1. travel
2. tourist facilities
3. hotel

ENTERTAINMENT
February 11-17, 2015 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / Page 17
Frank, The Man, The Music:
Celebrities along the Red Carpet
By Sandy Zimmerman
Las Vegas Tribune
Photos by Sandy Zimmerman
during her red carpet interviews
Bob Anderson’s dress rehearsal
on Friday evening began the biggest event in Las Vegas.
On Saturday, the Venetian and
Palazzo Resorts prepared three Red
Carpets, one in front of the opening of the new Yardbird Southern
Table & Bar (50 Eggs Restaurant
Group), at the Palazzo Resort’s
waterfalls and the third at the
Palazzo Theater for the premiere of
Bob Anderson: Frank, The Man,
The Music.
My evening’s schedule was full
with the Yardbird’s tasting dinner
at 5 p.m. then interviewing the celebrities along the red carpet from
5-7:30 p.m., the show at 8 p.m., and
dessert party at 10 p.m.
Joining the red carpet festivities
was one of my favorite actresses,
Laurie Metcalf, known for her portrayal of Rosanne‘s sister, Jackie
Harris (“Rosanne“) and as Sheldon
Cooper’s mother (“Big Bang
Theory”).
Laurie explained, “I just completed a season of the McCarthys
on CBS and two seasons of a new
show called “Getting On” on HBO.
The title refers to getting on in age
and is set in a geriatric ward in a
hospital. I play a doctor.”
Everyone was excited to attend
Bob Anderson’s premiere. Laurie
knew Bob and had followed his
career for 15 years.
She attended his preview performance in 2014, “I am back for
more. He is really channeling, it is
exactly what you would have expected seeing Frank Sinatra live at
this stage of his career. Bob is spot
on!”
Laurie was familiar with the illusion Bob performed in the show.
“Bob becomes Frank Sinatra.”
It is great to see Bob back in Las
Vegas again, he moved to Branson,
Missouri for several years. Jackie
felt, “I am glad he is back and I hope
this show has a long healthy run. It
is a fantastic show and I would recommend it to anyone.”
Our Las Vegas celebrities
walked the red carpet. Mark Ferret,
the drummer in “Million Dollar
Quartet” at Harrah’s Las Vegas, saw
Bob perform a few times and said,
“When you want Frank Sinatra,
Laurie Metcalf in “Getting On,” HBO
Bob is the guy!
The “Million Dollar Quartet”
recreates December 4, 1956 the
night Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl
Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came
together for an epic recording session. It happened at the spur of the
moment and we do our best to recreate that magic night. We are celebrating our second anniversary.
Come see our show or your missing the party, a good time every
night.”
Dancer Melody Sweets described “Absinthe” (Caesars Palace), as “The most insane show you
will ever see. She is a Frank Sinatra
fan and was anxious to see Bob
perform.
The Palazzo Theater-Shows:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Saturday at 8 p.m., and Fridays at 9
p.m., 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South.
For information, call 702-4149000. www.venetian.com/frank
www.bobanderson.com
*****
Award
winning
Sandy
Zimmerman is a syndicated columnist featuring Show and Dining reviews, travel, health, luxury and
more. Sandy is talk show host of the
Las Vegas Today Show programs
and Discover the Ultimate Vacation
travel specials. If you want to suggest topics or ask questions about
Sandy’s articles, call (702)-7316491.
ALONG THE RED CARPET:
Laurie Metcalf, known for her
television rolls as Rosanne Bar’s
sister (Rosanne), as Sheldon
Cooper’s mother (Big Bang
Theory) and in the new sitcom
The McCarthys.
(Photo by Sandy Zimmerman)
MELODY SWEETS: Performer in Absense at Caesars Palace. (Photo by Sandy Zimmerman)
MARK FERATT: Fluke/Drummer in Million Dollar Quartet at
Harrah’s Las Vegas. (Photo by Sandy Zimmerman)
Page 18 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / February 11-17, 2015
SELMA: Story of Us All
By Marianne Donnelly
Las Vegas Tribune
Last Saturday, Selma, the movie
(currently in local theaters) was
shown to about 300 Las Vegas high
school students with an educational
panel discussion afterward. What a
wonderful experience for these active minds!
First, the movie. As a critic, I
analyze content and technical aspects. This is a powerful production crafted with obvious care to
every aspect, and special congratulations go to script, casting, tone,
costumes, period details, historical
film-clip insets and pure emotional
balance. Special kudos for bravery
addressing this painful topic in a
truthful and graceful way. From the
incredibly accurate look-alike actors to script-fidelity of historical
events, this is a masterpiece that
should be shared in all American
history classes. It is perfect to show
at annual Martin Luther King Day
celebrations.
This focus on the Selma march
to Montomery and the push for the
right to vote, without restrictions or
illegal impediments, is highly pertinent for ALL of us in its lessons
of persistence, bravery, conviction
that Truth Shall Prevail, and the
specifics of how many societies
have been, and continue to be,
shaped by intimidation, maleficence, and racism, by those
wrongly convinced of their Divine
Right to be considered superior
based solely on “low melanin content” of their skin, or wealth, which
has been and still is a detriment to
a healthy world — disenfranchising millions for millennia. This film
portrays the brutality millions endured in a realistic light.
“Selma: One Dream Can
Change the World” movie awards
and nominations so far include:
87th Academy Award nomination
for best picture (upcoming); Critics Choice for best director, picture,
actor; Golden Globe for best director, drama, song; and numerous
prestigious guild and society
awards.
Some historical-accuracy debate
centers around the portrayal of
President Lyndon Johnson and his
relationship with King. To many,
President Johnson was seen as a
champion of civil rights legislation
and a proactive partner of King,
whereas the film is accused of depicting Johnson as reluctant or an
obstructionist who had the FBI
monitor and harass King.
Of course, it is an established
fact the FBI did monitor, harass and
try to disrupt the King family and
the Movement. There is widespread
belief he was murdered by hands
along those old-boy lines. Clearly
then-FBI Director Hoover was no
fan of protesters, agitators, liberals,
and progressives. FBI Files on numerous freedom fighters of that era
have since come to light and it’s not
a pretty picture. Even Dr. King said
numerous times that he and all his
associates were clearly being followed and he was certain after
President Kennedy and Malcom X
were assassinated that he would
soon be targeted. He was gunned
down in 1968.
SCLC activist and later U.S.
Congressman and Ambassador to
the United Nations, Andrew Young,
told The Washington Post that the
depiction of the relationship between President Johnson and Dr.
King “was the only thing I would
question in the movie. Everything
else, they got 100 percent right.”
According to Young, the two were
always mutually respectful, and
King respected Johnson’s political
problems.
The movie was precursored by
a heartfelt talk by Dr. Green who,
at 81 years of age, had fond memories of his association with Dr.
King. He shared his collection of
historic signage “Whites Only” and
“Colored Only” and urged the audience to heed the need to vote and
be on guard to defend the precious
liberties we have fought for.
Voting is indeed the most
germaine topic of the film as it relates to the 2016 presidential election upcoming — especially in light
of the recent Supreme Court Voting Rights Amendment Act, which
was a stunning 5-4 vote gutting preclearance clauses in the landmark
1965 law. Since then, numerous
negative, and a few positive, voter
registration ordinances and actions
have taken place. (The Las Vegas
Tribune suggests additional and indepth reading on this topic.)
This educational event had
broad support within Clark County,
especially by CCSD, UNLV academic enrichment and outreach,
Martin Luther King Jr. Center for
Nonviolent Social Change, Psi Upsilon Omega chapter of Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and
South Point Casino (where Selma
is currently showing) and local Las
Vegas City Councilman Ricki
Barlow. The panels’ theme of “negotiate, demonstrate and resist” is
sound advice. I suggest engaging
students in taking a cause, understanding its dynamics, and engag-
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had a whole sentence all messed up? Have you personally
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Why put off doing what you know you should have done before:
call in an editor! As a word-, sentence-, and document-doctor,
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Samira Barlow engaging students with panelists.
ing in all actions from petitioning voter registion, and educational re- Selma, still asking a president for
to protesting. The empowerment sources.
the vote (for African Americans).”
that comes from hard-won victory
The extraordinary British actor
Oprah Winfrey was positively
is a life-enhancing experience. David Oyelowo has been praised transformed into the humble, wornOnce you shed fear and keep a for his chameleon-like ability to out, brave, persistent activist and
steady focus, you will be surprised embody different accents and roles protester, Ms. Lee Cooper. All
at how much you can accomplish. and has said in an interview with traces of her billionaire-world gone
The movie viewing was spon- NPR, “When you watch Selma, you as she humbly takes low billing in
sored by the South Point Hotel and see people losing their lives, leav- the credits.
Casino, and the panel discussion, ing their homes, marching with Dr.
The auditorium was filled with
Marching Ahead: Teen Exchange King, making their voices heard — alert faces that clearly appreciated
for Social Change was organized this was a promise (of voting) that this special chance to talk about
and moderated by Psi Upsilon was 102 years late. The Emancipa- African-American history and how
Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa tion Proclamation was in 1863... I it relates to ongoing challenges toAlpha Sorority, Inc. Psi Upsilon played a soldier in the film Lincoln, day. How are recent scenes from
Omega provided students with a who in 1865 says, “Maybe some- Ferguson, MO like Selma, and what
copy of the United States Consti- day we’ll get the vote.” And then I is different? Much to ponder. Much
tution along with social activism, play Dr. King in 1965 in the film to be done on All our parts.
Teens learn history of sustained-struggle for voting rights
February 11-17, 2015 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / Page 19
“Variety Salutes Hollywood” at Oscar viewing party
This Week
in Las Vegas
By Mike Kermani
By Mike Kermani
Las Vegas Tribune
Las Vegas Joins Hollywood at
Brenden Theaters at the Palms Resort, Sunday, February 22. Red Carpet coverage begins at 3:30 p.m.,
Oscars telecast begins at 5:30 p.m.
For the sixth year, Variety The
Children’s Charity will host the best
Oscar Viewing party in town, “Variety Salutes Hollywood” on Sunday, Feb. 22 with a Red Carpet and
pre-Oscar coverage starting at 3:30
p.m. on the big screen at Brenden
Theaters at The Palms. All proceeds
will benefit Variety The Children’s
Charity as they partner with the city
of Las Vegas to make the Jaycee
Community Park at Eastern and St.
Louis universally accessible to all
children in the Las Vegas valley.
Co-hosted by ABC News Anchor Jessica Janner and 98.5
KLUC-FM’s Chet Buchanan of
“Chet Buchanan & The Morning
Zoo,” the 87th Academy Awards for
outstanding film achievements will
be presented that night. The general
public is invited to watch the Oscars and rub elbows with local celebrities all to benefit Variety The
Children’s Charity of Southern Nevada. Celebrities have included
Master Magician Lance Burton,
Comedy Magician Mac King,
James Davis, Mark Savard, Robin
Leach, The Jersey Boys, Zowie
Bowie, The Fantasy Girls and more.
You can walk the “Red Carpet”
with local celebrities at 3:30 p.m.,
the Oscar Red Carpet telecast commencing at 4 p.m. with the awards
show coverage starting at 5:30 p.m.
PST. Awards Day festivities will
take place at the award-winning
Brenden Theatres and IMAX
(Brendan Theaters, Palms Casino
Resort, 4321 West Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89103), a state-ofthe-art cinema complex located inside the Palms Casino Resort. Tickets are $25 and include $25 in theater concessions. VIP tickets will be
$250 per person and include a special one-night-only menu created
by Alizé at the Top of Palms Casino Resort. Executive Chef Mark
Purdy and his team will create Oscar-themed dishes. Tickets can be
purchased at www.onalv.org.
Variety, The Children’s Charity
of Southern Nevada, (a 501 (c) 3
organization) serves special needs
children in the Las Vegas Valley and
has donated in excess of $7 million
worth of goods, services and money
affecting more than 20,000 children
affiliated with dozens of local agen-
cies. Follow on Twitter:
@VarietyLV.
*****
THE RAT PACK IS
BACK AT RIVIERA
The Rat Pack is back, Sunday
through Friday (dark Saturday) beginning Monday, March 2, 7:00
p.m.
Tickets are $81.03 plus tax and
applicable fees orchestra seating,
$70.03 plus tax and applicable fees
for booth seating, $59.03 plus tax
and applicable fees for VIP and
$48.03 plus tax and applicable fees
for general admission. All-you-candrink included with paid ticket (Domestic beer, well drinks, fountain
drinks and water).
Voted “Best Tribute Show” in
the 2014 Best of Las Vegas Poll by
the staff of the Las Vegas ReviewJournal, Rat Pack Is Back features
classic music and skits honoring the
original bad boys of Las Vegas —
Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Sammy
Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin. the days
when Las Vegas’ most famous entertainers put the town on the map
with their music, comedy, style and
pure cool. The stellar cast of Vegas
entertainers, complimented by
some of the finest musicians in the
city from the nine-piece Lon
Bronson Orchestra, share the
smooth sounds of the legendary
performers singing all the golden
hits, including “My Way,” “That’s
Amore,” “What Kind of Fool Am
I,” “Luck Be a Lady,” “Mr.
Bojangles,” and “New York New
York,” along with many other great
songs from the era.
The cast is played by actors who
portray dual roles, including Frank
Sinatra (Brian Duprey), Dean Martin (Drew Anthony), Sammy Davis,
Jr. (Kyle Diamond) and Joey
Bishop (Mark Cohen).
Rat Pack Is Back is in its 16th
year of performances across the
United States, is the only Las Vegas-based show with national touring companies and is the recipient
of an award from the United States
Congress. Guests under 18 years
must be accompanied by an adult.
*****
RIVIERA ANNOUNCES THE
MJ LIVE SHOW
The MJ Live show will appear
at the Versailles Theatre, nightly beginning Monday, March 2, Sunday
through Friday at 9:00 p.m. and
Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: Tickets are $76.95 plus
tax and applicable fees for orchestra seating, $65.95 plus tax and ap-
THE RAT PACK IS BACK AT RIVIERA
MJ LIVE AT RIVIERA
plicable fees for booth seating, Till You Get Enough,” and many
$54.95 plus tax and applicable fees more.
MJ LIVE also includes a Jackfor VIP and $43.95 plus tax and
applicable fees for general admis- son 5 segment (“I’ll Be There,” “I
Want You Back”) with costume
sion.
MJ LIVE is the number one design inspired by Soul Train. Feel
Michael Jackson tribute show in the the energy from the talented team
world, showcasing the energy, ex- of dancers, the three-piece live band
citement, spectacle and pure joy of on stage, as MJ LIVE captures the
this legendary superstar and his spirit of the famed superstar.
Guests under 18 years must be
music. Experience this awesome,
critically-acclaimed stage produc- accompanied by an adult. Children
tion with its powerful sound, spec- 12 and under are free with paid
tacular lighting and visual effects adult ticket.
*****
that take you back to when the
COMEDIAN JO KOY
“King of Pop” ruled the charts.
RETURNS TO
Enjoy the Michael Jackson tribTREASURE ISLAND
ute artist’s spot-on, breathtaking
Las Vegas’ hometown comedian
impersonations, performed by rotating impersonators Justin Dean, Jo Koy makes his return to the TreaJalles Franca and Tony Kouns, and sure Island Theatre March 20 at 9
sing along to many of Jackson’s p.m. Guests must be 18 or older to
biggest hits, including “Bad,” attend.
From renting out the historic
“Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Dangerous,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Black Huntridge Theater to filling the
& White,” “Thriller,” “Don’t Stop showroom at Treasure Island, Koy
COMEDIAN JO KOY
has entertained audiences in Las
Vegas and beyond for more than
twenty years with impressions and
stories, uproariously focused
around his family, especially his
mother and son.
After dropping out of UNLV to
pursue stand-up comedy, Koy
pounded the pavement on the strip
and off, booking gigs from coffee
shop open mic nights to “Catch a
Rising Star.” He broke wide in
2005, his persistence rewarded with
a star-making turn on BET’s
“Comic View.” His performance
later that year on “The Tonight
Show” became one of a select few
ever to receive a standing ovation
on that program.
Koy has since returned several
times to “The Tonight Show” and
appeared on various VH1 specials,
“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Last Call
with Carson Daly” and “Jamie
Foxx: Laffapalooza.” He has previously toured with other comedians, including Jon Lovitz, Chelsea
Handler and Carlos Mencia, and on
USO and Def Jam Comedy Tours.
He also voices several caricatures on “The Adam Carolla Show”
podcast including a Japanese competitive food eater, a P.F. Chang’s
host and Bung Lu Soo, an aspiring
singer. A new episode of Koy’s
podcast “The Michael Yo and Jo
Koy Show” is available on iTunes
every Tuesday.
Inspired by his son, Koy’s first
Comedy Central special “Don’t
Make Him Angry,” aired in January 2009. A highly anticipated second Comedy Central special
“Lights Out” followed in October
2012, and is now available on
DVD. He was also a regular panelist on “Chelsea Lately,” appearing
on more than 100 episodes from
2009 through the finale last year.
Tickets are available starting at
$54.95, plus taxes and service
charges, and can be purchased by
calling 866-712-9308 or 702-8947722,
or
visiting
www.treasureisland.com.
Mike Kermani is an entertainment writer for the Las Vegas Tribune newspaper. He writes a weekly
column in this newspaper. To contact Mike Kermani, email
mkermani@ lasvegas tribune.com
Page 20 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / February 11-17, 2015
Neon Museum to spotlight African-American History
By Jerry Fink
Las Vegas Tribune
In honor of Black History
Month, the Neon Museum will
spotlight notable aspects of AfricanAmerican history on tours of the
Neon Boneyard throughout February.
In addition, the museum is presenting a special art program in
February related to Paul Revere
Williams, the African-American
architect of the iconic La Concha
Motel lobby which today serves as
the museum’s visitor’s center.
Among the notable points of
African-American history visitors
the Neon Museum will learn:
—Paul Revere Williams was involved in pivotal events of World
War II that brought thousands of
African-Americans to Las Vegas.
He was hired to design the housing
for workers at Basic Industries —
many of whom were AfricanAmericans recruited from Fordyce,
Ark., and Tallulah, La., and Los
Angeles — which manufactured titanium for war-time uses.
—Sarann Knight-Preddy owned
the Moulin Rouge casino for many
years and was the first AfricanAmerican to receive a Nevada gaming license.
—In the days of discrimination,
Foxy’s Casino at Sahara Avenue
and Las Vegas Boulevard was one
of the few places to serve black patrons.
Families will enjoy “Pop-Up
Architecture: Paul Revere Williams
in Las Vegas,” scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21 . During this program,
children will create a pop-up card
of architect Paul Revere Williams’
iconic La Concha Motel lobby,
which today serves as the Neon
Museum’s visitor’s center. This
event is for children in sixth grade
or older, accompanied by a parent
or adult guardian and all participants must have a ticket. The cost
for the event is $5 per person; members are free of charge. Space is
extremely limited. Tickets are available
online
at
https://
39912.blackbaudhosting.com/
39912/Pop-Up-Architecture.
To purchase tickets for the Pop
Up Architecture program, book a
tour or for more information on the
Neon
Museum,
go
to
www.neonmuseum.org or call
(702) 387-6366.
*****
12th ANNUAL WALK WITH
THE HEART OF A
CHILD RETURNS
The 12th Annual Walk with the
Heart of a Child is set for Saturday,
Feb. 28 at Fashion Show Mall and
supports Nevada-based Children’s
Heart Foundation (CHF). The walk
begins at 8 a.m., with registration
at 7 a.m.
Walk with the Heart of a Child
is a high-energy celebration including a fun walk, entertainment, raffle
and the ever popular Kids Zone.
During this event, teams gather at
the Fashion Show Mall to walk in
celebration and remembrance of
children with heart conditions and
to unite the community through
awareness. More than 2,000 locals
support the walk each year to help
generate funds that allow CHF to
continue to carry out its programs,
including Camp Mend-a-Heart,
Smart Heart Scholarships, Family
Outreach, research and more.
On-line registration is available
now at www.walkwiththehearto
fachild.kintera.org. Fees are $25 for
adults, $15 for virtual walkers, active-duty military, students and seniors. Community members and
businesses interested in supporting
CHF may phone (702) 967-3522
for sponsorship and team registration information.
*****
COUNTRY MUSIC
SUPERSTAR COLLIN RAYE
RESCHEDULES
PERFORMANCE AT SUNSET
Country music superstar Collin
Raye has postponed his performance scheduled for Saturday, Feb.
14 at Sunset Station. The performance has been rescheduled for
Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 7 p.m.
at Club Madrid inside Sunset Station.
Tickets purchased for the Feb.
14 performance will be honored for
rescheduled date. If needed, refunds will be available at the original point of purchase. Guests who
purchased tickets online or via
phone will receive an email notice
from Ticketmaster.
Tickets for the April 11 date are
available for $22, $32 and $42 plus
tax and applicable fees and are
available for purchase today. Doors
open at 6 p.m. and guests under 21
must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets can be purchased at any
Station Casinos Reward Center and
The Fiestas, by logging onto
www.sclv.com/concerts or through
Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or
www.ticketmaster.com.
*****
SMASH MAGAZINE
PRESENTS FISHBONE
AT BACKSTAGE
BAR & BILLIARDS
Smash Magazine presents ska/
rock/funk legends, Fishbone, on
Sunday, March 1 at Backstage Bar
& Billiards (601 E. Fremont. St.
Las Vegas) with opening act, The
Untouchables.
Doors open at 7 p.m. with the
show beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets
are $21 in advance, $25 day of
show, plus any service charges.
Tickets are on sale now and can be
purchased
online
at
www.smashmagazine.com or
www.ticketfly.com. The show is
21+ with valid ID.
ABOUT BACKSTAGE
BAR & BILLIARDS
Backstage Bar & Billiards, or
“Triple B,” is part upscale billiards
lounge and part rock ‘n’ roll museum and homage to subculture.
The venue in downtown Las Vegas
features some of the world’s biggest DJs, live musical acts and is
often considered to be one of Vegas’ best spots to play some pool
and have a brew. For more information,
please
visit
www.backstagebarandbilliards.com.
Children’s Heart Foundation is pleased to announce the 12th Annual
Walk with the Heart of a Child, a fun walk inside the Fashion Show
Mall the morning of Saturday, February 28, 2015.
*****
MOB MUSEUM PARTNERS
WITH PLAZA ON FIRST
TRAVELING EXHIBIT
The Mob Museum, the National
Museum of Organized Crime and
Law Enforcement, has partnered
with Plaza Hotel & Casino on a
brand-new exhibition, which will
remain on view until June 30, 2015.
Designed to place even more of
the Museum’s robust artifact collection on public view, as well as
introduce the Museum to a larger
audience, the exhibit includes the
John Gotti car and informational
signage throughout the hotel-casino.
Part of the Museum collection
since 2011, the John Gotti car is a
1972 Jaguar XKE Convertible. The
car was a gift to Gotti from veteran
Gambino Family mobster Greg
DePalma, who gave the car to Gotti
to curry favor with the “Teflon
Don.” The car can go from zero to
60 miles per hour in 7.4 seconds
with a top speed of 134 miles per
hour and has a V12 Engine. Its
original price was approximately
$7,500.
Informational displays feature
photographs and text spotlighting
prominent “Sin City Mobsters,”
such as Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel
and Tony “The Ant” Spilotro,
whose Las Vegas associations are
inextricably linked with the city’s
history. Another graphic display
addresses some of the iconic Las
Vegas resorts — such as The Flamingo and the El Cortez — which
were famously associated with
Mob ownership and activity before
law enforcement and big corporate
owners wrenched control away
from organized crime.
Also of note, the Plaza Hotel &
Casino is home to Oscar’s
Steakhouse. Oscar Goodman, the
restaurant’s namesake, was not only
a prominent Mob defense attorney
as well as City of Las Vegas mayor.
The Mob Museum represents the
realization of Goodman’s vision of
the first world-class institution
dedicated to revealing the impact
of the Mob and its battle with law
enforcement on society.
“This is the first time we’ve
partnered with another Las Vegas
entity on an exhibition of this
scale,” said Ashley Misko, director
of marketing and PR, The Mob
Museum. “We’re grateful for the
opportunity to collaborate with The
Plaza and plan to pursue other traveling exhibition opportunities with
other venues — both in Las Vegas
and elsewhere — in the future.”
Michael Pergolini, vice president/general manager, Plaza Hotel
& Casino, added, “The Plaza itself
is part of the historical fabric of the
original Las Vegas Strip in Downtown. Already in partnership with
Oscar Goodman, one of the city’s
most notable Mob defense attorneys, embracing a partnership with
The Mob Museum is a natural fit
to showcase the artifacts from a
period that shaped our city. Being
able to offer a glimpse of history
within our casino and having guests
visit the Museum for the whole
story is just good business.”
For general information about
the Museum, its exhibitions, special programming, event rentals and
admission, please call (702) 2292734 or visit
the website
www.TheMobMuseum.org.
*****
THE IMPROV AT HARRAH’S:
FEB. 10-15
The world-famous Improv at
Harrah’s Las Vegas is the longestrunning comedy club on the Las
Vegas Strip.
The Improv’s ability to showcase young comedians, as well as
bring in big names, has attributed
to its longevity and success.
Each week, The Improv showcases some of the funniest and
freshest faces in comedy, creating
a show that is always unique and
definitely funny. The comedians
who will perform Feb. 10-15 are:
Dat Phan: Known as the original winner of NBC’s “Last Comic
Standing,” Dat Phan creates a culturally insightful show, using his
youthful energy and unique life experiences. Phan has been featured
on many movies and TV shows,
such as “The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno,” “The Tyra Banks
Show,” “Cellular” and “Family
Guy.”
Suli McCullough: Suli
McCullough’s stand-up career began while he was still a student at
UCLA. He opened for Jerry
Seinfeld and was immediately
signed by his managers. Since then,
his comedy has been showcased on
“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,”
”Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Last
Comic Standing” and Comedy
Central. McCullough is most recognized as “Mouse” from “The
Jamie Foxx Show” or “Crazy Legs”
in the Wayans Bros. spoof, “Don’t
be a Menace to South Central While
Drinking Your Juice in The Hood.”
Matt Merchant: From a substitute teacher, to a stuntman, and musical theatre comedian, Matt Merchant is also recognized as the voice
of the quarter pounder in Carl’s Jr.
ads currently airing. Merchant gets
his superhero debut as Superdad on
Spike TV and can be seen in the
film “Valentine’s Day.”
Shows are at 8:30 p.m. and 10
p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Tickets are $29.05 or $44.95 (plus
applicable taxes and fees) for VIP
tickets that include special seating,
an Improv T-shirt and post-show
meet-and-greet with the comics.
Special two-for-one tickets are also
available for locals for the 10 p.m.
show. Tickets are available at
Harrah’s Box Office 702-369-5223
and online at the website
www.harrahslasvegas.com.
*****
Jerry Fink is an entertainment
columnist for the Las Vegas Tribune
newspaper and writes a weekly column. To contact Jerry Fink, email
him at jfink@ lasvegastribune.com.
&
HEALTH LIFESTYLES
February 11-17, 2015 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / Page 21
Urban Turban Bombay Kitchen
& Tapas Bar Opening Party
By Sandy Zimmerman
Las Vegas Tribune
Photos by Sandy Zimmerman
I received an intriguing Media/
VIP invitation to the opening of the
Urban Turban Bombay Kitchen &
Tapas Bar. Since I enjoy the flavors
of India, the Urban Turban was a
MUST to visit.
Celebrating their first United
States location, they filled platters
with classic traditional and international dishes. When I dine in an
Indian restaurant, I usually eat Indian cuisine yet the Urban Turban
is different.
Their variety and selections
were amazing. Of course the menu
offered Curries, Biryani, Tandori
and other traditional Indian specialties yet this was the time to taste
the international surprises.
If you choose one of their curries, all curries are BOTTOMLESS
with UNLIMITED refills served
with portion of rice, noon bread and
small green salads. But the curry
order must be for one person and
not shared.
With old fashioned Indian
household Himalayan Chicken,
classic Bombay Lamb Masala, coconut flavored Western India
Coastal Curry and more, they serve
a total of seven chicken, lamb and
vegetarian curries.
They even have a different slant
on Biryani. Their Parda Chicken
Biryani has layered curried rice
cooked in closed flaky pastry covered pot, served with curry sauce
and Raita. The Urban Turban added
the flaky pastry topping.
Diners will find nine interesting
chicken appetizers, Bombay Bites,
like Chicken Tikka, chicken cubes
marinated in yogurt, mustard oil,
red chili and select herbs.
Most people are familiar with
Sliders but what about grilled Lamb
Sliders Indian-style?
There are two grilled Shrimp
dishes as well as Calamari,
Shucked Oysters, Fish Bites,
Ground Lamb Kebabs, and ground
Lamb Cutlets.
With such a great selection, you
may wish to order a Sharing Plate
to try their Tandoori Chicken, Seafood Platter, Vegetable Platter or
Bombay Tapas Platter.
We are familiar with the street
food of Mexico, the food prepared
and sold on the streets. The Urban
Turban added the street food of
Bombay to their menu.
For a real slant on the food of
India, it’s the Urban Turban
Bombay Kitchen & Tapas Bar.
Hours: Mondays Closed; Tue-Fri
10 a.m.-12 midnight; Sat-Sun 7
a.m.-1 a.m.; Holidays 7 a.m.-1 a.m.;
For information, call 702-8263217. The Urban Turban is located
at 3900 Paradise Road, near the Las
Vegas Strip.
*****
Award
winning
Sandy
Zimmerman is a syndicated columnist featuring Show and Dining reviews, travel, health, luxury, cars,
fashion and more. Sandy is talk
show host of the Las Vegas Today
Show programs and Discover the
Ultimate Vacation travel specials.
If you want to be reviewed, suggest
topics for articles or ask questions
about Sandy’s articles, call (702)731-6491. ATTENTION: Do you
have a favorite singer, comedian,
magician, hypnotist, ventriloquist,
psychic, variety act, production
show, group or other type of enter-
Indian-style slider
tainer? Please send the name of the
entertainer, your telephone number,
and the reasons for your choice and
you may win free show tickets or
other prizes. Telephone: (702)-7316491.
Page 22 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / February 11-17, 2015
SOCIAL SECURITY AWARENESS
Five steps to prepare for a 2015 retirement
“Having a plan and systematic
process in place to handle the withdrawals over time is critical,” says
Andy Tilp, a financial planner with
Trillium Valley Financial Planning
LLC. “After the paychecks stop,
there are fewer options to correct
mistakes.”
For more personalized investment advice, it’s best to seek professional help from a financial planner or advisor.
4. Decide when to take Social
By Nerd Wallet
If you’ve spent the past several
decades working and are looking
forward to retiring in 2015, the last
thing you probably want to hear is
that there’s more work ahead. But
a successful transition to a secure
retirement is well worth the extra
work and preparation.
Here are five steps to prepare for
a 2015 retirement:
1. Craft a monthly budget or
spending plan
A budget or spending plan helps
determine what you expect to receive in retirement income vs. your
anticipated living expenses. Open
a notebook or a spreadsheet and, in
one column, write down your expected monthly income, including
Social Security, pension and withdrawals from your retirement funds.
In a second column, estimate your
average monthly expenses, which
gives you a framework of your finances.
“Take a test run first,” says
Curtis Sheldon, a financial planner
based in Alexandria, Va. “If you
can, try living on what you expect
your retirement living expenses to
be. Can you do it?”
You might not be able to increase your income much in retirement, but you can certainly pare
down your expenses. Money-saving ideas include downsizing into
a smaller home, moving to a city
with a lower cost of living, selling
a car you might not need and taking fewer vacations.
2. Consider rolling over your
401(k)
If you have a 401(k), you probably will have three options when
you retire: Cashing it out, keeping
it in your employer’s plan or rolling it over into an IRA, or individual retirement account.
Cashing it out is rarely the best
option. The proceeds will be taxed
as ordinary income and likely subject to withholding. If you are
younger than 59-1/2, you also could
face a 10% penalty.
If your employer has a good
401(k) plan and allows you to leave
the money there, doing so might
make sense. But a rollover IRA,
available through any brokerage,
will generally offer you a far wider
selection of investments, including
stocks, bonds, mutual funds and
certificates of deposit.
Rolling over to an IRA isn’t always your best bet. If you are at
least 55 but not yet 59-1/2 when you
leave your employer, you might
want to at least delay the rollover
because of the difference in early
withdrawal penalties, says Helen
Huntley, a certified financial planner in St. Petersburg, Fla.
“In 401(k)s, there is generally no
penalty if you are 55 or older when
you leave and withdraw, but with
IRAs, there is a penalty if you are
younger than 59-1/2, except in certain circumstances,” Huntley says.
3. Review your investment
portfolio
You’ve lost your biggest source
of regular income, so you’ll need
your investments to replace a large
part of it. For retirees, it’s generally
a good idea to take fewer risks with
your money, focusing more on income-producing assets such as
bonds instead of riskier assets such
as stocks.
Now is the perfect time for you
to review and rebalance all assets
in taxable brokerage accounts and
retirement accounts, making sure
your asset allocation matches your
risk tolerance and income goals for
retirement. You need this money to
last at least 20 to 30 years, so the
focus should be on preserving as
much capital as possible while generating a regular income.
Security
You should generally apply for
Social Security benefits three
months before you want your benefits to begin, according to the Social Security Administration.
The earliest you can start getting
benefits is at age 62. But should you
apply for benefits right away or wait
a while longer? Benefits are reduced if you take Social Security
before you reach your full retirement age, which is age 66 for those
born between 1943 and 1954, rising to 67 for those born in 1960 or
later. Each year you delay benefits
after age 62 increases your monthly
benefit by 8%, according to the
SSA.
Social Security should be evaluated as a couple if you are married,
Huntley says.
“For couples, it is almost always
going to be best for the spouse with
the higher benefit to wait as long
(See Social Security, Page 24)
February 11-17, 2015 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / Page 23
What
You Need
To Know
By Dr Nina Radcliff
Mobile Phone
Health Safety
By Nina Radcliff, MD
For Leigh Fazzina, her mobile phone and Twitter account possibly
saved her life. During the cycling portion of a triathlon, she hit a tree root
and fell off her bike and rolled. Although her mobile phone did not have
a signal to call for help, she nonetheless was able to Tweet what happened along with her location. Help soon arrived.
There are innumerable, remarkable stories similar to this. As a society,
we turn to our mobile phones for enhanced communication, information
right at our fingertips, and in some cases like Ms. Fazzina’s, to help in
life-threatening situations. Therefore, it is no surprise that over ninety
percent of all Americans own a mobile phone, with two-thirds being a
smart-phone.
Technology was intended to support our lives. However, there are some
concerns about our mobile phones that we need to be aware of in order to
make wise decisions and minimize harms that this piece of technology
may pose.
1. Mobile phones carry 18 times more bacteria than a public
restroom toilet handle! In fact, studies have shown that they are often
contaminated with flu and common cold viruses as well as staph infections, E. coli, and meningitis bugs. What the reason is behind this Petri
dish phenomenon: germs love warm places. Our phones, face, and hands
generate heat; together they are a perfect storm to breed pestilence. Some
tips to prevent us from literally coming face-to-face with these germs
include:
—Leave our phones in our purses, pockets, or desks when using the
restroom. There is no need to use them while taking care of “business.”
—Wash our hands appropriately after using the restroom.
—Clean our phones with specialized anti-bacterial wipes that are noncorrosive and non-streaking. Additionally, use a cotton swab to get the
dirt out of the nooks and crannies.
—Consider a mobile phone cover that can be removed to be cleaned.
2. The brain cancer-mobile phone concern. Studies have not been
able to reliably link the two. And the increased numbers of brain tumors
we are seeing are more likely related to increased access to medical care
and improvements in diagnostic imaging. However, it may be possible
that not enough time has passed to determine if the increase in brain cancer rates are directly attributable to our mobile phones. Some tips to protect ourselves while the jury is out:
—Use hands-free devices or a speakerphone to decrease the “radiation” that may cause harm. When possible, use a landline for conversations.
—Do not sleep with our mobile phones under our pillows.
3. Sleep disturbances. When it is time to get our ZZZ’s, power down
our phones.
—Late night beeps and dings and messages that are stressful or emotional can throw a wrench in our slumber, including lost sleep, difficulty
falling asleep, poor sleep quality, or daytime sleepiness.
—Additionally, the light from the screen can suppress melatonin levels, the sleep hormone that our body produces. All forms of light—from
sunlight to television to lamps to computers to mobile phone screens—
have this effect.
4. Motor vehicle deaths and accidents. Texting while driving has
been estimated to cause 200,000 collisions a year. Sadly, it is currently
contributing to the distractions and leading cause of death of our American teen drivers. The answer is to never text — or engage with your mobile phone — while driving. Be responsible as well as a great example
and do not get distracted by your phone. Along with being a good example, talk to our kids about it.
5. “Text neck.” This term was coined to describe neck and shoulder
pain we may encounter because of the position we assume while texting,
emailing, or surfing the web. Our head weighs 10 pounds when in the
neutral position (ears are over our shoulders). However, for every inch
that we tilt our head forward, the pressure on our spine doubles! It is
possible that our necks will be supporting 20-30 pounds of weight if we
are using our cell phones in our lap. This can lead to muscle strain, disc
herniation, and pinched nerves, as well as flatten the natural curve of our
neck. Some tips:
—Be aware of our body. Keep our feet flat on the floor, roll our shoulders back and keep our ears directly over them so our head is not tilted
forward.
—Keep our phones at eye level.
6. Mobile phones can become a barrier to communication. While
this sounds like an oxymoron, texting has become a primary means for
our kids to communicate. A teen sends out an average of 60 text messages
a day (I honestly would have guessed it was more). Text messaging cannot convey tones of voice or reactions. This removes the skill of deciphering and contemplating innuendos or body language responses. In some
cases, it supports saying whatever comes to our minds... without constraint. Additionally it can wreak havoc on our kid’s grammar and spelling aptitude. Some tips: talk to our children and make them put their
phones away at dinner time or other specified times.
As with most things in life... moderation is key. While we appreciate
and can thrive from the benefits of our mobile phones—locations, reconnecting with long lost friends, coupons, the list goes on—we must also be
aware of its potential harms and drawbacks. That way we can harness the
good while minimizing the bad.
*****
Dr. Nina Radcliff is dedicated to her profession, her patients and her
community, at large. She is passionate about sharing truths for healthy,
balanced living as well as wise preventive health measures. She completed medical school and residency training at UCLA and has served on
the medical faculty at The University of Pennsylvania. She is a Board
Certified Anesthesiologist and a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists where she serves on committees for Young Physicians and
Communications. Author of more than 200 textbook chapters, research
articles, medical opinions and reviews; she is often called upon by media
to speak on medical, fitness, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle topics impacting our lives, today.
Page 24 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / February 11-17, 2015
Fact or Fiction? Breakfast
is the Most Important Meal
By Sidney Wilson
We’ve all heard the urban legend that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But is there
any real science to back up this
claim? The most common reason
cited for the value of breakfast
comes from several large studies
that have shown breakfast-eaters to
be leaner and healthier than nonbreakfast-eaters.
While this is true, the studies
have also found that breakfast-eaters tend to have healthier habits all
around than breakfast- skippers, so
it is not clear if breakfast-eaters are
thinner because they eat first thing
in the morning or because of the
other healthy things they do
throughout the day.
Interestingly, despite the lower
body weights of breakfast-eaters,
there have been mixed results regarding whether eating breakfast
impacts how much is eaten over the
rest of the day. Some studies have
even shown that breakfast-eaters eat
more total calories than non-breakfast-eaters.
That being said, there is some
evidence that breakfast offers
unique benefits over other meals.
Because eating can affect metabolism, hormones, and subsequent
appetite for several hours after food
is consumed, what you eat in the
morning can impact your body
throughout the day.
What you have for breakfast can
also influence how your body
handles the calories from subsequent meals (i.e. lunch and dinner).
Over time, these effects can add up
to meaningful changes in health and
body weight.
In one study published this year
in the Journal of Nutrition a group
of healthy, normal-weight men who
usually eat breakfast were tested for
how a morning meal impacted hormones and metabolism throughout
the day. They either ate a standardized breakfast or skipped breakfast,
then took a glucose tolerance test
before lunchtime.
Insulin resistance at the next
meal was higher when skipping
breakfast compared to eating breakfast, and appetite-regulating hormones like ghrelin were more fa-
vorable in the breakfast condition.
This suggests that skipping breakfast can contribute to insulin resistance and weight gain.
However, what you eat for
breakfast may be even more important than the act itself. A growing
body of evidence suggests that
breakfasts rich in protein and fiber
can have a significant impact on
your appetite and how many calories you eat throughout the day.
Last year, the International Journal of Obesity reported that adolescents who ate a protein-rich breakfast had lower appetites and ate less
during the day, whereas a proteinneutral breakfast was not better than
skipping breakfast.
The quality of carbohydrate also
has a significant effect on postbreakfast metabolism. In one study,
breakfast with a lower glycemic
index and load boosted metabolism
and burned more fat more than a
breakfast of higher glycemic index
and load.
Eating breakfast also appears to
improve cognitive abilities, particularly in children and adolescents.
(Continued from Page 22)
as possible (up to age 70) to start
benefits,” says Huntley. “When one
spouse dies, the surviving spouse
will continue to receive the higher
of the two benefits.”
Of course, there are other issues
to consider. Your decision may be
affected by your level of savings,
your life expectancy and whether
either spouse has a pension. If you
have a smaller retirement nest egg,
higher-than-average health care
costs or lower life expectancy, taking Social Security earlier make
might more sense.
5. Enroll in Medicare
If you are at least 65 or disabled,
you’ll want to make sure Medicare
covers your health care costs in retirement.
If you start receiving Social Security benefits before 65, you’ll be
automatically enrolled in Medicare
Part A (hospital insurance) and Part
B (doctor coverage) when you turn
65. If you haven’t started getting
Social Security benefits, fill out a
Medicare application online. You
can apply for Medicare if you are
at least 64 years, 9 months old. Failing to sign up for coverage before
your 65th birthday can result in a
delay of coverage and late penalties, so make sure this happens.
Although Medicare helps cover
the cost of your health care, it likely
will not cover all of your medical
expenses in retirement. Medicare
supplemental policies, known as
Medigap, are sold by private com-
panies to cover some of these additional costs. You can also get longterm care insurance, which can help
cover the cost of care that is generally not covered by Medicare, such
as assisted living, hospice care and
nursing homes.
Nerd Wallet is a USA TODAY
content partner providing general
news, commentary and coverage
from around the Web. Its content is
produced independently of USA
TODAY.
Social Security
Sidney Wilson
Another often-ignored advantage of eating breakfast is that it is
one of the easiest meals to prepare
and control, meaning it is a fantastic way to ensure that 30 percent of
your daily meals are nutritious and
contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Scrambling some eggs or heating
some oatmeal with nuts and fruit
takes just five minutes to prepare,
and guarantees at least one healthy
meal every day.
To summarize, eating breakfast
is a habit that can help you build a
healthy lifestyle and can improve
your metabolism throughout the
day. For best results, choose breakfasts that are higher in protein and
fiber and low in flour, sugar and
other refined carbohydrates.
* ****
Sidney Wilson is a Las Vegasbased celebrity fitness trainer and
lifestyle coach dedicated to providing his clients with the tools needed
to “Get Vicious.” Through rigorous
workouts and extensive nutrition
coaching, Sidney trains clients at
The Get Vicious Training Center
located at 5693 South Jones Blvd.
Suite 103, Las Vegas, NV 89118, or
remotely around the world through
his website www.sidneywilson.com.
Sidney can be contacted at:
[email protected] or 646226-6359.
February 11-17, 2015 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / Page 25
EarthTalk is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss
and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to:
[email protected]. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/
subscribe; Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.
Dear EarthTalk: What is
“Moms Clean Air Force” and how
can I get involved? — Betsy
Edgewater, Salem, OR
Moms Clean Air Force (MCAF)
is a community of 400,000+ parents working to combat air pollution and respond to the climate
change crisis. The fast-growing
non-profit leverages the power of
citizen activism and social media
to help raise awareness of the need
for stricter laws regulating air pollution.
“Moms will do everything they
can to keep their children safe and
sound,” reports the group. “We look
for the healthiest foods we can afford; we avoid toxic chemicals in
our products. But there are some
things we simply can’t buy. Clean
air is one. We need job-creating
regulations to assure that our children have clean air right now, and
for their future.”
The group’s online “Naptime
Activism Center” features links, resources and a ‘Take Action’ center
with ways to send messages to Congress and sign petitions for stricter
environmental laws. The website is
designed to make it easy and fast
for busy parents to make their
voices heard — all while baby naps.
Currently MCAF is focusing on
blocking efforts by lobbyists who
represent big polluters that are trying to roll back new air toxic standards and prevent federal agencies
from maintaining air and water
quality standards. The group warns
that toxic air-borne emissions of
mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel,
lead, dioxins, volatile organic compounds and other pollutants are
poisoning the air we breathe and
wreaking untold havoc on the
health of younger people whose
bodies are still developing.
Cleaning up coal-fired power
plants, the primary source of toxic
air emissions across the country is
a top priority for MCAF. “American coal plants produce 360,000
tons of hazardous air pollutants every year, at a time when nine million U.S. children under 18 have
been diagnosed with asthma,” the
group reports, adding that asthma
attacks triggered by air pollution is
the number one reason kids miss
school. Another concern is the mercury coming out of coal plant
smokestacks: “Over 400,000 newborns in the United States are exposed to mercury levels that can
Some all-natural, mineral-based sunscreens may be chalky going on but could be safer than their chemical
counterparts.
damage brain development, cause stone XL pipeline.
you, you may want to check out free
learning disabilities, result in lan“Sometimes being a good mom online databases like the Environguage disorders and memory prob- means being an active citizen,” the mental Working Group’s (EWG)
lems, and impair vision and hear- group reports. “Our children can’t Guide to Sunscreens or Paula’s
ing.”
fight for themselves. We have to Choice Expert Advice on Sun Care.
On the climate front, the group’s fight for them.”
“Many sunscreens offer inadnew free 23-page e-book, Extreme
*****
equate protection from the sun and
Weather & Our Changing Climate,
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve been can contain toxic ingredients to
aims to educate parents about the hearing a lot about the dangers of boot,” says Sonya Lunder, senior
links between our increasingly sunscreens. What is the latest on research analyst at EWG. “[The
crazy weather patterns and global efforts to make them safer and EWG Guide to Sunscreens] offers
warming. “The more informed we more effective? — Phyllis Lothran, users much-needed, well-sourced
are, the more effective we can be Tallahassee, FL
information so they can make the
in pushing for change,” MCAF reGreater awareness about what’s right choices to protect themselves
ports. Easy-to-read sections explain in everyday products and increased and their families.”
how climate change and weather interest in healthy living means
As soon as this coming summer,
are related and how parents can there has never been a better time Americans may have access to new
spread the word about the need for to re-evaluate which sunscreens active sunscreen ingredients that
stricter laws regulating air pollution you use. The ingredients in some could offer benefits like stronger
and more diligence in reducing our common chemical-based sun- UVA protection and longer lasting,
collective carbon footprint.
screens are known to cause allergic more lightweight applications. Last
Visitors to the MCAF website reactions for some people and have November, President Obama
can fill in their names and send mes- been linked to reproductive and signed the Sunscreen Innovation
sages directly to their Congres- behavioral problems in animal stud- Act into law, which will push the
sional delegations, the U.S. Envi- ies. But luckily for the sun-safe and U.S. Food and Drug Administration
ronmental Protection Agency health conscious among us, there (FDA) to make quicker decisions
(EPA) and other policymakers are lots of widely available all-natu- on new sunscreen ingredients
about strengthening protections ral, mineral-based sunscreen for- awaiting their approval. Eight sunagainst smog pollution, uniting for mulations that won’t cause any screen ingredient applications have
a strong plan against global warm- health problems on store shelves been pending FDA approval since
ing, ending tax breaks for fossil-fuel these days.
2002, though many of these ingreproducers and stopping the KeyThe most common non-chemi- dients are already used in suncal sunscreen ingredients are zinc screens in Europe and elsewhere.
oxide and titanium dioxide, which The last sunscreen to get FDA apoffer all-natural broad-spectrum proval was Mexoryl SX, a strong
UVA/UVB protection that will not UVA filter, in 2006. Despite its
sting your eyes or cause a reaction availability in Europe since 1993,
in people with rosacea or dermati- Mexoryl SX was approved in the
tis like chemical sunscreens can. U.S. exclusively for the high-priced
Current mineral sunscreen formu- La Roche Posay Anthelios SX sunlations on the market do have their screen and no other formula.
downsides, though. Powdered min“Many promising sunscreen ineral sunscreens can be messy to gredients have long been used in
apply, and their transparency can sunscreen products that are sold in
make it hard to tell if you have other parts of the world, including
enough on to protect yourself. Liq- the European Union and Canada,”
uid versions can feel thick and says Scott Faber, EWG senior vice
greasy compared to chemical vari- president. “It is about time Amerieties, and may also leave a white cans have access to the same prodcast on skin and streaks on cloth- ucts that others use to protect theming or bathing suits. To eliminate selves from the dangers of sun exthe white cast issue, tinted moistur- posure.” He adds that the FDA is
izers and cosmetic foundations with expected to make decisions on
mineral sunscreens are now avail- some of the eight pending sunable in a wide variety of shades. To screen ingredients within six
find the sunscreen that’s best for months.
Kids play with globe beach balls at Moms Clean Air Force event at the Capitol in Washington, DC.
PLACES TO GO
Page 26 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / February 11-17, 2015
QUICK GETAWAYS
Cajun Country
By Sandy Zimmerman
Las Vegas Tribune
Photos by Sandy Zimmerman
Step in the world of Cajun culture at Prejean’s Restaurant! True
to their motto “Simply Cajun! Simply delicious!” Prejeans has the
look, sounds, and tastes of Cajun
Country!
First we see “Big Al,” the large
14-foot long alligator captured in
Louisiana’s Grand Chenie swamp!
Although he is stuffed, “Big Al” sits
guarding the restaurant’s culinary
metals.
Live Cajun and Zydeco bands
appear nightly with plenty of room
for dancing. When you hear the
Cajun beat, it sounds so lively we
want to get up and dance.
The Cajun’s have their own version of the 2-step, waltz, and fox
trot. Usually someone will be happy
to show you the steps. The fiddle
and triangle are traditional Cajun
instruments. The first Acadians who
arrived in Louisiana did not have
any musical instruments.
They learned to make their own
instruments from household items
like spoons, washboards, and clacking sticks for percussion.
Originally specially designed
accordions were shipped from Germany, today accordion builders
have created their own small (6 in.x
11 in.), light weight (8 pounds)
musical instruments.
Cajun music was not written but
handed down throughout the years.
NO COVER, NO MINIMUM.
Awarded over 240 culinary medals and honors for their edible art,
guests know they will be enjoying
authentic Cajun cuisine.
Their B.B.Q. shrimp was simmered in Voodoo beer and
Worcestershire herb butter sauce for
a very distinctive taste.
Other selections included- the
mesquite grilled marinated venison
in a shitake wine sauce sprinkled
with pine nuts, crawfish with sherry
wine sauce, and of course Croc de
Jacques tender alligator filets.
Louisiana gumbos are a meal in
themselves!
Every where I ate in Louisiana,
each restaurant prepared their gumbos differently. Gumbo recipes include a combination of these ingredients- Andouille sausage, crawfish, shrimp, crab, chicken, or duck.
You can not go to Louisiana
without tasting crawfish. Prejeans
serves crawfish several ways.
Choose eggplant Pirogue Louis
filled with crawfish and crab,
topped with sauce Louis.
Or the surprise Cajun Mexican
combo dish, crawfish Enchiladas
with crawfish, chilies, cheese, Creole sauces rolled in tortillas.
is also crawfish pasta, rib eye
steak smothered with crawfish
etouffee and blackened shrimp,
crawfish pie, crawfish boulettes,
crawfish bisque, and many more!
You will even see crawfish omelet on the breakfast menu. I have
never seen some of these combinations before. Do not forget, the
Cajuns like their food spicy!
I truly enjoyed this colorful restaurant and the chance to experience their delicious food.
Prejean’s Restaurant, 3480 I-49
North, Lafayette. Visit the website
www.prejeans.com.
*****
Award
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Sandy
Zimmerman is a syndicated columnist featuring Show and Dining reviews, travel, health, luxury and
more. Sandy is talk show host of the
Las Vegas Today Show programs
and Discover the Ultimate Vacation
travel specials. If you want to suggest topics for articles, request for
a review, for information or to ask
any questions about Sandy’s articles, call (702)-731-6491.