on his limo Mike Eymer bus is not a greeting — not hel- of Colorado lo or welcome to Colorado Canna- Cannabis Tours T bis Tours — it’s a question: “Why isn’t anybody smoking weed?” That’s his way of telling us to go ahead, light up. we are certified public accountants from Medical marijuana was approved by This is a party bus, after all. The air of Houston, a pet-hotel worker from Utah, referendum in 2000, yet the state wait- giddy excitement begs to be choked by professors from New Hampshire and a ed 15 years to ratify the law, and that re- cough-inducing marijuana smoke, so retired salesman from Cleveland who, luctance is still around. During the most a young man next to me lights the first I’m told as an aside, visits Las Vegas once recent legislative session, pols ignored joint. He and his friends drove all the a year. “We stay at the MGM. My wife the opportunity to directly approve rec- way from Salt Lake City to experience likes the smell there,” he says. reational marijuana use. It’s a tough vote buying and smoking weed legally. “Now Speaking of odors, it reeks of a skunky to cast for any politician, which is why there’s some smoke in here. That’s bet- grassfire on this bus. A haze, too, lingers every state and territory to adopt recre- ter,” Eymer says. We’re three minutes heavily enough to make it difficult to see ational marijuana — Colorado, Washing- into a Denver marijuana industry tour the office workers trolling for lunch, the ton, Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. and already folks are getting high. exasperated drivers stuck next to us in — has done so through a public vote. But the guide also wants to survey our traffic, the brick buildings and skyscrap- According to Ballotpedia, 20 states sobriety levels. “Has anyone consumed ers on all sides of us as we lurch through have referendums for some form of alcohol today?” It’s only 11 a.m., but a downtown Denver. Thankfully the driv- marijuana legalization this November, couple from Texas says yes. “And how er has an enclosed cabin; he’s walled-off including California and Arizona, and about edibles? Come on guys, who ate from the weed part of this weed tour. among those, Nevada is widely consid- weed brownies for breakfast?” Pot-in- Wouldn’t want him getting a contact high. ered among the states most likely to pass fused desserts are a hit with tourists, and, Now, my bearings only slightly altered, cannabis use for all citizens of legal age. indeed, someone in the back visited Gan- I’ll focus on what Denver’s marijuana ex- But what would that look like? ja Gourmet this morning. perience can teach Las Vegas. If it happens, Eymer may be the one Rap music tumbles from the speaker Nevadans will consider legalizing pot to show you. The enterprising dude be- system — Dr. Dre’s The Chronic — as Ey- for recreational use in November. The hind Colorado Cannabis Tours launched mer distributes pre-rolled joints like he’s ballot initiative, Question 2, asks the state a website for Sin City Cannabis Tours on the pothead Red Cross. What were mis- to treat cannabis like alcohol. Anyone 21 this very afternoon. chievous grins now curl into goofy smiles. and older would be allowed to purchase “As soon as it passes, we’ll start doing Eymer — the Ken Kesey to our band of up to an ounce from licensed dispensa- this exact same thing there,” he says. Merry Pranksters — asks from whence ries, just like medical marijuana card- “We looked at all the states and picked we all hail and learns, for instance, that holders have been able to since July 2015. California and Nevada because of the

august 2016 36 DesertCompanion.vegas Photography Anthony camera number of tourists. “I’m a travel agent — I have to go where my money is,” he adds. “I went to Vegas on an exploratory trip and saw the tourists and said, ‘I see all my people. These people are on my weed buses every Saturday.’” In a separate vehicle behind us, a large group of millennials is celebrating a marijuana-infused bache- lor party. So I get what he means about following his clientele. And here is what the marijuana tourism thing is all about: getting ripped with a bunch of other friendly “flower” aficiona- dos, scoring high-end product and finally seeing what a buttoned-up version of the long-prohibited industry can achieve.

* * * * * he first stop is one of the largest marijuana producers in Denver, Riv- T erRock Cannabis. It’s a hot, dank warehouse divided into multiple grow rooms, each with hundreds of plants in various stages of cultivation. Wearing a lime green suit and trucker hat, its operations chief delivers a heady lesson on cloning, nurturing and harvesting weed. We learn all about the different strains and their myriad effects, and the amateur botanists in the group are really riveted by his green-thumb wonkiness. But I’m more interested in this building. It’s an old brick bus depot. The neigh- bors include more aging warehouses; down the street is a mobile home park, and in the near distance one can see (and smell) a Pu- rina dog food factory. So of course this is some of the hottest real estate in Denver. According to the commercial property firm CBRE, one-third of all industrial leases signed in Denver between 2009 and 2014 were inked by marijuana companies. Since then, the industry’s footprint has expanded further, the results of which are an extremely low vacancy rate and, naturally, a rise in all commercial property values. Those buildings with so-called “magical zoning” — located at the required distance from schools and other marijuana growers, licensed for “light industrial” use and fitted for high power capacity — have doubled in value. Vacant and dilapidated buildings fetched bids in the millions during peak demand. In fact, a statewide real estate boom has been one of recreational marijuana’s most profound side effects.

august 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 37 business

Wealthy real-estate trusts from New York are now purchasing buildings in Colorado, Oregon and Washington with the sole intention of renting them to marijuana companies. The trend inspired a recent Inc. magazine article titled “The Marijuana Business Is Really the Real Es- tate Business,” which also reported that cannabis companies are emerging as property barons themselves. Since the plant is still federally illegal, banks won’t accept their cash, and thus real estate purchases are the safest way to invest their funds. “The big rush happened in 2015,” says Bob Costello, a Denver broker. “It’s been

fabulous for real-estate people. I know Leaves of grass: Nevada’s market has experienced some tion system snaking Denver’s new problems. This should pick it up pretty overhead, and I’m pot industry good, especially on the industrial side.” reminded of other may hold some But a backlash has occurred in neighbor- groups capitalizing lessons for Las hoods saturated with grow houses. Some on the frenzy. It’s not Vegas. residents complain that the buildings emit just “trees” these in- foul odors and can harm an area’s image. stallations are feed- For that reason, Denver issued a morato- ing. rium on industrial licenses. The city has “HVAC guys, electricians, building 450 cannabis business licenses in effect maintenance-type guys, those people are now, including retail shops, confectionary in high demand now a lot more than they kitchens, testing labs and cultivation sites. were before,” says Pat Early, RiverRock’s Limiting that growth has caused producers director of cultivation. “The green rush to expand into other Colorado towns. has gone through a lot of different indus- What’s been harder to regulate is the tries that are related to us.” industry’s effect on the housing market. Many renters and first-time homebuyers * * * * * believe pot legalization has contribut- ack on the bus, Eymer is lighting a ed to a surge in demand that is driving 15-inch steamroller pipe for a Dela- prices so high that working- and mid- B ware college student. The tube fills dle-class Denverites can hardly afford with thick smoke, she heaves it in, then to live in their hometown. In the two exhales slowly, letting it billow from her years since Colorado legalized marijua- lips in volcanic plumes. er anyone intends to drive after this little na sales, median home prices in Denver I have a rule against smoking from de- weedfest is finished. That’s a concern for have risen 26 percent. vices larger than my head. It’s a policy that Nevada lawmakers too — whether people Costello, who is also a landlord, has serves my life well, and in this context I will drive under the influence of marijua- increased his tenants’ rent 30 percent begin wondering how blazed everyone na. It wouldn’t exactly be a new problem, since 2014. He receives regular phone is. Our group seems to include both the though. Marijuana is plentiful in every calls from people interested in moving several-times-a-day smokers and those city whether it’s legal or not. And Den- to Colorado to grow pot in their base- for whom weed is a once-in-a-while thing ver hasn’t seen a significant uptick in pot ments. “I don’t allow that at all,” he says. — marijuana tourists in every sense of the DUIs since recreational cannabis use was “But I still benefit from it because it’s term — but I can’t say anyone looks partic- allowed, but in any case, Colorado sher- hard to rent a house right now. ularly stoned. Now, this could be the result iffs are piloting new technology that de- “No one will admit it officially,” he of our intimate social setting. People are tects marijuana on saliva samples, making adds, regarding the theory that pot le- still making small talk, still trying to put roadside tests more efficient. galization is attracting people to the their most impressive selves forward. But We pull up to Medicine Man, the city’s state, “but, my god, what other thing everyone seems to know their limits, too. largest marijuana retailer. Security guards caused this massive influx?” Offers to “hit this” are graciously declined check IDs, then we line up to consult a During the RiverRock tour, I peek into as often as they are accepted. “budtender,” the salesclerk who doubles a room with dozens of grow lights hang- When Eymer hands off a large glass as a cannabis sommelier. This is not your ing from the ceiling, an elaborate ventila- bong, I do get to worrying, though, wheth- dad’s reefer, nor is it your older sister’s

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august 2016 40 DesertCompanion.vegas than 2014’s. This year is likely to set an even school spending. When averaged with shops sprout up around town, the answer higher benchmark. April saw a new month- poor scores in student achievement and is ostensibly no. A June report from Colo- ly sales record — $117.4 million in 30 days, long-term chances of success, the Nevada rado’s health department showed that al- netting the state more than $17 million in school system ranked 51st in the nation. cohol remains the drug of choice for teens. taxes and fees — and overall cannabis reve- Yet if we do legalize pot for the sake of About 20 percent of those surveyed ad- nues have surged 53 percent in 2016. the children, state officials should prob- mitted to smoking pot in the last 30 days, Some Las Vegas entrepreneurs have ably also consider adopting Colorado’s same as before the law changed. Some- guessed that, if regulated kindly, Sin City kid-inspired regulations. Edible mari- what surprisingly, the number of admit- might beat those figures on its own. But juana can no longer be marked as can- ted users has declined slightly since 2009, a more sober assessment from the Las dy, and there is a movement underway when the state began permitting medical Vegas consulting firm RCG Economics to ban animal- and fruit-shaped edibles, marijuana dispensaries. found that a $60 million annual tax boon since on multiple occasions, children who These figures are in line with a national is likely for Nevada. thought they were eating Mom and Dad’s average that has remained flat since 2010. And if the referendum passes, Nevada gummy bears or peach rings had inad- intends to use much of that revenue for vertently broken into their parents’ weed * * * * * K-12 education, just like Colorado, an ar- stash. Numerous hospitalizations have he party bus seems quieter after we rangement that ought to tantalize Clark occurred because adults, children or pets switch from rap to reggae. Bob Mar- County parents whose children attend accidentally consumed large quantities of T ley has a sedative effect all his own, schools where the air conditioning fre- edible THC. Childproof packaging, poten- but it’s probably the bong rips that have quently breaks down, ceilings leak and cy limits, clear labeling and individually chilled everyone out. A TV showing clips some classes are taught in crowded trail- wrapped serving sizes are now required. from the movie Half Baked draws scat- ers. In its most recent national report, As to whether high school kids are tered giggles — “Man, I remember when Education Week gave Nevada an “F” in more likely to smoke cannabis when these a dime bag cost a dime!” — and some of

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us try to remember other quotes from the marijuana theme. Have you ever tried a bus like Eymer’s and other sign-up events film but can’t. That’s when Eymer dis- zip line … on weed? Well, maybe not any are the only options available for these visi- tributes munchies, gummy bears that he service, but one can certainly imagine Ve- tors to socialize around their favorite plant. assures us are only that, gummies in the gas spas offering a cannabis massage. In Eymer believes the first major city to allow shape of bears. The move toward sobri- Denver, some practitioners of deep-tis- cannabis bars will emerge as the favored ety is fitting because our last stop is one sue bodywork provide a weed-oil rub to destination for pot tourists, be it Denver, of the industry’s ancillary businesses that “increase muscle sensitivity and provide San Francisco, L.A. or Las Vegas. benefit from the law without actually a soothing sensation long after the mas- But there’s reason to believe Nevada growing or selling cannabis themselves. sage has been completed.” would be competitive simply by allowing We’re going to see a glass-blower make a We gather in the glass-blower’s studio recreational sales. “I’d go to Vegas more bong from scratch. around a 2,000-degree oven in which the if that were the case,” says the Salt Lake Even though he identifies as a travel artist spins a round piece of blue glass on City man. “So would I,” adds the Cleve- agent, Eymer is one of these “potrepre- the end of a steel pole. In the corner are lander who already visits once a year. neurs” too. He doesn’t merely offer tours, finished pieces, including vases and gob- Still, what would that look like? he books visitors with “420-friendly” lets, because like any good businessman Would it look like this? The hotels and signs them up for marijuana he has diversified. glass-blower has a variety of tools for cooking classes, glass pipe-making work- The next big trend will likely be the mar- sculpting molten glass. Tweezers, wet shops and a “Puff, Pass & Paint” event in ijuana café. Public consumption is still ille- paddle cups, scissors and a cooling table. which tourists channel their inner Bob gal in Colorado (only Alaska permits weed Just like Colorado depends on a number Ross — paint happy little trees after burn- lounges) and that has proved frustrating for of agencies and regulatory measures to ing some grass. tourists who are not always content to puff keep its marijuana industry in check, so As Nevadans may eventually learn, just alone in their hotels. A petition is in the does the artist rely on helpers and in- about any product or service can adopt a works to change this, but for now a party struments to craft each piece.

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He spins the molten glass continuous- ly and returns it to the oven every five seconds so the object doesn’t droop or harden into an ugly shape. New tints are added, and as it gets closer to completion, when the piece becomes larger and more unwieldy, assistants jump in to help fuse on new parts, cool or reheat the piece. Best Its bulbous base is given a flat-bottomed stand to keep it upright. He adds signa- ture accents then spins it in the oven more, responding always to the effects of Doctors air and gravity. Someone asks if he ever breaks them. The answer, of course, is yes, but that he has learned from those + TOP DENTISTS mistakes and adjusted his technique. If the glass blower is Denver, and if Denver is the model for legalizing cannabis, then you could say Denver is what Vegas might be, so I guess the glass blow- issue er is Vegas and his shiny new bong is our potential new industry, fragile and worth a lot of cash. Or maybe I’m still high. party * * * * * ack on the bus, as we return to the afternoon’s meet-up site, Cheba Hut Join us thursday, august 18th at Roseman University B Toasted Subs, Eymer gives a rousing at 5:30 pm as we celebrate the Las Vegas valley’s Best speech about the ballot initiatives this fall. Talking about how no one should go Doctors featured in the August issue of Desert Companion. to jail for having a weed bag in his pocket, Our 4th annual Best Doctors Issue Party will be held at he lobbies for us to get involved with mar- the Roseman University Summerlin Campus. Enjoy ijuana rights groups and to vote. light bites and specialty cocktails, in celebration of our top “They’re never going to give it to you,” medical practitioners in the community. he says of lawmakers, everywhere. “You’re going to have to gather signatures and gave RSVP by August 16th at www.desertcompanion.vegas it to the Legislature and say, put this bill on the ballot and we’re gonna vote on it.” Despite opposition from the state’s wealthiest political donor, billionaire Sheldon Adelson; despite antipathy from An event sponsored by institutions working together to create a the entire gaming industry and extreme future of medical excellence in Nevada reticence from all but a few brave lawmakers, that’s not just happening in Ne- vada, it has happened. Marijuana legalization is up for a vote and most observers believe its passage a fait accompli. “You shouldn’t have to come all the MARQUEE SPONSOR ASSOCIATE SPONSORS way here to experience true freedom in Thank you to our sponsors working together to create a future of the United States of America,” he adds. medical excellence in Nevada “I’m glad you did, and I made a living off it, but this ends for me one day. One day, the whole the tourism thing goes away and for a damn good reason: because we got it legal everywhere.”

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氀瘀搀猀⸀挀漀洀 mental health ‘I swear I will!’ When my son threatened suicide, I thought help would be a phone call away. Instead, I entered a maze of false hopes and shockingly scant resources By Anonymous

Editor’s note: Because of the sensitivity of this issue, and to protect the identity of the author’s son, we have agreed to her request to remain anonymous.

t was last August when my 16-year-old told me, over the phone, that he was I going to kill himself. “I know exactly how I’ll do it, too,” he said. “I’ll do it at the school, just like—” and he said the name of a friend who’d committed suicide, the previous year. Although I could plainly hear that he was in the midst of some sort of panic attack, it was the benign circumstances precipitating his threat — he hadn’t received the course schedule he’d wanted for his junior year — that led me to treat it not very seriously. The overly dramatic reaction of a he was promising to hurt himself then that he’d be suffering during the adjust- teenager, I thought, and I told him that and there; and that his father was out ment phase, I thought. his threat was in poor taste and disre- of town; and that his younger sister was He wanted antidepressants: “Please, spectful to the tragic circumstances of frightened; and that I, in turn, threat- Mom,” he said. his belated friend. ened to call the police. Time, I told him, would heal his heart. His assignment to a general chemistry I explained to my boy, who’d grown I wanted him to try exercising first. I class, based on his previous year’s math both bigger and stronger than I, and who wanted him to get off the video games, grade, was what had set him off. The was in a highly erratic state, that once to get outdoors, to socialize more. tipping point was the school’s refusal to the authorities were involved, it would When he grew even more angry, and consider that he had repeated his math be out of my hands — the hands that had defiant, and willful — instead of sad — I course in summer school to improve his always protected him. thought that I’d encountered the dread- grade, in order to qualify for chemistry I watched him process this. And I ed teenage years parents are forever honors. watched him calm down. being warned about. I thought the hor- “Relax, Bud,” I said, mostly concerned And, still, I didn’t take his threat very mones of a boy developing into a man with calming him down — his voice was seriously. Mostly, because he was so an- were to blame. shaking and his breathing was quick. gry. More angry than sad. And as I un- “We have to get him under control,” I “I’ll talk to your counselor. You’ll get derstood it, depression — not fury — pre- told my husband. into chemistry honors.” And I did. And ceded suicide. Also, I suspected the positive results he did. He was, I knew, somewhat sad — he of his first threat were prompting the It was about a month later when he called it depression — since his older others. l thought that in gaining him threatened again to kill himself. sister had left for college and his girl- access to his chemistry honors class, I can’t remember what had unraveled friend’s family had moved out of state. I’d set a precedent — in the way a par- him that time, but I do remember that Considering these losses, it was natural ent can train a toddler to misbehave in

August 2016 46 DesertCompanion.vegas illustration Michael Waraksa the checkout line by first denying his request for candy, then surrendering to the screams of his tantrum. So, I responded by laying down the hammer. By demanding more chores. Better grades. I sought politeness and gratitude from this new angsty character in our home. I responded by refusing to be manipulated by hostile threats. And I was wrong. So utterly wrong.

* * * * * didn’t know, then, that depression in teenagers often manifests as anger — I knowledge I came upon while consulting experts online to back me up. (“See, video games are bad and exercise can help,” was the ammunition I’d been seeking.) I also didn’t know that 14 percent of teens suffer at least one major depression, annually, or that 16 percent of high school students have reported to have seriously contemplated suicide. I didn’t know that, every day, nearly 5,400 American teenagers try to kill themselves. Every day! I didn’t know that four out of five of these kids attempting suicide first sent out very clear warning signs. And I certainly didn’t know that suicide is the third leading cause of death among American adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18. (And in Nevada, the second leading cause of death for 15-19 year-olds.) And because I was ignorant of all of this — so much critical information I would learn during the course of his struggle, our struggle — my son’s future threats, his calls for help, escalated into grand and violent conflicts of will. Each more explosive than the last, because we 2016 Plays June 27 – October 22 both were so intensely terrified. He, terrified of being so alone in such Much Ado about Nothing Mary Poppins a dark place; and of what he might do to Henry V Julius Caesar himself there. The Three Musketeers Murder for Two And me — stupid, stupid me: “You’re The Cocoanuts The Odd Couple not going to kill yourself,” I said back at him, flexing my parental authority (so effective in the past) in the face of his rage, in the face of my fear. “I will, Mom! I swear I will!” Later — after doors had been slammed, after the shouting had subsided, once The Greater Escape. the hot energy had tempered to a luke- warm — I said to my husband, “I swear 800-PLAYTIX • bard.org • #utahshakes he’s going to kill himself just to prove to us that he’ll kill himself.”

August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 47 mental health

My voice shook. My hands quivered cried into the voicemail box of my pre- But … well … there was something with my maternal heart. ferred choice from my original list, a lacking in the woman’s voice. Sensitiv- It’s unfortunate, I think now, but not woman whose office was close, whose ity? That and the canned marketing of surprising, that his depression arrived credentials were impressive, and whose the website: words like beautiful envi- to coincide with his 16th year, so that I maternal face suggested strength and ronment and serene surroundings (I’d could confuse the two. While wasting so sensitivity. It was my third message to driven by it — it did not appear serene) much precious time. her. “Please, please call me back. Please.” juxtaposed with other words, like 58- The following day, she did. But only bed facility, made it all feel fraudulent. * * * * * to apologize: First, for not returning my Also, substance abuse was the foremost y mid-October, not 45 days from his previous calls — she was just so busy. topic of the site, so who would he (who original threat, my son’s grades had Then, for our situation. And, finally, be- hadn’t yet had his first alcoholic drink, B plummeted. His weight had plum- cause she wasn’t taking on new patients. who was by all accounts a really good meted. His confidence had plummeted. She did, however, give me the numbers kid) be rooming with in his dual occu- So that even a mother in denial could see of two of her colleagues who also had ex- pancy room? Undoubtedly, too, I’d seen he truly needed help. pertise with teenagers. too many movies, read enough books not When he said, “I need antidepres- Neither of them returned my calls. to be concerned. And there were those sants,” I told him, “I know you do.” It was early in November, prior to the news articles, from not so long ago, I began researching teen psycholo- Friday when I might reach the one psy- about one-way bus tickets and the men- gists and therapists online. I made calls chologist interested in helping us, that tally ill, to further fuel my distrust. to those whose therapeutic philosophies our situation turned dire. I was making Plus, for God’s sake, he was still hold- matched my own, whose profile photos plans for our Christmas holidays and I’d ing on. He was still asking for help, made them seem both professional and texted my son about his vacation prefer- for therapy and antidepressants. He personable, and whose offices were rel- ences. His response set off sirens. wasn’t, I was certain, in requirement of atively near to our home. Free of rage or bitterness, now, with institutionalization. None were returned. only weary resignation, he texted back, I got back on the phone. I dialed num- So, I broadened my parameters: I “Mom, really? I’m not likely to be here ber after number after number until, at called a woman who specialized with at Christmas.” last, a real live voice picked up. This ther- LDS families, although we are not Mor- I knew already that he’d researched apist — whose credentials and philosophy mon. I called another who claimed ex- ways to kill himself. And I knew, from his didn’t particularly impress me, and whose pertise with teens. I called another who shouts during our ugliest incidents — that almost immediate availability raised a red hadn’t claimed this specialty, but whose wild chase to the laundry room, the fren- flag — could see us that afternoon. picture seemed to indicate kindness. I zied battle for the bleach he meant to drink Of course, we went. called another whose headshot — long — that he’d chosen his preferred method. blonde hair, made-up eyes, cleavage — And now, here, a timeline. * * * * * screamed Vegas bimbo, but whose bio “December,” he told me, when I y the end of an hour — during which wasn’t half bad. asked, and it suddenly occurred to me she spoke to my son, my husband Nothing. that he hadn’t begun his annual lobby- B and me, simultaneously; then my For three weeks, I left voicemail after ing for game systems and the other usual son, alone; during which she inspected voicemail for local therapists, explain- Christmas-list items. his arms for recent signs of cutting (there ing that I was afraid for my teenager I remember, in that moment, thinking were none) — this, the only therapist who was struggling with depression, but to call a suicide hotline — but it was still with time for us, recommended that my nobody seemed to care. November, and so there was no immi- son be institutionalized. Immediately. Then, finally, a voicemail back! How- nent threat. He would come home from Not because he actually required insti- ever, this highly-qualified psychologist school, do or not do his homework, play tutionalization, she explained, but because only held office hours on Fridays, and I video games, eat dinner, harass his little he needed meds (her word) and because would retrieve his message on a Satur- sister: This was not a scene of emergency the only way for him to get him these in day morning — which meant another demanding immediate response. He only any timely fashion — here in Southern Ne- seven days before I could even set up an wanted — needed — not to feel so sad. He vada — was to be hospitalized. As an emer- appointment. only wanted — needed — an appointment gency patient in a mental healthcare facil- “Mom, help,” my son began texting with a mental healthcare professional, a ity, he would, in accordance with federal from school, where his anxieties had spi- prescription, some counseling. law, be evaluated by a psychiatrist within raled so far out of control that he was hid- Instead of a suicide hotline, I called 48 hours and be prescribed the medica- ing out in the boys’ bathroom instead of at- one of the mental healthcare hospi- tion that she’d determined he needed and tending his more nerve-wracking classes. tals I’d researched, in previous weeks, which only a qualified psychiatric profes- I left more messages — tearful and during my search for help. sional could prescribe for him. panicked, now. After a brief conversation, I was ad- This, she explained, was the only way “Why is nobody calling me back?” I vised to bring him in. to successfully navigate Nevada’s lack-

August 2016 48 DesertCompanion.vegas ing mental healthcare system and save my son’s life. Failing institutionalization, the state’s severe shortage of child psychiatrists — 45 in total, or 6.79 per 100,000 children, according to a 2016 report published by the American Academy of Child & Ad- olescent Psychology — meant that he wouldn’t likely secure an appointment (or meds) for another three months. “Your son doesn’t have three months,” she said. Meaning, we were, in fact, already in a deep state of emergency. Indeed, with the clock ticking at the erratic speed of teen despair, up against the long waiting lists of children seeking psychiatric treatment, our situation had grown instantly critical months earlier, upon the onset of his first suicidal thoughts. In fact, any Nevada teenager experiencing depression verging on suicidal thinking (16 percent, assuming the national average) who isn’t already in consultation with a psychiatrist, is indeed already at fatal risk. “I could call Metro, right now,” said the therapist, apparently feeling the need to drive the point home for my husband and me, who stared dumbly at her, processing the implausibility of what she was saying, the lengths our son would need to go to — institutionalization! — to get a scrip for antidepressants. This, in 2015? When, according to a 2005-2008 Center for Disease Control and Prevention national health survey, one in 10 Americans older than 12 is using antidepressants, and likely more, these seven years since, considering the drug’s increasing usage rate: It’s up 400 percent since 1988, according to the same survey. Could a prescription really be so difficult to get? It turns out: Yes. Postponing her next appointment (“An emergency,” she told her waiting patient) the therapist ran down a list of mental hospitals available to us. There were some she didn’t recommend, including the one I’d called that afternoon; she didn’t agree with their treatment methods, she said (making my imagination run wild). Oth- ers, which commonly treated juvenile delinquents, wouldn’t be suitable for an upper-middle class boy from Henderson.

August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 49 mental health

“You don’t want to do more harm than Then — although the therapist had these homelike settings, unlike our Vegas good,” she said. advised against it: “Family doctors just institutions, patients are allowed to keep My husband and I nodded in stunned aren’t helpful in these situations” — we their shoelaces — to me, a disparity indic- agreement. turned to my son’s pediatrician. We ative of the vastly different therapy envi- Finally, she recommended a newer hoped that she might be able to expedite ronments and treatment philosophies. behavioral healthcare hospital in central an appointment with a child psychiatrist, So — in between the calls I continued Las Vegas. or offer us an alternative solution, or, at to make diligently to the local mental We could call from her office, she said. the very least, confirm that what the health hospital, seeking a bed — I nar- I watched my son’s eyes grow wide with therapist had told us was, in fact, fact. rowed in on a program I liked for my son, terror while my husband dialed the phone. It was. in Malibu. Then all three of us breathed a sigh of Having heard the details of my son’s Reputed to be one of the best in the relief to learn that there were, in fact, no condition, his pediatrician was visibly nation, accredited by The Joint Commis- beds currently available. unnerved. “There’s just no help for kids, sion and highly rated by Psychology To- In that case, the therapist continued, here,” she said. “They’ve only recently day, it would cost us $49,000. (Another we should take him immediately to the implemented help for adults.” She made we had considered, a provider with our ER, where he could be held until a bed a reference to squeaky wheels. She said, health insurance company, would leave opened up. “Kids don’t pay taxes. They have no voice us only $5,000 out-of-pocket: the two “But, he’s not going to kill himself to- in Vegas. You might try California.” ends of the price spectrum, according to day,” I said, incredulously. “Are you?” I She suggested a written contract my findings.) asked him. between my son and me, by which he “We’ll finance,” my husband said of “No.” He shook his head in anxious promised not to hurt himself with- the Malibu option, and we began the certainty. His eyes still so big. out first reaching out, and to which he registration process. Missing not a beat, she continued agreed while we were in her office — but But, because it was a 30-day residency in her campaign: As an ER patient, he scoffed at, once we’d returned home. stay (the industry norm) and so far from would earn a priority position in Neva- Later, having made some calls, she home, my son was hesitant. He wanted da’s long line of children awaiting beds, offered us the name of a good Hender- to wait for a bed here; he wanted to try psychiatric services, and meds. son therapist and the phone number of a his local options, first. This was the way it had to be done, she local child psychiatrist, but she couldn’t “Can you call again?” he asked, with said. make any promises. She told us, again, to increasing frequency. Instead — seeming confident that she consider California. During this excruciating waiting had impressed upon us the severity of our According to my online research, this stage — when we were afraid to leave situation — she agreed to release us un- psychiatrist was one of the best in Vegas; him home alone, afraid if he shut his der the condition that we call again, a few others had disturbing reviews. I called, bedroom door for too long — I’d deter- hours later, to learn if a bed had become immediately and — undeterred by the mined that, if nothing else, I would love available, as per the behavioral hospital’s outgoing message that warned if the doc- him. As much as I possibly could. While directive, and with the promise that, fail- tor hadn’t returned my call in a timely he was still here to love. ing that, we would consider the ER. manner, she wasn’t likely accepting new It seemed, for a time, the only course Home again, we all sat down to catch patients — left yet another pleading voice- of action available to me. And I coun- our breath and recover from the assault mail. Then I crossed my fingers. No luck. seled his father and his sisters, all whom of the day’s rapid escalation: Five hours I called again. were suffering, too, to do the same. Fear, earlier, I’d been planning our Christmas Nothing. guilt, anger, frustration: Suicide is, cer- holiday and now I was committing my tainly, a lonely, lonely business — but, son to a mental institution. On the ad- * * * * * too, all-inclusive. vice of the only therapist who had time alifornia’s mental healthcare services “Just love him,” I said, petting his for us? What the hell?! for youth is decades in advance of youngest sister’s head. C Nevada’s. Where our 58-bed facilities * * * * * with their private children’s wings recall * * * * * everal hours later, when we called, scenes from disturbing movies set half a eanwhile, his condition grew worse. a bed still had not become available. century ago, California has a multitude of Weeks later — well past rage and S Nor had one opened, 12 hours after programs offering care specific to teens M weary desperation — he’d finally that. Or the day after that. Still, the be- and to their individual disorders. The grown jaded in his hopelessness. So that, havioral hospital’s instructions remained programs take place in comfortable resi- as Thanksgiving approached, when he the same: “Try again, later.” dential settings and cater to small groups began to self-mutilate — a steak knife to When I asked that my son’s name be of carefully screened admissions, to en- the delicate white skin of his forearm — put on a waiting list, I was discouraged: sure safety and compatibility. California’s he actually found it comical. “It’s pretty long.” programs are everything I had assumed “It’s like a trailer to a movie. The teaser “Still,” I said. modern psychiatric therapy would be: In for the feature show.” He laughed out loud.

August 2016 50 DesertCompanion.vegas This authentic amusement, his warp- After they’d taken his shoes and his him and his girlfriend, being goofy, being perspective, tinged with madness, clothes (no laces, no hoodies) and lent ing serious, kissing; the trophy he’d re- made our decision to finally take him to him a set of nurse’s scrubs, oversized cently earned for his success with the the ER. It had grown glaringly evident and hanging from his thin frame. Speech and Debate team. that we had, at last, run out of time. After we’d hugged each other so des- I was trying to understand how we’d But, just as my husband and I were perately. come to this place; and I was beating my- readying for the struggle we knew it And he, returned now to his compli- self up for failing him. would be to get him into the car, I made ant self, walked willingly away with a Then, “F---ing Vegas,” I said, refusing one last ditch call to the behavioral large orderly in matching scrubs, down to bear the responsibility alone. healthcare hospital. a hall where a pair of thick industrial Early the next morning — having “Bring him in,” they said, to my indoors would open for him, to a world I packed the bag I hadn’t thought to pack credible surprise. It was because of could only imagine. the previous evening: a pair of flip-flops Thanksgiving that so many beds had Before pulling shut to lock between us. (his only shoes without laces), clothes been vacated. Four hours later, it was past midnight (drawstrings snipped from his pajama “We got lucky,” I said, although lucky and I was in his bedroom, touching the bottoms), comic books, his toothbrush was not what I felt. items on his dresser, his desk: his com- — I rose from my restless sleep in order The admission process amounted to ic books; his Rubik’s cube collection to deliver it to him in advance of 7 a.m., the most wrenching four hours of my (his record is 45 seconds); a newspaper when, according to the daily schedule, entire experience of motherhood, aban- clipping of his fourth-grade self, smiling he would rise for grooming, showers and doning — it felt like abandonment! — proudly for the borax crystals he’d made morning hygiene. my son in this place. Against my every for the school science fair; soccer medal- It was 3 p.m. (before his bag was yet screaming maternal instinct! But, too, lions from before he quit sports; a plastic to see its way from the reception desk to what choice did I have? egg of silly putty; a photo booth strip of the adolescent floor where he awaited it,

August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 51 mental health

still wearing the oversized scrubs he’d through. He felt certain, according to a da’s mental healthcare system to secure. slept in) when the hospital’s account- conversation he’d had with the attend- It turns out yes. Or maybe the doctor ing department called seeking payment ing psychiatrist, that he would be dis- bent the rules. I can’t be certain. arrangements, a $1,500 deductible: If charged the following day. But an hour later, he was released. I were to compile a list of complaints, I In order for him to secure an aftercare Yes, he was still depressed, still suicid- would start here. But, since rare is the appointment with an outpatient psychi- al, but, in his hand, a prescription for patient who stays in such a place and atrist within 30 days of his hospitaliza- anti-depressants that would last him 30 doesn’t have grievances — “It’s worse tion (an industry ideal, we’ve come to days. And, the following week, the hos- than prison, Mom. There are kids here learn, not a regulation or even a norm), pital called to report that two aftercare who’ve been to juvie (a new word for we were under the assumption that he appointments had been scheduled: the him) and they say it’s way worse” — I needed to see the process through, that first with a local therapist, the second won’t bother. he needed to remain hospitalized until with one of Nevada’s high-in-demand Suffice it to say that the experience such time as his attending physician as- child psychiatrists — one with frightful was no better or worse than I imagined: sessed him fit for discharge. That was online reviews, but nevertheless. In pajamas and flip-flops, my son spent the route to a psychiatrist appointment, If Nevada’s mental healthcare system long hours playing cards — war, mostly as we understood it. So, my son meant for youths was only lacking — and not — with the other kids, all of whom (ex- to do just that — otherwise, what was actually fractured — our story would cept him) had drug addictions or at least the point of it all? end here. But it doesn’t. drug experience. They lined up daily for He’d come this far, he told us. He could On December 18, the day he was medication — antidepressants for my handle another day. (Plus, he wanted to scheduled to finally see the outpatient son. They moved to and from the cafe- avoid the trip to Malibu that my husband psychiatrist as part of his discharge teria in this same single file line, where and I were still considering.) plan, the psychiatrist had already left they ate with plastic utensils; spoons for the Christmas holidays. He was not and forks, only. They had escorts to the * * * * * seeing patients that day, according to toilet. riday evening, he changed his mind: his receptionist. Some of the staff seemed genuine, like “Mom,” he said, during the phone call Yes, she confirmed, my son’s name the night nurse with the soothing voice F he was permitted between 7 and 8 was in the system but, “There must who assured me, when I called that first p.m., “can you get me out of here?” have been a miscommunication. I time, that despite refusing sleeping pills, Although he’d been deemed healthy have no record of an appointment,” my son appeared to be resting just fine enough for discharge, according to the she said. And, “There isn’t room in the and to call back, anytime; and the head attending psychiatrist, there was pa- doctor’s books for several months,” social worker who led the patients in perwork to be done. And since the office she added. group therapy sessions, where my son staff wouldn’t return until Monday, he Meaning that my son would run out would learn coping skills he still uses was advised that he would need to hang of the meds he needed, the meds he today. around for another three days — at a cost suffered institutionalization to earn, Others were as terrible as the mov- of $715 per day (the rate contracted with two to four weeks short of the time ies would have you believe, like a nurse our insurance provider). they would normally take to achieve who, when I called one too many times, Fortunately, I managed to get the full effect. laughed at my son in front of the other doctor on the phone, nearly immediate- Furthermore, the receptionist ex- kids, nicknamed him Mama’s Boy. And ly, since he was only then making his plained, if we did choose to reschedule, another who would so roughly manhan- rounds on the adolescent floor — which, we should not expect couch time (her dle a young autistic child that my son, as my son explained, consisted of daily words). “It’s only med management. Not when he was returned, wanted us to call visits, five to 15 minutes in length, per- therapy. People are always surprised.” the authorities. And a therapy leader taining primarily to medication: “Any who began his group session by asking, issues with the drugs?” * * * * * “Who wants to be here? Well, me nei- “I don’t know what you’re accusing ccording to the National Alliance of ther, so let’s get this over with,” before me of,” the doctor said, when I asked Mental Illness, 8 percent of youth he embarked on a tirade about taxes and why, if my son was fit to leave, he would A have anxiety disorders; 10 percent gun control laws, omitting to address need to stay until Monday. have behavior or conduct disorders; 11 therapy whatsoever during the entire His defensive stance surprised me be- percent have mood disorders; and 20 hour. cause I hadn’t accused him of anything. percent, between the ages of 13 and 18, It was Monday when we admitted Rather, I was advocating for my son, try- live with mental health conditions. De- him. On Thanksgiving Thursday, my ing to ascertain if I could have him im- spite these numbers and despite the 16 son — having grown visibly thinner, still mediately discharged while still securing percent of high school students contem- — assured my husband and me, when an aftercare appointment with a psychi- plating suicide, the child psychiatrists to we asked during a special holiday visit- atrist, the appointment that he’d jumped whom Nevada’s behavioral healthcare ing hour, that he wanted to see his stay through all the hoops required of Neva- facilities are referring patients seem to

August 2016 52 DesertCompanion.vegas only offer medication management. pist, in turn, secured him an appoint- havior. A place where, having toured No couch time with the psychiatrists ment with the psychiatrist we weren’t it, I felt confident leaving him — re - whom teens are being institutionalized able to access, earlier. lieved, even: He would not only be safe, to get to. Only meds. And these, only if Having secured dedicated assis- I knew, he would be healed. one’s appointment wasn’t inevitably lost tance via a series of lucky connec- When he returned to us a month later, in the system. tions and despite a broken system, he he was stronger, happier, more willing to Despite all the odds against us, our was, for a while, much improved. On talk, motivated and empowered — and story has a happy ending. While the his best days, he smiled and laughed with an entire toolbox of coping strate- therapist to whom the hospital referred in ways I hadn’t seen him do in a long gies and a new network of understand- us was not especially compatible with time. I did, too. ing friends. He’d learned to be more re- my son, she was able to refer us to a phy- Then spring arrived, bringing with it sponsible for himself and his problems. sician’s assistant, in Henderson, who the painful anniversary of his friend’s And my husband and I, during the pro- also happens to have psychiatric qual- suicide to coincide with final exams, and gram’s regular family therapy sessions, ifications which allow her to prescribe he plummeted again into an anxious and learned to let him be. antidepressants to patients. (I under- dangerous depression. It was a positive, life-changing expe- stand there’s a PA in Summerlin doing It was early on a Sunday in May rience — a life-saving experience! — en- the same — prescriptions, without the when we packed his bags for Malibu, tirely counter to and decades ahead of the long wait for a psychiatric appointment where he would stay in a home with stay he suffered (I’ve considered it, care- or the requirement of institutionaliza- six similarly troubled teens, working fully; that’s the right word) in Nevada. tion.) While this PA wrote my son’s intensely under a whole team of ther- “Why don’t they have anything like scrips, he sought weekly counseling apists and psychiatrists specialized in that here?” he’s asked me, since. with the therapist his pediatrician had healing adolescents by focusing on the “Well,” I told him, “we could share your originally recommended. This thera- emotional underpinnings of their be- story. See if it makes a difference.”

For three decades, Southern Nevada’s physicians No one should end the have entrusted Nathan Adelson Hospice with quality in-patient and home care services for their journey of life alone, patients. We have board-certified physicians in hospice and palliative care, on-site pharmacies, a full range of complementary therapies, physician afraid, or in pain. visits to patient homes and the valley’s only comprehensive pediatric hospice program. As always, our primary concern is for our patients’ comfort, care and dignity.

Swenson Inpatient Facility 4141 Swenson St. Las Vegas, NV 89119 Tenaya Inpatient Facility 3150 N. Tenaya Way Las Vegas, NV 89128 Pahrump 1401 S. Highway 160, Suite B Pahrump, NV 89048 For more information: (702) 733-0320 www.nah.org

August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 53

The Dish 56 08 Eat this now 58 16 Fork off 60

Our city's best spots to eat & drink

Chicken out: The vegan deviled eggs at The Owl are made with surprisingly tasty tofu.

August 2016 Photography By Sabin Orr DesertCompanion.vegas 55 Dining out

The DISH giving a hoot With attention to detail, craft beer and a farm-to-table menu, The Owl’s hyperkinetic owner, Stephan Galdau, is living his dream By Jason Scavone

tephan Galdau has a voice like a taxi rolling over a pothole. When he sees one of his young barbacks at The Owl come out S from the back wearing a wind- breaker despite it being the dead of July, he barks out a couple of choice epithets before growling, “It’s your generation. You guys are so (expletive) soft.” It’s a veteran piece of chops-busting that’s the mark of a native New Yorker, and it’s one of those things that still feels has cleared a glass from a guy at the bar. a little out of place on the sensitive West Galdau spent 12 years in corporate Coast. But you look around at The Owl, advertising in New York City. In 2008, and there’s not much yet that’s really in during the worst of the recession, he lost place with the Las Vegas bar scene. his job, and in that crisis, found an epiph- There’s no Internet jukebox. Galdau any. “I said to my father, ‘I don’t have a would rather lean on his own curated skill,’” he said. “If I was a plumber I’d playlist of classic rock, alt-rock, rocka- have a skill. Selling advertising is not a billy and oldies. The televisions rotate skill.” He remembered, though, college menu pictures and photos from the bar. days spent tending bar and how it was the There aren’t any video poker machines best time of his life. So he entered the bar (yet). “People need to remember what a scene in Manhattan, relearning his trade bar is for,” he says. “Talking to each other, at the likes of industry hangout Daddy-O, for everything. Whether it was walking listening to music, drinking.” a Soho-adjacent spot on the west side that through a store, getting a cab, getting the And yelling at chilly millennials. catered to off-duty servers, bartenders subway, jobs.” Galdau, 41, is loud, demonstrative and and chefs. So he made the call four years ago to has the attention span of some of your He had already fallen in love with trade great pizza for sweeping vistas — more thoughtful goldfish. But that’s part Nevada. On a trip with a girlfriend, they maybe the toughest bit of culinary/qual- of being hyper-attuned to everything visited Red Rock Canyon and the Grand ity-of-living calculus anyone should ever that’s going on in his bar. When he sees Canyon. It was the opposite of Manhat- have to make. Along the way he realized the one customer walk in, then turn around tan. It was the don’t-fence-me-in dream. guy he came out with had a nasty Oxycon- and go right out, he stops mid-conversa- “I loved space,” he said. “Mountains, tin addiction and left Galdau with just $600 tion to go run them down and find out no traffic, bright blue skies. You never when he got here. The economic necessity what was wrong. Ten minutes later, he get sick of it. I was sick of people being of living in an extended-stay suite led, pre- stops dead again to find out why no one around me all the time, always fighting dictably, to a break-in, in which crooks got

August 2016 56 DesertCompanion.vegas Photography sabin orr JOIN US FOR HAPPY HOUR PLATES & POURS STARTING AT $3.95 MONDAY-FRIDAY 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Owl's well: Opposite page, owner Stephan Galdau; vegan deviled eggs; above, Korean sliders; left, the Rebel sandwich.

otic breweries not widely found in Vegas, such as offerings from Butter-

nuts Beer & Ale in Gar- ® Summerlin | 702.433.1233 | BrioItalian.com rattsville, N.Y. (Trust: Their Porkslap is a hop- py-enough pale without everything, including his passport and his the jam-a-pine-tree-in-your-mouth ethos Xbox. Metro gave him the welcome-to-Las of the overdone IPA craze endemic to Vegas advice that if the place you’re staying craft-beer menus nationwide.) The Owl says “suites,” it’s not sweet. Duly noted. also goes in for a cocktail program with Initial brush with crime aside, Gal- a mix of originals and riffs on classics. dau knew that bar ownership was the But it’s the farm-to-table kitchen un- end goal. He bounced around from der executive chef Daniel Schneider that’s job to job, with Ferraro’s and the Tao the crown jewel of the operation. The fare Group and Sapphire and Insert Coin(s) fits the elevated comfort-food mold of so as a bartender, bar manager and general many gastropubs, but what might set it manager. apart is a vegan menu partially crowd- It was a Sunday night at what was then sourced from those particular diners. It’s Hammers & Ales when Galdau realized a small subset of the menu, but it offers he’d found his spot. It was the first night creative takes like a slab of seared polenta of football, and Galdau and a buddy were or vegan “deviled eggs” made out of clev- the only two in the joint. It was a sign, he erly molded tofu. YOU REALLY said, that the current owner wanted out. The downside of sourcing fresh is that Talks started in December 2013. A year it means not everything will be available LOVE OUR later he won the bidding process over at all times — a planned Fourth of July four other prospective owners, and the barbecue quickly became a vegan affair MAGAZINE. bar, formerly The Hammer, and remod- when farm-raised meat wasn’t available. eled in a Bar Rescue episode as Hammer But what’s available on any given day is NOW YOU CAN LOVE IT & Ales, gave way to The Owl. worth the foray into Plan B. VIRTUALLY, TOO. Where Hammer & Ales was unapolo- The smoked pulled-pork sandwich is a getically a beer bar, Galdau takes a more straight-up avalanche of meat with a side Visit us at www.desertcompanion.vegas and catholic approach. There’s a wide-ranging of cactus slaw and homemade hot BBQ check out our website. Between editions of our Maggie Award-winning magazine, you’ll get craft beer menu, including some more ex- sauce. The bun doesn’t stand a chance web-exclusive stories, breaking cultural news and fresh perspectives from our writers.

August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 57 Dining out

against this kind of pork/slaw onslaught, hot plate and frankly, it’s thoroughly outclassed to begin with. Forget the bun. Go in fork- first. Or face-first. The pork is rich, dark and fatty. When the revolution comes, Eat this is the kind of pig you set up a perim- eter around to protect at all costs. Loaded garlic fries seem to be a bit of this a misnomer at first. Sure, there’s surprisingly tender steak on this riff on nachos, but it doesn’t seem to fit the bill with- now! out minced garlic shotgunned all over the spuds. Until you dig through like a fried-starch miner and find whole cloves The Violette Club of roasted garlic underneath. This is your At Violette’s Vegan reward for eating your way through fries, 8560 W. Desert Inn Road, violettesvegan.com steak and jalapeños. It’s like somebody waited until the end of Christmas Day to Of the two main categories of vegan food, Violette’s Vegan falls squarely into the first: bust out your birthday presents. versions of omnivore classics minus the animal products. The other — original, plant- The Korean sliders make bulgogi into based dishes — requires a creative chef and intrepid diners. But the risk of the tradi- burgers, with miso mayo and a side of tional knockoff approach is that people expect Tofurkey to taste like turkey (it doesn’t). The Violette Club demonstrates how the 1-year-old organic eatery and juice bar wins kimchi. Maybe not the best representa- with this approach. The sandwich has the toasty crunch, salty crackle, meaty density tion of bulgogi in the city, but still a qual- and juicy succulence of the traditional club sandwich, albeit through a combination of ity interpretation that allows you to stay herb-baked tofu, tempeh bacon, thin-sliced avocado, cucumber, lettuce and tomato on the lighter side of meaty. The jalapeño and three layers of crispy sourdough slathered with vegan mayo and hemp pesto. Like poppers skip the deep-fry and focus on Violette’s interpretation of barbecue, biscuits and gravy and the Philly steak and cheese, the pepper. The dessert menu consists its club will have you wondering, Who needs meat? Heidi Kyser of just one item, pecan pie with bourbon whipped cream. Like you were going to linger over anything else when bourbon whipped cream is on the table anyway. Galdau has tattoos on each hand, of Cocktail The orangesicle his parents’ initials. He says it’s to re- of the at Squeeze mind him to stay on the straight and month Squeeze is a small side- narrow. On the Fourth, he had to choose walk juice and smoothie between store-bought organic meat of bar on The Linq prome- questionable provenance or stay true to nade. It’s a cheerful place where grinning, affable, his farm-to-table vision. orange-shirted Squeezers whip up the kind of “I was like, make money and lie, or healthy, fresh-fruit concoctions that are all the rage tell the truth and lose everything, and among the eww-I’m-afraid-of-death set. I’ve got I chose the latter,” he said. The truth no problem with that! However, I have something shall set you free? Maybe. If the truth to reveal! With a suitably discreet approach and is in that pork, sign us up. secret handshake, you can induce the Squeezers to spike your drink with alcohol, magically turning your antioxidant elixir of frightened boringness into a waterfall of pants-free party juice! (Okay, it’s not a secret.) My current favorite: The Orangesicle, made with fresh oranges, almond milk and orange vanilla syrup. Drinkably sweet, but not cloying. Get it with a shot or two of vodka, sidle up to the sidewalk people-watching bar and toast shambling humanity’s dranky dronk health! Andrew Kiraly In the Linq Promenade, 702-731-3311

August 2016 58 DesertCompanion.vegas Visit palazzo.com/clintholmes or call 866.276.5657 for tickets. Dining out

Bottiglia Cucina & Enoteca 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway 702-617-7075 bottiglialv.com

Rao’s 702-731-7267 Caesars Palace caesars.com

Casa Di Amore 2850 E. Tropicana Ave. 702-433-4967 casadiamore.com

Fork off shiny new establishment in Green Valley a more al dente linguine texture. Plus some Ranch Resort; and, finally, in the heart of additional parsley for garnish. But that’s the Strip at Rao’s in Caesars Palace. just me: I like a lot of verdure in my sauce. In sampling linguine con vongole, I had a The downer: I know Casa di Amore has Boy few ground rules: I skipped appetizers for a mature customer base, and this demo- a clean palate. Also, as a test, I purpose- graphic is used to lightweight, non-crusty ly didn’t ask for bread — sopping up the bread with little substance inside, let meets wine sauce is such a quintessential part alone holes from actual sourdough fer- of the experience, the bread should be a mentation, but we can get much better no-brainer. Finally, no cheese was con- bread in Vegas these days. Per favore? twirl sumed in the research of this story, Parme- san or other! Keeping it real, Italian-style. Bottiglia: Bottiglia was the next and A passionate pasta fan finds much newest entrant on my list. You’ve perhaps to love in three renditions of an Casa di Amore: Decades ago, this ven- seen it advertised on billboards along the Italian classic By Greg Thilmont erable restaurant was in the hinterlands 215. It’s from the creators of Salute at Red of Las Vegas, but it had a Strip-based Rock Resort, a nicely done addition to the vibe and clientele to match. It still does, Italian tableau of Summerlin and the west ou might not think of pasta as a in its own living nostalgia kind of way. valley. The Bottiglia space itself is bright summer dish, but linguine with It features live music in the old dinner and airy. It’s quite lovely in an informal clams — the white wine version club manner that is sadly missing in our manner, mixing the aesthetics of the — is perfect for the four-month modern Vegasopolis. My server called me American West Coast and coastal Italy, Y Vegas summer scorch. This classic “Love” when I sat down. “Love”! and has plenty of al fresco eating space dish is not so much a recipe as it is an art- The dish: When it comes to an abun- under Henderson’s evening skies. ful assembly of items: pasta, shellfish, wine dance of clams, this house has its shells The dish: My linguine arrived pic- and adjuncts such as garlic, pepper flakes stacked in prodigious order. A well-sized ture-perfect. A not-huge but still sizable and parsley. But a deceptively simple recipe plateau of pasta came substantially sup- plate of semolina ribbons was ringed about such as this is often the best for a culinary plied with diced clams, with numerous its circumference with elegant Manila assay, especially when everything is mas- in-shell steamers piled about the plate. clams. Of all three entrants in my destina- terfully brought together by a skilled chef. (A petite shellfish fork was set to the side tion dining, Bottiglia’s plating was the most Countless Italian restaurants in the for separating meat from shell — a touch fragrant, with rich wafts of spectral umami d i amore: Bren t H olmes casa t esy; valley do this dish. Some go for old-school my late Italian nana would have enjoyed.) steaming above the plate. (It’s said that the comfort-food goodness, others aim for Eating it next to a picture of studly Elvis majority of flavor profiles humans perceive more high-concept treatments. In this schmoozing luscious Ann-Margret, I went actually stem from sense of smell; my plate edition of Fork Off, I sampled the linguine Viva Las Vegas on every last drop of the certainly proved this.) Edibly speaking, the with clams at Casa di Amore, a vintage off- sauce remaining on my plate when the pasta was excellent, and the clam meat was

Strip eatery filled with photos of the Rat noodles were gone. I would have liked a lit- savory if not overly abundant, though I cour tt iglia, rao's:

Pack and classic casinos; Bottiglia, the tle more wine-forward flavor overall, and found the broth a bit too salted for my taste. b o

August 2016 60 DesertCompanion.vegas COMING IN THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF

The downer: This dish overall was slightly soupy, and there was no bread to be had for soaking. This restaurant apparently hews to a new style of Italian cuisine, where bread is not offered up as BE A PART OF THE part of the service de facto. Be that as it may, linguine con vongole needs some slices — and a heel or three — to fully partake of its remnant liquor. HENDERSON SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Rao’s: Finally, it was on to the Big Dad- dy. Hands down, Rao’s is just fabulous. It’s a wood-toned, celebrity photo-walled temple of Italian-American cuisine. C’mon ... it’s in Caesars Palace with a famous foundation in East Harlem, NYC — paisan to the gustatory max! Of course, my dinner was a fantastic experience. The dish: When I first sat down, a mighty bread basket was set before me. There were thin-and-wide cheese crisps, plus well-crusted substantial slices of country loaves. To the side was a trio of butters, two of them flavored — one with caramelized onion, the other with sun-dried tomato. When my linguine arrived, a waiter swirled the pasta tableside with chopped clam meat, and added in still-shelled critters of the Manila variety from a separate chafing dish. It was a fancy presentation, indeed. The flavor Reserve Your was more garlicky and peppery (lots of slices and flakes in the broth) than the other contenders. The pasta texture was Ad Today! toothsomely perfect. Overall, the dish Be sure to was rich-tasting and completely excel- Desert Companion readers love to shop, dine and ask about lent. It still could have used more pars- explore! This September, Desert Companion highlights Henderson in a special advertising our unique ley, though it had the most of the bunch. sponsorship The downer: It sounds almost ca - supplement that showcases the quality of life in opportunities pricious of me to say, but Rao’s broth Nevada’s second-largest city, home to exceptional was too luxurious. I devoured all pas - real estate & communities, retail & dining and ta strands and clam shreds, of course. recreational & educational opportunities. Make But I couldn’t convince myself to sop sure that your business is included in this up all the sauce. It was just too rich and resource that readers will use (and keep) when buttery to finish. There was, I confess, bread left in my basket. they make consumer choices. The dark-horse winner: Casa di Amore. Maybe it was the nostalgia. Maybe it was Call 702.259.7813 the band playing lounge music next to me (with a drummer that kept a steady eye on This special advertising supplement is endorsed a baseball game playing on a nearby bar TV by the Henderson Chamber of Commerce. screen). It was surely a clean plate completely sopped of every essence of wine, clam and noodle. Mi piace molto! Principal Sponsors

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Made possible through funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Journeys on Charleston A wide-ranging, multicultural, kaleidoscopic, close-up portrait of that other boulevard at the heart of Las Vegas

By Stacy J. Willis Photography Bill Hughes

AUGUST 2016 64 DesertCompanion.vegas The last house on Charleston Boulevard’s eastern end is a two-story custom Spanish Revival with generous windows and a pool in the backyard. From here, in the desert foothills of Frenchman Mountain, the view is dramatic: By day, the iconic skyline of the Las Vegas Strip draws a sharp sense of place across a bustling valley; by night, the city lights conjure romance and awe. But like the road stretching out below, the views don’t tell the whole story, says Rosario Barba, who lives in the home with her extended family. “So much happens up here that you’d never know,” says Barba, 29. The house was built in 2008 for an elderly man who passed away before it was completed, and Barba’s dad, a paint- er and contractor, made an offer. Soon, the entire family moved in — on this day, they’re having a birthday party for a younger relative, and kids splash in the pool beyond the living room’s large glass doors. Barba is wearing workout clothes and a Bluetooth earpiece and is nonplussed when she invites an unannounced stranger in to talk about the end of the road. “We get a lot of hikers and walkers — some hikers have died, and we get police and helicopters. We also get crazy people — when we first moved in, we had this guy who would walk all the way around our house carrying a briefcase and Tsaying it was his house. Day after day. Finally, his mother came to get him, I think,” she says. Then there are the couples who come up here to get amo- rous in their cars. She laughs. “They are louder than they think! They wake us up! Sometimes they get chased off by the police, and once, there was a guy whose wife came up here — see, he was not in the car with his wife.” She rolls her eyes. More disturbingly, she says, the end of the road serves as a dumping ground — but not just for trash: “People used to come up here a lot and leave their dogs, like when they wanted to get rid of their dogs. It was awful. One time we saw the dog chasing his owners’ car as they drove away. We call animal control, but it’s sad,” she says. “Sometimes people dump injured dogs from dog fighting. One time there were these bags dumped over there (in the desert across the street) and they started to smell so we called the police, and it was dead roosters, from cockfighting.” She shakes her head and pauses. While technically the Barbas are the last residents on East Charleston, she says there is at least one more person who lives farther out. “There’s the Mountain Man. He lives in the mountains up here. He comes down early in the morning

AUGUST 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 65 sometimes, and we give him water, and I think he has some ern sprawl cities are often limited on vertical growth and there- friends at Albertsons because I’ll see him walking back up with fore less dense, and have newer, less architecturally revered food. ... I don’t know his name, but he’s been living up there a built environments than many East Coast cities. But workaday long time.” streets like this one are nonetheless a fundamental part of the Her mother comes in and offers a glass of water; a drenched, city’s character. Where Las Vegas Boulevard capitalizes on visi- sunburned kid shuffles across the tile floor and adds, “The tors’ escapist fantasies, Charleston Boulevard cradles thou- Mountain Man has three tents in the desert. I’ve seen them.” sands of locals going about their everyday business. “Anyway,” Barba says, “we love it up here. It’s beautiful. We wouldn’t trade it for anything. And it’s very easy to give direc- tions: the last house on Charleston.” 4530 E. CHARLESTON BLVD. few blocks down the hill from the Barbas, past some subur- **** ban blocks, past a strip mall or two, a boy and his grand- Charleston Boulevard stretches 22 miles from east to west across Amother run hand-in-hand through the blazing heat toward the width of the Las Vegas Valley, reaching into the desert at ei- the bus stop. The RTC 206 is wheezing up as they arrive, and ther end. Along the way, it crosses Las Vegas Boulevard, the rail- when the doors open, Roberto, 6, who is carrying a well-kicked road tracks and three freeways, traverses years of history and soccer ball under his other arm, hops on first. His grandmother visits a wide sample of the valley’s demographics. Much of the slides the fare card and sits with him. They are sweating and east side of Charleston is dominated by Hispanic culture — shop laughing, and Roberto, whose name is printed across the back of signs in Spanish, dozens of Latin-influenced eateries. But other his yellow jersey, says in Spanish, “How long until we get blocks offer smaller cultural enclaves — here’s the African/Carib- there?” and his abuela, her wavy salt-and-pepper hair sticking bean International Market; there’s the longtime gay bar Flex; to her neck, pats his leg and says, “Not very long.” here’s the SGI Buddhist Center. While rarely celebrated, the cul- Roberto presses his forehead against the window as the bus tural and ethnic diversity of the shops and churches and salons chugs on, and this is what he sees: a homeless man lying in the on Charleston speak to a much more complex image than many shade of a building, which makes him rubberneck; a yellow Cor- Cpeople have of Las Vegas. On this boulevard — not the famous vette in a strip mall parking lot, which makes him point; and a boulevard — you go for miles without seeing a decadent casino or young woman wearing a pink cowboy hat and dragging a red wag- a glitzy strip club. on full of laundry down the sidewalk, which makes him smile. To those who grew up in Las Vegas, Charleston may be an old They hop off of the bus near the Charleston Indoor Swap friend, a limb of the family tree, a grandparent who tells stories meet. Inside the strip-mall building, the air-conditioning is of heydays and quirks, of tight-knit neighborhoods and popular heavenly, and they navigate rows and rows of small bays selling locals’ destinations. But when you drive it now, its nostalgia is all kinds of goods: shoes — every single display shoe is wrapped less apparent; it lays now, in many stretches, somewhere in time completely in cling wrap and perched on a wall; jewelry — gold- between the vibrant old days and the could-be-revitalized fu- tooth grills in glass cases sell for upwards of $300; posters of the ture. It also literally stretches out between the old and brand Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, Jesus and Hello Kitty. In the back, a new — from its midtown historic and weathered buildings to its crowd of people sits in chairs and stands against the wall, wait- still-growing suburban edges, particularly on the west side, ing to get into the hair salon, Chapi’s. Little boys Roberto’s size where Summerlin’s master-planned community edges ever run the aisle with fresh haircuts; grown men and women sit and closer to Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area as the road be- wait their turn. Roberto and his grandmother take a seat with comes Highway 159. But in another way, it represents an ideo- them. Next to the salon is an eatery, Tierra Caliente, where logical battle alive in many Western-sprawl cities: There’s a Spanish music is playing overhead and where you can sit on yel- tension on Charleston between what was and what could be; low benches and eat tamales de pollo and elote for $9 while a between past and future — the much-discussed, mostly stalled framed picture of “The Last Supper,” $48, stares at you from a revitalization of the Huntridge Theater on Charleston’s mid- bay next door. section is a symbol of that struggle, and the passionate, some- It’s a world few would know is here from the outside — the times acrimonious debates about its fate are a reminder of how way so much of this street is. The view, often hardscrabble, is invested many still are in the area’s potential. both an accurate and incomplete description, which is kind of But implied in the notion of area revitalization is a dissatis- Charleston’s personality: There is always more to the story. faction with what is — the past was good, the future could be good, but what about right now? And what does revitalization — gentrification? — say about the people who are here right 4069 W. CHARLESTON BLVD. now, every day manning a small piece of this street, repairing pen almost any door on this road and you’ll learn something cars, selling quinceañera dresses, practicing law, displaying art, that will add a layer to your understanding of Las Vegas. serving pupusas, cutting, buzzing and braiding hair, designing O The Tebha family has been running the A-1 Vacuum and floral arrangements, treating sick patients, walking, driving, rid- Sewing store since 1943. Their shop sits in a bright yellow building the bus, crouching in the shade of a 50-year-old sign? West- ing on West Charleston that, despite its loud paint job, is easy to

AUGUST 2016 66 DesertCompanion.vegas Signs of the street: From top left: The Charleston Indoor Swap Meet; the literal end of the road, on East overlook. Inside, more than a hundred sewing machines and online, is it quality? How do they know? Also, many Charleston; vacuum cleaners sit quietly in the front rooms while members manufacturers buy from the same set of parts. We artists Dry of the family work in the back. will work with you, and you get personal service.” Point, left, and “These two industries, vacuuming and sewing, were grouped Tebha says sewing is a $10 billion industry now, Alexander Sky talk to manager together in the 1950s,” says Shawn Tebha, who, wearing jeans and business is still decent for A-1. Daisy Vega at and a T-shirt, is welcoming and generous with his knowledge. “When someone comes in here, I ask, ‘Were you Esmeralda’s “My dad was an engineer for Singer in California, and when just learning to sew, or do you already sew?’ Back in Cafe; Angie Enk (job changes happened), he thought, ‘Well, I might as well open the day they did everything on it — sewed all of does laundry at my own store.’” their clothes and things. But now some specialize,” Wash ’n’ Fold. We walk through the building, which is a maze of oddly placed he says as he walks me around some 300 sewing steps and strangely placed doors — different building permits al- machines on display. The oldest, a black 1930s man- lowed for varying add-ons over the years, which have grown the ual Singer, goes for about $300; the fanciest, a new Janome ma- building to 7,000 square feet — and Tebha reminisces. chine that can do 500 different stitches, goes for $15,000. “I grew up in here. As a teenager I learned to fix them, be- “Because we’re a family-operated store, we charge on work cause as a child I sometimes broke them,” he says, laughing. done and give a warranty on our work,” he says. “We take pride in “Back then there was a lot less traffic on Charleston. Every- what we do. Things change, but that does not change.” where, actually. You could get from here to Pecos and Sunset in That’s a sentiment I find throughout my travels on Charles- 15 minutes without speeding. Not now.” ton: pride in hard work. While drivers-by caught in traffic might When his dad started the business, he says, people relied on routinely ignore small, old storefronts in some stretches, they’d word-of-mouth and the Yellow Pages to find their sewing store. be cheating themselves to write them off entirely. Time and Now the Tebhas have to jockey with the Internet and big retail- time again, I am reminded of the significance of small business- ers like Walmart. es not only to economic sustainability, but to creating the rich “The sewing market nowadays has become online, or at least textures of a community, which seems particularly important in people do their research online. But I ask them before they buy a city so shaped by transience.

AUGUST 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 67 We sea you: The mermaids of Mariscos El Dorado watch over East 107 E. CHARLESTON BLVD. Showboat Casino and Silver Dollar that drew Charleston s the sun sets on the first Friday of the month, six or eight revelers to that East Charleston area for years. Boulevard, as — police cars line both sides of Charleston between Third Perhaps the most talked about historic build- in a sign of the A and Main, making room for pedestrians who are flocking ing on Charleston today is the Huntridge The- times — Clark toward the Arts Factory. Tents are set up in the parking lot, and ater, on the corner at Maryland. Soon after its County touts its on blocks extending from this seat of the Arts District, other construction in 1944, the Huntridge became a road-building parking lots are charging $15 for a space. It’s the First Friday Art locals’ staple. It was built on land once owned program. Walk in “18b” — 18 blocks loosely grouped around this stretch of by investor Leigh Hunt, who was the president Charleston near Main. Visual arts and crafts will anchor the fes- of Ohio State University and publisher of the tivities, but the party spreads out from the galleries and tents Seattle Post-Intelligencer in the late 19th century. When he died into the streets, with bands, random dancers and performance in 1933, he left the Las Vegas land to his son Henry Leigh Hunt, artists, a bit of alcohol and a lot of socializing. and the neighborhood and theater were named for them. The By day, the area is more subdued but still eclectic, and for Streamline Moderne building designed by S. Charles Lee, which those who’ve been here years, the buildings themselves recall first showed movies and then musical acts, is on the United memories: What is now the Indoor Garden Organic Super Cen- States National Register of Historical Places. It was also one of ter was for years an exterminator that displayed a giant image of the first unsegregated venues in Las Vegas. a cockroach on the exterior; across the street, the Holsum Lofts, Green remembers going to shows at the Huntridge Theater, now home to Lola’s restaurant and retail stores, was actually the where, he jokes, Sen. Richard Bryan had “his first fundraiser.” Holsum bread bakery, where locals could smell fresh-baked As a kid, Bryan didn’t have enough pocket change to get into bread as they approached the underpass it stands above. the movie showing at the Huntridge, and may have asked “Charleston Boulevard has been and still is one of our main around for a little help, or so the story goes. Most longtime lo - drags,” says Michael Green, associate professor of history at cals have a story to tell about the Huntridge, which makes it UNLV and a longtime Las Vegas resident. He’s quick to name a both beloved and forlorn as today it stands empty. On a recent dozen or more businesses that have come and gone, from the sizzling hot weekday, two homeless men with shopping carts site on east Charleston where Lowe’s is today that was a popu- are curled into its shade. Attempts to raise money to redevelop lar Montgomery Wards until the 1990s, to the now-closed the theater are ongoing.

AUGUST 2016 68 DesertCompanion.vegas 2000 E. CHARLESTON BLVD. pass at the same time, or stand aside for someone on a mobility n Friday night at 7 Mares Mexican Restaurant, karaoke scooter or pushing a stroller. The road is littered with cups and starts early. We’re on a stretch of East Charleston populated cans, and a film of hot-asphalt-smelling dust sticks to you as you O by Mexican, El Salvadorean and all manner of Latin-Ameri- walk, and rushing cars whoosh hot air into your face. can restaurants and shops. Across the street is Mariscos El Dora- Up ahead, ambulances and police cruisers are all over the Del do, which occupies the building formerly home to Fong’s Garden, Taco in the medical district, just west of I-15, at lunchtime. opened by one of Las Vegas’ prominent early developers, Wing There’s been a fight. A homeless man is being handcuffed in the Fong, in 1955 — a destination once so popular it’s where Harry parking lot; his face is bloodied. Two Del Taco employees sit in- Reid took his new wife on their wedding night. Fong’s Garden side filling out police reports. One, a young man, has a scratch on was the center of a small Chinatown in the late ’50s, according to his face and blood on his knuckles. Green. Behind Mariscos El Dorado, near where Fremont Street, “He wouldn’t leave the bathroom, and he was drunk or some- Eastern Avenue and Charleston collide to create a triangle of land thing,” he says. “I told him he had to leave, and he attacked me, hosting a busy Arco gas station, the weathered Blue Angel statue and I had to defend myself.” He blots the blood off of his fingers still stands on her perch atop a sign pole, though the namesake and uniform. “I’m okay, though.” hotel is long gone. Here Charleston is a treasure chest of finds, Customers, some in medical scrubs, some in business attire, both historic and new. At 7 Mares — Seven Seas — the vibe is re- some in shorts, go about their business ordering burritos and laxed and happy. The walls are painted bright yellow, blue and tacos while the police take the alleged perpetrator away. The green, a swordfish hangs above the booths and a large selection of employee finishes his report. mariscos fills the menu. Across the street stands the University Medical Center com- We chitchat with the waitress, although we speak very little pound, which is a prime reason Charleston grew to be the road Spanish and she speaks only a bit more English. We eat fish tacos it did. The medical center was established in 1931 as the Clark and drink cold beer and watch several women sing karaoke, all in County Indigent Hospital, set up on what was then a dirt road. Spanish. Then, this: “A special welcome to our English friends For its first few years, it had 20 beds, one doctor and one nurse. tonight,” she says on the mic. “Do you want to sing?” Of course we Today, it is not only the state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and do, and though all we can manage is English, it doesn’t matter — home to a freestanding pediatric emergency center, it is the cen- within minutes, several other patrons will be singing along with terpiece of a district of medical centers and doctors’ offices, us, and soon, comped beers arrive at our table. which now includes the UNLV School of Medicine. The waitress tells us it is often even more crowded, but it’s These medical and legal offices along this stretch of Charles- the beginning of the month and many people have to pay their ton hide the historic neighborhoods just off of the main artery, rent today, so some regulars stayed home. neighborhoods you can find on a 1960 map in UNLV’s archives: What many parts of Charleston lay bare are the strong tendons the Scotch 80s, Hyde Park and Rancho Nevada Estates. connecting our daily struggles to the simple joys in life, in a city These neighborhoods weren’t randomly placed here, says where we so often think in terms of ostentatious wins and losses. I Andrew Kirk, professor of history and director of UNLV’s Pub- met a woman at an East Charleston laundromat who told me her lic History Education Program. family came from Venezuela. She moved here because her uncle “The Scotch 80s and McNeil (subdivisions) are sort of hidden had a friend who lived here, and he got a job in construction some away, (but) they started in the 1940s, and were built through the years ago. Now she and her husband and two children live around 1960s. These were the suburbs of Downtown then.” He says that the corner from the Wash & Fold, which is next to the tiny Can Cun Ashby Street, a block off of Charleston, was originally an impres- Hamburgers, Tacos and Tortas stand. They live with other rela- sive, wide street with dirt paths on either side, standing out when tives — a woman and two more children — and between them, they it was built because “this was out in the country then.” The exis- hold four jobs, three in retail and one at an auto shop. Does she like tence of Charleston enabled these neighborhoods to evolve. it here, in Las Vegas? A smile. “Yes. We are happy to be with family.” “They are near the springs. There were more than one That’s all; there is laundry to be done, there is family to return to, (spring). There’s a concentric circle around what we now know there is no more time for talking to note-takers. as the Springs Preserve that was broader. So really, these neighborhoods started because they were the most sensible places you could build a house.” In fact, says Kirk, “one of the myths 1800 W. CHARLESTON BLVD. people have to overcome about (Las Vegas’ development) is that alking west toward the Charleston Underpass, which was it ‘makes no sense.’ Early on, the patterns of development were built in 1960, it’s all heat and dust and noise. Frustration is familiar and sensible. There is a good reason they built there. W palpable on the road — cars vie to get past one another in “Once you’ve got the anchor of Downtown, you’ve got two or three lanes and get stopped every few yards at another Charleston as a major spoke” leading to the hospital and the light, ultimately beating no one, least of all time. Here, at the springs, he says. ground level, narrow sidewalks cause pedestrians to sometimes On older maps that show the original Las Vegas townsite in stand aside for a bicyclist who has chosen to ride the sidewalk 1905, Charleston isn’t there. Instead, it’s a baseline for the grid, instead of dare the traffic, or stand aside for another pedestrian referred to as the Fifth Standard Parallel South, below the who uses a walker because the two of you do not have room to townsite’s streets, which go south only to Garces Street. In two

AUGUST 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 69 maps, the line that would be Charleston is mysteriously called Western pattern.” “Mt. Diablo.” Charleston got its name from Mount Charleston, Like many cities, Las Vegas has the core, where some buildings which is thought to have been named by a member of the Army are old enough and neglected benignly enough that they offer Corps of Engineers who, when he explored the territory, named some potential to preserve charming architectural styles. On the it after Charleston, South Carolina, his hometown. outskirts, newer suburbs like Summerlin push businesses back By the time a 1942 map was printed, the road is called inward a little bit. But then there are the miles in the middle, the Charleston, and there’s a mark where UMC stands now called love of which is often hard-won. “County Hospital.” Other than the railroad tracks and crossover “That’s where it gets tricky,” Kirk says. “In the ’80s, ’90s and with the “Road to Los Angeles/Highway to Salt Lake City,” little 2000s, you have these areas where the architecture was these big, is else noted of the outlying areas. fake colonial houses, and the growth was so fast that they were “But it was a critical street because it’s the road that took you slapped together with poor materials. We just had massive out of town in the 1950s,” Kirk says. “It was a tiny road mean- growth, and a lot of big-box-anchored strip malls. And it’s hard to dering out to Red Rock across the desert, but it was important.” envision that architecture as evolving and surviving in the ways (1950s and 1960s architecture) did.” So, he says, one must consider that some “rings of the city” may not be worth preserving — 3923 W. CHARLESTON BLVD. “but the land there will still be valuable” — and ultimately the n the end of a longstanding strip plaza at Valley View and structures on those areas may be demolished and replaced with Charleston, M&M Soul Food is enjoying a bustling lunch infill development. “The more thoughtfully things are laid out to O hour. The TV is broadcasting baseball; service is fast and begin with, the more chance they have of surviving,” Kirk says. friendly — plates of hot, buttered corncakes hit the table as soon The biggest conundrum may not be the housing but the strip as you sit down. The walls are covered in framed photos of ce- malls — dozens of them line Charleston, east and west. “Who lebrities. Fried okra and black-eyed peas and collard greens are knows what’s going to happen to them,” Kirk says. “The 1950s delicious and filling; sweet potato pie seals the deal. versions,” such as the one M&M Soul Food is in on Valley View But most of the other spaces in the Panorama Shopping Cen- and Charleston, “may be more adaptable. They’re small-scale, ter are empty, as so many are along Charleston. with decent parking but not oceans of parking, and they have “Preservationists like to say that neglect is the best friend of small spaces. It’s the big-box-anchored ones that make no sense. preservation,” Kirk says. “Benign neglect.” That way, original We do need little stores, and small spaces will be in demand. structures can be saved rather than experience the cycle of tear- They’re more usable and adaptable and more appealing, and down and rebuilding. But the downside of the neglect is that some are more ‘designed.’ people start to move farther out, leaving blight. “The real question is what to do with the big boxes in a mod- “Charleston has had periods of significant decline, so peo - ern economy, when everyone is shopping for those things on ple moved out to the suburbs farther and farther. It’s a very Amazon? I don’t know.”

AUGUST 2016 70 DesertCompanion.vegas Rich variety: All the way out to the last intersection at its west end (far right), the street teems with life, whether it’s Frank Walters at M&M Soul Food Cafe, Steven Riddle of Velvet Underground Comics, a guy negotiating 4241 W. CHARLESTON BLVD. the Charleston underpass, or all “This is my neighborhood. I grew up here. I went to Clark till, so much can happen in the el- the sights and High School. I love it here,” he says. “West Charleston is the orig- bow of one of these weathered sites in between. inal western-reaching street, you can take it all the way to Red S strip malls on Charleston over the Rock. Thirty years ago, if you were on West Charleston, you were course 30 years or so. A man can leave the dude, you were in a good place. And I still think you are.” his successful career in hospitality, dis- I have come to think that despite its rough-and-tumble stretches cover his love of plants and home decorating, and make a business and its pockets of blight, Riddle could be right about this. Or maybe of it, opening a retail outlet on Charleston. And then, maybe he’ll it’s because of those patches, combined with the more vibrant ar- meet a guy who uses the space next door to house old comic books. eas, along with the shout-outs to historic Vegas, and the longtime Maybe they’ll chat about collecting comics, and the guy who grew businesses such as Annie’s Hubcaps, The Omelet House, Kessler & up working in hospitality and later opened a silk plant shop will Sons Music, and the newer businesses like Silver Sage Wellness start to deal in comics and collectibles. Soon enough, he’ll open his marijuana dispensary or Krayvings Feel Good Food, that Charles- own comic book and collectibles shop next door to his plant shop, ton is a such an enchanting trail. and create one of the city’s best-loved comic book stores. All in a tiny corner of an oft-ignored strip mall on Charleston. “Comic books are for adults,” says Steven Riddle, owner of Vel- 5201 W. CHARLESTON BLVD. vet Underground Comics. He’s tall, gray-haired and trim-mus- n a late Friday night, Flex Cocktail Lounge is packed, there’s tached, with a slew of Old Vegas stories he’s willing to share. But a drag queen on the stage, and two male go-go dancers per- today, the conversation is about his busy shop. “It’s very serious O forming on platforms. Flex has been a gay bar since the business. People come back because there is a reputation, and 1990s, and long before that it was the Hyde Park Lounge, reflect- you earn that reputation with integrity and honesty.” ing the neighborhood around it, which was built in the 1940s and Riddle kindly shows me around the store — aisles so tight you can 1950s. Like many of the businesses on this western-central barely squeeze through, and silk plants and decorative tree branches stretch of Charleston, it’s been remodeled several times. tucked in and above the shelves. The books are in immaculate condi- Change characterizes a lot here. A few blocks west, there’s a tion. The place is crowded on a weekday afternoon, something you plaza where the once popular Red Rock 11 Theater used to be. wouldn’t expect when you spot it from the road, tucked back in the Today it’s a shopping center with a variety of retail outlets, but in corner of this Hyde Park Shopping Center behind a motorcycle shop the 1970s, it was one 500-seat theater, and by the ’80s, it was ex- and an upholstery store. Classic pop and rock play on the radio, and panded to 11 theaters. As newer theaters were built in outlying among the books are also collectible statues: Wonder Woman, Su- areas, Red Rock 11 was closed. perman. Behind the counter there are rows of clean, handwritten The Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services facility at pullboxes for customers who pre-order a certain comic book. Rid- 6161 W. Charleston was built in 1969 to provide both inpatient and dle’s financial ledger is hand-written — meticulously — as well. outpatient care. Next door, the 80-acre College of Southern Nevada

AUGUST 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 71 opened in 1988, the third of three campuses of the Clark County his school team or a league of some sort. Community College. Such developments served to push still more “Not school,” he says. “Twenty dollars is good, but if you don’t residential and business construction westward on Charleston. have that, anything will help. Have you ever seen a $2 bill?” But no single development affected West Charleston more in I’m about tell him that yes, I have seen a $2 bill, when the the last three decades than Summerlin. security guard claps his hands loudly four times, striding our In 1952, Howard Hughes purchased 25,000 acres of desert land way across the pavement, and the boys scurry off. adjacent to Red Rock Canyon. It sat vacant for decades, until plans “I’ve told them time and time again not to do that here,” he were announced in the late 1980s for Summerlin, a master-planned says. “It’s not a real team. Their dad is around here somewhere in community named for Hughes’ paternal grandmother, Jean Ame- a four-door Nissan.” He stalks off through the sedans and SUVs, lia Summerlin. By the mid-’90s, the western end of Charleston had looking, but they’re nowhere to be seen. I feel sheepish, as I was become a major thoroughfare to thousands of new upper- and going to give them a few bucks — and as I load my bag of Naked middle-class suburban homes. By the mid-2000s, the entire west Beet Chips and So Delicious Coconut Milk into the car, I consider end of Charleston had become a fundamental part of the massive the different concerns of people on this boulevard. master-planned community and its many “villages,” which drew I think of Roberto and his grandmother laughing and running more strip malls anchored by grocery and big-box stores. The traf- to catch the bus on their way to get haircuts; I think of the ner- fic and crowds grew still more with the 2006 addition of the $930 vous, well-groomed couple and their three small children I met million Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa — complete with palm trees on the bus who were all heading to the welfare office; I think of swaying atop its 20-floor tower — and the 2014 shopping venue doctors and patients in UMC’s full emergency room; I think of Downtown Summerlin. On this block at 11011 W. Charleston, a bit the shoppers showing their social conscience by buying Organ- of Las Vegas’ tourism image returns: plentiful gaming, show the- ic Boxer Briefs not made with child labor or toxic pesticides. aters, fine dining, boutique shopping and a luxurious pool. Wheth- Where 15 miles east I struggled with language skills, here I er it’s tourists or locals enjoying a staycation, Red Rock Casino says grapple momentarily with the way the distribution of wealth modern destination Las Vegas. But much of the rest of this area, alters our immediate concerns and reframes our sense of urgen- not dominated by gaming, says something more like comfortable, cy and responsibility. What’s most remarkable is that all of upper-middle-class Western suburbia. these efforts to survive and thrive are happening on the same street, at virtually the same time — a street once noted as nothing more than a parallel on the map, a dirt road to a hospital, a 8855 W. CHARLESTON BLVD. trail to the valley’s foothills. t’s lunchtime on a Thursday. The intersection of Charleston I drive onto Charleston, heading west. and Rampart is jammed with cars. All corners offer massive, I busy strip malls, most dominated by chain stores and chain **** restaurants: the standard concrete horse of P.F. Chang’s fronts At the 215, Charleston briefly spreads to 10 lanes and a median the northwest center housing Ann Taylor and Williams-Sono- before trickling through the westernmost edge of Summerlin to- ma shops; Boca Park shopping center spreads out in layers of ward Red Rock Conservation Area, where the road becomes retail behind a Target on the northeast corner; Claim Jumper known as Highway 159, or the road to Blue Diamond. On this restaurant dominates the southwest. Here, in the southeast cen- edge of town, the view from Charleston is breathtaking: Red ter, set behind a stretch of grass-and-tree landscaping and a Rock Canyon’s dramatic rise and bright red iron oxide stripes large, crowded parking lot, is Whole Foods Market, next to a remind us, after a long traffic-filled trip across town, that we are Barnes & Noble and a Pier 1 Imports. still just a blip in the multimillion-year timeframe of this valley, A few people eat salads at the tables outside the grocery store un- a blink in the cosmic scheme of things. der the shade of the patio; one is typing on his laptop. A uniformedA The westernmost street sign that identifies the road as Charles- security guard watches the parking lot. Inside the enormous space, ton, rather than Highway 159 or Blue Diamond Road, is at Sky Vis- rows are busy with slow-roaming shoppers, a good many wearing ta Drive, the latest, but not the last, of Summerlin’s advancing sub- stylish gym outfits, pushing carts first through displays of bright, -or urban streets. The desert beyond Sky Vista is already graded for ganic produce, then on to the butcher shop, where signs explain, “No more development. The homes already here are desert browns and cages, no crates, no crowding” and “No added hormones, no antibi- beiges, sizable, upgraded, some behind gated entryways. otics, ever, no wondering.” In the middle of the store, rows of jarred The streetlights and the landscaped median ends at Sky Vis- supplements, vitamins, herbs and tinctures are complemented by a ta, and Charleston turns into the two-lane highway, a “Desig- bookstand with titles such as Conscious Capitalism and Liberation nated Scenic Byway” that will pass through Red Rock Conser- Soup. A rack of “Super Soft Organic Boxer Briefs: No Sweatshops / vation Area, past Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and Blue No Toxic Pesticides / Fair-Trade Certified Cotton / No Child Labor / Diamond, and eventually end at State Route 160. Non-GMO Cotton” sell for $28.99 per two-pack. When you turn around from this point and look back, east- Upon leaving, I’m approached by two small boys, maybe 7 or ward, you realize that you have traversed worlds, skipped 8 years old, in the parking lot: “Excuse me ma’am,” says one. through decades, met vastly different people, but barely “We don’t mean to bother you, but we’re trying to get money for scratched the surface of Charleston’s offerings. With this street, our football team.” He’s holding a clipboard and I ask him if it’s there is always more to the story.

AUGUST 2016 72 DesertCompanion.vegas ™ & © 2016 The Jim Henson Company. All rights reserved. AUGUST 2016 74 DESERTCOMPANION.VEGAS With rural health care Jeff Martin’s eyes sparkle as he rattles off the exhibits in crisis in Nevada at the Tonopah Historic and providers are Mining Park, where he beyond, works. He loves the park, searching for a cure he says, and the town that he and his wife moved to from Southern California four years ago, when she by HEIDI KYSER landed a job at the nearby Crescent Dunes solar plant. ¶ “I’ll never go any- place else,” he says. ¶ There’s just one problem with Tonopah, located a couple clicks southwest of Nevada’s center. “Our biggest issue right now is, our hospital closed down at the end of last year,” Martin says. Is there any clinic or mobile medic for urgent care? “There’s nothing here. Nothing. The only thing Tonopah has for medical services are the life flights, and they’ve been a great help to the whole community.”

AUGUST 2016 DESERTCOMPANION.VEGAS 75 Urgent cares: Above, They’ve been a great help to Martin in the Nye Regional Medical Center; particular. He’s taken two emergency air- opposite page, nurse plane trips to Reno for painful ruptures of practitioner Diane his diverticulitis. McGinnis hopes to It’s easy to see why this situation is not launch a mobile clinic ideal. The only thing more burdensome to serve rural areas. than the 100-mile drive that Tonopah residents have to make for regular checkups in Hawthorne, Nevada, is the cost of flying which Tonopah is the twice that distance, to Las Vegas or Reno, seat, are age 65 or old- for an acute episode. The short trip with er. Treating chronic Life Guard International, which stayed on diseases in these pop- after the hospital shut down to provide ulations, the Centers medical transportation from Tonopah, can for Disease Control cost as much as $30,000 and may not be says, soaks up two-thirds of the country’s cover costs with scant office visits, they say covered by a patient’s insurance. health care budget. a little cash tossed their way would help Tonopah residents aren’t alone in lack- The Nye County Regional Medical Cen- improve access to care. ing access to medical services. Research ter’s closure a year ago prompted Rep. Cre- “Financing is still a big issue,” says Ger- firm Ivantage Health Analytics reported sent Hardy to co-sponsor legislation dubbed ald Ackerman, head of Nevada’s State Of- this year that 76 rural hospitals have closed the Rural HEALTH Act. The bill, which has fice of Rural Health, based in the Universi- since 2010 and another 673 are vulnerable gone through the commerce and agriculture ty of Nevada School of Medicine (now the to closure. That includes seven in Nevada. committees and is currently in the com- UNR School of Medicine). “When you look And they need these services — at least modity exchanges subcommittee, calls for at costs for health care, someone always as much as city dwellers, if not more. Rural Health and Human Services to resume its has to pay, whether it’s you or your insur- residents face unique obstacles to good annual study of state rural health organiza- ance company or the county, under indi- health, such as higher rates of fatal car tions, suspended since 2003. It would also gent care. If it wasn’t for the tax base in crashes, poverty, and teens abusing alcohol reauthorize a grant program providing $15 certain communities, some health clinics and tobacco, according to the National Ru- million for five years, including a carve-out wouldn’t make it.” ral Health Association. A 2014 study pub- for facility construction and upgrades. The Affordable Care Act (aka lished in the American Journal of Preven- “It’s a small amount,” Hardy says, “but “Obamacare”) didn’t make matters worse, tive Medicine found that the life expectan- you have to have the study before you start insiders say, but it didn’t help much either, cy of rural residents was almost three years throwing money at things.” since reimbursements for small providers shorter than that of metropolitan residents Although professionals in the field wel- are still too low to cover their costs. To help — and that the gap is growing. come the study, they have a different view fill the gap, Ackerman’s office uses a federal Aging populations in rural areas aggravate on the funding. From specialty centers in grant for rural hospitals to fund the Nevada the situation. According to U.S. census data, Las Vegas that have had to cut remote pro- Flex Program, which offers cost-based re- 29 percent of residents in Nye County, of grams, to nonprofit clinics struggling to imbursements to providers that meet cer-

AUGUST 2016 76 DESERTCOMPANION.VEGAS volunteers at both the library and fire de- “I enjoy doing personal medicine,” she partment. He also used to drive the local says. “I like knowing about the whole pa- ambulance, but gave up his first-responder tient, what they’re doing, their family. I certification a few years back. think I can give better medical care if I “There were problems getting the pa- know that their mom just died or their perwork from the state in a timely man- child is ill. You see your patients after ner,” he says. “And there was a lot involved hours. You live with them.” for a volunteer thing. It was, like, 80 hours, McGinnis maintains her community ties and then it’s good for two years. A year was to Beatty, hinting at her larger goal: to oper- already up before I completed all my pa- ate a full-fledged mobile clinic. Right now, in perwork and certification, and we do have addition to manning Searchlight Health’s two EMTs here and a few first responders, Henderson office during regular business so we had enough at the time.” hours, she operates McGinnis Mica Medical House has just listed all the healthcare on the side. That’s her nurse practitioner professionals in Gabbs. There’s no medical house-call business, or, as she describes it, clinic there; it shut down several years ago. “clinic without walls.” She’ll see patients House says he and his wife go to a clinic anywhere they want: home, the library, a that Reno-based Renown Health operates park — she even had one appointment at in Fallon, nearly 80 miles away. Like Jeff Walmart. Instead of the traditional black Martin in Tonopah, they rely on flights for bag, McGinnis’ SUV carries a couple large emergencies. plastic tubs stocked with a blood pressure “It could be better,” House says. “If we cuff, otoscope, stethoscope, etcetera. did have a clinic here, that would be the “I’m qualified to give immunizations, best-case scenario. It’s a very small com- but they have to be kept at a specific tem- munity, though, so it’s hard to justify.” perature, and you have to have Internet ca- tain requirements. But that’s just one func- Slow business, and the resulting low pability for the data logger,” she says. “If I tion of the multi-faceted program that has revenue, is not the only deterrent to clin- had an RV, I could set that up.” received only $3.3 million since 1999. ics in towns like Gabbs. Another big one: United Health Care currently operates “Hospitals have been good at getting Few doctors want to work in rural areas, such an RV. Its 45-foot-long Medicine on their rates adjusted up,” says Barbara At- and almost no one wants to work in so- the Move truck goes to churches, commu- kinson, founding dean of the UNLV School called “frontier towns,” the industry term nity centers and homeless shelters to pro- of Medicine. “Physicians haven’t done so for places 60 miles or farther from the vide primary care to patients who typically well. And community providers don’t have nearest hospital. don’t seek it because of barriers such as any reimbursement, so we need to work on “Some people just can’t handle not hav- child-care and transportation. The truck that in the next legislative session.” ing a grocery store, pharmacy, dentist, vet,” goes to rural Nevada towns such as Mes- The providers themselves aren’t holding says Diane McGinnis, a doctor of nursing quite and Yerington, but no frontier towns. their breath for more money or policy re- practice with Searchlight Healthcare. “And That’s where McGinnis comes in. Just as form. Instead, they’re looking for creative you may be able to find a provider who’s she sat down to talk with Desert Compan- ways to stretch every dollar to its max. willing to do it, but then their spouse can’t ion, she answered a call from someone Three developments — mobile medicine, work in the same town.” needing a urine sample to be taken from a telemedicine and specialty teleconferences That was the case for McGinnis, who patient in Tonopah. She told the caller that, called ECHO clinics — have shown promise, spent nearly four years in Beatty, a frontier in addition to the fee for her service, she’d and more innovation may be on the way. town of around 1,000 residents, while her have to be reimbursed for the six- to sev- husband and three children remained in en-hour round-trip drive, another $240. Las Vegas. From December 2011 to October “You can’t see enough patients in one A TOUGH SELL 2015, she would make the 115-mile com- day to sustain a clinic because of the driv- mute to Beatty on Sunday evenings, returning time,” she says. “You only see the pa- Around 100 miles northwest of ing on Fridays to spend the weekend with tients that the insurance companies (you’re Tonopah, in Gabbs, Nevada, an apron-clad her family. contracted with) pay you for. And I only get Ken House is loitering outside the senior “I have a terrific husband,” she says. paid 85 percent of what a physician would center puffing on a cigar. He and his wife, She also has a commitment to rural by certain insurances, even though I offer Kathleen House, have just finished making healthcare. Although McGinnis was only in the same services.” biscuits and gravy for the breakfast that Beatty five days out of the week, she was Through Mica Medical, McGinnis can they serve at the center every other Friday. very involved in the community — volun- help patients who wouldn’t otherwise get House, who moved to the town of 250 teering for the fire department, serving on care, but she acknowledges it won’t solve from California’s Bay Area when he retired the museum board and leading a Boy the rural healthcare problem. For that, six years ago, is on its advisory board and Scouts troop. many are looking to telemedicine.

AUGUST 2016 DESERTCOMPANION.VEGAS 77 BEAM ME OUT, ideal test case. For starters, the distance be- tates appointments with Ruvo Center pa- SCOTTY tween Nevada towns is greater than in most tients in Elko. Although she has training other states, so people can’t just drive 15 min- in office medical management and as a Scattered around Gabriel Léger’s utes to the next burg and find a doctor. Spe- nurse’s assistant, Charters is not a physi- desk at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Cen- cialists are even farther away. Nevada is short cian or advanced practitioner. She is, as ter for Brain Health are signs of a busy on doctors in general — current numbers are she says, “the chief cook and bottle-wash- mind: a stack of Neurology magazines, an 200 for every 100,000 people, 48th in the er” — running the office, scheduling ap - apple (still uneaten at 3:30 p.m.), a South- country — and specialists in particular. If folks pointments, checking patients in, admin- west Airlines ticket jacket. Hovering above are unlikely to drive an hour for a general istering tests, taking their vitals and this clutter are two large computer moni- checkup, then they’re even less likely to drive tracking down prescriptions. tors. On the right, live video of three wom- three hours for a specialized consultation. The UNLV School of Medicine’s Barbara en, Mary Goicoechea and her niece and (And if the state can’t convince recent medi- Atkinson believes more training programs daughter, sitting in padded armchairs in a cal school graduates to work in its cities, then for people like Charters would help tele- small office at Elko’s Morningstar Health it’s even less likely to convince them to work medicine grow. Her school is cooperating Center. On the left-hand screen are the da- in small towns.) There is also little home care with CSN to certify community health ta-crammed windows of a complicated in rural areas to follow up and make sure pa- workers, who could fill this role. Atkinson medical app that allows Léger to see Haas’ tients are taking their meds, going to physical says she’s also encouraged by a bill that medical chart, pull up brain scans and test therapy and so on. passed in the 2015 Nevada legislative ses- results, and log notes. Goicoechea, a resi- Telemedicine programs like the Ruvo sion, allowing physicians to bill telemedi- dent of a town with no neurologists, is in an Center’s are an ideal solution to these prob- cine at the same rate as office visits, and the appointment with an Alzheimer’s special- lems. So, why aren’t there more of them? facility hosting the patient to bill for the ist 425 miles away. “Money is part of it, like it always is,” visit as well. After chatting with the two younger says Charles Bernick, associate medical di- As for the physicians themselves, the women about how Goicoechea has been do- rector at the Ruvo Center. “Most of our pa- UNLV School of Medicine, expected to ac- ing, Léger turns his attention to the patient. tients are Medicare patients. You can bill cept its first class next year, is incorporating “Mary, I see your head is shaking a little Medicare, but the amount you get back a robust telemedicine program into its cur- bit,” he says. She seems surprised. doesn’t cover the time you spend. … To be riculum and clinical practice. Vice Dean The doctor asks Goicoechea to take off honest, unless you’re a state entity and get Tracey Green is visiting schools in Alabama, her glasses, and, using a menu that looks some funding, or you’re a hospital and you Mississippi and Utah to see examples of like a joystick, zooms the camera, which is want patients to come to you for surgery, successful programs as she develops atop the computer monitor several feet it’s hard to make money. It has to be a (non- UNLV’s. from his patient, in for a close-up. The res- profit) organization, like ours, that can ab- “This will really help people in rural ar- olution is so high that you can almost see sorb the cost.” eas stay close to home,” Atkinson says. the blood vessels in her eyes. Bernick says a brewing part- “Without moving your head, look all the nership with Renown Health, way down,” he tells her. which recently applied for a Though she’s wearing headphones, grant to establish several tele- Goicoechea seems to have a little trouble medicine sites, would allow the BUT DAVIS’ MOST hearing Léger. The camera’s panning and Ruvo Center to expand its ser- RADICAL IDEA MAY zooming functions also give the doctor a vices beyond Elko. He’d like to little trouble. Still, he’s able to do as thor- see other players that are cur- BE FOR GROUP ough an exam as he would in his Las Vegas rently working separately band office. And Goicoechea’s family is able to together to share their strengths APPOINTMENTS. IN get help with her disease from a highly and costs. qualified behavioral neurologist. Gerald Ackerman, of the State THIS MODEL, A “The first time, it was weird. I’d never Office of Rural Health, says an- PHYSICIAN SEES done anything like that,” says Veronica El- other challenge, besides money, dridge, Goicoechea’s daughter, who’d been is staff. Someone has to facilitate EIGHT TO 10 driving her mother three hours to Salt Lake a telemedicine appointment on City before hearing about the Ruvo Cen- the patient’s end, and practi- PATIENTS AT A TIME. ter’s telemedicine program from a friend a tioners staffing small clinics may year ago. “I was like, maybe this isn’t going not have time. THE GROUP GETS AN to work. But he (Léger) is so good at his job. Bernick, who’s been doing HOUR AND 15 I definitely think it’s really good now.” telemedicine for some 20 years, Nevada is progressive in telemedicine rela- gets around this obstacle by hir- MINUTES OF CARE tive to other U.S. states, and champions of it ing staff like Tami Charters, the will give you many reasons why the state is an medical assistant who facili- INSTEAD OF A MERE 10 MINUTES EACH.

AUGUST 2016 78 DESERTCOMPANION.VEGAS AND THEY TELL UNR’s Project ECHO Nevada offers pri- foster population health management. TWO FRIENDS … mary care providers training in sports med- “We need to build budgets around com- icine and office orthopedics, public health, munities instead of individual sites,” he When Sanjeev Arora, a liver dis- gastrointestinal medicine, pain manage- says. “Patients need access to both hospi- ease specialist in Albuquerque, tried us- ment, diabetes and endocrinology, geriat- tals and primary care. Hospitals want to fill ing telemedicine to help him treat New rics, and behavioral health in primary care. beds, but if we’re doing healthcare right, Mexico’s thousands of rural patients with One pillar of the model is patient confiden- we would need fewer beds. We have to hepatitis C, he was unimpressed. He could tiality. “Not using protected health informa- spend more time on prevention than on still only see one patient at a time, whether tion allows ECHO to do what it does,” March- feeding a large system that’s challenged by in person or on a computer. Thinking about and says. “Discussion of the primary care insurance plans and infrastructure invest- the available technology, he had another providers’ cases is important, so you have to ments to keep the business running.” idea: What if he shared his basic knowl- make sure patient information is protected.” In small ways, Nevada Health Centers is edge of hep c with rural primary care pro- Another pillar is that it’s free, Harding already implementing this approach. The viders? Then, they could each see dozens says. “Sanjeev (Arora) has always pushed company runs a discharge clinic at Carson of people and get the treatment ball rolling. back against the view of medicine as being Tahoe Regional Medical Center in Carson The effect would be multiplied exponen- fee-for-service. We believe that by position- City, giving the hospital access to its sched- tially. After trying out his idea for a while, ing ECHO for rapid ramp-up, we can ule to book patients for follow-up care in Arora found that the rural providers’ pa- demonstrate its value and its return on in- order to reduce readmission rates. A visit- tient outcomes were just as good as his. vestment to the healthcare education sys- ing nurse program in Lockwood paired a That led to the birth of Project ECHO at tem, so we’ll be able to convince govern- nurse with a sheriff, who had been fre- the UNM School of Medicine in 2003. The ment — not just ours, but those of the coun- quently finding people in need of medical basic model — teleconferences in which tries where it operates around the world — assistance during welfare calls. medical specialists study rural primary of the value and get them to pay for it, But Davis’ most radical idea may be for care providers’ cases and empower them to whether it’s small clinics in rural Nevada or group appointments. In this model, a phy- provide certain specialty services — has not the super-hub of Ireland that includes 20 sician and facilitator with a clinical back- changed, although the technology has different diseases.” ground see eight to 10 patients at a time. evolved and licensees have adapted it to Marchand says his biggest hurdle is the Having all signed confidentiality waivers, their needs, creating new uses. Today, voluntary nature of the program. they take turns talking with the physician, there are 89 Project ECHO replications in “It’s difficult to expand and grow when stepping out for treatment as needed. The 30 U.S. states and 14 other countries. The everybody is short-staffed and overloaded entire group gets an hour and 15 minutes of Department of Defense uses it; so does the with work,” he says. “Over the last few care instead of 10 minutes per person. Veterans Administration. The UNR School years, we’ve been slowly growing what we “I learned about this maybe 10 years of Medicine was one of the first 10 adopt- do, and becoming more involved with oth- ago,” Davis says. “I was taken aback by the ers, starting its ECHO program in 2012. er health organizations around the state. patients’ lack of fear to talk about what’s “Nevada is a strong U.S. hub,” Erika Hard- But there’s a lot more we want to do.” going on with them. One 75-year-old ing, Project ECHO’s director of replication brought up his libido issues. At the end of initiatives, says. “And they grew fast. Evan the session, I asked them why they felt so Klass (a former endocrinologist at UNR, GROUP CHAT comfortable, and they said, ‘We all face the who’s still director of the program) and his same issues, and we’re learning.’” team launched seven ECHOs in 18 months, There’s a lot more that others Other, less radical ideas are also chipping which was a record then. They took on dis- want to do, too. Take Walter Davis, CEO of away at the problem. Ackerman’s office is eases and conditions that others didn’t.” Nevada Health Centers, a nonprofit that working to establish rural residency pro- Chris Marchand, the UNR program’s co- gets federal funding to operate clinics in grams around the state; state grants offset ordinator, says that, as with telemedicine, under-served communities. Davis has lots student loans for medical and nursing stu- Nevada’s geography and demographics make of ideas, starting with the simple task of ed- dents who commit to working in out-of-the- it an ideal laboratory for Project ECHO. ucating rural communities to embrace ad- way areas; and the federal government reg- “Let’s say a patient has diabetes,” he vanced practitioners such as McGinnis, ularly identifies ZIP codes where qualified says. “His primary care provider doesn’t do who can give the same level of care as tra- operators like Nevada Health Centers can diabetes management, so he refers the pa- ditional MDs but cost less, meaning reim- compete to open new clinics when funding tient to an endocrinologist in Reno. It could bursements for their services go further. becomes available. Ackerman says a final, take that patient six to 12 months to go see Unlike most providers, Davis believes important piece of the puzzle is pipeline the endocrinologist, and often, the ques- there’s enough funding available to expand programs to prepare high school kids — par- tions asked during the initial referral are healthcare to the rural communities that ticularly those from rural towns — to go into questions that could have been asked need it. The problem, he says, is adherence to medical professions. during an ECHO clinic, saving the patient an outdated budget model. Instead of health “I definitely hope we don’t give up on ru- the travel time, lost wages, child care costs plans, hospitals and medical groups fighting ral clinics,” McGinnis says. “It breaks my and other inconveniences.” over the same dollars, he says, the state should heart to see these people abandoned.”

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AUGUST 2016 WWW.DesertCompanion.VEGAS 81 BEST DOCTORS

with employers’ other health-related bene- that Gallup® has audited and certified, they How the Best fits, to serve more than 30 million members gather the insight and experience of tens of Doctors were in every major region of the world. thousands of leading specialists all over the More than a traditional second opinion, country, while confirming their credentials chosen Best Doctors delivers a comprehensive and specific areas of expertise. evaluation of a patient’s medical condi- The result is the Best Doctors in Amer- Best Doctors, Inc. is transforming tion – providing value to both patients and ica® List, which includes the nation’s and improving health care by bring- treating physicians. By utilizing Best Doc- most respected specialists and outstand- ing together the best medical minds in the tors, members have access to the brightest ing primary care physicians. These are world to help identify the right diagnosis minds in medicine to ensure the right the doctors whom other doctors rec- and treatment. The company’s innovative, diagnosis and treatment plan. ognize as the best in their fields. They peer-to-peer consultation service offers a Best Doctors’ team of researchers con- cannot pay a fee and are not paid to be new way for physicians to collaborate with ducts a biennial poll using the methodology listed and cannot nominate or vote for other physicians to ensure patients receive that mimics the informal peer-to-peer themselves. It is a list which is truly un- the best care. process doctors themselves use to identify biased and respected by the medical pro- Headquartered in Boston, MA, the global the right specialists for their patients. Using fession and patients alike as the source of company seamlessly integrates its services a polling method and balloting software top-quality medical information.

Gallup® has audited and certified Best maintained by Best Doctors, Inc. For more assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability information in this list may be made without Doctors, Inc.’s database of physicians, and its information, visit bestdoctors.com or contact to any person or other party for any loss or the permission of Best Doctors, Inc. No fees companion The Best Doctors in America® List, Best Doctors by telephone at 800-675-1199 or damage caused by errors or omissions herein, may be charged, directly or indirectly, for as using the highest industry standards survey by email at [email protected]. Please whether such errors or omissions result from the use of the information in this list without methodology and processes. These lists are note that lists of doctors are not available on negligence, accident, or any other cause. permission. excerpted from The Best Doctors in America the Best Doctors website. Copyright 2016, Best Doctors, Inc. Used BEST DOCTORS, THE BEST DOCTORS 2015-2016 database, which includes more than Best Doctors, Inc., has used its best efforts under license, all rights reserved. This list, or IN AMERICA, and the Star-in-Cross Logo are 40,000 U.S. doctors in more than 40 medical in assembling material for this list, but does any parts thereof, must not be reproduced trademarks of Best Doctors, Inc., registered specialties and 400 subspecialties. The Best not warrant that the information contained in any form without written permission from in the U.S. and other countries, and are used Doctors in America database is compiled and herein is complete or accurate, and does not Best Doctors, Inc. No commercial use of the under license.

August 2016 82 www.DesertCompanion.vegas Addiction Medicine Medical Genetics Erik J. Sirulnick Frank J. Nemec Melvin I. Pohl HealthCare Partners Gastroenterology Colleen Morris Las Vegas Recovery Center Medical Group - Associates Pediatrics Center 3371 N. Buffalo Drive Cardiology 3820 S. Hualapai Way #200 Las Vegas 702-515-1373 3131 La Canada St. #200 702-796-0231 Division of Pediatric 702-933-9400 Genetics Anesthesiology Infectious Disease Sunrise Hospital Medical Leo Spaccavento Office Bldg #315 Mark Stuart Scheller Advanced Heart Care Jerome Frank Hruska 3006 S. Maryland Parkway Cardiovascular Anesthesia Associates Infectious Disease 702-671-2229 Consultants 4275 Burnham Ave. #220 Consultants 2850 S. Mojave Road #A 702-796-4278 3006 S. Maryland Parkway #780 Medical Oncology 702-388-8062 702-737-0740 and Hematology Colon and John S. Smith Rectal Surgery Brian J. Lipman Heather J. Allen Cardiovascular Anesthesia Infectious Diseases of Comprehensive Cancer Consultants Ovunc Bardakcioglu Southern Nevada Centers of Nevada 2850 S. Mojave Road #A University of Nevada 10001 S. Eastern Ave. #307 3730 S. Eastern Ave. 702-388-8062 School of Medicine Henderson 702-952-3400 Department of Surgery 702-776-8300 Cardiovascular Disease 1707 W. Charleston Blvd. #160 Fadi Braiteh 702-671-5150 Gary R. Skankey Comprehensive Cancer John Bedotto Infectious Disease Centers of Nevada HealthCare Partners Joseph P. Thornton Consultants 3730 S. Eastern Ave. Medical Group - Cardiology University of Nevada 3006 S. Maryland Parkway #780 702-952-3400 9280 W. Sunset Road #320 School of Medicine 702-737-0740 702-534-5464 Department of Surgery Russell Gollard 1707 W. Charleston Blvd. #160 Internal Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Tillmann Cyrus 702-671-5150 Centers of Nevada VA Southern Nevada Ethan Milton Cruvant 2460 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway Healthcare System Dermatology Dignity Health Medical Henderson Department of Cardiology Group Nevada 702-822-2000 6900 N. Pecos Road #3D152 Miriam S. Bettencourt 8205 W. Warm Springs Road North Las Vegas Advanced Dermatology #210 Edwin Charles Kingsley 702-791-9000 and Cosmetic Surgery 702-676-5801 Comprehensive Cancer 1701 N. Green Valley Parkway Centers of Nevada Carlos Fonte #7B Henderson Paul T. Emery 3730 S. Eastern Ave. Advanced Cardiovascular 702-257-7546 Dignity Health Medical 702-952-3400 Specialists Group Nevada 3201 S. Maryland Parkway #502 Endocrinology and 8205 W. Warm Springs Road #210 Nicholas J. Vogelzang 702-733-8600 Metabolism 702-616-5801 Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada Cres P. Miranda Freddie G. Toffel Mark Charles Handelman 3730 S. Eastern Ave. Nevada Heart 2700 E. Sunset Road #D-34 2585 Box Canyon Drive #110 702-952-3400 & Vascular Center 702-736-2021 702-538-7773 3150 N. Tenaya Way #320 Nephrology 702-227-3422 Gastroenterology Sarah C. Heiner 70 E. Horizon Ridge Parkway Marvin Jay Bernstein David Lloyd Navratil Joseph Mansour Fayad #100 Henderson Kidney Specialists of HealthCare Partners VA Southern Nevada 702-778-8828 Southern Nevada Medical Group - Cardiolgy Healthcare System 500 S. Rancho Drive #12 2865 Siena Heights Drive #331 Department of Jerrold Schwartz 702-877-1887 Henderson Gastroenterology 7395 S. Pecos Road #102 702-731-8224 6900 N. Pecos Road 702-737-8657 John P. Havill North Las Vegas Kidney Specialists of Charles Allen Rhodes 702-791-9162 Bradley J. Thompson Southern Nevada Nevada Heart 3650 S. Eastern Ave. #300 100 N. Green Valley Parkway & Vascular Center Donald Lawrence Kwok 702-796-8036 #310 Henderson 4275 S. Burnham Ave. #100 Gastroenterology 702-877-1887 702-240-6482 Associates Candice Tung 3820 S. Hualapai Way #200 7395 S. Pecos Road #102 Robert W. Merrell Jerry Routh 702-796-0231 702-737-8657 Kidney Specialists of HealthCare Partners Southern Nevada Cardiology Gregory Kwok 100 N. Green Valley Parkway Summerlin Medical Office Gastroenterology #310 Henderson Bldg. 3 #250 Associates 702-877-1887 10105 Banburry Cross Drive 3820 S. Hualapai Way #200 702-360-7600 702-796-0231

august 2016 www.DesertCompanion.vegas 83 BEST DOCTORS Surgery Neville Pokroy Jocelyn Ivie Darren Thomas Wheeler Kidney Specialists of Women’s Health Associates Quest Diagnostics Terence G. Banich Southern Nevada of Southern Nevada 4230 Burnham Ave. #144 General Surgery 653 N. Town Center Drive, 2821 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway 702-733-3785 Associates Bldg. 2 #70 #130 Henderson 700 Shadow Lane #370 702-877-1887 702-862-8862 Pediatric Cardiology 702-382-8222 Zvi Sela Florence N. Jameson Ruben J. Acherman John J. Fildes Kidney Specialists of 5281 S. Eastern Ave. Children’s Heart Center University of Nevada Southern Nevada 702-262-9676 3006 S. Maryland Parkway #690 School of Medicine 653 N. Town Center Drive, 702-732-1290 Department of Surgery Bldg. 2 #70 Steven Kramer 1707 W. Charleston Blvd. #160 702-877-1887 Women’s Health Associates Abraham Rothman 702-671-5150 of Southern Nevada Children’s Heart Center Neurological Surgery 1934 E. Sahara Ave. 3006 S. Maryland Parkway #690 Arthur A. Fusco 702-369-5758 702-732-1290 General Surgery John A. Anson Associates The Spine and Brain Institute Kirsten B. Rojas Pediatric Medical 700 Shadow Lane #370 8530 W. Sunset Road #250 Meadows Women’s Center Genetics 702-382-8222 702-851-0792 9120 W. Post Road #200 702-870-2229 Colleen Morris John Ham Derek A. Duke Pediatrics Center University of Nevada The Spine and Brain Institute J. Michael Scarff Las Vegas School of Medicine 861 Coronado Center Drive Women’s Health Division of Pediatric Department of Surgery #200 Henderson Associates of Southern Genetics 1707 W. Charleston Blvd. #160 702-948-9088 Nevada Sunrise Hospital Medical Office 702-671-5150 1934 E. Sahara Ave. Bldg. #315 James S. Forage 702-369-5758 3006 S. Maryland Parkway Surgical Oncology The Spine and Brain Institute 702-671-2229 861 Coronado Center Drive Bruce S. Shapiro Souzan E. El-Eid #200 Henderson The Fertility Center Pediatrics/General Comprehensive Cancer 702-948-9088 of Las Vegas Centers of Nevada 8851 W. Sahara Ave. #100 Renu S. Jain 9280 W. Sunset Road #100 Neurology 702-254-1777 University Pediatric 702-255-1133 Center at Lied Jeffrey Lee Cummings Orthopaedic Surgery 1524 Pinto Lane, 3rd Floor Daniel M. Kirgan Cleveland Clinic 702-944-2828 University of Nevada Lou Ruvo Center Douglas J. Seip School of Medicine for Brain Health 8930 W. Sunset Road #350 Beverly A. Neyland Department of Surgery 888 W. Bonneville Ave. 702-304-1911 University Pediatric 1707 W. Charleston Blvd. #160 702-483-6000 Center at Lied 702-671-5150 Otolaryngology 1524 Pinto Lane, 3rd Floor Luis L. Diaz 702-944-2828 Thoracic Surgery 3150 N. Tenaya Way #520 Walter (Russ) Schroeder 702-233-0755 Ear, Nose and Throat Plastic Surgery Peter G. Vajtai Consultants of Nevada 5745 S. Fort Apache Road #100 Te-Long Hwang 3195 Saint Rose Parkway #210 Goesel M. Anson 702-240-3198 Sunrise Hospital Henderson 8530 W. Sunset Road #130 and Medical Center 702-792-6700 702-822-2100 Robert Wiencek Department of Neurology St. Rose-Stanford Clinic 3186 Maryland Parkway Robert C. Wang Michael (Mike) C. Edward s Cardiovascular and 702-731-8115 Surgery Center 8530 W. Sunset Road #130 Thoracic Surgery Program Department of 702-822-2100 7190 S. Cimarron Road Nuclear Medicine Otolaryngology 702-675-3240 3150 N. Tenaya Way #112 Julio L. Garcia Paul D. Bandt 702-671-6480 6020 S. Rainbow Blvd. #C Urology Desert Radiologists 702-870-0058 2020 Palomino Lane #100 Pathology Sheldon J. Freedman 702-387-6900 Radiology 653 N. Town Center Drive #308 Laura Lynn Bilodeau 702-732-0282 Obstetrics and Quest Diagnostics Paul D. Bandt Gynecology 4230 Burnham Ave. #144 Desert Radiologists Ranjit Jain 702-733-786 2020 Palomino Lane #100 Urology Associates Irwin G. Glassman 702-387-6900 700 Shadow Lane #430 Women’s Health Ronald Knoblock 702-384-0500 Associates of Southern Laboratory Medicine Nevada Consultants 1934 E. Sahara Ave. 7455 W. Washington Ave. #301 702-369-5758 702-732-3441

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Touro University Nevada faculty physicians lead the way in educating the physicians of tomorrow while caring for our community today at the Health Center at Touro.

www.tun.touro.edu 702.777.1750 874 American Pacific Drive, Henderson, NV 89014 Touro University Nevada is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and licensed in Nevada by the Commission on Post-Secondary Education. Touro University Nevada does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or age in its employment, programs, or activities. TOP DENTISTS

great dentist is some- missed whom they feel should be sent to all the listed dentists. thing to smile about. included in our list. Respondents Of course, there are many fine And on the following are asked to put aside any personal dentists who are not included in Apages are lots of rea- bias or political motivations and to this representative list. It is intend- sons to smile. Our 2016 topDen- use only their knowledge of their ed as a sampling of the great body tists list features more than 160 peers’ work when evaluating the of talent in the field of dentistry in of the best dental professionals in other nominees. Nevada. A dentist’s inclusion on Southern Nevada. Voters are asked to individu- our list is based on the subjective How did we find the valley’s ally evaluate the practitioners on judgments of his or her fellow den- top dental talent? It started with a their ballot whose work they are tists. While it is true that the lists simple question: “If you had a pa- familiar with. Once the balloting is may at times disproportionately tient in need of a dentist, which completed, the scores are compiled reward visibility or popularity, we dentist would you refer them to?” and then averaged. The numeri- remain confident that our polling This is the question we’ve asked cal average required for inclusion methodology largely corrects for thousands of dentists to help us varies depending on the average any biases and that these lists con- determine who the topDentists for all the nominees within the tinue to represent the most reliable, should be. Dentists and specialists specialty and the geographic area. accurate, and useful list of dentists are asked to take into consideration Borderline cases are given a careful available anywhere. years of experience, continuing ed- consideration by the editors. Vot- This list is excerpted from the ucation, manner with patients, use ing characteristics and comments 2016 topDentists™ list, a database of new techniques and technolo- are taken into consideration while which includes listings for more gies and of course physical results. making decisions. Past awards a than 160 dentists and specialists The nomination pool of den- dentist has received and status in in Southern Nevada. The Las Ve- tists consists of dentists listed various dental academies can play gas area list is based on thousands online with the American Dental a factor in our decision. of detailed evaluations of dentists Association as well as all dentists Once the decisions have been and professionals by their peers. listed online with their local/re- finalized, the included dentists are The complete database is available gional dental societies, thus allow- checked against state dental boards at usatopdentists.com. For more ing virtually every dentist the op- for disciplinary actions to make sure information, call 706-364-0853; portunity to participate. Dentists they have an active license and are write PO Box 970, Augusta, GA are also given the opportunity to in good standing with the board. 30903; email info@usatopdentists. nominate other dentists we have Then letters of congratulations are com or visit usatopdentists.com.

Disclaimer This list is excerpted from the 2016 topDentists™ list, which includes listings for more than 160 dentists and specialists in Southern Nevada. For more information call 706-364-0853 or email ([email protected]) or visit us at topdentists.com. topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2008-2016 by topDentists, Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

AUGUST 2016 WWW.DesertCompanion.VEGAS 87 TOP DENTISTS

Note: An asterisk indicates the dentist Mark C. Tingey Chris S. Cozine George Harouni* also performs cosmetic procedures. Endodontics of Las Vegas 8579 S. Eastern Ave. #A 731 Mall Ring Circle #201 9750 Covington Cross Drive #150 702-739-8289, cozinedental.com 702-434-9464 Endodontics 702-878-8584 georgeharounidds.com endodonticsoflasvegas.com Bradley A. Ditsworth W. Scott Biggs 2458 E. Russell Road #A Gregg C. Hendrickson* Micro Endodontics of Las Vegas 702-798-6216 Comprehensive Dental Care 4450 N. Tenaya Way #240 General Dentistry 2790 E. Horizon Ridge Parkway #100 702-463-5000 Mark Dorilag 702-735-3284, nvdentists.com lasvegasendo.com Stanley S. Askew Green Valley Dental Group Island Dental Center 710 Coronado Center Drive #100 Michael G. Hollingshead* William D. Brizzee 9750 Covington Cross Drive #100 702-260-0102 6392 Spring Mountain Road Las Vegas Endodontics 702-341-7979 gvdentalgroup.com 702-430-2552 6655 E. Sahara Ave. #A-106 islanddentalcenter.com lasvegasnevadasmiles.com 702-876-5800, lvendo.com Jason L. Downey* Steven A. Avena* 5660 E. Flamingo Road #B Owen W. Justice Jr. Russel K. Christensen 3117 E. Charleston Blvd. 702-871-4903 3226 N. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas Endodontics 702-384-1210 smileslasvegas.com 702-648-6800 6655 E. Sahara Ave. #A-106 stevenavenadds.com justicefamilydental.com 702-876-5800, lvendo.com Mark D. Edington* Peter S. Balle* Modern Dental Care Brian R. Karn* Matthew O. Cox Balle & Associates 9895 S. Maryland Parkway #A Karn Extraordinary Smiles 8460 S. Eastern Ave. #B 2801 W. Charleston Blvd. #100 702-372-4069 851 S. Rampart Blvd. #230 702-492-6688, coxendo.com 702-977-1177, balledds.com moderndentallv.com 702-341-9160, drkarn.com William J. Dougherty Jr. Alex D. Blazzard Donald J. Farr Thomas P. Keating* Sunset Endodontics 840 Pinnacle Court #6A 2458 E. Russell Road #B Keating Dental 54 N. Pecos Road #B 702-345-8686 702-798-4595 880 Seven Hills Drive #240 702-436-4300, sunsetendo.com blazzarddds.com donaldjfarrdds.com 702-454-8855 keatingdds.com John Q. Duong Laurie S. Bloch-Johnson* Barton H. Foutz Lakeview Dental Exceptional Dentistry 2510 Wigwam Parkway #100 James G. Kinard* 2291 S. Fort Apache Road #104 9501 Hillwood Drive #A 702-792-5929, drfoutz.com 2780 E. Horizon Ridge Parkway #20 702-869-0001, karentrandds.com 702-463-8600 702-719-4700 drlauriesmiles.com James B. Frantz Jr. David C. Fife Green Valley Dental Group William P. Leavitt 1975 Village Center Circle #110 Derryl R. Brian 710 Coronado Center Drive #100 UNLV School of Dental Medicine 702-360-2122, drdavidfife.com Nevada Trails Dental 702-260-0102 1001 Shadow Lane #SLC-D 260 7575 S. Rainbow Blvd. #101 GVDentalGroup.com 702-774-2641, unlv.edu Darin K. Kajioka 702-367-3700 Endodontics of Las Vegas nevadatrailsdental.com Glen Gallimore Ton V. Lee 9750 Covington Cross Drive #150 702Dentist Summerlin Smiles 702-878-8584 Pamela G. Caggiano* 3455 Cliff Shadows Parkway #130 9525 W. Russell Road #100 endodonticsoflasvegas.com Excellence In Dentistry 702-839-0500, 702-dentist.com 702-579-7645 321 N. Pecos Road #100 summerlinsmiles.com Ronald R. Lemon 702-732-7878 Heeyup Ghim UNLV School of Dental Medicine pamelacaggianodds.com Black Mountain Dental Robin D. Lobato* 4505 S. Maryland Parkway 1475 E. Horizon Ridge Parkway 9061 E. Sahara Ave. #101 #SLC-D 239 Colin M. Campbell* #100, 702-564-4498 702-877-0500 702-744-2731 St. Rose Family blackmountaindental.com drlobato.com dentalschool.unlv.edu & Cosmetic Dentistry 2875 Saint Rose Parkway #110 Benjamin Glick Nicholas E. Lords* Jason T. Morris 702-387-5900 1070 E. Horizon Ridge Parkway #120 Rainbow Park Dental 2510 Wigwam Parkway #200 strosedental.com 702-331-1378, benjaminglickdmd.com 2950 S. Rainbow Blvd. #200 702-263-2000 702-227-6510 Sandra Chan Irwan T. Goh* Kathleen Olender* Moore Family Dentistry Smiles by Goh Kent A. Lysgaard Desert Dental Specialists 10624 S. Eastern Ave. #N 2653 E. Horizon Ridge Parkway #110 Lysgaard Dental 7520 E. Sahara Ave. 702-407-6700, lvsmiles.com 702-832-5517, smilesbygoh.com 2911 N. Tenaya Way #101 702-384-7200 702-360-9061 dentalimplants-lv.com Guy L. Chisteckoff* Chad Gubler drlysgaard.com Island Smiles Cosmetic Gubler Dental Douglas R. Rakich & Family Dentistry 11221 S. Eastern Ave. #200 Ronald R. Marshall Endodontic Associates 8940 S. Maryland Parkway #100 702-558-9977, gublerdds.com 6891 E. Charleston Blvd. 6950 Smoke Ranch Road #125 702-270-6501 702-255-6768, rrmsmile.com 702-869-8840 islandsmiles.org Jeffery W. Hadley* 3910 Pecos McLeod, #A-140 George J. McAlpine Daniel I. Shalev Stephen H. Clark II 702-454-7695 UNLV School of Dental Medicine 2510 Wigwam Parkway #200 2820 E. Flamingo Road #B smilesbydrhadley.com 1707 E. Charleston Blvd. #290 MS7424 702-263-2000 702-732-2333 702-671-5130, unlv.edu/dental stephenclarkddslv.com Steven L. Hardy Ryan C. Shipp Paradise Family Dental Nina Mirzayan 9053 S. Pecos Road, #3000 Kenneth M. Cox 6825 Aliante Parkway Adaven Children’s Dentistry 702-798-0911 6615 S. Eastern Ave. #106 702-294-2739 1701 N. Green Valley Parkway #8E shippendodontics.com 702-735-3506 drstevehardy.com 702-492-1955, drninaonline.com

August 2016 88 www.DesertCompanion.vegas D. Kevin Moore David B. Sandquist Terrie X. Tran R. F. John Holtzen Moore Family Dentistry 2650 Lake Sahara Drive #160 All Smiles Dental Nevada Oral & Facial Surgery 10624 S. Eastern Ave. #N 702-734-0776 10545 S. Eastern Ave. #140 6950 Smoke Ranch Road #200 702-407-6700 sandquistdds.com 702-492-9399, allsmilesbydesign.com 702-360-8918 nevadaoralandfacialsurgery.com E. Orlando Morantes* Douglas D. Sandquist* Michele S. Tratos 3412 N. Buffalo Drive #107 2650 Lake Sahara Drive #160 3057 E. Warm Springs Road #300 Gregory J. Hunter 702-794-0820 702-734-0776 702-369-8730 Nevada Oral & Facial Surgery morantesdds.com sandquistdds.com thelasvegasnvdentist.com 6950 Smoke Ranch Road #200 702-360-8918 Johnny E. Nassar Nathan D. Schwartz Paul VreNon* nevadaoralandfacialsurgery.com Smile Design Center Henderson Family Dentistry Desert Breeze Dental 10120 S. Eastern Ave. #375 537 S. Boulder Highway 8650 Spring Mountain Road #101 Brendan G. Johnson 702-361-9611 702-564-2526 702-869-0032, desertbreezedental.net Nevada Oral & Facial Surgery smiledesigncenterlv.com hendersonfamilydental.com 6950 Smoke Ranch Road, #200 Scott M. Weaver 702-360-8918 Tam P. Nguyen* A. Thomas Shields 53 E. Lake Mead Parkway nevadaoralandfacialsurgery.com 4840 Spring Mountain Road #2 Shields Family Dentistry 702-564-3444 702-256-2111 653 N. Town Center #508 Katherine A. Keeley 702-228-8777 Matt D. Welebir* 2649 Wigwam Parkway #102 Jorge Paez* shieldsfamilydentistry.com Summerlin Dental 702-263-9339, drkeeley.net Nevada Dental Esthetics 410 S. Rampart Blvd. #360 4455 S. Jones Blvd. #E2 Raymond Kent Simister 702-228-2218, summerlindental.net Bryce Leavitt 702-312-3655 4610 Meadows Lane Gibson and Leavitt Oral & lasvegas-cosmetic-dentistry.com 702-878-7700 James V. Whalen Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery Sun Dental Center 2835 St. Rose Parkway #100 William G. Pappas Patrick A. Simone* 9450 Del Webb Blvd. 702-685-3700 7884 E. Sahara Ave. #100 70 N. Pecos Road #A 702-255-2111, sundentalcenterlv.com ryangibsonoralsurgery.com 702-367-7133 702-735-2755 patricksimonedds.com Johnathan R. White* Carlos H. Letelier Sam Partovi Aesthetic Dentistry Center for Oral Surgery of Las Vegas Desert Smiles Susan Schmutz Smith* 8084 W. Sahara Ave. #G 10115 E. Twain Ave. #100 10175 E. Twain Ave. #120 8275 S. Eastern Ave. #101 702-823-3000, jbwhitedds.com 702-367-6666 702-202-2300 702-967-1700 lasvegasoms.com desertsmilesdental.com susansmithdds.com Brad A. Wilbur Green Valley Dental Center Jeff E. Moxley James B. Polley* Stephen W. Spelman* 275 N. Pecos Road Moxley Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 1875 Village Center Circle #110 Willow Springs Dental 702-896-8933 3663 E. Sunset Road #403 702-873-0324, drpolley.com 3450 S. Hualapai Way gvdentalcenter.com 702-898-8350 702-871-6044 drjeffmoxley.com Thomas J. Puhek stephenspelmandds.com Derrek A. Yelton 3431 E. Sunset Road #301 2625 S. Rainbow Blvd. #103 Patrick A. O’Connor 702-435-3901 Bradley S. Strong* 702-365-1743 630 S. Rancho Drive #B 2931 N. Tenaya Way #200 702-870-2555 Richard A. Racanelli 702-242-3800, bstrongdds.com drpatrickoconnor.net Stunning Smiles of Las Vegas Oral and 6410 Medical Center St. #B Ronald R. Taylor Maxillofacial Surgery Daniel L. Orr II 702-736-0016 3505 E. Harmon Ave. #A 2040 E. Charleston Blvd. #201 lvstunningsmiles.com 702-605-1819 George E. Bonn 702-383-3711, orrs.org minidentalimplantslasvegasnv.com Huang & Bonn Oral & Implant Surgery Craig R. Rose 1701 N. Green Valley Parkway #2-E Mont M. Ringer Rose Family Dentistry Rick B. Thiriot 702-270-2999 Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of 8490 S. Eastern Ave. #C UNLV School of Dental Medicine oralsurgeryhenderson.com Southern Nevada 702-914-0000 1001 Shadow Lane #MS7414 5765 S. Fort Apache Road #110 rosefamilydentistry.com 702-774-2655, unlv.edu/dental Michel Daccache 702-876-6337, omssnv.com 1701 E. Charleston Blvd. #520 Stephen C. Rose* Franson K. S. T om 702-750-9444, nevadaoms.com Steven A. Saxe Rose Cosmetic and Family Dentistry 4318 S. Eastern Ave. Advance Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 4230 E. Charleston Blvd. #A 702-736-6119, drfransontom.com Mark I. Degen 1570 S. Rainbow Blvd. 702-459-8998 Red Rock Oral and Maxillofacial 702-258-0085, nvjawdoc.com rosecosmeticandfamilydentistry.com Arthur Anthony Tomaro* Surgery Centre Exceptional Dentistry 4730 S. Fort Apache Road #390 Robert M. Svarney Jr. George F. Rosenbaum 2095 Village Center Circle #120 702-253-9090, redrockomsc.com 6140 S. Fort Apache Road #120 899 Adams Blvd. 702-331-4700 702-655-8400 702-293-0373 drtomaroexceptionaldentistry.com John J. Dudek drgrosenbaum.com Mountain View Oral Surgery Eric D. Swanson Michael Tomita 6970 Smoke Ranch Road #150 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Louisa Sanders Island Dental Center 702-259-6725 Associates of Nevada 1700 W. Charleston Blvd. #D 9750 Covington Cross Drive #100 2030 E. Flamingo Road #288 702-774-2816 702-341-7979, islanddentalcenter.com Ryan Gibson 702-892-0833 Gibson and Leavitt Oral & facialsurgery.org R. Michael Sanders* Karen T. Tran Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery UNLV School of Dental Medicine Lakeview Dental 2835 St. Rose Parkway #100 Albert Ted Twesme 1001 Shadow Lane #MS7410 2291 S. Fort Apache Road #104 702-685-3700 4544 S. Pecos Road 702-774-2660, dentalschool.unlv.edu 702-869-0001, karentrandds.com ryangibsonoralsurgery.com 702-436-0900

AUGUST 2016 WWW.DesertCompanion.VEGAS 89 TOP DENTISTS

Oral Medicine Douglas K. Simister Jeffrey A. Cox Edilberto De Andrade Griffiths & Simister Orthodontics Anthem Pediatric Dentistry Anthem Periodontics and Edward E. Herschaft 8710 E. Charleston Blvd. #150 2843 Saint Rose Parkway #100 Dental Implants UNLV School of Dental Medicine 702-256-7846 702-531-5437 2610 E. Horizon Ridge Parkway #202 1001 Shadow Lane #SLC-B 214 lasvegasbraces.com apdkids.com 702-270-4600 702-774-2654, unlv.edu periodontics-dentalimplants.com Dave L. Smith Chad W. Ellsworth 5320 E. Sahara Ave. #4 Anthem Pediatric Dentistry Ryan S. Gifford* Orthodontics 702-871-1808 2843 Saint Rose Parkway #100 Periodontics Unlimited 702-531-5437 3811 E. Charleston Blvd. #201 David A. Chenin Robert H. Thalgott apdkids.com 702-259-1943, lvperio.com Chenin Orthodontics 1945 Village Center Circle #110 10730 S. Eastern Ave. #100 702-364-5100 Harout V. Gostanian Gary D. Goaslind 702-735-1010, cheninortho.com thalgott.com Centennial Children’s Dentistry Periodontics Unlimited 7425 E. Azure Drive #120 3811 E. Charleston Blvd. #201 Stephen T. Chenin Alfred A. Thresher 702-880-5437 702-259-1943, lvperio.com Chenin Orthodontics Thresher Orthodontics safaridentistry.com 10730 S. Eastern Ave. #100 9500 E. Flamingo Road #102 Allen Wei-Lun Huang* 702-735-1010 702-254-4335 Dawn L. McClellan Significance Dental Specialists cheninortho.com thresherortho.com Dental Care International 2430 E. Harmon Ave. #6 1750 Wheeler Peak Drive 702-733-0558, sdsdental.com Stephen N. Fleming Mark Truman 702-272-1100, dcare.org 5320 E. Sahara Ave. #4 Truman Orthodontics Curry H. Leavitt 702-871-1808 851 S. Rampart Blvd. #130 Todd S. Milne Red Rock Periodontics & 702-360-9000 Children’s Dental Center Implantology Michael C. Gardner trumanorthodontics.com 2085 Village Center Circle #120 7475 E. Sahara Ave. #101 Leaver & Gardner Orthodontics 702-240-5437, cdclv.com 702-834-8900 6005 S. Fort Apache #100 Zachary B. Truman redrockperio.com 702-878-0764, leavergardner.com Truman Orthodontics Manny Rapp Jr. 880 Seven Hills Drive #170 Adaven Children’s Dentistry Robert L. Lockhart James L Gibson 702-221-2272 1701 N. Green Valley Parkway #8E UNLV School of Dental Medicine Gibson Orthodontics trumanortho.com 702-492-1955, adavenkid.com 1700 E. Charleston Blvd. 70 E. Horizon Ridge #170 702-774-2657 702-564-1037, gogibson.com Fenn Welch Gary D. Richardson dentalschool.unlv.edu Welch Orthodontics Adventure Smiles John C. Griffiths 8551 W. Lake Mead Blvd. #216 8995 E. Flamingo Road #100 Brian Mantor Griffiths & Simister Orthodontics 702-240-2300 702-529-2034 Periodontics Ltd. 8710 E. Charleston Blvd. #150 welchortho.com adventuresmiles.com 3811 E. Charleston Blvd. #201 702-256-7846 702-259-1943 lasvegasbraces.com Lance L. Whetten Joshua L. Saxe lvperio.com 4540 S. Pecos Road A Childrens Dentist R. Cree Hamilton 702-436-0999 8710 E. Charleston Blvd. #100 James K. Rogers Hamilton Orthodontics 702-255-0133 Canyon Ridge Periodontics 401 N. Buffalo Drive #220 Tracy D. Wyatt achildrensdentist.com 3375 S. Town Center Drive #110 702-243-3300 Wyatt Orthodontics 702-966-0300 hamiltonortho.com 7550 E. Lake Mead Blvd. #6 Michael D. Saxe canyonridgeperio.com 702-242-9777 A Childrens Dentist Blaine R. Hansen wyattorthodontics.com 8710 E. Charleston Blvd. #100 David J. Trylovich* Hansen Orthodontics 702-255-0133 Periodontics Unlimited 3600 N. Buffalo Drive #110 achildrensdentist.com 3811 E. Charleston Blvd. #201 702-568-1600, hansenortho.com Pediatric Dentistry 702-259-1943 William F. Waggoner lvperio.com Scott E. Leaver Laurie B. Abrams Pediatric Dental Care Associates Leaver & Gardner Orthodontics Just for Kids Dentistry 8981 E. Sahara Ave. #110 6005 S. Fort Apache #100 7140 N. Durango Drive #110 702-254-4220 Prosthodontics 702-878-0764, leavergardner.com 702-740-5437 pediatricdentalcareassociates.com justforkidsdentistrylv.com Nelson D. Lasiter Jeremy S. Manuele 2255 Renaissance Drive #B Hamilton Orthodontics Bryan Q. Bui Periodontics 702-798-1987 401 N. Buffalo Drive #220 Cavitybusters nelsonlasiterdmd.com 702-243-3300 6910 S. Rainbow Blvd. #104 David A. Arpin* hamiltonortho.com 702-362-5437 Desert Dental Specialists Marco T. Padilla* cavitybusters.org 7520 E. Sahara Ave. Advanced Prosthodontics Carey B. Noorda 702-384-7200 of Las Vegas Noorda Orthodontics Ryan S. Bybee dentalimplants-lv.com 851 S. Rampart Blvd. #250 1701 N. Green Valley Parkway #1 Kidz Dentistry 702-263-4300 702-737-5500, drnoorda.com 1600 E. Sunset Road #B Eric Bernzweig lasvegasprostho.com 702-733-8341 6835 E. Charleston Blvd. Alana Saxe hendersonkidsdentist.com 702-869-8200 Steven L. Rhodes Saxe Orthodontics 501 S. Rancho Drive #E29 3555 S. Town Center Drive #104 Alice P. Chen 800-397-6603 702-541-7070 Red Rock Kids Dental srhodesdds.com saxeortho.com 11700 E. Charleston Blvd. #180 702-242-2436 redrockkidsdental.com

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Sundays 28 23 4 Cat’s Meow Explosions Velveteen Rabbit Infrared, History of You read that right — the hap- Burlesque in the Sky pening Downtown grog shop will by Sean Clark County Library Brooklyn Bowl be the setting for an immersive production of Steven Peros’ dark Russell A talk by Burlesque Hall comedy about William Ran- You may have heard Summerlin Library of Fame Director Dustin dolph Hearst, his yacht, a murder them on Friday Night M. Wax. Come for the and Jazz Age excess. Directed Lights — shimmering Using a camera that va-va-voom, stay for by Troy Heard. (28) 7p, $25- instrumental guitar captures infrared and 2-14 the ooh-la-la. 7p, free, $30, brownpapertickets.com/ music filled with ultraviolet light, Rus- lvccld.org “cathartic mini-sym- event/2567899 sell shot skewed-light phonies.” Said to be photos of Minnesota, quite emotive live, Red Rock and Las despite the lack of Vegas, then trans- The singing. 7p, $25-$45, ferred the high-tech brooklynbowl.com images onto low- Sound of tech wood surfaces. See for yourself Music through October 9. Free, lvccld.org The Smith Center If there’s ever a time to burrow into the familiar, pillowy comforts of a sen- timental classic, it’s summer. So, come on! Once again the hills are alive! 2p & 7:30p, $29-$127, thesmithcenter.com

august 2016 106 DesertCompanion.vegas ART C h a n e l 1 0

A VISUAL LANGUAGE THROUGH AUG. 19 Artist Eric Vozzola’s exhibit features colorful, patterned, surreal and contrasting compositions. Vozzola thinks of his work as connecting to ancient storytelling, such as wall drawings, hunting map carvings, hieroglyphs and other archaic messages that leave behind an aesthetic and a language unique to the artist. Free. Winchester Gallery, 3130 McLeod Drive, clarkcountynv.gov Carole King-James Taylor GARDEN ART EXHIBIT: Live at the Troubadour GREATER ROADRUNNERS THROUGH AUG. 28, 10A-6P Friday August 26 at 9 p.m. Artist Alisha Kerlin’s installation celebrates one of the Southwest’s most well-known birds. Three oversized sculptures of the iconic, long-legged Southwestern cuckoo bird, frozen mid-stride in silver and stucco, are presented in their natural habitat. Free with membership or paid admission. Botanical Garden at Springs Preserve, springspreserve.org Get Ready to Rio! The Presidents: USUS, GLORIA American Experience THROUGH SEP. 9 with Chef Hubert Keller Artist Christopher A. Jones will install Saturdays, August 6, 13 and Thursday, August 8 – 11 and a column in the Rotunda, divided 20 at 2:30 p.m. into three independently August 15-18 rotating sections, each festooned with the printed detritus of our lives; torn, reassembled, stenciled and written on by the artist. The rotation of the sections refers to wheels used in ceremonies in various cultures. Free. Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery, clarkcountynv.gov

ANCIENT ROME: THE EMPIRE THAT SHAPED THE WORLD Inside Poldark I Miss Downton THROUGH SEP. 11 Visitors will take a hands-on journey Abbey through the Roman Imperial period, exploring military war machines, Sunday, August 21 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m. significant construction inventions

VegasPBS.org | 3050 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89121 | 702.799.1010

August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 107 THE GUIDE

like pottery wheels and grinding War-era hit “Get Here,” along with narrative and dancing. mills, large-scale technical many other songs across a wide $20. Starbright Theatre at innovations like cranes, water range of styles. $39–$65. Cabaret Sun City Summerlin, scscai.com pumps and much more. $10. The Jazz at The Smith Center, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, thesmithcenter.com DAVE DAMIANI & RENEE lvnhm.org OLSTEAD - BENDING THE RONNIE THE STANDARD NO ORDINARY LIFE FOSTER ORGAN TRIO AUG. 18, 7P THROUGH OCT. 1, TUE–FRI AUG. 6, 2P You will hear jazz renditions of The 12–5P; SAT 10A–3P Foster, music director for “Smokey Great American Songbook, preceded Artist Kim Johnson is a native Las Robinson Presents Human Nature,” by an autograph session for the Vegan who received her BFA degree emerged in the ’70s as a jazz organist officialSINATRA 100 book with from UNLV. In addition, she has on Blue Note and as a sideman on author Charles Pignone (co-president formally studied human anatomy, seven of George Benson’s most of Frank Sinatra Enterprises). environmental science and popular albums, including Breezin’. $25–$45. Cabaret Jazz at The Smith principles of ecology. Utilizing her $10 in advance, $12 on concert day. Center, thesmithcenter.com knowledge of these subjects, she Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 infuses the imagined into reality to McLeod Drive, clarkcountynv.gov THE FIXX create an otherworldly environment AUG. 18, 7P through dreamlike spaces and THOSE FACHING Formed in London in 1979, their images. Free. Left of Center Art TENORS AND OPERA hits include “One Thing Leads to Gallery, 2207 W. Gowan Road, INNAMORATA Another,” “Saved by Zero,” “Are We leftofcenterart.org AUG. 7, 2P Ourselves?” and “Secret Separation.” An exciting new vocal trio led by The band features the classic line up THEY SAY musical director Maestro Jack of Cy Curnin, Adam Woods, Rupert AUG. 29–OCT. 14 Gaughan performing selections Greenall, Jamie West-Oram and Dan Chad Scott’s multimedia from the Rat Pack, Broadway, K. Brown and are heralded as one of installation examines the spectacle Popera and tenor hits from the the most innovative bands to come of the electoral process during a world of Grand Opera. Opera out of the MTV era. $27.50 advance; presidential election. In a political Innamorata is a husband and wife $30 day of show. Brooklyn Bowl at environment filled with mixed team with a repertoire ranging The Linq, brooklynbowl.com messages, Scott raises questions from Puccini and Verdi to Wagner about what it means to be who will delight you with the DIGABLE PLANETS informed, what counts as romantic side of some of the AUG. 19, 7P information and where information greatest music ever written. Alternative hip-hop trio, Mary Ann may be found. Free. Winchester Free. Summerlin Library, lvccld.org “Ladybug Mecca” Vieira, Craig Gallery, 3130 McLeod Drive, “Doodlebug” Irving and Ishmael chad-scott.com NEW BREED “Butterfly” Butler have reunited! $25. BRASS BAND Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq, AUG. 9, 7P brooklynbowl.com MUSIC The band lives and breathes the THE STONE FOXES culture of New Orleans, infusing funk, OH, WHAT A NIGHT! AUG. 4, 8P rock, jazz and hip-hop into a custom- AUG. 19 & 20, 7P Invoking the audience with their made enhancement of second-line A tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four commanding stage presence, even brass band tradition. Seasons featuring all of their biggest jumping down into the crowd if the 21+ with valid ID. Free. hits. $20. Starbright Theatre at Sun mood strikes, their fans know they Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq, City Summerlin, scscai.com are in for something action-packed brooklynbowl.com whenever the Foxes are on stage. DAVE KOZ AND DAVID 21+ with valid ID. Free. Brooklyn CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ SANBORN: SIDE BY SIDE Bowl at The Linq, brooklynbowl.com AUG. 13, 7P AUG. 19, 7:30P Enjoy a mix of the classic folk and Two of the most acclaimed and OLETA ADAMS pop hits of Simon and G arfunkel, commercially successful AUG. 5, 8P; A UG. 6, 6P The Association, Burt Bacharach saxophonists in history share The R&B singer performs her Gulf and many others, along with the stage for an evening of jazz.

August 2016 108 DesertCompanion.vegas $29–$99. Reynolds Hall The classic Rodgers and IMPROV PERFORMANCE at The Smith Center, Hammerstein musical based on AUG. 5, 4P thesmithcenter.com the true-life story of the von Trapp Join us for an entertaining night family. Features classic songs such of Whose Line is it Anyway?-style THE GREATEST as “Do Re Mi,” My Favorite Things” improv. Our improv players will DUETS OF ALL TIME and the title song. $29–$127. make you laugh through a series AUG. 27, 7P Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center, of games in which the audience A cast of eight singers from the Las thesmithcenter.com plays a key role. You will not be Vegas Strip perform the greatest disappointed! $7. Winchester duets of the pop era, such as “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” and “All I Ask of You.” $20. Starbright Theatre at Sun City Summerlin, scscai.com

DANIEL BELLONE — AWAKENING THROUGH MUSIC AUG. 27, 8P Sanskrit mantras fused with music for spiritual enlightenment. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Baobab Stage at Town Square, baobabstage.com

EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY AUG. 28, 7P The progressive ambience of early Peter Gabriel, the triumphant romanticism of The Cure in their prime, and the more melancholy moments of Fleetwood Mac all infuse the curious beauty of their newest album, The Wilderness. Come experience it live. $25–$45. Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq, brooklynbowl.com

A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED HOOTENANNY! AUG. 31, 7P Hickory Wind presents a celebration of 1960s folk music with songs made famous by Peter, Paul and Mary, The New Christy Minstrels, The Kingston Trio and more. $12. Starbright Theatre at Sun City Summerlin, scscai.com

THEATER

THE SOUND OF MUSIC AUG. 2–7 & 9–14, 7:30P; A UG. 6–7 & 13–14, 2P

August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 109 THE GUIDE

Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod lion dance and a short play about decadent Havana resorts of Drive, clarkcountynv.gov protecting our environment — all in the first half of the twentieth century. Mandarin Chinese. $10 in advance, Guests will celebrate the vibrancy of ANNIE $12 on concert day. Winchester Cuban culture including its delectable AUG. 18–21, 6P Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod cuisine, tropical cocktails, music, Annie is a spunky Depression- Drive, clarkcountynv.gov dancing, casino-style games, hand- era orphan determined to find rolled Mob Museum-label her parents, who left her on the STAR CATCHERS premium cigars by Spirit doorstep of a New York City SUMMER RECITAL of Cuba and more. $69, 10% discount orphanage run by the cruel Miss AUG. 26, 6P for museum members. Hannigan. In adventure after The award-winning troupe will The Mob Museum, adventure, Annie befriends celebrate the end of summer themobmuseum.org President Franklin Roosevelt; finds with a dance showcase of a new family and home in billionaire original choreography in hip-hop, BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR Oliver Warbucks; his personal contemporary, jazz and ballet. $7. AUG. 5, 6:30P secretary, Grace; and a lovable Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 Bring the family to enjoy a back-to- mutt named Sandy. $7. Winchester McLeod Drive, clarkcountynv.gov school fair with a DJ, vendors and a Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod movie in the park. Food trucks will be Drive, clarkcountynv.gov selling refreshments. Free. Centennial LECTURES, SPEAKERS AND PANELS Hills Park South Soccer Field and MAGIC: A DAY OF DECEPTION THE HISTORY OF Amphitheater, 7101 N. Buffalo Drive, AUG. 27, 2P & 7P BURLESQUE IN 702-229-6154 Magic, illusion, mindreading, LAS VEGAS comedy, storytelling and sleight-of- AUG. 4, 7P BACK-2-SCHOOL FAIR hand will be presented by magician As the Burlesque Hall of Fame gets AUG. 13, 10A–12P Paul Draper and his friends. Fun for ready to move into its new museum Enjoy free sno-cones, face painting the whole family! $10 in advance, in the Las Vegas arts district, and crafts. Vendors will be on site $12 at the door. Winchester Executive Director Dustin Wax to help with getting kids ready Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod discusses the history of burlesque for school. Free. East Las Vegas Drive, clarkcountynv.gov in Las Vegas from Harold Minsky’s Community Center, 250 N. Eastern first revues at the Dunes and Lili S t. Ave., 702-229-1515 Cyr’s residency at the El Rancho, DANCE through the glamour years of the BEACH PARTY SPLASH ALL-CITY SYNCHRONIZED ’70s. Free. Main Theater at Clark AUG. 14, 12–6P SWIMMING SHOW: County Library, lvccld.org Enjoy swimming, games, dancing, LIVING THE DREAM treats, prizes, a DJ playing your AUG. 11, 6P AUTHOR ROBERT PARKER favorite music and all the splash toys See Las Vegas’ local swimmers AUG. 20, 11A in the pool! $12. Municipal Pool, 431 just before they compete in the Meet author and stroke survivor E. Bonanza Road, 702-229-6309 2016 Summer Olympics. The Parker and hear about his synchronized swimming teams remarkable journey of recovery HIGH ROLLER$ are from Las Vegas, Clark County, as he shares his inspirational CAT SHOW Henderson and North Las Vegas. experience of being left AUG. 27–28, 9A–5P These teams have worked all speechless and incapacitated by Learn about many unique and well- summer to perfect their routines stroke to successfully writing and known breeds of cats, watch judges and are ready to perform! Free. publishing books. Free. Summerlin from around the world judge both Baker Pool, 1100 East St. Louis Library, lvccld.org pedigreed and household cats, see Ave., 702-229-1532 new and upcoming breeds to TICA, talk to breeders of your favorite FAMILY & FESTIVALS OUR WORLD breeds of cats and shop for pets IN MANDARIN HOT HAVANA NIGHTS from many vendors. $6 adults, $4 AUG. 13, 2P AUG. 4, 6–10P under 18, under 5 free. Henderson The students and staff of our The National Museum of Organized Multigenerational Center, Chinese summer camp present Crime and Law Enforcement 250 S. Green Valley Parkway, singing, Tai Chi fan dance, the hosts this evening inspired by the cityofhenderson.com

August 2016 110 DesertCompanion.vegas RSVP TODAY! SUMMER 2016

FUNDRAISERS

BE. AUG. 12, 6:30P Philanthropy Entertainment presents “Be.” — an evening of entertainment to benefit Safe Nest, provider of temporary assistance for domestic crisis. Enjoy cocktails and a silent auction of local art, restaurant gift certificates, show tickets and much more! $30. Nicholas J. Horn Theatre, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., philanthropyent.com

4TH ANNUAL HAPPY HOUR FUNDRAISER AUG. 19, 4:30P Each guest receives a complimentary drink ticket for a Cosmo, Lemondrop, Apple, Chocolate or Blue Martini. There will be live entertainment, a silent auction and raffle prizes. Pro- ceeds benefit the Happy Home Ani- mal Sanctuary. 21+. $18. Blue Martini, 6593 Las Vegas Blvd. S., happyho- meanimalsanctuary.org

JOIN THE MOVEMENT GOLF TOURNAMENT AUG. 27, 6:30A This fun-filled event was created to bring everyone together to support GenerationDESTINATION T.E.M.P.O.’s National Youth Fitness Festival. Form a twosome or a foursome and enjoy the great outdoors. Start the day with a continental DATE DESTINATION breakfast, play a round of Shotgun Golf, then finish off with lunch. Raffle prizes FRIDAY SATURDAY UTAH SHAKESPEARE and giveaways will also be a highlight SEP. 30 OCT. 01 THRU FESTIVAL of the tournament. $85/golfer. Stallion YOU WILL SEE THREE PLAYS: Mountain Golf Course, 5500 E. Fla- Julius Caesar, Murder for Two, The Odd Couple mingo Road, gentempo.org

STRIKES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AUG. 28, 9A The Epicurean Charitable Foundation program has a unique local focus that is helping to build the economy in Las Vegas by adding highly trained For more information or to reserve professionals to the field of hospitality your seats, please visit www.npr.vegas management. This event will feature an enjoyable day of bowling, along with an exciting balloon-pop raffle. $35–$800 per team. South Point Casino, ecflv.org

August 2016 DesertCompanion.vegas 111 END NOTE

#mindfreak ARE YOU READY?!?!? Random notes on the state of Vegas spectacle, based on having seen the recent premiere of Criss Angel MINDFREAK Live at the Luxor By Andrew Kiraly

1. How good is Criss Angel MINDFREAK MINDFREAK, my internal Live? So good that it apparently tore open monologue would be all, “Oh, a spacetime rift and cannonballed Robin neat ... ish.” Then I went into Leach through it, as he declares the show, a self-conscious microspiral of “The No. 1 Magic Show Of All Time!” introspective hashtag feels: #is- somethingwrongwithme #sojaded 2. Which is to say, inasmuch as you can trust #maybethelighthasdied #cansomeone- Robin Leach for his critical acumen, not that helpmeunderstand #iwanttobeexcited good. It’s two hours of Criss Angel’s greatest hits (swallowing razors, levitating, mak- 4.Criss Angel’s solution to this is to make ing motorcycles appear, sawing women in MINDFREAK Live a show largely about His 5. Best takeaway psychic souvenir from the half ) festooned with flames and leather, and Story. The pre-show video montage of Angel’s show: Criss Angel’s trademark catchphrase, pumped with a suspect urgency that sug- wonder years reveals a bright-eyed boy with “There’s just one question ... ARE YOU gests a professional crisis. a supportive, loving family; a teenager get- READY?!?!” This, delivered in a pained, geni- ting his first magic kit for Christmas; a goth tal-scrunching rebel screech. Super-fun to do 3. This isn’t necessarily Criss Angel’s fault. scarecrow fronting an industrial band (with Rickroll-style at home or at the office. (“Here’s It probably has more to do with the fact that magic!); a dark prince of grand illusions with that third-quarter earnings spreadsheet you magic is dead. Sorry! But you know it’s true! a rock-video emo mane and pneumatic pecs. requested. There’s just one question ... ARE You’ll enjoy MINDFREAK Live for its frenetic You Get to Know Him. (In one segment, he YOU READY?!?!” “My math test was so hard, bombast if you go in knowing that all the tricks chokes up as he pitches for a pediatric can- mom! There was just one question ... ARE YOU have been done — just the packaging chang- cer charity, revealing that his 2-year-old son READY?!?!”) es. Our era of mythbusters, debunkers and is battling leukemia.) This is worrisome for our collective mania for behind-the-scenesy the ethos of Strip headliners. What does it 6. At the end of MINDFREAK Live, I found forensic explication has, for better or worse, mean when a marquee show is fundamentally myself, weirdly, hoping the tourists thought it completely bled the mystery out of things. retrospective, gazing backwards fondly upon was okay, in the mincing way of acknowledg- (That’s why “street magic” from the likes of greatest hits? It means it’s a lounge act, a cov- ing, Alright, so the show’s not mind-blowingly David Blaine [and Criss Angel] took off for a er band. Not that there’s anything wrong with great, but hey, Angel seemed to try hard, invest while — it was magic temporarily rescued from a lounge act. When it’s in a lounge. a lot of effort into it, and though it’s not the best the suspect visual hyperbole of stage and stu- he could’ve done, it represents a plausibly ear- dio! Then you realized they were all doing the 4.5 Okay, Criss Angel turning handkerchiefs nest effort ... right? Your mind was freaked a same nine tricks.) The enjoyment of watching into birds — almost at the pace and pressure of little ... right? Just a little? magic these days is, at best, a logic-puzzle ap- spraying a garden hose, but an invisible magic preciation of engineering and psychology. (See garden hose that shoots out white birds — was 6.5. There’s something amiss with Vegas Penn & Teller.) That said, I felt like kind of a pretty cool. But maybe that’s in part because entertainment when it inspires you to mime jaded jerk not being more excited during the this comparatively understated, tasteful- mental apologies to tourists. show; like, every time a trick happened and ly moody segment dispensed with his usual there was, say, a sexy assistant grinning from tropes, which involve vixens, industrial props 7. Criss Angel: PLAUSIBLE EFFORTFREAK inside a plastic box, freshly teleported from and stylish gloom. It suggests an alternate path the hardcore cosmic plane of DIMENSION MINDFREAK Live could have taken. 8. No.

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