Golden Rainbow’s “Ribbon of Life”

Men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS face a constant uphill battle against an unforgiving enemy. Here in Southern Nevada, Golden Rainbow has long been one of their greatest allies, offering housing, direct financial assistance and great fundraisers like the 27^th Annual “Ribbon of Life” held this past June at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

This year’s stellar lineup included Grammy winner Jon Secada, Michael Grimm from America’s Got Talent, Clint Holmes, The Las Vegas Tenors, cast members from some of the biggest shows on the Las Vegas Strip and more. TV personality Chris Saldana and Edie of Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity served as hosts for the grand affair, which also included tributes to artists such as Elvis Presley and The Beatles and films such as Dirty Dancing and Funny Girl. Golden Rainbow also hosted a silent auction with exclusive prizes that included tickets to Las Vegas shows, dinner at some of the best local restaurants and getaways to premier destinations. The celebration continued at Mingo Kitchen & Lounge with an after party honoring the show’s great success.

Proceeds from last year’s show helped provide 8,184 nights of shelter, 527 days of utility assistance, over one thousand days of transportation and medical and dental assistance to more than 500 households. This year’s take of over $152,000 should go a long way toward helping Golden Rainbow continue its charitable work for those facing such a difficult road ahead.

For more information on Golden Rainbow, visit www.goldenrainbow.org.

United Way of Southern Nevada & DT|LV Dynamos

Downtown Las Vegas has undergone a transformation in recent years, shedding its old image in a dynamic display of urban renewal. United Way of Southern Nevada is offering local residents the chance to be a part of the revolution by serving as volunteer DT|LV Dynamos, helpful heroes of downtown Las Vegas who will function as ultimate ambassadors for the revived scene.

DT|LV Dynamos will receive training to earn their stripes and will learn all about downtown so that they can give directions, answer questions, provide recommendations or assistance and much more to locals and visitors alike. As leaders in the urban renaissance, DT|LV Dynamos will be doing everything they can to help make anyone’s visit to downtown Las Vegas more enjoyable. DT|LV Dynamos will also have the opportunity to participate in DT|LV Dynamo Days, transforming city blocks with “clean-ups” meant to improve local business conditions, safety and morale while giving children and families a wonderful place to escape and bond.

“United Way’s work in health, education and financial stability has been supporting the residents and the visitors of downtown for years,” said Cass Palmer, United Way of Southern Nevada President and CEO. “By catalyzing community efforts, we are supporting the creative thinkers and unique businesses while helping to continue the integral history of downtown.”

For more information on United Way and DT|LV Dynamos, visit www.uwsn.org/dynamos.

Upsetting the Apple Cart – Dibs on Dinner Instead of Dessert

By Aly Wagonseller

It’s certainly no mystery that apples make for some mighty good eatin’. Almost everyone will agree this crispy, crunchy fruit is not only a satisfying snack, but it’s also the basis for many delicious dessert options from pan dowdy to All American apple pie. But apples can be used for so much more than merely satisfying a healthy sweet tooth. It’s time to ring the long overdue dinner bell for a fruit that’s ready to reside on the savory side of the supper plate.

There are more than 2,500 varieties of apples grown in the United States, with about 100 varieties commercially produced for local grocery stores across the nation. Because apples will keep for up to eight months in refrigerated conditions, many varieties are available year round. If you prefer a fresher version right off the tree, Gilcrease Orchards, located at 7800 N. Tenaya, offers five varieties including a deep red Arkansas Black that may not be a staple at the corner Vons. Still, with so many varieties to choose from, picking the proper fruit to use for hot preparation is an important detail to consider. You want fruit that’s firm and flavorful and can stand up to savory flavors and hearty meats.  Apples that can take the heat in the kitchen include:

Granny Smith: An apple that’s sharp and tart, the cooling flavors of this firm apple complement recipes with spicy notes; the flesh holds up well, keeping its shape during the cooking process.

Braeburn: Mildly tart in flavor, this variety possesses a  spicy sweetness and crispness that’s great for salads as well as sautéing.

Fuji: Exceptionally crisp, very sweet, and firm, producing a satisfying crunch when you bite into them. Also great for salads, they pair nicely with stronger cheeses including goat and feta varieties.

Gala Apple: Firm and crisp, sweet and juicy, the Gala apple is great with pork since it’s a juicier apple that can keep the meat moist.

We’ve provided a selection of tasty recipes using America’s favorite fruit. Whether you spice them up with jalapeños in a Mexican inspired salsa or use them to brighten a decadent blue cheese pasta dish, there’s one thing for certain… Apples are moving on up the food chain.

Pork Chops with Roasted Apples and Onions 

Serves 4

• 2 1/2 tsp. canola oil, divided
• 1 1/2 cups frozen pearl onions, thawed
• 2 cups Gala apples wedges
• 1 Tbsp. butter, divided
• 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 4 (6-ounce) bone-in center-cut pork loin chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
• 1/2 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 400°. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tsp. oil to pan; swirl to coat. Pat onions dry with a paper towel. Add onions to pan; cook 2 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring once. Add apple to pan; place in oven. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until onions and apple are tender. Stir in 2 tsp.  butter, thyme, 1/4 tsp. each of salt and pepper. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat another  large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork with remaining salt and pepper. Add remaining 1 1/2 tsp. oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add pork to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Remove pork from pan; keep warm. Combine broth and flour in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add broth mixture to pan; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Cook 1 minute or until reduced to 1/4 cup. Stir in vinegar and remaining 1 tsp. butter. Serve sauce with pork and apple mixture.

From Cooking Light Magazine.

Apple, Goat Cheese and Pecan Pizza           

Serves 6

• 1 (1-pound) six-grain pizza crust or premade crust
• Cooking spray
• 3 cups thinly sliced Fuji apples
• 1 oz. prosciutto, sliced
• 4 oz. crumbled goat or feta cheese
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
• 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. honey
• 2 cups baby arugula
• 3 Tbsp. chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 450°. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Arrange apple slices evenly over pizza crust; add prosciutto and top with cheese. Sprinkle thyme evenly over cheese. Bake at 450° for 8 minutes or until cheese melts and begins to brown.

Combine oil and next 3 ingredients (through honey) in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add arugula; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle pecans evenly over pizza; top with arugula mixture. Serve.

Apple and Sausage Rigatoni     

Serves 4

• 6 oz. packaged dried rigatoni (about 2 cups)
• 8 oz. cooked smoked pork or chicken sausage, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 1/2 pounds Red Macintosh or Braeburn apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 cup, 2 oz. crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
• Fresh herbs, chopped

In a 4-quart Dutch oven, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; set aside. In the same Dutch oven, cook sausage until lightly browned. Add apples; cook about 5 minutes or until apples are lightly golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in cooked pasta, whipping cream, and cheese. Heat through. If desired, garnish with fresh herbs.

Shrimp Tacos with Green Apple Salsa

Serves 4

•  1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 4 tsp. fresh lime juice, divided
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. hot smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp.  ground red pepper
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/3 cup sliced green onions
• 1/4 tsp. salt, divided
• 1/2 tsp. grated lime rind
• 1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced
• 1 seeded jalapeño pepper, minced
• 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• 1 oz. crumbled queso fresco, if desired

Combine 1 Tbsp. olive oil, 2 tsp. lime juice, cumin, paprika, and red pepper in a small bowl. Combine shrimp and spice mixture in a zip-top plastic bag and seal. Let stand 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make salsa by combining  remaining  1 1/2 tsp. oil, 2 tsp. juice, onions, 1/8 tsp. salt, rind, apple, and jalapeño. Set aside.

Remove shrimp from bag; discard marinade. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle shrimp with 1/8 tsp. salt. Arrange half of shrimp in pan; grill 2 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining shrimp. Toast the tortillas in grill pan, if desired. Place 2 tortillas on each of 4 plates, and divide shrimp evenly among tortillas. Divide salsa evenly among tacos, and top with queso fresco.

From Cooking Light Magazine.

Foodie’s Paradise – Preparing an Epic Dinner of Epicness

By Mike Sweeney

When the mood strikes us, my girlfriend and I love to pair up with another food loving couple who are good friends of ours and spend an entire day shopping, prepping, cooking and of course eating a delicious and decadent multi-course meal. We have dubbed these experiences “Epic Dinners of Epicness” or “EDoE” as there’s really no other way to describe such a bountiful feast.

Choosing Your Menu

Planning is half the fun of an EDoE, and we always have a great time getting together to work out a menu. Still, the question remains: how do you select the evening’s bill of fare? For us, it’s always part familiar and part adventurous. We like to explore different takes on foods that we know and love. What’s a new way to do prime rib? How can we gourmet up plain old dishes such as tacos or pot roast? What kind of new sauces or accompaniments can we add to an old entrée? We also like to use the opportunity to discover new things and take some risks. It’s as good a time as any to experiment with escargot, pâté or other things that may not be on the regular rotation for Tuesday night dinner – and trying new stuff is always more fun with friends!

To Market, To Market

There are no set rules for an EDoE. The menu can consist of whatever strikes your fancy. What you want to shoot for are multiple courses with fresh ingredients. Our EDoE starts with a visit to the farmers market, something that’s not in short supply in Las Vegas. Since there are many markets available on different days, you may need to do some shopping a few days beforehand.

Downtown Henderson offers the Country Fresh Farmers Market every Thursday in the bustling Water Street District (200 S. Water St.) where you can find a perfect selection of seasonal fruits and veggies. Fresh52 Farmers & Artisans Market is another open air market with a great sense of community and is often frequented by chefs from Le Cordon Bleu and the Culinary Arts School with demonstrations from other master chefs. You’ll find them at Town Square on Fridays, Tivoli Village on Saturdays, and at the Silverado Park Place shopping center on Eastern and Richmar on Sundays. Downtown 3^rd Farmers Market takes things indoors every Friday in downtown Las Vegas, showcasing a hip vibe and plentiful offerings along with art shows. Quail Hollow Farms, one of the best local examples of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), frequents both this market and the Bet on the Farm! Farmers Market created by chefs Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich, held on Thursdays at Springs Preserve (333 S. Valley View Blvd.). Visit www.fresh52.com for links and info about all of these markets.

Here’s our secret for gathering fresh fruit and veggies: do it yourself! Take a trip to Gilcrease Orchard (7800 North Tenaya; www.thegilcreaseorchard.org), where you can wander sixty acres of agricultural land and pick your own fresh and tasty goods in the great outdoors. The apples we found here turned our apple tart tatin into one of the most amazing desserts we’ve ever had. Other great row crops we’ve found include bok choy (excellent with our roast venison EDoE), kale (if you haven’t had kale chips, you haven’t lived), and pumpkins, which we carved out and used as a tureen in which we cooked a fabulous “pumpkin pie soup” courtesy of Alton Brown.

For some veggies and side dishes, you’ll have to visit a grocery store, but take our advice: visit Whole Foods rather than your typical Albertson’s or Smith’s. Yes, you’re going to spend a bit more, but you’re also going to get the freshest and tastiest ingredients. This is important for us, as our approach to EDoE involves making just about everything within reason from scratch.

The Main Course

While we love our fresh vegetables (grilled or sautéed only, by the way; steaming is a sin), the centerpiece of any EDoE calls for something grand. This has run the gamut from Beef Prince Orloff with soubise and duxelles stuffings to rabbit sausage and mushroom crepes to several entrées that served as part of our indulgent Feast of the Seven Fishes variation on EDoE last Christmas Eve. For your main dish, put the grocery store behind you and head for the butcher!

Branded Meats & Deli (1550 Horizon Ridge Pkwy.; www.brandedmeats.com) has some of the best beef in town, offering Prime and Upper Angus Choice Beef. We also found some delicious duck that we used for our duck tacos with corn salsa. Remember, you want to go beyond mere steaks or pot roast for EDoE. Things don’t need to get too exotic, but it’s a special occasion. On the west side, The Butcher Block (7625 S. Rainbow Blvd.; www.thebutcherblocklv.com) is another great location with a full range of meats. We picked up an amazing standing rib roast here for one of our plentiful home feasts, made even more amazing by aging it with a nice salt crust for almost a week. Family owned and operated, the Butcher Block has everything from Japanese Kobe and Wagyu beef to unique selections such as quail, partridge and pheasant.

For fresh seafood, there’s probably no better place than the 99 Ranch Market in Chinatown (4155 Spring Mountain Rd.; www.99ranch.com). We’ve picked up fantastic blue crab here for a crab boil EDoE edition (perfect with some andouille sausage from Whole Foods), along with the salted cod (head still intact and everything) that we prepared for Feast of the Seven Fishes. For a more adventurous EDoE, you can find exotic fare such as yellow eel, squid or sea urchin. Things can get crowded, especially on weekends, but the quality of seafood you get in return is worth it.

Pour the Wine

One thing you’ll quickly learn about our EDoE group: we’re just as big wine enthusiasts as we are foodies. When we can’t bring back some great pinots from our biennial trip to Paso Robles, there’s pretty much one place in town we hit up for vino, and that’s Valley Cheese and Wine (1570 W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy.; www.valleycheeseandwine.com). Even if you’re on the opposite side of town, you’ll find their eclectic wares well worth the drive. This is like our home away from home, and husband-and-wife owners Bob Howald and Kristin Sande help make it feel that way; it’s not even Valley Cheese and Wine to us anymore, but rather just “Bob’s.”

Bob and Kristin are all about what’s good, not what’s popular, and that’s the true spirit of EDoE. Local chefs seem to agree as culinary artisans from Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Settebello and more make up some of their loyal customers. Tell them what you’re making and they’ll find the perfect wine pairing for you, from light chardonnay to full bodied cab. When we want something light to munch on while we’re cooking, we’ll always browse the cheese and charcuterie case as well, where you can find the best artisanal meats and fromage to suit any palate. You can even up your wine IQ by signing up for one of their incredibly fun and informative wine classes.

Dinner doesn’t need to be a grand affair, and most of us are too busy to spend a lot of time and money on an extravagant meal. But when you plan ahead and know where to go for the best ingredients, you can hold your own Epic Dinner of Epicness for a foodie’s night to remember.

A Crackin’ Success – Crab Corner Maryland Seafood House

By Aly Wagonseller

I love it when a good thing just gets better. It started when two East Coast legit brothers expanded their wholesale Maryland blue crab distributorship by opening a tiny, nondescript (okay, the Baltimore Ravens décor isn’t exactly commonplace in the valley) strip mall restaurant and, surprise of all surprises, it brilliantly succeeded. Despite a poor economy and more than moderately priced (though worth every penny) menu items, Crab Corner Maryland Seafood House has thrived, so much so that you’ll be downing the good stuff at a second location on Rainbow and the 215 by football season.

Die hard blue crab fans have known about the Corner, located at 4161 S. Eastern, virtually since the place opened almost three years ago. News spread quickly that real deal blue crabs were crackin’, and that for about the same price you’d expect to pay for the delicate little devils if you were sitting on the shores of the Chesapeake, you could pull up a chair stateside and enjoy. The charming part is that even after all the hype, the place hasn’t been Vega-fied. You know, snazzed up and priced up to the point that only the rich and famous can indulge. Nope… there’s still a little blue bucket for the shells, gills and anything else inside you’d care not to eat, with plastic silverware and a charming brown butcher paper table “cloth” used to catch all the drippings you manage to miss. Crab that was most likely swimming in the bay just a day or so prior is still plopped unapologetically onto the table; a heap of perfectly steamed, J.O. seasoned heaven in a shell, waiting to be cracked and devoured with an ice cold beer to wash it down. Oh ya… there’s really not many simple pleasures better than this. That is, until you taste one of their crab cakes.

Having traveled to Baltimore many times, I’ve had my share of crab cakes. Some good, some full of stuff I wouldn’t recommend, but for the most part they’ve arguably got the best in the nation. Those served at Crab Corner stand up to the best. Incredibly sweet chunks of the freshest crab imaginable, patted lightly together with an undetectable binder, fried in butter and served with a lemony tartar sauce you’ll shamelessly spoon into your mouth well after the rest of the meal is finished. It’s easy to obsess about these little morsels, as they’re really that good. Order them as an appetizer if you’re planning on crab cracking, or indulge in the platter or sandwich offerings for a full meal; just don’t resist ordering them as diner’s regret will be imminent.

Crab Corner brings other down home specialties to the table, including hand battered, melt in your mouth oysters, bacon wrapped scallops with an apricot chutney sauce, and even jumbo Gulf shrimp, all flown in fresh within days of being caught. Side orders are homemade, their hushpuppies deliciously moist without being gluey, and Boardwalk style French fries seasoned aggressively with more J.O. crab seasoning and splashed with a bit of vinegar for kick. They’re not a bit oily and go well to cut the richness of beer battered Alaskan Cod (a fish Friday fav), fried sea clams or Southern style catfish. For dessert, it’s Baltimore Style Snowballs; shaved iced doused with flavors from bubblegum to egg custard and topped with chocolate or marshmallow cream if you’re so inclined.

Brothers Mark and John Smolen were brave souls to start a crab restaurant in the midst of a looming recession. But what they’ve created is proof that when you serve a little piece of home and do it without compromising freshness over fear of failure, good things happen. And even with a new location coming to relieve the crowds, beware: the Ravens games are coming. Get there early if you want a seat in the house.

Off the Grid – Keeping Family Screen Time to a Minimum

By Jennifer Vandenberg

With today’s endless proliferation of TV, video games and internet, there is no shortage of reasons for today’s kids to become couch potatoes. The American Academy of Pediatrics has linked excessive “screen time” to obesity, attention problems, trouble with sleep, impaired academic performance and more. Per their recommendations, children over the age of two should have “no more than one or two hours” of screen time per day.

Of course, things can get out of hand during the summer, when it’s often too hot to play outside and there aren’t many options to keep the young ones occupied. The good news is that weekend and summer screen time have not been associated with lower school performance in the way that weekday screen time has. But as school starts up once again, every day is no longer a vacation, so it’s a perfect time to consider family media use.

As with anything else, it’s good to set a plan from the beginning, which should make it easier to monitor your screen based entertainment time. Below you’ll find suggestions on setting goals and drawing boundaries to help make things easier on the whole family.

Chart Your Time

Start out by spending a few days charting media use for each family member. Everything counts: the morning news that nobody is really watching, the YouTube clip your teenager needs to view for homework, the ballgame that is on in the background at dinner time, video games and the time spent texting or posting on any kind of social media sites.

Use this charted data to help create a media plan. Set a limit on TV time and encourage your child to choose only their favorite shows to watch and favorite video games to play. Schedule “black out” hours when screen time is not acceptable, such as dinner or family gatherings. The DVR can be one of your best friends in this situation. Record shows your kids want to watch and skip through the commercials. This can cut TV time by a third!

You can even have kids use timers to help limit themselves; giving them some control should help make them more eager to participate. Make sure the media plan takes into account the time they spend at friends’ houses as there’s no sense setting a plan if the kids are going to “cheat” by spending unlimited amounts of screen time somewhere else.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Often times, the media distractions available to our kids are taken advantage of just because they are there. By finding ways to limit the presence of electronic media, you should be able to keep a better hold on limiting screen time. Consider these suggestions:

• Move the computer to the family room. Not only does this allow you to keep better tabs on internet use, but teachers also recommend that homework is best done in a communal area so parents can provide help and curtail time wasting.
• Cell phones should be kept out the bedroom at night. Your teen is not likely to get a restful sleep if they lie awake texting with friends until three in the morning.
• Remove the TV from your child’s room. This can be tough to handle, especially if they’re used to having one, so you can start by removing it only on weekdays.
• Establish “bedtime” for screens in addition to bedtime for the kids, preferably not too close to each other so that kids can settle down from media over-stimulation.

Lead By Example

No matter what suggestions you decide to follow for your kids, make sure you are keeping up your end of the bargain by monitoring and restricting your own screen time. Consider removing the TV from your own bedroom, canceling cable or eliminating “background” television like morning programs or afternoon talk shows. If you’re a sports fan, think about subscribing to nfl.com and/or mlb.com to follow your teams via internet radio broadcasts instead of ESPN. As a bonus, you’ll save hundreds of dollars.

Limiting screen time is not about deeming television sets and computers as evil but more about finding the balance between media and other activities. By setting the right boundaries and getting everyone in the family to participate, it can be a useful activity that encourages more communal bonding and improves everyone’s all around well being.

A Tale of Two Cities – Catalina Island, California

By Aly Wagonseller

There’s nothing quite like an island vacation. Sandy beaches, tranquil breezes and the majestic expanse of ocean blue summons us to relax and exhale the troubles of daily life. Living in the desert, we often think that getting our island fix requires at least a week’s vacation time, not to mention a bankroll of Franklins to fund the pricey necessities of airfare, lodging and car rental. But an easy four hour road trip on the I-15, coupled with a scenic one hour boat ride off the Pacific waters of Long Beach, lands us a doable weekend island retreat with amenities, scenery and attractions that rival those of other popular tropical destinations. Catalina Island, California delivers all that an island resort has to offer, with the added charm of small town local flair.

Take a Walk on the Tourist Side

Upon disembarking the Catalina Express Ferry into the island’s main city port of Avalon, you’ll find yourself on Pebbly Beach Road, where the familiar bustle of tour guide junkets and golf cart rentals (the main mode of transportation on the island) beckon. Here you’ll find information on dolphin and sea lion excursions, parasailing, island jeep tours, snuba, scuba and snorkeling adventures, glass bottom boat and submarine rides, and even a Taste of Catalina food tour. Zipline excursions and a rock climbing wall satisfy the need for adrenaline, while a tour of the Catalina Casino (put your chips away, there’s no gambling here) provides insight into days gone by, when big band icons such as Tommy Dorsey and Guy Lombardo played for local dancers.    

Soon you’ll be meandering onto Crescent Avenue, the main drag of restaurants, retail shops and theme bars. Undergoing a transformation of sorts due to revitalization efforts by the Santa Catalina Island Company, you’ll see an eclectic mix of genres, from the upscale wine bar and polished facades of the newer Pavilion Hotel or Bluewater Grill, to rustic island mainstays like Steve’s Steakhouse, Luau Larry’s and the Catalina Cantina. If you’re lucky enough to sip a cocktail at one of the Cantina counter seats facing the beach, you’re sure to spy visitors donning identical wicker hats, a sign that one of Larry’s Wiki Whacker drink specials has just been consumed. It’s all part of the Catalina boardwalk charm! Across the way on Catalina and Crescent sits the town’s iconic Green Pleasure Pier, where a trip to Eric’s on the Pier is a must. Having served locals and tourists since the 1930s, Eric’s hotdog-atop-a-hamburger concoction known as the Harvey Burger is a Catalina institution. Fishing is a favorite pastime on the Pleasure Pier with bait and pole rentals available, while a visit to the Chamber of Commerce office across from Eric’s can help you garner info on island history and points of interest.   

Strap on your sandals, then head past the Casino and around the mountainous bend to the Descanso Beach Club. Recently updated to reflect modern resort island standards, Descanso houses exclusive cabana and chaise lounges in a secluded beach setting that rocks the day away with music, food and cocktails. In the midst of a walk up bar with beachside seating, there’s wireless Internet service for those who refuse to disconnect, and paddleboard and kayak rentals for those who wouldn’t have it any other way. Regardless of where you choose to hang out, drink and eat in town, almost everything in Avalon is mom and pop (not a Bubba Gump’s in sight) – a detail that adds appeal and authenticity to what this island community is all about.

Choosing the Path Less Traveled   

While there are tons of mainstream things to do on the island, venturing off the beaten path might be more your cup of tea. If so, there are a host of local purveyors willing to help you experience the Catalina they intimately respect and love. The Catalina Island Conservancy protects 90 percent of the island’s land and is your best opportunity for viewing the interior wild and plant life and discovering history associated with Catalina’s past. Offering eco jeep tours from two hours to all day, their experienced guides drive you through the back roads behind the glitter of Avalon. You’ll see majestic bison and bald eagles in the wild, learning how they got there and what’s been done to help them survive and flourish. Drive along steep mountain roads originally built for stagecoach use by the then sole owner of the island, chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, as you garner folklore associated with the wealthy family and the development of the area and see modern day horse ranches and vineyards still owned by the Wrigley family. View lookout towers used during World War II, then make time for a stop at the “Airport in the Sky,” Catalina’s working airport and restaurant where celebrities who frequently visit the island can be seen eating lunch when they arrive. Visit www.catalinaconservancy.org for reservations.

If it’s a secluded beach outing you’re looking for, check out the Ultimate Beach Adventure offered by Catalina Coastal Tours (www.catalinacoastaltours.com). For only $115.00 half-day rate or $150.00 full, you’ll enjoy a scenic boat trip to the expansive, sandy beaches of White’s Landing, a sheltered spot up the coastline from Avalon. A rustic camp with a mess hall facility, bathrooms and showers, you can hike up Crow’s Nest for scenic views of the bay, paddleboard in the protected cove, or snorkel and kayak around the shoreline. You can also enjoy a lunch or dinner that’s filling and plentiful without being too fancy. For the same price as a crowded boating tour, you get a bargain private beach outing with time away from the crowds. 

Staying on the island presents diverse choices, from upscale hotels and condos to home and cottage rentals. The Old Turner Inn offers a perfect bed and breakfast experience hosted by local owners with centuries-old ties to the island. A lovely, historic home that’s exceptionally clean and comfortable, the inn’s rich island history is conveyed in photos of family and celebrity friends such as June Lockhart and also by the proprietor’s ninety-six year old father, who often visits during wine and cheese hour to tell stories of Catalina folklore. They know everything there is to know about dining, excursions and the best massage therapists in town, and are willing to go the extra mile to make your stay exceptional. Be sure to try Kathleen’s homemade Catalina Granola, and remember to come hungry for their delicious breakfast. Visit www.oldturnerinn.com for reservations.  

An enchanting island getaway doesn’t have to eat up valuable vacation time. Whether it’s a romantic escape with your spouse or family fun time on short notice, Catalina Island is the perfect destination to set your mind on island time.  

One of a Kind – C.C. Gallagher’s   

A stand out on Catalina’s Crescent Avenue, C.C. Gallagher’s Café is an eclectic eatery, wine and coffee bar with a twist. Owner Pamela Miller, who grew up on Catalina then travelled the world only to return to her beloved island, brings a special artistic flair to Gallagher’s. Serving fusion sushi, rustic grilled cheese, Panini sandwiches and focaccia pizzas made with gourmet artisanal ingredients, the café is also well known for their selection of decadent desserts and gelato. A coffee house by day, and a wine, Champagne and craft beer tasting room by night, C.C. Gallagher’s surrounds visitors with a tasteful selection of handmade jewelry, artwork and home furnishings all available for purchase. A wine and Champagne vault rounds out the space, making C.C. Gallagher’s a must visit spot on the island. 

Art for the Masses – The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection

By Mike Sweeney

When we think of art collectors, our minds probably reflect images of snooty high society types on the Upper West Side debating the suggestive dichotomies of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Dorothy and Herbert Vogel feel like a breath of fresh air in that respect. Once described as “proletarian art collectors,” this humble married couple from New York built an impressive assembly of modern art with a sharp perspective and a notable lack of pretension. Local residents now have a chance to examine stunning pieces from the couple’s diverse art holdings at UNLV’s Barrick Museum.

Meet the Vogels

Before you venture into the main gallery, treat yourself to an intimate look at the Vogels themselves with a viewing of the award winning documentary Herb & Dorothy in the museum’s theater. The Vogels certainly didn’t fit the typical image of the modern art collector. Herb was a clerk with the Postal Service while Dorothy worked as a reference librarian in Brooklyn. Both began as artists themselves but later gave it up in favor of collecting. Starting in 1962, the couple used Dorothy’s income to cover living expenses while Herb’s salary was dedicated to procurement. Within a few decades, their collection had amassed some 4,000 works. Motivated by their desire to share their passion, a program was developed where fifty works from the collection would be shared with one institution in each of the fifty states, with UNLV chosen as the site for Nevada.

Mixed Media

One of the most interesting things about The Vogel Collection comes from its variance of media. From graphite and watercolor to paper mache and charcoal, a diverse range of form represents Herb and Dorothy’s eclectic tastes. Some works are as simple as ink, marker or colored pencil on paper, such as the cartoon like figures in Mark Kostabi’s “The New Irascibles.” Bettina Werner’s “Campi Neri de Pensiero” features salt and resin on a plastic panel, reminiscent of a carved out chunk of highway with stylistic imperfections. Martin Johnson’s “Take a Chance on Being Here” combines logos, ads, lottery tickets and more in a pop culture explosion reminiscent of Warhol at his most trenchant. One of the most fascinating uses of media is Stephen Antonakos’s untitled Greek travel collages. Seven small frames incorporate items such as hotel soap, stamps, coins, twigs, pull tabs and more, turning the detritus of a Mediterranean visit into an artistic travelogue.

Color and Style

Looking at the collection as a whole, there are common threads that stand out, one of which is the dynamic use of color. Bright hues shine on Michael Lucero’s untitled butterfly watercolor, so much so that you can almost feel it flying out of the frame, while Daryl Trivieri’s luminous Picasso like ornithological renderings seem imbued with a life both natural and surreal. The colored pencils of Richard Tuttle’s “Happy Birthday Herb” series are as much about the space between the pastel lines as the lines themselves. Even Claudia DeMonte’s paper mache and acrylic family life scene seems to come alive through the artist’s vibrant expression.

The collection also celebrates minimalism in many of its works, with simple approaches yielding bold artistic dividends. Edda Renouf’s “Mahan-Iran” may seem like a blank sheet of paper at first glance, until you notice the intricate incised marks that bisect the canvas. The inscriptions are so slight, yet there is elegance in their symmetry. The same goes for the unadorned charcoal and pencil lines of Steve Keister’s untitled work or the straightforward pastels of Mark Kostabi’s “Nose Off,” both of which evoke boldness and self assurance. Others play with language, such as Robert Barry’s untitled piece with words inscribed at its edges in graphite: “evidently,” “partial,” “internal.” All of them etched in faded strokes, giving the work an ephemeral quality. These examples prove that you don’t have to fill up all the white space on your canvas to stir the soul.

Modern art may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Dorothy and Herbert Vogel certainly had a good eye for artistic quality and expression that was at once minimalist and multifaceted. Take some time out to judge for yourself and you’re sure to find something that captures your fancy.

For more information on The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection, visit barrickmuseum.unlv.edu.

The Expats

By Chris Pavone

Reviewed by Macy Walsh

While it’s hard for us to tear ourselves away from the authors we truly love, it’s always fun to discover a new writer, especially when it’s one as obviously talented as Chris Pavone. As a first offering, Pavone’s The Expats is an impressive thriller filled with exhilarating double-crosses.

What happens when an expert CIA agent with fifteen years in the world’s most dangerous spy game gives it all up to be a stay-at-home mom, exchanging assassinations and double dealing for playdates, coffee mornings and tennis lessons? That’s the reality of life for Kate Moore, whose husband Dexter comes home one day and announces that he’s received an extremely lucrative offer to move the family from Washington, D.C. to Luxembourg for a high profile IT job in online banking security. Kate finds herself secretly relieved, and not for the reasons you might ordinarily expect. Sure, not having to worry about money and living a posh European lifestyle are appealing to Kate, but she’s more excited about the life that she’ll be able to get away from.

Kate has a secret. A big one.  Her husband has no idea that when she heads off to Atlanta or L.A. on a business trip, her ultimate destination is more often Prague or Veracruz. While she has now held a supervisory position for some time, the years of working covert ops in the field and keeping secrets for a living have taken their toll, leaving her yearning for a sense of normalcy. She’s ready to ditch her old life for good, but Kate finds that life isn’t quite finished with her yet.

Shortly after their arrival in Luxembourg, Dexter begins acting very strangely, keeping odd hours and hiding the truth. Given all the secrets she’s kept from him, however, Kate tries to give him the benefit of the doubt. Her days pass “in a cold thick fog of kitchen mopping and grocery shopping and pot scrubbing” as Kate learns about the realities of life with two small boys, which offers no escape from LEGO pieces, playgrounds and SpongeBob SquarePants. As Dexter works all hours at his mysterious new job, Kate makes friends with other mothers, joins the American Women’s Club of Luxembourg and meets an American couple, Julia and Bill Maclean. But despite the change of scenery and social circle, Kate is bored – intensely, dangerously bored. So when she decides something’s off about her new friends the Macleans, she begins to investigate.

Kate can’t tell if her suspicions are real or a delusion dreamed up to fill her empty life, “to have something to do. Anything.” But Kate notices that the Macleans keep mum about their pasts and always seem to turn up when her family is holidaying around Europe. Before long, Kate finds herself clinging to a windowsill outside Bill’s office, and “this is where she belonged, up here on this ledge. This is what had been missing from her life.” Tension builds notch by notch as Kate uncovers deception beneath deception, lies inside lies. Nothing, not even her family, is what it seems and she’s terrified that her dirty past as a CIA operative is finally catching up with her.

Pavone, a former book publishing editor who lived in Luxembourg for two years with his family, has created a startlingly real heroine in Kate. She’s a former spy with a talent for languages and maps, hand-to-hand combat and guns; an expert assassin, cold enough and capable enough to kill. But Kate is no cipher; she’s also a fiercely loving mother and a wife who has kept her past secret from her husband all these years, and she’s terrified when her two worlds start to collide.

Expertly and intricately plotted, with a story spiraling into disaster and a satisfyingly huge amount of twists and turns to keep any reader guessing, The Expats certainly doesn’t feel like a first novel. This is an impressively assured debut and a worthy entry into the thriller genre.

A Step Above – Kayla McKenna

Silverado High School
Class of 2014

Confidence is key for Silverado Student Body President Kayla McKenna. Self assurance has long been the standout quality of any good leader, especially one charged with overseeing student government, and Kayla helps keep her focus through a desire to create a positive, everlasting impact. Spirited, hardworking and always adventurous, she’s never afraid to break out of her comfort zone; like the great leaders who have come before her, she knows that facing something you fear every day can only lead to stronger motivation, sharper skills and the will to make the impossible a reality. For all that and more, Kayla McKenna rises to – A Step Above.

G.P.A.: 3.4

Sports/Activities

• JV Soccer, 2011
• Women’s Varsity Soccer, 2012-Present; Captain, 2013
• Women’s Varsity Flag Football, 2013-Present
• Las Vegas Sports Academy, 2010-Present; Captain, 2012-13
• Freshman Class Vice President, 2010-11
• Sophomore Class President, 2011-12; Junior Class President, 2012-13
• Student Body President, 2013
• Class Committee, 2011-Present
• Student Council, 2011-Present

Awards/Community Service

• Regional Champions (Flag Football), 2013
• Outstanding Freshman Super Leader, 2011
• Outstanding Sophomore Super Leader, 2012
• All Southern Nevada, 2012-13
• All Sunrise Region, 2012-13
• All Northeast League, 2012-13
• L.I.G.H.T. Work Camp, 2010
• Volunteer with Las Vegas Sports Academy Juniors Program, 2011-Present
• Special Olympics, 2013
• Soccer Jam Volunteer Coach, 2010-12
• Volunteer at Charlotte Hill Elementary School, 2009-Present
• Youth Leader at St. Thomas More Church, 2013

Accomplishments Most Proud Of: “I am very proud of my election as Student Body President because it’s something I have dreamed of accomplishing since my freshman year. It showed that all my hard work has paid off even though I have a lot more work ahead of me. I am also proud of being Captain of my high school’s Varsity Soccer team as a junior. I am proud of this because it showed that I am a leader outside of Student Council and that my coach believed in me.”

Kayla Looks Up To: “Ever since my freshman year in Student Council, Cecilia Fisher has shown me what it is to be a true leader. She took me under her wing and helped me be the leader I am today. She not only displayed leadership in Student Council but also in everything she did outside of Student Council. I look up to her and model how I am as a leader after her.”

Cause for Concern: “I would love to be president or part of Best Buddies because it’s so important that kids with mental disabilities get the chance to experience things and to feel a part of something rather than feeling different. I love how this program makes it easy for teens to interact with special needs kids and make them feel important and like they belong.”