Shopping: Shoppers Clubs

Shoppers familiar with savings cards at grocery stores and loyalty cards at specialty retailers might be missing out on one of the greatest sources of shopping savings – the mall shoppers club.

These programs differ from grocery and store promotions in a few key ways. First, there aren’t any membership cards to carry. Shoppers can sign up online before heading to the mall (see a complete list of links at the end of the story). Information is usually limited to a shopper’s name, address and e-mail contact.

Once a guest has joined, he or she will receive periodic e-mails with announcements of special promotions, upcoming sales and member-only discounts. For example, members of the Las Vegas Premium Outlets’ VIP Club recently learned that they could save $50 to $100 on their purchase at Elie Tahari on Presidents Day weekend. The Premium Outlets also allow guests to choose their favorite stores and print savings passes from home.

“We recommend that shoppers join our VIP Shopper Club for added savings. It is free to join,” Michele Rothstein, spokesperson for Premium Outlets/Simon, said.

The Galleria at Sunset also has a kids club, called the Funset Kids Club, to keep parents up-to-date on upcoming events for the little ones, as well as sales and discounts parents might want to know about.

Most often, the clubs are free to join, but occasionally there is a small fee. Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas, located in nearby Primm, offers discount hunters the option of purchasing a Green Savings Card for $5, good through January of next year and free to AAA or CAA members. More than 100 stores participate in the program, offering discounts from 10 percent to $100 off purchases.

Finally, the more tech-savvy might enjoy keeping up with their favorite Las Vegas area shopping center’s news via social media or customized apps for smartphones. Most centers have profiles on either Twitter, Facebook or both, which update guests on the most up-to-the-minute deals. The Galleria at Sunset has even forgone the shopper’s club sign-up process altogether, preferring to use Facebook Connect.

The Club (which serves both Fashion Show and Meadows Mall) has a free app for both the iPhone and Android markets. In addition to listing savings, these include games shoppers can play to win additional perks, like discounts and free gifts. Town Square also has its own app, featuring an interactive property map, suggestions on where to park, event information and special discounts.

Las Vegan Ellia Sampson, a repeat visitor to Town Square, recently downloaded the app to her iPhone and said, “I discovered some stores I didn’t even know were here. Plus, the app showed me how to get a 40 percent (off) coupon to my daughter’s favorite store.”

Visitors looking to take advantage of special discounts can also print the Shop Vegas Passport on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority website, which entitles the bearer to special savings passports at the outlet malls, Fashion Show and Town Square, as well as casino shopping centers like the Forum Shops, the Miracle Mile Shops, the Shoppes at the Palazzo, and the Grand Canal Shoppes.

Shoppers clubs in Las Vegas include: Boulevard Mall—Our Place; The District at Green Valley Ranch—The|List; Fashion Outlets Las Vegas – Green Savings Card; Fashion Show Mall—The Club; Galleria at Sunset—Shoptopia; Meadows Mall—The Club; Premium Outlets North & South—VIP Shopper’s Club; and Town Square’s Inner Square.

Published on BestOfLasVegas.com

Blu-ray: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

  For many people, the last time they saw (or read) To Kill a Mockingbird was probably in high school English class. If, as a typical teen, you spent more time passing notes or whispering conversations than paying attention, then the release of the To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack is the perfect time to get reacquainted with the original commentary on race relations in the South.

Filmed in 1962 as the Civil Rights movement was reaching critical mass in the United States, the film brings to life Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about small-town lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) and his two children, Scout (Mary Badham) and Jem (Phillip Alford), in the fictional small town of Maycomb, Ala. Just about to start the school year, Scout and her big brother Jem are enjoying the last carefree days of summer—climbing trees, swinging in tires and spying on the town’s most mysterious figure, the reclusive Boo Radley (Robert Duvall).

As the movie opens, Atticus is assigned to defend Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), a black farmer accused of raping a white woman. Over the next three years, as Atticus prepares Tom’s defense and builds a solid case for him being wrongfully accused, Scout and Jem face scorn and worse as the town reveals their deeply ingrained racism. Indeed, the casual way these characters drop the N-bomb (including precocious little Scout) is shocking.

The town forms a lynch mob intent on hanging Tom, but the quick-thinking kids, along with their new friend Dill (John Megna), are able to shame the townsfolk into disbanding.

In the end, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary and a closing argument that most likely cinched Peck’s Oscar win, Tom Robinson is convicted and sent to prison. Before Atticus can even get home, however, the farmer tries to escape and is shot to death.

Bob Ewell (James Anderson), the alleged victim’s mean drunk father, gloats over his death but also plots revenge against those who sought to have the black man exonerated or participated in what he perceives as his family’s humiliation. Ewell assaults Atticus in the streets, spitting in his face; he tries to break into the presiding judge’s house; he seeks Tom’s widow and harasses her and her family; and, ultimately, he decides to target Jem and Scout.

Saved from certain death by a mysterious stranger, the children soon realize that Boo Radley has come to their rescue…and not for the first time. Scout, in particular, comes to realize that not everyone is what they seem. Even as her childlike innocence is lost, it is replaced with a newfound sense of honor and the desire to protect Boo from the torture public scrutiny would bring.

This look at life in the Depression-era South, as filmed through the lens of the reactionary ‘60s, holds as much of a punch today as it did 50 years ago—perhaps even more. Viewers of 2011’s The Help should appreciate the volatile times in which this movie was made, and may perhaps gain a more mature appreciation for the story they once slept through in English class.

Originally released on DVD in 2000, then again as a Universal Legacy edition with special bonus features in 2005, this 50th Anniversary set (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, MSRP: $26.98) combines the best of the latter with new material and a crisp restoration of the film on Blu-ray. A movie-only DVD and digital copy complete the set.

The original audio commentary with director Robert Mulligan and producer Alan Pakula returns, featuring stories from the set and insights into making the film.

Documentary fans should enjoy the oddly named “Fearful Symmetry” (whose title comes from a line in the poem “The Tyger” by William Blake, reportedly one of Lee’s favorites). Originally released in 1998, director Charles Kiselyak (“Building Ground Zero”) tracked down several cast and crew members, including Peck, Alford, Badham and Mulligan, as well as residents of Lee’s hometown of Monroeville (reputed to be the inspiration for Maycomb). The 90-minute feature combines commentary with film clips, talk about the book and personal reflections on the dynamics of the South in the 1930s. Though it could use some editing, there is much information enthusiasts of the movie and historians alike should find fascinating.

Fans of the Oscar-winning actor will swoon over "A Conversation with Gregory Peck," 98 minutes worth of Q&A filmed in front of a live audience. Part of the PBS series “American Masters,” this 1999-aired documentary combines movie clips and video footage with a filmed talk the actor gave at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA. His personal stories range from the actor’s early life to embodying the role of Atticus Finch, and are relaxed, introspective and, often, funny.

Completists will enjoy Peck’s Best Actor Academy Award acceptance speech; his AFI Lifetime Achievement tribute; an Academy tribute hosted by Peck’s daughter, Cecilia; and the original theatrical trailer of the movie.

Thirty-seven years after starring as Scout, Badham recollects her first movie-making experience (and working with Peck) on the short-and-sweet “Scout Remembers,” originally aired on NBC in 1999.

The 50th Anniversary collection also contains two brand new features. Film buffs will probably find the featurette on Universal’s efforts to restore early studio releases interesting, but the subject matter can be a tad academic. Finally, there is something called a U-Control feature, where viewers can watch various movie scenes with picture-in-picture commentary by writer Horton Foote, Mary Badham, Robert Mulligan, Cecilia and Anthony Peck and others.

Lastly, for die-hard fans of the beloved movie, a Limited Edition Collector’s Series Combo Pack is also available (MSRP: $39.98), packaged in a hardcover book featuring exclusive movie memorabilia including script pages with Peck’s handwritten notes, storyboards, poster art and more.

To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition is now available on Blu-ray. 

Published on LifeinLA.com

Tuesday 13 - Kevin Burke of Defending the Caveman

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Kevin Burke is not a caveman, but he gets to play one onstage every day. As the narrator of the one-man show “Defending The Caveman,” Burke portrays an everyman sort of character who traces the formation of his appalling behavior to the days of the cave dwellers.

With the warm and easy delivery of an old-time radio host, Burke leads both sexes on a journey to the past where, hopefully, they can gather clues to the differences between men and women. Or hunt them down, as the case may be. The show is played around the world to couples who can glean a sense of their mate’s more confusing side through humor.

Though he’s been working the prehistoric beat since 2003, Burke’s own talents are far more diverse. His resume includes acting at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, attending the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, graduating from the Players’ Workshop at Second City, being a certified stage combatant and being one of the founding members of the Improv Olympics. (Although Internet searches might imply otherwise, he does not, however, play the Irish fiddle.)

The Best of Las Vegas recently spoke to Burke about being a caveman, indulging his creative side and why Valentine’s Day is so different from the perspective of men and women.

BOLV: What makes the Las Vegas version of “Defending The Caveman” superior to others around the world?
Kevin Burke: Oh, I can’t say that it is. In each country, the show is adjusted and tweaked to fit local culture and dating customs. There’s a show in Mexico City that’s been running for 10 years. The show is huge in Germany. I don’t think necessarily that this show is superior to any other.

BOLV: Who laughs harder at the observations in your show, women or men?
KB: It’s pretty equal. Neither side is right and neither side is wrong, we’re just different, and there’s no bashing of either side, so really they both laugh equally hard.

BOLV: Does knowing the differences between the sexes help you with your own relationships?
KB: Oh, of course, of course! Because the main problem today is that (men and women) communicate differently, and that can cause us to misunderstand each other. For instance, if a woman says she’ll call you, she means when she gets home. If a man says he’ll call, he means before he dies. So you should know that, if you tell a woman you’ll call her, she’s hearing you say “when you get home.”

BOLV: Which do you think is harder: improv comedy or dating?
KB: Dating! With improv comedy, there’s a definite end to the bit. You go onstage, play an improv game and then it’s over. Then, good or bad, you just shrug your shoulders and go, “Oh, well. That was what it was.” But with dating, you really have to put the effort in.

BOLV: What is one of your favorite observations from “Defending The Caveman?”
KB: There’s a statistic in the show that women speak 7000 words per day, but men only speak 2000. And you’ll see that when we text message, because a woman will text her guy and say, “Honey, we really need a night out, so let’s have a nice, long romantic dinner and then let’s go see ‘Defending the Caveman’ starring Kevin Burke!” And he’ll reply with “K.”

BOLV: That’s a very modern reference for a show that was written in the late ‘80s! How often does the show get tweaked to reflect modern life?
KB: All the time, but it’s really just little references like that which we change to reflect what’s going on in society today. The themes of the show are timeless.

BOLV: How does the difference between men and women manifest itself during a holiday like Valentine’s Day?

KB: When men and women buy gifts for each other, women will go through all the options, they’ll touch each one, they’ll sort through them all and then they’ll find the one that they want, whereas a guy will just go out and grab the first thing that he sees that looks good and that’s it. And that’s because, back in the cave times, when men were hunters and women were gatherers, a hunter had to take down the prey that’s right in front of them, whereas a gatherer has to compare items to make sure if this is right and that is not, and make sure the food was edible. So that’s how we see that trait come out today.

BOLV: So in modern times, what gift ideas would you give a woman who is shopping for her man?
KB: Hmm, that’s a lot of pressure, because guys are going to get a whole bunch of whatever I say. OK, I’m just going to wuss out and say tickets to see “Defending the Caveman.”

BOLV: What if the guy is leery of going to the show?
KB: Tell him it’s a great Broadway show for guys because there’s no singing and dancing.

BOLV: OK, let’s flip the script. A guy is shopping for his sweetie. What gift should he avoid at all costs?
KB: Power tools.

BOLV: Though you claim to be very different than women, you do have one thing in common. As a former clown, do you find you have a better understanding of females and their need for cosmetics?
KB: Well, I certainly understand that putting on makeup is an art form all its own. And I have to say, not to toot my own horn here, that I can put my clown makeup on so thoroughly that I could go swimming in it.

BOLV: With “Caveman” doing such steady business, why open a second show at Fitzgeralds?
KB: Well, “Defending the Caveman” is what we call a book show. The script is what it is and I’m the actor that plays the role. “Fitz of Laughter” over at Fitzgeralds is my show. I wrote it, and it’s whatever I say it is on any given night. The Fitzgeralds show gives me some artistic freedom and a chance to indulge my own creative side.

BOLV: How often do you get confused with the Kevin Burke who plays the Irish fiddle?
KB: Only when people do Internet searches. You have to put “comedian” after “Kevin Burke” and then you’ll get all me.

“Defending The Caveman” plays at 7 p.m. nightly and at 4 p.m. Sunday-Monday at The Improv in Harrah’s. Tickets start at $39.95. Call 702-369-5111. “Fitz of Laughter” plays nightly at 9:15 p.m. inside the Fitzgeralds. Tickets start at $26. Call 702-388-2111.

Shopping: The Guy's Guide to Valentine Shopping

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Dave Smith is worried. It’s getting close to Valentine’s Day and he’s decided that his girlfriend of three years (let’s call her Jane) is The One. He can’t decide if he should pop the question with the stunning 1.5-carat diamond engagement ring he’s picking up from The Jewelers of Las Vegas’ Henderson location or if he should purchase another piece of jewelry and hold the proposal for a less-expected time.

“My guy friends all think I should just ask her on Valentine’s Day, but that seems so cheesy,” Smith, whose name has been changed to keep the surprise intact, admitted. “But my female friends are divided. A few think it is romantic, but the others think she’ll hate it.”

Mordechai Yerushalmi, owner of The Jewelers of Las Vegas, a perennial Best of Las Vegas winner, said proposing on Feb. 14 is “very nice. It keeps our town busy!”

The Jewelers’ stores have been helping guys surprise their sweethearts with the perfect jewelry gift for more than 35 years, and Yerushalmi pointed out that no budget is too small…or too big.

“I have some customers spend just $200 to $300, and some customers spend a few hundred thousand for a Valentine,” he said.

Smith is still leaning toward waiting and presenting “Jane” with another gift on Tuesday.

In that case, Yerushalmi, who works out of the company’s Western location, had a few suggestions.

“The most popular, of course, are the hearts, then after that is the diamond studs,” he said. “They are extremely popular. Any lady would love to have diamond studs.”

With prices ranging from a budget-friendly $150 to hundreds of thousands of dollars, studs can also make an impression. “They go from a quarter carat in each ear to two to three carats in each ear, to even bigger than that,” Yerushalmi said. “If you want to make a big impression, go with big studs. We have some that are about eight carats in each ear.”

Yerushalmi pointed out that the diamond studs “have a few advantages. If (a customer’s) budget is very low, like $200 or $300, they are able to find something for that price. Then, anytime they want to trade it, they can get 100 percent credit for what they paid for it, then just pay the difference and go for bigger ones later.”

This is an appealing idea for Smith, who has narrowed his choice to a pair of half-carat studs and a simple diamond heart pendant. When told of the trade-in policy, he said he felt much better about the gift he had in mind. Pondering the choice between yellow or white gold, he is counseled by
Yerushalmi to steer toward the white, which has been the most popular color for nearly a decade.\

When asked what gifts guys should avoid, Yerushalmi’s answer was immediate. “Gentlemen should avoid not purchasing anything for Valentine’s, because otherwise the girl will get very upset,” he warned.

Smith still isn’t certain he’ll spring for either the earrings or the pendant, but of his intended bride-to-be, he is very sure.

“She’s the love of my life, so deciding to propose was pretty easy,” he said. “Valentine’s Day, or any other time of the year, she is the one for me.”

Published on BestofLasVegas.com

Movies: Cinema Verite meets superhero drama in "Chronicle"

  It’s probably not necessary to say, but real life rarely resembles the movies. People aren’t as good-looking, conversations are rarely witty or easy and alien objects never bestow superpowers on unsuspecting kids.

If it ever did, however, the results would probably look a lot like the movie Chronicle.

The latest entry in the “found footage” genre, Chronicle begins as high school senior Andrew (Dane DeHaan) shoots the first frames of a sort of autobiographical documentary. The moments he captures on film—starting with casual bullying at school, then a solitary lunch in the bleachers, followed by harassment by the local thugs after class—paint a portrait of a kid on the fringes of high school society (a position that isn’t improved by toting around a clunky, old-fashioned video camera). His home life is not much rosier, as he is caught between an abusive, alcoholic father and a gravely ill mother.

Andrew’s only real social contact is with his cousin, Matt (Alex Russell), but that seems more an obligation than a friendship. Matt clearly feels Andrew needs to step up his game, so he urges him to attend the big senior class party—sans camera—and try to have some fun.

Naturally, Andrew ignores this suggestion and, as a result, narrowly avoids being beaten by a jealous boyfriend. Just when it looks like the night will be a total bust, however, he and his camera are called into service to document a strange “something” found in the woods by Matt and the popular, soon-to-be class president Steve (the charismatic Michael B. Jordan).

What the boys have discovered is a crater, a sort of tunnel burrowing into the earth. Strange sounds emit from the mouth of the cavern, its walls like molten rock that had hardened, but for some reason this serves as an invitation to explore rather than a clue to run as fast as they can in the opposite direction. At the other end of the tunnel lies a mysterious object, but just as the viewer catches sight of it, the camera goes black.

Cut to an unspecified time later. The boys are in a backyard tossing a ball around, so it is safe to presume that they’ve all made it out alive despite their reckless curiosity. However, as they each take turns throwing things at each other they reveal their newfound power to control objects with their minds.

The boys become inseparable, documenting their developing skills with telekinesis on Andrew’s new camera and spurring each other on to try ever more daring stunts, as teenage boys will do. They vow to keep their nascent powers a secret (lest the men in black suits come to take them away for observation), but their experiments soon begin to flirt with public exposure.

It is here that the movie’s format brings a fresh perspective to the average-guy-turned-superhero storyline, as viewers start to feel like co-conspirators. The things Andrew, Matt and Steve choose to do with their new abilities smack of the truth—what teen boy could resist animating a stuffed bear to scare the bejesus out of a little kid?—as does their sense of wonder and camaraderie. There is a real sense that, should an unidentified object bestow powers on some kids tomorrow, this is exactly how they would behave. There is never any talk of battling evil, stopping global warming or even attempting world peace. These kids are every bit as narcissistic and self-centered as real high schoolers, and it is curiously refreshing.

The style begins to falter, however, when the boys start to experience real consequences to their actions. As people start getting hurt and Matt tries to impose rules on the use of their powers, Andrew grows ever more erratic. Oddly, though he was an open book at the beginning of the film, his motivations become much more murky and inexplicable toward the climax, despite a few confessional-style vignettes that are meant to offer insight into his warped mindset.

There are attempts made to fill gaps in the story by editing in perspective from other cameras, but for the most part, the audience is left to piece the story behind the story together on their own. Details from Andrew’s mother’s illness to the origin of the extraterrestrial object are left unexplored, and the characters’ relationships outside their circle are hazy and indistinct.

Although the interaction between the actors maintains a highly realistic feel throughout the movie, the same cannot be said for the effects. It’s clear that many stunts were aided by harnesses and cables, to the extent that the mind’s eye can easily recreate what’s been digitally removed. This only gets more pronounced as the FX becomes grander in scale, to the point that the climactic battle on the streets of Seattle seem as false as Andrew’s promises to follow Matt’s self-imposed rules.

What begins as a promising character study of what happens after a life-changing event soon devolves into a low-budget actioner with B-movie effects and an ending that simply feels hollow. Chronicle is far from the worst movie of its type, but, much like its three central characters, there is a definite failure to live up to its potential.

Chronicle is now playing in theaters everywhere.

For more information, visit the film’s official Facebook site.

Published on SoCal.com

Movies: "The Woman In Black" leaves suspense fans mourning

  A mist-shrouded English village. A handsome, brooding protagonist. A sinister haunted house. The Woman in Black has all of the elements of a rip-roaring ghost story, yet it somehow fails to excite.

Atmospherically, the movie is pitch-perfect. As widower Arthur Kipps (a grown-up Daniel Radcliffe) prepares for a business trip outside of London, viewers have a real sense of the bleakness of his life. He walks through the mists of the city as if he himself was a ghost, imagining the spectre of his wife wherever he goes.

Anchoring him to this life is his young son, Joseph (the cherubic Misha Handley, Radcliffe’s real-life godson). For him, Arthur is trying his best to succeed as a lawyer, though he is on thin ice with his firm. They offer him a chance at redemption by sending him to the rural Crythin Gifford to settle the estate of Mrs. Drablow (Alisa Khazanova) at Eel Marsh House.

From the start, the natives are suspicious and unwelcoming. At every turn, it seems, Arthur is thwarted in his attempts to do the job he was sent to finish. The local solicitor, with whom his firm had been working with, attempts to hustle him out of town immediately, but knowing his livelihood is on the line, Arthur insists on being taken to the house.

At high tide, the house is completely cut off from the mainland, and it isn’t long before Arthur begins to experience strange noises and a glimpse of a woman dressed in black. He imagines hearing a carriage accident and screams for help that go unanswered. Back in the village, he attempts to report the incident to the constable, but before long, real tragedy strikes as a child dies in front of him.

Shocked, Arthur is once again treated to the mistrust and scorn of the villagers who believe his presence in town is to blame for the girl’s death. His only ally, the wealthy Daily (Ciarán Hinds), invites the young lawyer to have dinner with him and his wife. The potentially pleasant repast quickly turns macabre as Daily’s wife, Elizabeth (Janet McTeer), is half mad with grief after losing her son many years back.

Daily offers Arthur his hospitality, as the inn claims to be fully booked, and drives him out to the Eel Marsh House the next day, despite protest from the villagers. Determined to work through the night to process the many boxes full of paperwork left behind by the late Mrs. Drablow, Arthur is subjected to the full wrath of the spirit, whom he soon determines to be the widow’s maiden sister, Jennet (Liz White), who was forced to give up her son.

Up until this point, The Woman in Black has built up a nice bit of dramatic tension, intriguing viewers with a triplet of mysteries. What precisely happened to Arthur’s wife? What tragedy befell Jennet and her son Nathaniel? And why are the children in Crythin Gifford dying violent deaths?

Sadly, the resolutions to all three mysteries seem anticlimactic as the story seems to lose focus in favor of hopscotching through a bunch of scary moments. Part of the blame probably lies with the screenplay by Jane Goldman (X-Men: First Class, Kick-Ass), which is really more of an homage to the book by Susan Hill than a direct adaptation. In the source material, the story spanned a much greater period of time, and events transpired much more slowly, giving characters the chance to develop. In her attempt to provide thrills and chills, Goldman seems to have sacrificed some of the layers and nuances that would bring the story to life. Instead, viewers are left with plot holes in some places and much-too-pat resolutions in others.

The filmmakers also erred in their decision to punctuate every scary moment with screeching-violin sound effects engineered to make viewers jump. It shows a marked lack of trust in the audience to be frightened in the appropriate places, but also feels manipulative in the sense that the filmmakers knew they had to do something to make up for the fact that they took too many shortcuts in the storyline to build up to genuine scares.

The movie’s ending, which some might view as happy but others could justifiably see as morose, achieves at least one thing everyone can agree upon: like the Woman in Black, they will never forgive the disservice done to this story.

The Woman in Black is now playing in theaters everywhere.

For more information, visit the film’s official Web site.

Published on SoCal.com

Shopping: Shop the world at the eclectic Silver Onions

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 Fans of the ‘90s sitcom “Seinfeld” may remember the charismatic J. Peterman, the fictionalized founder of the (very real) J. Peterman Company, whose travels around the world yielded exotic merchandise accompanied by tales of adventure in its shopping catalogs. If that adventuresome character had opened a shop with his sister in Las Vegas, it would probably look very much like Silver Onions.

Last August, siblings Todd Hallenbeck and Noori Eells took on that challenge and opened Silver Onions at 5655 Centennial Center Blvd. The name, Hallenbeck said, was the product of much “excited discussion” between the two owners.

“We wanted a name that showed we had international product and product that was of good quality,” he said. “So ‘onion’ symbolizes the world, and the many different layers of languages and cultures we deal with, and the ‘silver’ represents the value, or the quality, that we try to achieve.”

Their store is an eclectic mix of furnishings, personal products, house wares and food items they’ve curated from the far reaches of the globe and our own backyard’s local and regional artisans.

“I was living in Thailand for a previous job and I kept seeing so many products and styles and fabrics and textiles that weren’t available in the U.S.,” Hallenbeck said. “I thought there was such an opportunity to bring in these high-value niche products.”

These products include things like a small, round box with what appear to be pins sticking up inside.

“Those come from a small village just on the Thai side of the border between Burma and Thailand,” Hallenbeck said. “A little man makes those. I met him one day in a market. He showed me these neat little herb grinders and I’ve been buying them from him ever since. We sold about 15 of them in two days right before Christmas.”

“This piece of jewelry comes from a designer who went to design school in San Francisco,” Eells said. “She then decided after years working as a graphic artist to take a risk and start the Cojoe jewelry line. She’s following her dream and we are excited to support her.”

Though they have done some advertising as well as maintaining the usual online and social media presence, the owners’ best publicity has been other customers.

“Word of mouth has been terrific,” Hallenbeck said. “We’ve been amazed at how many people say their friend was talking about us and told them to come down. That happens so often.”

Lovers interested in gifts outside of the roses-and-chocolates standard for Valentine’s Day should find something enticing at the store.

“We have a lot of things that might be considered a traditional gift, like custom jewelry and scented candles,” Hallenbeck said. “We also carry hand-loomed silk scarves, which are light enough (for) the
summer, and they’re very colorful and are a great accent.

“For the typical male, we’ve got handmade fudge. Every man that comes through the door goes right to that,” Hallenbeck continued. “We also have interesting cooking utensils as well.”

While some may think “international” equals “expensive,” Eells is quick to point out that purchasing quality products directly from local and international artisans helps to keep costs in line.

“My brother and I started the business because we enjoy quality things, and we both enjoy bringing these things to (the customer),” Eells said.

That’s a sentiment of which the fictional J. Peterman himself would have approved.

Published on bestoflasveags.com

Tuesday 13 - Geechy Guy's Got Talent



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 Piers Morgan may disagree, but Geechy Guy has talent. The 47-year-old comic, who has been telling jokes for nearly 30 years, didn’t ultimately win “America’s Got Talent” last year, but he certainly won over a new generation of fans on that showcase, just as “Star Search” catapulted him into the mainstream consciousness in the early ‘90s (he still holds the record for most consecutive wins by a comedian, with 10 appearances).

Although some of the comedians he beat back then have gone on to more visible projects (anyone heard of Ray Romano?), Guy’s resume is nothing to laugh at. In 1993, he landed in the Guinness Book of World Records for telling the most jokes in one hour (676), has made more than 75 television appearances and has headlined a number of shows both in Reno and Las Vegas, most recently the critically-lauded “Dirty Joke Show” at Hooters Hotel and Casino.

On the eve of his headline stint at Big Al’s Comedy Club at The Orleans Hotel and Casino Wednesday through Sunday, Guy talked with the Best of Las Vegas about dirty jokes, roller coasters and what makes him laugh.

BOLV: Your stage name is fairly unusual. What’s the story behind it?
GG: Kichigai is Japanese for crazy, it was a nickname given to me in college by an exchange student. When I started comedy, I didn’t want to embarrass my mom, so… It has actually been sort of fortuitous.

BOLV: Do you remember your first joke?
GG: Not really! I was doing magic since I was six, juggling since I was 12, then I played my first comedy club when I was 19. Basically, I had a street juggling act, and I was at an audition where the ceiling was too low, I didn’t have enough room to juggle, so instead of doing my juggling material I just did some jokes. It was kind of organic. I didn’t necessarily know I wanted to be a comedian. I kinda knew I wanted to perform. In 3rd grade I told everybody I wanted to be a magician in Las Vegas, which was kind of ironic.

BOLV: Where did you get your funny bone?
GG: I’m not sure! My mom is pretty funny. Me and George Carlin have the same birthday, so maybe that has something to do with it. I don’t know, I think I’m just fortunate that I have a sense of humor, and that what I think is funny is pretty universal.

BOLV: The “Dirty Joke Show” at Hooters, which just closed after a two-year run, was universally praised for it’s out-of-the-box format. Was that your idea?
GG: Yeah, it was more like a play. We wanted it to be something more than stand-up; it was what me and my friends do. I grew up in this business, and when I had the most fun it was sitting around in an alley behind the comedy club, waiting for the next show to start, being funny with the other comics. That was really the basis of it. We acknowledged the audience a little, but mostly it was kind of a fly-on-the-wall thing.

BOLV: Who laughs harder at dirty jokes, women or men?
GG: It’s equal, and what’s neat is it’s really just a different kind of laughter, just a deep, catching-their-breath kind of (laugh). I mean, these are jokes that, when your grandpa tells them they’re funny, but you when hear them from guys that have that much more comedy experience under their belt, it’s just that much more fun. It takes something a little different to make a comedian laugh.

BOLV: From the wholesome “America’s Got Talent” to the raunchy “Dirty Joke Show,” who is your target audience?
GG: That’s the beauty of it, I think it’s everyone. There are certain people who wouldn’t enjoy the “Dirty Joke Show,” but even then we didn’t get too gross, didn’t bring race too much into it. It was mostly just sex jokes and the jokes your grandpa and uncles would tell at the reunion. There are some real funny jokes out there. You know how to get a fat girl into bed? Piece of cake. I mean, there’s hundreds of jokes like that out there.

BOLV: Was that one of your signature joke grenades (jokes he tells that then take about 8 seconds to ‘hit’)?
GG: Maybe, maybe. There are a lot of jokes out there, and I may not have written them, but they’re jokes I like. You know what you call a guy with a rubber toe? Roberto. It’s a great joke. The older crowds like it as much as the younger crowds.

BOLV: Your rapid-fire method of joke telling landed you in the Guinness Book of World Records. Have you ever considered topping that?
GG: If (the record) was broken, I’d probably defend it. It wasn’t that fun to watch, as it was very technical and of course it was done for a specific reason. It wasn’t like watching a show, because the people watching were there to count the laughs. But it was fun, it was a great experience. And it’s a great credit. I mean, thousands of people have been on the “Tonight Show” but there is only one world-record joke teller.

BOLV: Speaking of late-night talk shows, who is funnier: Craig Ferguson or Jay Leno?
GG: I don’t know, I’ve been on both shows, as you know, but I didn’t get to meet Craig Ferguson too much during my (appearance). A friend of mine opens for him, though, and I think he’s very funny. And Jay is just a legend in his own time. When I first started, Jay was at the pinnacle of what (comics) strived for. I don’t get to watch either one’s shows now, though; I’m usually in bed by then. I’m getting old.

BOLV: You’ve been on two era-defining talent searches in your career, “Star Search” and “America’s Got Talent.” How were those experiences different?
GG: They were both great. The “Star Search” (recognition) lasted a long time. I mean, people who recognized me back then still do. “America’s Got Talent” certainly helped, as well, but I still have people come up to me and say they saw me on “Star Search” and wondered what had happened with me. I mean, I was getting recognized for six or seven years, even ten years later. I still get recognized (for “America’s Got Talent”,) but I just don’t know if it’s going to last as long as it did then.

BOLV: Who would play you in the movie of your life?
GG: Oh my goodness! Who would play me? People tell me I look like Stephen Hawking. I don’t know, that’s a tough one. I think you’d have to use me, and I could probably use the work.

BOLV: You’ve been quoted in the Best of Las Vegas as being a roller coaster fanatic. Is that still the case?
GG: Yeah! The beauty of roller coasters is that they’re not like Ferris wheels, where they’re all the same. That’s when I really started to love them, when I realized that they were all their own little footprint, and each one had their own little unique things about them. The one at New York, New York is great, I think that was the first one that had a barrel roll ever built in the U.S.; I know the Desperado down in Primm, was the tallest when it was built. And then the one at Circus Circus is great, it’s one of the best indoor ones. Stratosphere’s was very cool, too. Me and my wife got engaged on the roller coaster up there. I think they’ve all got something going for them, I hope they keep building more here. A wooden one would be nice, if anybody is listening.

BOLV: What is your proudest accomplishment as a comedian?
GG: Just being able to do it. People always ask, “when are you going to make it?” I made it when I started doing it. I made it back in1985, when I didn’t have to do anything else for a living. That’s making it to me. To wake up and want to go to work is great. I was in the great earthquake in San Francisco, the World Series earthquake. I had never been in an earthquake before, and it was huge. These two girls in the street were talking, and one said, “wow, I hope I don’t have to go to work tomorrow,” and it dawned on me that I wasn’t even thinking that. I was thinking “I hope they get this cleaned up in time for my show tonight.” And I realized how lucky I was to be in that position, of wanting to go to work and get paid for what I do. I’ve never lost sight of that. There are ups and downs. I could end up making $100,000 a year or $9. I mean, I’d love to take it to the next level and play theaters and things like that, but if it doesn’t happen, I’ll still keep telling jokes for a living. I’m very happy.

Geechy Guy headlines at Big Al’s Comedy Club inside The Orleans from Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets are $19.95 and include one drink. Guests must be 18 and over to attend. For more information, contact the Orleans Box Office at 702-365-7075 or toll free at 888-365-7111.

Published on bestoflasveags.com

Shopping: (Best Kept Secret) Boutique

Photo courtesy of (Best Kept Secret) Boutique

It’s a fashion fact of life—for those who want to keep up with trends and purchase quality pieces, a big chunk of the monthly budget must be sacrificed. At least, that’s the way it used to be.

Lauren Feather, 19-year-old proprietor of the (Best Kept Secret)Boutique at 1930 Village Center Circle in Summerlin, felt it was time
for a paradigm shift.

“My friends and I were tired of spending the majority of our money on clothes,” she said. “Then it hit me. An affordable, boutique-feeling store would be an awesome place for us to go.”

While others her age were working on their tans, Feather spent this past summer researching and putting together a business plan. With an initial investment from her father, the (Best Kept Secret) Boutique opened its doors in August.

Shoppers shouldn’t let the high-end décor or trendy displays fool them into thinking their wallets might suffer. For the price of a typical department store piece, customers can walk away with three or
four new looks.

“The most expensive item I’ve ever had in the store was a $48 adorable dress,” Feather pointed out. “Keeping the price point reasonable keeps the store unique.”

Unlike other low-cost fashion retailers, loyal customers shouldn’t worry about showing up in the same ensemble at a party.

“Once I’m out of something, you will never see it in the store again,” Feather said. “New inventory comes every week, so there will always be something new in the store.”

Potential customers should also know that the store doesn’t cater to just young, skinny girls.
“Not only do I cater to more sizes, I also cater to different age groups,” Feather said. “The best is when we get a grandmother, her daughter, and her granddaughter in and all three of them find
something.”

Already drawing a large following on Facebook and Twitter, (Best Kept Secret) includes among its fans local radio personality Lauren Michaels Bernard, who co-hosts the morning show on 98.5 KLUC.

By and large, this is the biggest source of the boutique’s publicity, social networking and word-of-mouth.

“(My friend) found it and told my boyfriend to go there for Christmas gifts,” said Kim Blackburn. “I loved my (outfit) so much I went and took two friends with me to check it out. We love it because it’s really cute, the clothes are cute and it’s not like the usual places we shop.”

“(Best Kept Secret) provides quality, adorable, affordable clothing,” Feather said. “The secret is you don’t have to spend an unlawful amount of money to look fashionable.”

Published on bestoflasvegas.com