Posts Tagged ‘Vegas Seven’

I’ve known for months about Alternate Reality Comics owner Ralph Mathieu’s plan to convert the old dressing rooms in his retail space into an art gallery, so I was pretty happy when my Vegas Seven editor (and good friend) Cindi Reed gave me space to write about its opening in this week’s edition of the magazine.

In truth, this was supposed to be just a blurb in the Fall A&E Preview issue a few weeks ago, but it was rescheduled, which meant I could actually spend more space and time on it. That was fine by me, because I had to cut out a lot of material, mostly about the delightful, talented and charming curator of the new gallery space, Michelle Irish. While the concept for the “Artist Spotlight” was conceived by another Alternate Reality employee, Paul Tompkins, Michelle is the one who ran with it. But I guess you can read more about that in the article, huh?

I just wrapped up two other editorial pieces and an illustration commission, so hopefully you’ll be seeing/hearing more about that stuff soon. Otherwise, I’ve had my head down as I forge ahead with Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival-related projects, a few of which I’ll be blogging about here very soon, including the opening reception for “Seduction of the Innocent,” an art show celebrating Banned Books Week that happens next Friday. Stay tuned.

When The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas first opened, and a good chunk of my friends and acquaintances gushed over its restaurants, live entertainment and general vibe, my initial reaction was — as it is to most new hotel-casino developments in Las Vegas — simply “meh.” Look, I’ve lived here 20 years, I’ve been in the swankest of suites, the poshest of parties, the douchiest of nightclubs … I’ll admit it, I’m jaded. I like new and shiny stuff as much as the next guy, but I had no reason to visit the Cosmopolitan, located in the same glut of the Strip that CityCenter calls home.

My first time there, finally, was a few months ago to attend the opening reception for local artist Steven Spaan’s “Trash=Art” show at the P3 Studio. Yes, that’s right: The Cosmopolitan’s plan to draw local aesthetes otherwise uninterested in nightlife or gaming to a Strip resort worked. This place was definitely designed with hipsters in mind, from the underground parking structure’s graffiti-art walls and the pool tables in the common areas to the Art-o-Matic vending machine and the nameless, hidden pizza joint that serves PBR. I liked it enough, though when the girlfriend and I tried to find somewhere to eat that wasn’t too fancy but wasn’t pizza, it became a bit of a challenge, because we’re simple people and the menus of even the tapas and Mexican-Chinese fusion places were a bit challenging.

When I returned to the Cosmopolitan on a lazy-ish Saturday afternoon to do my reporting for this week’s Vegas Seven article on Kidrobot’s summer takeover of P3 Studio, I found myself warming up even more to the place. After spending some time in the cool little Kidrobot store and chatting with Frank Kozik in the studio, I headed down the escalators of the Chandelier Bar to grab a drink while I reviewed my notes. The bar was mostly filled with a mix of people (though mostly under 30), but I grabbed an open spot between an old man and two young women. The bartender, a younger guy himself, had an old-school charm, seeming genuinely interested in the welfare of his patrons. He made me a perfect drink, checked in on each of the other customers and made some weak attempts at flirty humor with the girls next to me. He asked about what I was writing and how the interview went. It was … nice.

I know that the Cosmopolitan’s inviting nature to decidedly non-gambling 20- and 30-somethings hasn’t helped it’s bottom line much, despite being insanely popular (read this excellent feature in VEGAS INC for more on that), so my enjoyment of the space without being inclined to empty my wallets doesn’t help them much. But I can dig what’s going on there, and the attention put into the little things. Like a well-crafted cocktail. A friendly bartender. Or a store full of vinyl toys chomping cigars.

The crazy thing about finishing up this past weekend’s 48 Hour Film Project — I mean, aside from the whole process — is that after barely meeting the deadline and turning in our film, I couldn’t just relax and celebrate. I had another deadline looming: An article documenting my film making experience for Vegas Seven.

I didn’t plan to do something like this. Arts & Entertainment Editor Cindi Reed saw me post on Twitter about entering the competition, and then asked me if I’d be interested in writing first-person about the experience. I offered to do a journal-style report. Unfortunately, there was no time throughout the weekend to actually keep a journal. So it ended up being something more like a retrospective account. But I think it’s pretty entertaining and indicative of the controlled chaos of the weekend. The art director at Seven made a really nice two-page spread, so if you can’t pick up a free print edition, check out the interactive digital edition.

Our film did have its premiere last night at the Century 16 Suncoast theaters, and it went pretty well. As well, the short film itself is posted online now. That video — along with photos from last night’s festivities and a lot of other content you might enjoy — is on the Mechanical Cow productions page. Like us, won’t you? You’ll thank me later.

I really meant to post this a week ago, which would have made sense since that’s when the issue of Vegas Seven in question actually hit stands, but life (or something like it) got in the way, so here we are: My look at the transformation of Laura Henkel Fine Art into Sin City Gallery ran as the lead A&E feature in Feb. 10′s issue of Seven. Of course, everyone’s already read the story, because it seems to have been passed around on Facebook, Twitter and I guess 60,000 or so copies of the print edition, which celebrated its one-year anniversary with that issue.

That’s a pretty major milestone, actually. Ninety percent of all new magazines don’t survive the first year. I might have made up that number, but it sounds right. And as someone who previously ran a magazine for this same publisher that only survived 11 months, I know a little something about that first-hand. It’s a testament to the staff’s combined talents, the company’s sales and marketing savvy, and maybe even the recovering economy that a THIRD newsweekly in a shrinking market has done so well.

I’m glad that I’ve been able to be a contributor to Seven from the beginning. When I was still employed full-time by Wendoh Media (its publisher), I was privy to discussions and meetings on the planning of the then-unnamed weekly (two years before its debut!), and even then, I thought the publishers were crazy. But apparently, they knew what they were doing. So, Ryan, Justin, Phil, everyone — congrats on your achievements, and thanks for letting me play in the sandbox every so often.

Hmm. Those are a lot of numbers in that blog title.

A few months ago, As Yet Unbroken was invited to perform at the opening reception for a group art show at Studio 8 Ten. I’d heard the name of this place before, but had no idea what it was. So, not wanting to just show up with my drums ignorantly, I did a little research, and discovered that Studio 8 Ten is the public venue for Transition Services, Inc., which provides employment opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities.

It was cool that I could help out such a noble venture by providing a loud soundtrack for the art show, but after getting to know the staff and employees a bit, I wondered why more people didn’t know about this place. And when it was brought to my attention that not only was Transition Services launching a new venture (Circles magazine), but also had a holiday open house planned, I figured it was a good time to shed some light on the little shop. Thankfully, my editors at Vegas Seven agreed, and so we have today’s article all about Studio 8 Ten.

Even as you’re reading this, I’m probably checking out the open house there. If you still have last-minute Christmas shopping to do, why not stop by 810 Las Vegas Blvd. S. this week and buy some locally produced, handmade gifts? Why not indeed!

Yep. I’ve got art in another group show, this one a showing of original comic book art by Las Vegas-based creators (not to be confused with the other original art show I’ll be in next month as well at Blackbird Studios; more on that to come) called “Drawn in the Dust.” Curated by my man Dustin Wax at the UNLV Barrick Museum, it features all of the fine people listed above, which is a pretty diverse crew. I’ll be showing two pages of original art from my story in Omega Comics Presents #3. Which you should have pre-ordered by now, right? RIGHT?

It would be lovely to see all your faces at the opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday. I’m sure there will be refreshments, and I believe most of the artists should be in attendance to bask in your admiration and worship. As I am in the midst of Detox Week 2010, I will not be drinking, and I will probably be starved, so if I sniff your hair or bite your arm, well, sorry in advance.

Oh, and after that, you should head downtown to the El Cortez, where Vegas Seven is presenting “The Tell,” a Vegas Valley Book Festival pre-event featuring an evening of seven true, unscripted stories about cheating. It features a number of friends including host Dayvid Figler, Cindi Reed, and a number of other respected storytellers. The thing starts at 8 p.m. for cocktails (none for me) and 9 p.m. for, um, talking. Here’s a Facebook event!

I know it’s been awfully quiet around here, aside from the occasional update to let you know how many miles I’m running or whatever. It may seem like I’ve been off the radar, maybe even being lazy or in hiding or running from the Feds or being held hostage by crazed Justin Bieber fans.

Nah. I’ve just been working.

One of the things I’ve been working on is an article in this week’s Vegas Seven about the relative success of local comic book shops, especially in the face of our struggling economy. I think it turned out pretty well, and there’s a lovely picture of Ralph Mathieu inside the new location of Alternate Reality Comics accompanying it, so you should go read it.

The other things I’ve been working on … well, it’s almost tiring to think about it. I mean, my eyelids are even sagging as I type this. Let’s go to list form:

• Playing shows again with As Yet Unbroken. We went from no gigs for nine months (while we shifted membership) to five gigs in two months. And we’re in the process of recording a proper EP, something that takes a lot longer than expected when all of us have day jobs/lives/vacations/side projects/health crises/potty breaks. But it’s getting done. I’d check out the AYU website for more info on upcoming events and whatnot.
• Making art. I mean, aside from comics (which we’ll talk about in a minute). For whatever reason, people becoming aware (or being reminded) of my semi-ability to draw has led me to be invited to group art shows. There was that LVSK8 show earlier in the summer for which I painted a terrible piece, and now I’m coming back again with an original creation for a zombie-themed show at Blackbird Studios (formerly Place Gallery) in October. I’m still not quite done with it, and the show is being hung next week, so I kinda need to get on that. But it’ll be sweet when it’s done. I hope. I’ll also be at First Friday with my own Outdoor Exhibition Space next week (Oct. 1), showing original art from Tales from the Boneyard, and promoting the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival. Speaking of which …
• I’ve been on the planning committee for the aforementioned Comic Book Festival for the last two years, but this year, my involvement has been amped up by volunteering to publish, edit and contribute to Tales from the Boneyard, an anthology of local creators to benefit the Festival’s benefactor, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. I know I’ve mentioned it here before, but let me just say that it is turning out way more awesome than I ever could have expected. But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself.
• Oh, comics, right. Well, in addition to the Boneyard book, there’s a fourth issue of The Utopian and a third issue of Omega Comics Presents both coming out in the next few months, and rumor has it you can go ahead and pre-order them at the Pop! Goes the Icon website right now. I’ve got a few other things up my sleeve, but mainly, once these two issues and the Boneyard anthology are out the gate, it’s mini-hiatus time for the Peej, as I recover from what feels like a six-month marathon. You know, before I start another one.

That’s pretty much it. I’ve also been trying to find time to work on a major redesign of this website that would take the focus off this blog and put it on the work itself (a portfolio, I suppose), but uh yeah right. In the meantime, thanks for reading and bless your face.*

*Sorry, Toby.