Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/260044
This year marks the big 4 - 0 for UNLVino, Nevada's original wine festival, whose next edition will be held April 9 – 12. Founded by Larry Ruvo, senior managing director of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, and Jerry Vallen, founding dean of UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, the student-organized event is the college's largest annual fundraiser and has bankrolled millions of dollars' worth of scholarships since 1974. This year's UNLVino starts with Sip & Savor at Spago on Wednesday, April 9, an intimate event hosted by Wolfgang Puck, who will also be honored for his culinary contributions to the city of Las Vegas. On Thursday, April 10, BAR-b-q, at Caesars Palace's Garden of the Gods pool, is a celebration of all things meat and mixology. On Friday, April 11, Venetian's Doge's Palace is the venue for Bubble-Licious, an evening of Champagne, sparkling wine, and cocktails, plus food from Venetian and Palazzo's collection of restaurants. In addition, pop artist Romero Britto will host an exclusive art auction to raise money for the college. The four days of events wrap up with the Founders' Grand Tasting, an indoor/outdoor festival at the Frank Gehry–designed Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, on Saturday, April 12. Honoring Ruvo and Vallen, this premier event is a showcase for the world's finest wines, Champagnes, spirits, beers, and sakes and includes cuisine from some of the city's best restaurants as well as UNLV culinary students. For more information and tickets, visit unlvino.com. POPPIN' BOTTLES UNLVino celebrates 40 years as the Las Vegas hospitality industry's premier student showcase. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TAO (BLACK PEARL) I n Las Vegas, style extends even to the cocktail menu, with carefully made classic and original craft libations becoming de rigueur at every spot in town. "The popularity of certain drinks can be attributed to popular culture—like Sex and the City and cosmos—and balanced taste," says Tim Keller, beverage director at Tao Group. "Think sweet and sour, with flavors that linger on the palate in a pleasing way, such as mint, strawber- ries, coconut, and pineapple." At Tao (Venetian, 702-388-8338; taolasvegas.com), you might opt for the Black Pearl (Hennessy Black, yuzu juice, agave nectar, and muddled blackberries), while Lavo (Palazzo, 702-791-1800; lavolv.com) has the new Menta julep, featuring Woodford Reserve bourbon, Fernet Branca, ginger beer, mint, simple syrup, and fresh lime juice. Swimsuit season arrives early in Vegas, and bartenders are helping out with low-cal prod- ucts—like the KGB at Red Square (Mandalay Bay, 702-693-8300; redsquarelasvegas.com), with Skinnygirl cucumber vodka, fresh cucumber and watermelon, and chili pepper—and by for- saking sugary mixers for fresh fruits and vegs. The Ignite Lounge at Monte Carlo (702-730- 7777; montecarlo.com) nails a number of hot trends with its Watermelon Sage Caipirinha, including muddled lime and watermelon (check), a fresh sage leaf (check), and Novo Fogo organic cachaça, a Brazilian rum – like spirit sure to see a bump when Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup (check). At the trendy wine bar and restaurant Crush Eat Drink Love (MGM Grand, 702-891-3222; mgmgrand.com), start your day with its new Kale Mary (Tito's vodka, house-made Bloody Mary mix, fresh kale and orange juice, fresh spices, Cholula hot sauce). "In-house" syrups, bitters, and purées are a new trend cited by several bartenders. At Lily Bar & Lounge (Bellagio, 702-693-8300; lilylv.com), Michael Monrreal, a mixologist with the Light Group, concocts the Royalty with Grey Goose Cherry Noir, fresh lime juice, house-made hibiscus simple syrup, Aztec chocolate bitters, and rosé Champagne. Whatever trend you prefer, a little Vegas-style indulgence never goes out of style. V Fashionable Cocktails SPRING '14 TRENDS DON'T STOP ON THE RUNWAY. BY ROBERT HAYNES-PETERSON Tao's Black Pearl is one of the cocktails sure to be on every stylish drinker's lips this season. Master mixologist Francesco Lafranconi at UNLVino's BAR-b-q. 86 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM TASTE OF THE TOWN 086_V_ST_TasteOfTheTown_Spring14.indd 86 2/10/14 5:29 PM