the homepage of E.C. Gladstone

Some favorite Las Vegas residents and visitors–Wolfgang Puck, Holly Madison, Sugar Shane Mosley, and Ivanka Trump–share their Vegas loves (click above to download full PDF)

Revisiting the locale of one of his father Evel’s career-making stunts, Robby Knievel jumped the Las Vegas Strip in front of the newly rededicated Mirage volcano. Click the image above to download my full story on meeting Robby and going behind the scenes of his successful jump.

Click to download the full PDF:

Click to download full PDF:

Click here to download the full review:

Actors, Directors and Personalities

Ben Affleck, Jessica Alba, Alison Anders, Greg Araki, Samaire Armstrong (Entourage, Dirty Sexy Money), David Arquette, Desmond Askew, John August (Go, Charlie’s Angels), Alec Baldwin, Elizabeth Banks (40 Year Old Virgin, Spiderman), Roseanne Barr, Kristin Bell (Heroes, Veronica Mars), Lorraine Bracco, Wayne Brady, Michelle Borth (HBO’s Tell Me You Love Me), Steve Buscemi, Kelly Carlson (Nip/Tuck), Kristin Chenoweth (The West Wing), Steve Coogan (24 Hr Party People, Alan Partridge), David Cronenberg, Russell Crowe, Jon Cryer (Pretty In Pink, Two and 1/2 Men), Matt Damon, Jonathan Demme, Ted Demme, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Taye Diggs, Robert Downey Jr., David Duchovny, Kirsten Dunst, Jon Favreau, Jerry Ferrara (Entourage), William Fichtner (Prison Break, Black Hawk Down), Clare Forlani, Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous, Wristcutters), Edward Furlong (Terminator 2, American History X), Beau Garrett (Turistas, Fantastic Four), Janeane Garofolo, Rebecca Gayheart, Larry Gordon (producer), Maggie Grace (Lost), Greg Grunberg (Felicity), Anthony Michael Hall (Breakfast Club, The Dead Zone), Eddie Izzard, Hugh Jackman (X-Men, The Prestige), Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie, Spike Jonze, Tommy Lee Jones, Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead/Office Space), Kim Kardashian, Stacey Keach, Arielle Kebbel (American Pie Band Camp), Ben Kingsley, Neil LaBute, Diane Lane, Heath Ledger, Tea Leoni, Doug Liman (Swingers, Mr & Mrs Smith), Eva Longoria, Baz Luhrman (Moulin Rouge), Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, 21), Ewan MacGregor, William H. Macy, Romany Malco (Weeds), AnnaLynne McCord (90210), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), Jay Mohr (Action, The Ghost Whisperer), Sophie Monk, Mandy Moore, Bill Murray, Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy), Anna Paquin (X-Men, True Blood), Audrina Patridge (The Hills), Bill Paxton, Jesse Peretz, Todd Phillips, Matt Pinfield (MTV, VH-1), Joe Piscopo, Whitney Port (The Hills), Jaime Pressly, Sam Raimi (Spiderman), Keanu Reeves, Brad Renfro, Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Girl, Van Wilder), Emmy Rossum (Phantom), Geoffrey Rush, William Shatner, Vinessa Shaw (Eyes Wide Shut, 3:10 To Yuma), Ally Sheedy, Jamie-Lynn Sigler (The Sopranos), Kevin Smith, Brittany Snow (Hairspray), Kevin Spacey, David Spade, Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone, Julia Stiles, Ben Stiller, Domenique Swain (Lolita), Noah Taylor (Shine, Pirates of the Carribean), Dita Von Teese, Charlize Theron, Christopher Titus (Titus), Stanley Tucci, Gabrielle Union, Amber Valetta (supermodel, Hitch), Gus Van Sant, Vince Vaughn, Natasha Wagner, Paul Walker, Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld, Family Guy), Estella Warren, John Waters, Olivia Wilde (House), Michelle Williams (Dawson’s Creek, Brokeback Mountain), Owen Wilson, Scott Wolf (Party of Five, Everwood), John Woo, David Zucker (Airplane!, Scary Movie 3/4)

Musical Artists and Producers

Atari Teenage Riot, Dan the Automator (Dr. Octagon/Gorillaz), Burt Bacharach, Beastie Boys*, Beck*, Natasha Bedingfield, Archie Bell, Tony Bennett, Jello Biafra, Bo Bice, Mary J. Blige, Boss Hog, Holly Brook, Bobby Byrd, Mariah Carey, Nick Cave,  Citizen Cope, George Clinton & P-Funk, Bootsy Collins, Julian Cope, John Doe, Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers), the Dust Brothers, Hillary Duff, Earth Wind & Fire, Elastica, Perry Farrell, The Frogs, Greg Ginn, Girls Against Boys, Greyboy, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters/Nirvana), Gwar, PJ Harvey, Richard Hell, Robyn Hitchcock, Holland, Dozier & Holland, Jamiroquai, Jawbox, the JBs, Wyclef Jean, Ben Lee, Jesus Lizard*, Kool Keith, DJ Keoki, KMFDM, Gladys Knight, Korn, La Ley, Lords of Acid, John Lydon (Sex Pistols/PiL), Ian MacLagan (Small Faces/the Faces), Mazzy Star, Meat Beat Manifesto*, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Ministry, Monster Magnet, Scotty Moore (Elvis’ guitarist), Mudhoney, Wayne Newton, Nickelback, Ohio Players, Yoko Ono, Ozomatli, Prince Paul, Pavement, Pigface, Portishead, Phil Ramone, Red Hot Chili Peppers*, Royal Trux, Gil Scott-Heron, Adrian Sherwood, Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park/Fort Minor), Craig Wedren (Shudder To Think, film composer), Slash, Smashing Pumpkins*, The Smithereens, Sonic Youth, Soul Asylum, Soul Coughing, Jon Spencer (Pussy Galore/Blues Explosion)*, Spinal Tap, Candi Staton, Supergrass, John Taylor (Duran Duran), The Temptations, Thrice, Thrill Kill Kult, Urge Overkill, Dave Vanian (the Damned), Veruca Salt, Vitamin C, Don Was, Ween*, Weezer

Moguls and madmen

Rockstar Games’ Sam Houser & Terry Donovan; industrial/interior designer Thomas Schoos; master mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim; chef Mark Andelbradt (Tao Las Vegas) nightclub owner Jason Strauss (Tao, the Mansion, Lavo); industrialinterior designer Dodd Mitchell; water display designer Mark Fuller (WET Design); TV producer David Saltz; skincare guru Kate Somerville; photographer/filmmaker Richard Kern; 12 Las Vegas Sommeliers; Music Supervisors Karen Rachtman; Chris Douridas, Randy Poster, Happy Walters; Brett Gurewitz (Epitaph Records);
author Terence McKenna

From 2006-2009, I wrote 25 celebrity cover stories for Niche Media’s luxury titles, including 13 VEGAS magazine covers (see related blog) as well as the following covers for OCEAN DRIVE (Miami) and ATLANTA PEACH:

Eva Longoria Ocean Drive January 2007

Sophie Monk Ocean Drive May 2007

Emmy Rossum Ocean Drive May 2008

Mila Kunis Ocean Drive August 2008

click to see full text:

MAGGIE GRACE

NATASHA HENSTRIDGE

REBECCA GAYHEART      SAFFRON BURROWS

STYLE of the Venetian/Palazzo

CARLA GUGINO        KELLY CARLSON

Here’s some attention from bloggers on the Annalynne McCord cover, again here

http://www.stalknblog.com/2008/11/annalynne-mccord-atlanta-peach-magazine-november-2008/

For Kristen Bell:

http://flisted.com/24066/kristen-bell-does-atlanta-peach-magazine/

http://www.beyondhollywood.com/gallery/kristen-bell-is-a-real-peach/

For Maggie Grace:

http://atlanta.metromix.com/events/photogallery/where-were-you-did/557039/content

Go Bam Yourself

Emeril Lagasse’s fifth annual Carnivale du Vin brought the charity celebration of food and wine (benefiting his post-Katrina New Orleans-based Foundation for Children) back to Las Vegas, where it was first held, and fittingly so. With four outlets here, Vegas has been a second home of sorts for Emeril, and arguably no city better supports the solar system of star chefs. No less than fifteen of the 21 chefs (actually 24 + restauranteur Drew Nieporent) have Vegas venues, and those that don’t merely beg the question “why not you too?”–particularly Sam Choy and Norman Van Aken, who could really add to the scene here. But I digress.

Drew Nieporent is Number One. Or pointing upward. Not sure.

Without taking away from the evening’s sit-down auction (which raised $1.9 million I’m told, impressive in this economy), food and wine was certainly the center, presented at simple stations pairing each chef’s NoLa-inspired selection with a fine wine. Intriguingly, some of the chefs that might be considered lesser lights in this company, actually shone more brightly.

With Chef Kim Canteenwalla of Encore's Society Cafe

Kim Canteenwalla (whose Society just got tapped by Esquire as one of the year’s best new restaurants) offered tiny but elegant Nantucket Bay scallops on the half shell with bits of pancetta and a light Creole mustard vinagrette. Venetian/Palazzo’s Executive Chef of catering and room service Olivier Dubreil may not have a restaurant per se but he certainly know how to shine in this environment–his bites of crispy pork belly with fingerling potatoes under chervil emulsion were outstanding (Clearly there’s a reason he was recently named a Master Chef of France. I wish I could enjoy his food more often). A perennial local power, Valentino’s Luciano Pellegrini presented proscuitto-stuffed handmade bucatini pasta with petite sautéed pioppini mushrooms under creamy crescenza fondue (Notice how he kind of ignored the theme? Do you care? Didn’t think so). And Kerry Simon’s team served shrimp and grits, at once a simple selection and yet one of the most pretty presentations—certainly not hurt by being paired with Williams-Selyem’s special Carnivale du Vin cuvee (one of the most popular reds throughout the night)

Kerry Simon's Shrimp & Grits

Of the bigger names, Hawaii’s Sam Choy served a very satisfying tuna-salmon poketini: chopped sashimi in a martini glass over seasoned sushi rice, good enough to go back for seconds (hm, again, not a bit Cajun). Daniel Boulud certainly knew how to distinguish himself, serving bold boudin noir as well as an unannounced rich bisque. Norman Van Aken brought the funk with his slyly complex Louisiana Crawfish soup. Michael Mina offered excellent ruby red shrimp on toast (“po’ boy?” okay, whatever). And Charlie Palmer brought satisfying short ribs with seasonal pumpkin puree—though pretty much anything would pair well with Caymus’ ’06 Special Selection, equal parts fruit and earth.

Bradley Ogden's SD Bison tenderloin with creole stewed peppers and crispy shallot

Bisque by Boulud

From Chef Lagasse’s selections, his tequila and lime marinated fish tacos, paired with a Cabo Wabo margarita were a street-savvy standout. Batali erected a showy salumi scaffold over his station, hanging the housemade wares of his local Exec Chef Zach Allen, which were tasty treats–though the mini-muffalettas were served on dry bread to my taste. And while not unpleasant, certainly among the most underwhelming was Wolfgang Puck’s Kobe steak slices and braised macaraoni & cheese. Why he chose to highlight his less innovative Vegas outlets Postrio and Cut over the far more creative Spago and newly revamped Lupo to this $1000-a-plate crowd is anyone’s guess.

A couple a Rutgers grads.

During the auction, an elegant selection of cheeses were offered along with excellent Bissinger chocolates at the tables. After a climactic set by the Neville Brothers (highlighted by Emeril jamming on congas), an intimate afterparty upstairs at Table 10 with a pleasant Cajun buffet ended the night nicely. Anyone who avoided a food coma afterward should either be applauded, or pitied.

Emeril bamming it up with the Nevilles.

I stole this pic of the Umami Hatch Burger from a Yelper--the official website doesn't even have a pic!

The timing couldn’t have been better/worse. Just as I was finishing my odyssean quest to find the Best Burgers In Las Vegas three different friends enjoined me to check out the new burger joint in LA–well, new-ish–Los Feliz’s Umami Burger.  Of course I couldn’t say no. I was curious, at the very least, to see how it would compare to Vegas’ heavy hitters.

Set in the moderately updated raw space that previously housed a second location of Steven Arroyo’s Cobras Y Matadors, Umami Burger (this is actually a second location too–the first is in Hollywood proper) is appreciably no-nonsense. Usually LA boites spend more effort on the atmosphere than the menu, so the fact that this looks more like a spot in Williamsburg or Wicker Park got my notice right away. That’s not to say I necessarily liked the post-mod pseudo-Jap decor, or the raw lighting, just that it gave an air that owner Adam Fleischman (hmm, that doesnt sound Japanese) is more focused on the food.

The menu is barely more complex than that of In-N-Out. The Umami burger is a beef patty (what cuts and grade isn’t specified) studded with a proprietary natural rub that emphasizes the elusive fifth flavor (I thought they used to call that MSG, but what do I know?): it comes in six a la carte varieties ($9-11) and three “kombu” meals.

My dining companion, by the way, was one of my oldest friends, recently reaquainted on facebook. I mention it only to remark the resonance: Though he probably doesn’t remember, Dave was the first person with whom I ate sushi, and buffalo wings, and probably made a few other street-level food discoveries. He was with me the first time I wrote a (probably regrettable, surely forgettable) food review, on a mediocre Italian place.

We decided ordering two burgers just wouldn’t be enough to get an idea, so we ordered three to split–a signature Umami, the Hatch, and the Manly–along with the Hand Cut Fries and Malt Liquour Tempura Onion Rings.

The Umami was, as promised, a straight-up patty on a soft sweet eggy bun. Cooked medium-rare (bien sur) it delivered good beef flavor within a crispy but not overly smoky char. The softness of the bun loses the battle against the burger’s juice, making it a sloppy eat. The Hatch burger adds a crispy cheese fritter and four fried green chiles to the formula, giving the burger a nice sneaky slow burn that balances the meat’s fatty flavor well. The Manly adds bear-cheddar cheese, smoked salt onion strings and bacon lardons (basically, fat-heavy bacon curls) to the patty, overpowering any taste of beef. There are people who like that kind of thing…but they’re not the kind of people I care to associate with.

The sides had looked impressive on the other tables as we sat down. To be honest, they disappointed. Potato fries make a big deal about being hand cut (they are more than a 1/2″ thick square) and “triple-cooked.” You would expect them to be Belgian-style crispy, but they were in fact only mildly crunchy, a bit mealy and fairly flavorless. The big sexy onion rings were all puffy batter, again no crunch, and barely any flavor.

Luckily the condiments–particularly the Umami ketchup, which had a bit of plummy sweetness, and roasted garlic aioli mayo–helped them down (too bad Umami Burger’s food costs are so high they have to charge you for more than one sauce per burger. Wow, guys, you can’t give away 2 extra oz? That’s a tough business you’re running).

They do have a nice selection of beers, widely ranging in price.

The ice cream sandwiches looked fun, but hell, I was full already.

There are also lamb, turkey, veggie and pork burgers, sweet potato fries and house pickles I’d be curious to try. If I do, I’ll blog again.

P.S. On the Vegas scale, Umami Burger would have come in at about 5-6. Not quite as excellent as the best, but still a very fine burger–and almost half the price of the fancy Sin City versions.

Dodd Mitchell's My House nightclub

No two spaces are alike for hot LA-based interior designer Dodd Mitchell (click here to download PDF) … Other fascinating designers I’ve interviewed include Thomas Schoos and Roger Thomas.