Hai for Her is a culinary celebration held in conjunction with International Women's Day that brings together female talent from Hai Hospitality’s family of restaurants across the country to support a worthy cause that offers opportunities for young women to grow, learn and thrive. In early March of 2020, chefs from across Hai Hospitality's properties assembled at Uchiko for the inaugural Hai for Her dinner benefitting the Austin charity Girlstart. After a 2021 hiatus, Hai for Her returns in grand fashion at Uchi Miami for over two nights on March 7-8. This year's event at Uchi Miami will bring together leading female chefs from Hai's brands — Uchi, Uchiba and Loro — to compose a 10-course omakase with pairings. Host Chef de Cuisine Dina Butterfield and Sushi Chef Vicki Rodpai will welcome Hai Hospitality chefs from around the country, including: Uchi and Uchibā Dallas Chef de Cuisine, Rhonda McCullar; Uchi Restaurants Head Pastry Chef, Ariana Quant; and Loro Austin Bar Manager, Katie Arnold to collaborate and create a memorable two night ticketed event and celebration of women forging new paths. Tickets are $225 each and can be reserved here. Limited seats available. Proceeds from all ticket sales will benefit The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade which, for three decades, has been creating positive change for women and girls through advocacy, investment and collective impact. The Vision: A Miami-Dade where power and possibility are not limited by gender. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Uchi

Cubavera’s women’s collection is finally here. In collaboration with celebrity and influencer Migbelis Castellanos, the collection delivers luxurious linens that make you look and feel good. Ideal for the confident and charismatic woman who knows what she wants from life. For more visit www.cubavera.com By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Cubavera

The inaugural Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open kicked off the World Padel Tour 2022 season in Miami, at Island Gardens, from February 22nd-27th, bringing together the best within the sport of padel, first-class entertainment, premium dining, and beverage programming, curated shopping experiences, and exemplary luxuries. Led by prominent businessman and Miami-based investor, Wayne Boich of Boich Investment Group, the premier lifestyle sporting event brought together the top professional padel players from around the globe to compete in an unparalleled six-day tournament experience in what has become the fastest-growing sport in the world. Luxury Swiss watchmaking brand, Richard Mille, presented the event’s exclusive VIP experiences all week long. The Richard Mille Luxury Boxes housed 76 individual VIP Boxes coupled with a special boutique activation by culinary titan Major Food Group’s exclusive private membership destination, ZZ’s Club. In addition, luxury wine label La Fête du Rosé featured a specialty pop-up bar serving its signature rosé. Pura Vida, South Florida’s beloved wellness-driven destination, served guests within their own dedicated area on-site, along with Vietnamese-inspired eatery, Behn Mi. Guests of the event enjoyed daily/nightly live music programming and celeb performances, including an intimate special performance by Rick Ross on Thursday, Ludacris on Friday, Gianluca Vacchi on Saturday, and Wyclef Jean on Sunday. Attracting the who’s who from Miami and beyond, Actor Vince Vaughn attended day one of the Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open (Tuesday, February 22), eagerly watching and cheering from his Richard Mille luxury VIP box. Italian entrepreneur Gianluca Vacchi was also seen enjoying the matches each day along with model Vita Sidorkina-Morabito. Then on Wednesday, February 23rd, Miami HEAT’s Jimmy Butler, who also serves as the event’s official Honorary Chairperson, came to support Miami Padel Open partner, Wayne Boich, during his first padel match. Butler also played some padel during match breaks and even partook in playful one-on-one games with several journalists who came to cover the event. On Thursday, February 24th, the tournament’s highly-anticipated charity pro-am, and celeb match took place, starring Shane Battier and Bob Bryan vs. Sandy Meyer Woelden and Michelle Alvarez Bryan (wife of Bob Bryan). The girls excitingly took home the win for the night’s match.Eva Garzón, CEO & Owner of The Grand Lion, also played against social media personality, Twan Kuyper, in which Eva proudly took home the night’s win. Also spotted in the crowd was Miami HEAT legend, Alonzo Mourning, and famed Margaritaville singer, Jimmy Buffet. As the quarterfinal and semi-final matches continued on Friday and Saturday, actress Claire Holt, Celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelson, and the fifth-ranked Austrian tennis player in the world, Dominic Thiem, were among some of the notables who came to watch the anticipated matches.Jimmy Butler and Jimmy Buffet also returned to show their support. On Sunday, February 27th, guests gathered in excitement to watch the most anticipated matches of the week - the tournament finals. Immediately following the Women’s Finals, Wayne Boich invited Shane Battier onto the court and challenged him to a world champ vs. world champ match against the two Finals winners of the women’s padel match, Gemma Triay and Alejandra Salazar. Wayne proposed, if Shane was able to score a single point against the women, then Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open would donate $25,000.00 to his Battier Take Charge Foundation. Shane accepted and in the HEAT of the moment, tapped in Jimmy Butler to serve as his padel partner. After a few “practice” rounds, the two champions were able to score their point and graciously accepted the generous donation. Following the Men’s Finals Award Ceremony, honoring titlists Fernando Belasteguin and Arturo Coello, Wayne Boich (Founder & CEO of Boich Investment Group), Stuart Miller and Eric Feder (on behalf of the of Lennar Foundation), Josh Wander (Founder & Managing Partner of 777 Partners), and Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, presented Mayor Levine Cava with a $500,000.00 donation on behalf of the Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open. The donation will help fund the Miami-Dade County Peace and Prosperity Plan, Mayor Levine Cava’s monumental initiative committed to making investments in people and the places they live to create positive youth opportunities and safe neighborhoods. An additional $1,500,0000.00 was donated to multiple other local charities, which resulted in over $2,000,0000.00 in donations given on behalf of the Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open. Some of these other charities include Overtown Youth Center, Mt. Sinai, The Battier Take Charge Foundation, Style Saves, No More Tears, and more. ​​Wyclef Jean closed out the night with a high-energy performance for over two hours for the crowd. Celebrities spotted in the Richard Mille VIP luxury boxes that day/evening include: Miami HEAT legends and star athletes Shane Battier, Alonzo Mourning, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Udonis Haslem, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Ludacris, Mayor Francis Suarez, actress Claire Holt and captain of the National Hockey League Florida Panthers, Alexander Barkov. Titans of the business world who also attended the event include: Barry Sternlicht (Starwood Capital), Dan Sundheim (D1 Capital), Alan Howard (Brevan Howard Asset Management LLP), Jackie Soffer (Turnberry), Jim Pallotta (Raptor Group), Jeff Zalaznick (Major Food Group), Rob Pohly (Samlyn Capital), Peter Smith (Blockchain.com), Adam Fisher (Commonwealth Asset Management), and Adam Neumann (WeWork). Full list of all celeb attendees include: Miami HEAT Legends/Stars: Shane Battier, Alonzo Mourning, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Udonis Haslem, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent; National Hockey League Florida Panthers Captain: Alexander Barkov; Fifth-ranked tennis player in the world: Dominic Thiem; Musicians/Performers: Jimmy Buffet, Ludacris, Rick Ross, Wyclef, Gianluca Vacchi; Actors/Actresses: Vince Vaughn, Claire Holt; Chefs: Celebrity-Chef Marcus Samuelson. By ML Staff. Photo Credit- Omar Vega Blockchain.com Miami Padel Open

In any artform, a few dozen names always come to mind. Their works stand the test of time and figure into every world-class collection. Ruth Bernhard, 'Angles,1969,’ signed on recto and verso in pencil. Silver gelatin print. 11 x 14 inches. Inquiries: contact@galerieperrie.com This year, Galerie Perrie is giving its collectors an exclusive opportunity to own original pieces by these masters with the launch of its Spring/Summer ‘22 Special Collection: Icons of Photography, featuring works in a variety of sizes by eight of the 20th century’s most renowned photographers: Lillian Bassman, Ruth Bernhard, Ansel Adams, Sebastião Salgado, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Gordon Parks, Brett Weston, and Manuel Álvarez Bravo. "With the launch of our Icons of Photography series anyone can own a piece of art history, and this is just the beginning," said Galerie Perrie founder Gabé Hirschowitz. "Future series and special events will give our customers even more opportunities to build world-class collections combining the works of emerging and renowned artists." Gabé Hirschowitz holds a photograph by Gordon Parks. (Portrait by Gustavo Ornelas, Feb. 2022.) Whether you’re a new or experienced collector, this is a unique opportunity to purchase these timeless works with the click of a button. Click below to explore. Inquiries: contact@galerieperrie.com About Gabé From fashion to fine arts and art consulting, the throughline for Gabé Hirschowitz has always been that art should be accessible and deeply intertwined with daily life. The founder of UNICEF’s groundbreaking Next Generation Art Party and former Acquisitions Committees manager at The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles (MOCA), she has a long history of supporting new and emerging artists, merging the same instincts into her art advising and philanthropic efforts. In addition to recently founding GaleriePerrie.com, she has also continued to combine her passion for art with philanthropy, co-founding the Young Leadership Board of Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services in Los Angeles and founding the COLLECT ART + DO GOOD™ organization, which has benefited Stand Up To Cancer, Make-A-Wish Foundation and other worthy causes. In 2016, her philanthropic work was recognized by President Barack Obama, who awarded Gabé the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her efforts supporting UNICEF’s Tap Project, which brings clean, safe drinking water to vulnerable children around the globe. Meanwhile, she has remained highly involved in the art and fashion industries. She is an active member of numerous art institutions and museums in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, London and Sydney and has held a variety of positions with Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, Italian Vogue, Teen Vogue, BWR Public Relations, The Museum of Contemporary Art: Los Angeles (MOCA), Leslie Sacks Fine Art: Brentwood, C Magazine, Modern Luxury, Clique Media, and The Tel Aviv Museum of Art. A graduate of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, she also regularly contributes to a diverse array of publications on the topics of art, culture, health, beauty and lifestyles and serves as an art consultant for a wide range of collectors. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of GaleriePerrie.com

The pandemic made it even more clear: Health is the Real Wealth! There is no better time to take care of your health-related goals than NOW. In this article author Ella Davar RD will help you improve your nutrition with food and longevity science. Ella Davar, RD is not your average dietitian. Ella is on a mission to make Miami the healthiest city in America. She received her education from NYU and helps her busy clients feel their best with personalized nutrition planning, and healthy lifestyle guidance! In her approach, Ella combines genetic testing with microbiome, and blood test results to create individually tailored recommendations for best chances at a healthy and happy life. Blood tests help us view your metabolism and overall well-being Microbiome testing shows how well your body is digesting and absorbing nutrients Genetic testing shows your unique design from a cellular DNA perspective Achieving Ultimate Wellness can be confusing! The status quo is that general nutrition recommendations are very conflicting. As an example, some medical doctors think keto is the best approach to dieting, whereas cardiologists believe that a vegan diet is the best approach for cholesterol management. I know what it feels like to be stuck and confused, I became a dietitian to solve my own health, fitness, and weight loss-related problems. I became a model when I was 15, and moved to the USA on my own when I just turned 19 years old.As a young immigrant, I studied English language and earned my bachelor's degree in Finance and Investments. I worked on Wall St with arguably the most successful financial minds in the world, where I quickly learned the price we pay for success by overworking. Stressful jobs, tight deadlines, long working hours, and a cut-throat environment where everyone competes with each other, lead to a realization of the importance of physical and mental health. To help me overcome these challenges, I studied yoga and became a health coach to learn all about healthy habits and diet for optimal wellbeing. I also returned to grad school to receive a Master's degree in Nutrition from NYU, where I studied nutrition science and worked as a medical nutrition therapist with various health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and metabolic disorder. Today I fully understand the pressures of life and work balance that require maintaining our health in an optimal state. My mission today is to help busy, ambitious, high-performing people achieve their goals in a healthy way by creating a more balanced and healthy lifestyle that is sustainable and enjoyable. Here is what you need to know: You Are Unique Everyone is different and should be learning from their bodies to get data and information on what really works for them. I help my clients learn from their bodies, and avoid conflicting arguments from experts on what they should or should not eat. Better health with wearable technology and longevity science Here is a list of my favorite wearable technology devices and planning techniques: Improve sleep quality with Oura ring Increase metabolism and weight loss with CGM Better digestion with microbiome (stool) testing Optimal health with advanced bloodwork Natural energy with genetic testing Proper nourishment with meal planning and supplementation Healthy habits with coaching Weight loss hypnosis for the right attitude towards food and body image Personalized guided meditation for the mindset of success and vitality My Services In addition to one-on-one work I lead group coaching classes and speak at wellness events in Miami! As a professional foodie I love cooking food as much as talking about it, that’s why I also teach healthy cooking classes! My local clients who need more practical knowledge on healthy cooking enjoy a fun dinner with a dietitian! I use creative but easy to make delicious (never boring!) recipes for vegetables, protein dishes with lots of fiber, antioxidants on every plate! Schedule dinner cooking classes and nutritional lectures on Ella’s website at NutritionistElla. You can learn more about Ella’s services on NutritionistElla.com/work-with-me Follow me on Instagram for latest offering and updates @ella.davar By ML Staff. Images courtesy of NutritionistElla

Finding ways to upgrade your Miami home for potential sellers should be your top priority in 2022. Keeping up with real estate trends and the latest home upgrades can help you make a wise investment that will pay off over the long term. Targeted, timeless trend upgrades to your home can dramatically change its appearance and skyrocket your real estate value in South Florida. Here is a list of the top five home upgrades Miami buyers are looking for in 2022. 1) Add Outdoor Living Spaces Spending time outside with loved ones is always a popular activity in South Florida. Building a patio or deck near your home is a great way to increase the interest of potential buyers. If you have additional space, adding a patio is a cost-effective investment that can make your home much more attractive. An attractive outdoor space is perfect for hosting parties, cookouts, or for relaxing outside. Adding a deck is another option if you want to extend your living space. A deck in your backyard is a great way to increase your property value and make your home an attractive option for a buyer. You can also choose from various deck materials to best fit your needs and budget. A few of the most popular choices for decks include cedar decking, pressure-treated wood, composite decking, hardwoods, and PVC decking. 2) Invest in Impact Windows and Doors Installing impact windows and doors is one of the best home upgrades for protecting your home against hurricanes and severe weather. These products are specifically tested to withstand the force of flying projectiles from Category 5 hurricanes without shattering on impact. Impact windows and doors also provide many other benefits, such as decreasing outside noise, improving energy efficiency, and making it difficult for criminals to break into a home. Impact windows and doors can even help lower insurance premiums if installed for all openings in your home due to their state-of-the-art design. Numerous window styles are available, including single-hung, double-hung, casement, awning, fixed picture, and horizontal roller windows. You can also install impact glass for your entry, French, or sliding door. Investing in impact windows and doors can dramatically boost your home’s curb appeal while also giving it the ultimate protection against hurricanes. 3) Add an Independent Laundry Room An often overlooked way to upgrade your home is to include a laundry room if you have enough extra space. The value of a laundry room is desirable for buyers accustomed to living in apartment complexes with communal laundry rooms. Adding a small-scale laundry room makes it much more convenient for potential buyers by providing additional space to wash and dry clothes. The cost of adding a laundry room can range anywhere between $1,000 to 10,000 dollars. Installing open shelving or built-in cabinets makes it easy to store detergent and other supplies in one location. All of this helps to free up space in other areas of your home, which is just one of the many different reasons why building a laundry room is one of the top home upgrades. Capitalize on High Property Values by Making Smart Home Upgrades Upgrading your home is one of the best ways to attract Miami buyers and help you get the best return on your investment. You can choose from an almost endless amount of home upgrades that best match your budget. Learning more about these different home upgrades can help you determine which are the best options for attracting potential buyers in 2022. For more information visit Alco Windows and Doors: Alco.link/impact-Windows-Miami By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Alco Windows and Doors

There is a new medical building launching near Miami’s Design District that resembles one of the shopping destination’s designer boutiques and more than a typical dental or doctor office. Called Dr. Patty Miami, this elegant facility is Magic City’s first upscale cosmetic dental practice combined with a cosmetic medical surgical facility. Designed as an epicenter of opulence and modern day glamor, Dr. Patty Miami features a cafe & bar serving gourmet bites, an open-air rooftop for lounging and hosting special events, and a restorative steam hammam to further boost the immune system, rejuvenate the body and relax the mind. The bespoke 10,000-square-foot medical center will feature the most popular procedures in surgical and non-surgical cosmetic enhancements from Brazilian butt lifts to rhinoplasty, coupled with a cosmetic dental practice specializing in smile makeovers, veneers, implants, and all-on-4 same day implant dentures. Patients can top off their experience with a wide range of med spa treatments including heat sculpting, IV therapy, Botox, and other lasers, injections and soft tissue fillers. “As the designer Marc Jacobs recently said ‘no shame in being vain’,” explained Dr. Patty. “All jokes aside, the global cosmetic dentistry market is estimated to top $28 billion by 2024, and there is a real economic value to teeth as the impact of oral health affects adults' job prospects and social lives. With the launch of Dr. Patty Miami, we wanted to amplify our award winning cosmetic dentistry practice by partnering with other medical professionals to include cosmetic surgeries and treatments ​​to further enhance our patients’ natural beauty.” Dr. April Patterson, affectionately known as Dr. Patty, boasts a successful track record of breaking stereotypes in the dental industry. She started the first dental spa concept in Florida focused on providing the ultimate pampering experience based on the principles of “relaxation” dentistry. After managing her successful Fort Lauderdale practice for more than a decade, Dr. Patty is excited to expand and introduce an entirely new concept in Miami. “Miami is now one of the most important and influential cities in the world, and I am thrilled to be expanding my dental practice here, especially in a neighborhood where we can help promote economic development and business in addition to bringing jobs to the community,” explained Dr. Patty. Dr. Patty Miami is now open for dental appointments and hiring various positions including plastic surgeons, dermatologists, cosmetic dentists, pediatric dentists, prosthodontists, physician assistants, medical assistants, receptionists, dental assistants, orthodontists, oral surgeons, janitors and more. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Dr. Patty Miami

CityPlace Doral celebrates five years as the crown jewel of one of South Florida’s growing cities offering luxurious living and a collection of memorable dining, shopping, wellness, and entertainment experiences, during the month of March. Throughout its 250,000 square feet of retail space in the heart of Miami-Dade County, CityPlace Doral will host live music, dancing, a block party, scavenger hunt, interactive games for the entire family to enjoy and beer and coffee samples for adults, and much more planned for the month’s festivities. Headlining the event’s kick-off at 6 p.m. festivities on March 4, is a special live performance by Doral resident, Marco Salvador, who participated in the Season 21 premier of NBC’s “The Voice.” He showcases his vocal talents and then it is time to move your feet to the rhythms of a Venezuelan band and dancers. Throughout the month, sip and savor in happy hour specials at a variety of our restaurants including Brimstone, Chico Malo, Cooper’s Hawk and Winery, Copper Blues, Kuba Cabana, Novecento, Tap 42, Suviche and more. Enjoy samples from Vezasur Brewing Co and La Cafetera Gourmet Coffee, as well as a Miami360 Photo Booth on site to capture all the fun with friends and family. Lastly, for Instagram followers, the celebration month includes five days of giveaways. On five random days, CityPlace Doral will announce a location on @cityplacedoral, inviting guests to locate the number five inside CityPlace Doral, snap a photo, and share it on their social channel for a chance to win a prize pack. CityPlace Doral has implemented several important policies and procedures to safeguard the health and well-being of its valued guests and employees. The open-air entertainment destination has considered the best practices recommended by national experts like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state and local health care officials, to determine the appropriate steps to make CityPlace Doral a place where guests feel comfortable venturing back into public and reconnecting with friends and family. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of CityPlace Doral

The Blue Mizza, an ode to the caryatid of elegance, is a symbol and tribute to feline grace. An ultramarine blue version of the leopard prints adorns the mizza line by Cordelia de Castellane. Click below to launch slideshow > For more info visit www.dior.com/en_us/maison/maison By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Dior

The Spring 2022 collection celebrates individually but also coming together featuring 71% eco-friendly materials including a new Frayme bag made from Alter Mat vegan leather. By ML staff. Images courtesy of Stella McCartney

The House of Harry Winston explores the candy-colored world of extraordinary gemstones, presenting a sweet series of unique cocktail rings. The collection, titled Winston Candy, features colorful center stones paired with a combination of diamonds and vibrant gemstones in complementary hues. Winston Candy Pink Sapphire Ring with Rubies and Diamonds A 10.59 carat oval-shaped Sri Lankan pink sapphire center stone surrounded by 16 round pink sapphires weighing a total of approximately 1.54 carats, 8 oval-shaped and 8 round rubies weighing a total of approximately 1.47 carats, and 40 round brilliant and pear-shaped diamonds weighing a total of approximately 1.38 carats, set in platinum. Product: 555310 Winston Candy Purplish Pink Spinel Ring with Sapphires, Tsavorite Garnets and Diamonds A 17.48 carat emerald-cut purplish pink spinel center stone surrounded by 12 cabochon sapphires weighing a total of approximately 3.78 carats, 8 pear-shaped tsavorite garnets weighing a total of approximately 3.00 carats, 4 pear-shaped pink sapphires weighing a total of approximately 1.40 carats, and 44 round brilliant diamonds weighing a total of approximately 1.86 carats, set in platinum. Product: 575867 Winston Candy Tsavorite Garnet Ring with Sapphires, Aquamarines and Diamonds A 13.51 carat cushion-cut tsavorite garnet center stone surrounded by 28 round pink sapphires weighing a total of approximately 2.41 carats, 8 round aquamarines weighing a total of approximately 1.41 carats, and 48 round brilliant and marquise diamonds weighing a total of approximately 1.74 carats, set in platinum and 18K yellow gold. Product: 579890 Harry Winston is located in the Miami Design District. Address: 166 NE 39th St, Miami, FL 33137. Phone: +1 786-275-3660. For more info visit www.harrywinston.com By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Harry Winston

Scott “Carrot Top” Thompson has been making audiences around the world laugh for more than three decades. Since 2005, fans have flocked to his Las Vegas headlining residency at Luxor Hotel and Casino to catch comedy’s King of Props induce sidesplitting laughter with his current take on pop culture, music, and headlines of the day in a continually evolving show. In this insightful and funny sit-down interview with Carrot Top, the veteran comedian gets candid about his upbringing, the reasons he doesn’t ever want marriage or kids, his long time, mega successful Las Vegas residency, his thoughts on Adele’s Las Vegas residency, his close friendship with the late Louie Anderson, the late Bob Saget, and his aversion to using alcohol or drugs as a conduit for creativity. Allison Kugel: You were born Scott Thompson. How did you get the name “Carrot Top?” Who gave you the name? Carrot Top: Unfortunately, I had something to do with that. It’s a blessing and a curse. Why I did it? I don’t know. I thought the name Scott Thompson was kind of boring. Well, not kind of, it is. Being a stage performer, I always thought I should have something fun. Queen Latifah was taken, and so I thought, “Gosh, I need something better.” I went up to the stage one night and said, “Bring me up as Carrot Top.” They said, “Carrot Top? Are you sure?” I said, “Yes, I’m pretty sure.” And that was it. I was “Carrot Top” forever. Allison Kugel: What are the three pivotal events in your life that shaped the human being you are today? Carrot Top: One, of course, is having become a comic, and there was a lot of luck in a sense. I was a kid when I wanted to do comedy and it was like, “How do you become a comedian?” There are no comedy schools. Clown school maybe, but there was no stand-up comedy school. I would really honestly stand in the mirror and just pretend and tell jokes, and then I had this idea, because I kept listening to this comedy club that was down in West Palm Beach, Florida, every day, they had a radio thing where they announced that you could come to their open mic nights. I went down there one night and watched and got the urge the following week to get involved and do it. I put together what I thought was an act, and I showed up. The woman said, “You were so funny, but the stuff you’re doing is all about [your] college.” She said, “Everyone that comes to this club is not going to be in college. They are going to have jobs, and there might be 40-year-olds, there might be 60 year olds. It’s going to be a collection of different age groups and occupations, so your stuff has to be a little bit more general.” I went back to the drawing board and that’s where all these props kind of came into play. I started thinking of generalized props that kind of got me into doing what I do. That’s a pivotal thing as far as trying to find that personality of who I was going to be on stage. Allison Kugel: Interesting how that evolved. Carrot Top: I came from an interesting life. My dad worked at the space center. It wasn’t a family of entertainment driven people. I’m definitely the oddball, black sheep of the family. My brother went to the Air Force Academy and became an F16 fighter jet pilot. My dad worked at NASA and built spaceships and trained astronauts, and I’m gluing kickstands onto cowboy boots. It just didn’t make any sense. Allison Kugel: What was that conversation like, when you told your dad, “Listen, I’m not following in your footsteps. I’m going to go into comedy.” Carrot Top: It was a very awkward conversation. I’m sure everyone has had it once before with their parents. Because it was so different, I wasn’t like, “Hey I’m going to go into some part of engineering.” It was, “I’m going to be a stand-up comedian.” He had no idea what the heck that meant. I had gone off to college and I bought this little truck, and my dad says, “How did you pay for that truck?” I said, “Well I’m in school and have been doing these odd jobs.” He said, “Well, that’s good.” I had two jobs. I was delivering bread and I was a currier driving across the country dropping off credit reports to banks. That is when I listened to the radio every day. I listened to that comedy thing on the radio every day. They had these open mic nights that I would get involved in and you could win top prizes like twenty dollars… or a kazoo. Allison Kugel: (Laugh) Carrot Top: I must have won like 30 of those things. I would go places and say, “Can I sell this kazoo? I need gas money?” I went home one time and my dad said, “Hey, how are things going?” I said, “Good. I’m paying for my truck. I don’t have a lot of extra cash, but I have a little bit of extra cash. I’ve been doing stand-up comedy things and I get twenty dollars every time I win, so it’s like twenty dollars a week that I usually can count on, because I usually win this [comedy] event.” He was like, “Wait, stop. Comedy? Stand-up comedy? What are you doing? Are you setting up a comedy show?” I said, “No, I’m in the show. I’m actually the comic.” He said, “But you’re not funny.” And I said, “I know. It’s the weirdest thing.” My dad eventually came and saw what I did, and he had no idea. He said, “What part of you did I miss?” I’m thinking, “A big chunk dad. A big chunk.” Allison Kugel: (Laugh) Are you an introvert in real life, or is it what you see on stage is what you get? Carrot Top: No, I’m very shy and inverted. Believe it or not, I’m very shy. People every day would say, “You’re so soft spoken and shy. Then you go on stage and you’re kind of crazy.” I’m very private. I’m not that kind of a weird introvert sitting in a corner by himself, but I usually go out to lunch by myself. Allison Kugel: I do that too. Carrot Top: I converse with people there, and I’m like Norm from Cheers. I know everyone at the bar. As soon as I walk in, it’s not like I’m this lonely guy sitting there. Sometimes people join me. Sometimes they don’t. I’m definitely a loner. I come home after the show and I’m a loner. I just watch TV by myself, write jokes, think of jokes, come up with ideas, and then I go to the show, do the show, and come back home. It’s like Groundhogs Day. Allison Kugel: You’ve been doing your residency at The Luxor for sixteen years now. What is it about Las Vegas that you love? Carrot Top: It came around by accident, believe it or not. I used to do a couple of weeks at a time at the MGM Grand, seventeen years ago. It was like a mini residence. I would go there for two weeks, and then I would go on the road and do shows. Then I would come back and do two weeks and then go back out on the road again. They had brought to my attention that David Copperfield wanted to take over that show room and make me disappear, and so I was thinking, Okay, I guess I’ll go back on the road.” Then my manager says, “There is a room open at the Luxor right across the street.” We walked over one night and looked at it. I was then told, “This will be full time. You’ll be here every night.” I wasn’t ready to be a resident headliner. I was reluctant. I said, “Let’s do a year and see how it goes.” It was horrible for that first year. I was living in the hotel. It was just not a good time. Things weren’t working. Shows were tough and I was losing my mind, and thinking I have to get out of this gig. Then one day it was really weird, I just started having fun and it started to click. It was kind of cool because I wasn’t having to travel. I agreed to do another two years, making it a three-year deal, and at that point we really got into a groove. It wouldn’t make any sense for me not to be in Vegas. Then I agreed to a five-year deal.” Then it became a ten-year deal, and now it’s been sixteen years and counting. You’re in one place and people come to you, as opposed to you going to them. I’ve gotten used to the room. We just did this brand-new bit about Adele. I could go on stage and knock it out and not have to be on the road traveling with it. Then I can come home and hang out with my dog, and I’m in bed by 11pm watching TV. Allison Kugel: What are your thoughts on the Adele residency debacle? Do you think it really had to do with COVID? Do you think it had to with some of the technical things that she wanted for the show? What goes into putting together a Las Vegas residency of that magnitude, that maybe people don’t understand? Carrot Top: I think all three of those things are relevant and valid points. Putting on a show, even my little show, it takes a lot, and also, I’ve been lucky because I’ve been doing mine for sixteen years, so we kind of got it down. We know what we are doing. We have production. We have lights, smoke, and fog, but it’s a lot of work to put on a production, especially one of that magnitude and with her name, the room. There’s a lot of pressure to put on a nice show. I really don’t know what happened because they haven’t given anybody any answers. They kind of said it’s something about COVID and she came out and said she wasn’t ready. That’s the joke of my show. I make fun of that. I re-show the clip when she says, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t ready.” And I said, “Ready? Who the hell is ready? I haven’t been ready in thirty-six years. We do this every night not ready. There is no such thing.” Allison Kugel: (Laugh) Exactly. I wasn’t ready today to talk to you. Who’s ready? Carrot Top: Right. That’s what life’s about. Don’t book a show bitch. That’s what I do in my show, you know, and then I do three Adele songs that aren’t Adele songs. They are Lionel Richie singing Hello, and it’s kind of funny. That’s my take on it. But if it was COVID related, then you probably should stick to that, you know? Just say, “Half of our crew has COVID, and we couldn’t rehearse, so we weren’t ready in that regard.” That would have been better than saying, “I wasn’t ready.” I’m surprised her people didn’t say to her, “Don’t say we’re not ready.” Allison Kugel: Seriously. And you make a good point. In life you are never going to be 100% ready for anything. Carrot Top: Like, look at my hair. My hair is not ready. Allison Kugel: Yeah, I wasn’t going to say anything (laugh)… Allison Kugel: Are you one of those people who is going to eventually retire and have a retirement, or are you going to die on stage? Carrot Top: I might die during this interview. Allison Kugel: Please don’t. Carrot Top: It would be good for you. But seriously, I haven’t figured it out. I never think about that. The older I get, the better I feel and the more I feel like I know what I’m doing. I’ve never been in more of a comfort zone than I am now in my career. I used to get very nervous, just overly nervous about the whole show, and worried about if one joke didn’t get a laugh or one thing didn’t go right, I would lose my mind. Now it’s loose, it’s free, and it’s taken years to get to that. That is where I’m at now, and I don’t ever foresee not doing this. I can’t imagine what I would do. So, I don’t understand. Retire from what? I think when most people do retire, they are over. I’ve never seen anyone that has retired who has gone on and done something amazing. They kind of just get old, retire, and get boring. They just disappear. Allison Kugel: The concept of retirement started with the Industrial Revolution where you put in your 40 years to get job security and a pension, benefits and all that, and then you were able to go and actually live your life. But if you are doing your life’s work, then it’s fluid, right? Carrot Top: True. I kind of felt that way during COVID when it first happened. Halfway through that year, I was starting to lose my mind. When I’m not in Vegas, I live in Florida in a lovely house on the lake, and it’s beautiful. But I’m on my boat and we are barbequing, and it’s fun, and then a month later I’d say, “What’s going on tomorrow?” Oh, more boating and more barbequing. No! I need to go be funny. I can crack up my friends on the boat, but it wasn’t the same. I was missing that element of being on stage and doing the show. Allison Kugel: Yes, that sucks. I can see that. You strike me as a Peter Pan kind of a guy, kind of like you live life as if you are forever thirty years old. Do you feel like that? Carrot Top: Yes. I very much need to grow up. My friends would tell me that, but I’m lucky in that regard, because I am a child. I consider myself a young child. What I do for a living is one thing, but I like being youthful. I like hanging out with young people, but I have a lot of structure in my life. A lot of entertainers and comics are reckless, like rock stars. I’m very regimented. I never go out. I don’t think I’ve been to a club or a party in twenty years. After this I will take my dog to lunch and I’ll go to the gym, and I’ll go to the show. Allison Kugel: Do you ever want to get married or have kids? Carrot Top: I don’t think so. It’s hard enough just taking care of me. I can’t imagine taking care of a wife and kids. I’m enough. Allison Kugel: The late Bob Saget said such beautiful things about you and your career before his passing. Did you just know him in passing, or were you friends? Carrot Top: I knew him in a very small capacity, which was wild that he was so friendly towards me. I knew he was a nice man. He knew a lot of my friends, more so than me. But every time my friends would bring my name up to him, they would always say, “Bob loves you, just so you know.” It’s kind of a thing with comics. You want a lot of comics to like you and sometimes they don’t like other comics. Whether it’s a jealous thing or they just don’t think you’re funny. Bob was always one of those guys that really loved and respected me, and I know this, again, through second and third parties. I think the one time we actually spoke at an event he said, “Oh man, you were funny! I said, “You’re funny.” And he said, “No really, you were great.” But we didn’t know each other that well. Then when he passed, and I got all these people sending me clips of him with his nice words about me it was very sweet. I loved that everything I read about Bob, even after his passing, was about what a good guy he was. I hope when I die that is what people say about me. “Scott, you know, God he was such a nice guy.” That’s the reason you get into this business. I think back about the very first time I wanted to be a comedian; it was because I wanted people to like me. I wanted people to laugh and say, “You’re fun to hang out with. You’re funny.” We’re all comics in the same group. We’re all trying to make people laugh and heal. All of us, as successful comics, should be overly happy and nice to people. They’ve been successful at a job that is so hard to get successful in. Allison Kugel: You mentioned healing people with laughter. Do you think there is a spiritual aspect to what you do as a comedian? Carrot Top: Absolutely. First of all, I’m very spiritual and I think that there is no way there can’t be a correlation between smiling, laughing, feeling good, and healing. That is why they send clowns into children’s hospitals, and even dogs. They bring in things to make the kids that are sick smile. These kids are laughing, and they are not thinking about their cancer. I have had thousands and thousands of encounters and letters in my career that would shock you. Handwritten letters from families, from people of all ages that have written me letters that say, “You have no idea how you have helped my father live through his last days. We watched your movie. He was so depressed. For his last trip he wanted to go see you in Las Vegas. He was sick, and they got him on a plane to come and see you.” It’s almost a weight on your back. You have this [responsibility] and you have to keep that in mind. Like every time you go on stage, you think to yourself that there is someone out there that needs you, literally. Allison Kugel: Was there ever a time when people’s criticism of your comedy got to you? And are you a self-critical person, or do you let yourself off the hook pretty easily? Carrot Top: Mostly, my whole career, it hurt my feelings until recently. It’s human nature that you want everyone to love you, and it’s kind of like a cliché, but you can’t please everybody, and not everybody is going to love you dude. They’re just not. There are going to be some people out there that are going to say, “Carrot Top? Nope, not good. Not a fan.” The other day I saw the Rolling Stones show. It was unreal, and my friend said, “Ah really? You couldn’t pay me to go to that.” I’m thinking, “What?!” It is what it is. People have always, from day one since I got into this business, they always made fun of me, I think just the red hair, the freckles, the name, the props, just everything. It was a whole smorgasbord of just not liking me. A lot of it was comics that were just jealous because I had gotten some success. I was on The Tonight Show, I was on Live! With Regis & Kelly, I did a movie, so they were kind of like, “What the heck? I don’t get it.” Allison Kugel: Because it wasn’t cerebral humor, like a Jerry Seinfeld where you’re telling stories and making observations… Carrot Top: Right. It was kind of low brow comedy, which is funny, because when I make these props, they are kind of clever. I’ve had challenges with comics before, where I’ve said, “You get a week to come up with a clever prop.” It would hurt me, hurt me, and hurt me, and one day a bell just went off and I just thought, “consider the source.” When I would go to school and get picked on, I would come home all upset. My mom would ask, “What’s wrong?” I said, “They picked on me at school.” She would ask who it was and what the circumstances where and she would say, “Consider the source. He’s picking on you because he’s not happy with himself and because you’re skinny and he is not.” I now use that philosophy in my business world. I would go to the clubs and all the comics loved my act and respected it. George Carlin came over and said he liked my act. Chris Rock came over, Jay Leno, Bill Maher. All the comics that have made it and are successful are fans of mine. I would see Garry Shandling and he would say, “You have some funny stuff.” Then I would go to the club and there would be some guy from Oklahoma doing two minutes in a set that would sit there and talk behind my back. Allison Kugel: Do you ever pray, and if so, who or what do you pray to? Carrot Top: I am a big prayer. A lot of times I pray for general things like my family, my health, my career. In Florida I would go on this run and when I run there’s a big, huge church I run to. It’s the halfway point. It’s a beautiful big church and I always do a little prayer. I pray for my God daughter, my family, my health, my mom’s health, my dog’s health. Pretty much just kind of like my friends and my family and sometimes even greater things like with COVID. I would say, “Can you make this all go back to normal life?” Then sometimes, more specifically, my friend Louie Anderson just passed away. Louie Anderson was like my brother. We had a very close relationship, and [his death] came very suddenly. I went to the hospital, and I was holding his hand the last day he was there, and it was rough. Allison Kugel: Did you ever talk to him about his health, or taking better care of himself? Carrot Top: Back in the day for him, it was always a joke. He would say, “Yeah, I’m heavy.” He would look at me and I weigh 140 pounds, and he would say, “I can’t be skinny like you.” He tried all the time to lose weight. I will say one thing, every time we went out, he always said, “I’ll have chicken.” And he would say he was going to go run or walk, and he had bad knees. He was always in bad health, but he was always aware of it and always trying to do better. I would see him, and he would say, “I lost 10 pounds!” He wanted people to know it… and then cancer. He couldn’t figure out a way to beat the cancer. Allison Kugel: What is the greatest advice you ever received? Carrot Top: It might not be one thing that one person has told me. It’s kind of me being on this planet and giving me my own advice. I know to be a good soul. I know to be kind to people. I know to work hard. I know to not get into fights. I know to not start fights or gossip about people. I know to not steal jokes. I never do a New Year’s resolution because I don’t do anything that I would need to do differently. Although there was one piece of advice given to me by Buddy Hackett. I was in an airport, and I said, “Oh my God, it’s Buddy Hackett! Wow.” I walked over to him and said, “Buddy. Wow! I’m a comic and just wanted to say that you’re brilliant.” When I was a young comic, he was on The Tonight Show all the time. He said, “I’m going to give you some advice.” I said, “Okay what is the advice?” He wrote on a napkin, “The key to the treasure is the treasure.” Allison Kugel: That’s a brain twister. Carrot Top: So, I get on the plane and I’m staring at it for five or ten minutes, trying to break it down. Like, what the hell? Was he drunk? I think a friend of mine explained it to me. The key to life is life. Live for today. The key to happiness is happiness. Very simple and yet very true. The key to everything is for us living today and the key to success and the key to love, finding love is finding love. Allison Kugel: It is being it, and embodying it, and being in the moment. Carrot Top: Yes. I thought that was great. Pretty cool advice and made you kind of have to think a little bit. Allison Kugel: Have you ever felt that you had to use substances, like weed or whatever, to come up with material? Carrot Top: No, completely sober. I don’t smoke marijuana. I never have. I don’t think I have been drunk since high school, literally. I drink enough to get drunk. I have friends, like Gene Simmons per se, he’s never had a drop of booze, zero. I’m not that pure. I definitely have a little Crown on the rocks right before a show. We do a ceremonial shot of Crown, then I do the show. Then I’ll come home and watch TV with a glass of red wine. A couple lines of coke and…. Just kidding. I’m definitely not the drug guy. I’m actually more of a nerd than anything else. Allison Kugel: Yes, I’m seeing that but in a good way. Have you ever had to confront a comic for either stealing a joke or stealing a part of your act? Carrot Top: Other comics will get like that sometimes. There was one incident with Dennis Miller, where he had a thing against me. It was a story that was misconstrued, and he thought this happened and this happened, and he was always mad at me. When I talked to him in person, he realized he was wrong and now we are best friends. Gallagher had a little spat with me one time. He said, “Why did you steal my act?” I said, “Which act? What are you talking about?” We ended up talking it through and I didn’t steal his act. He just had this feeling that what I did was touching his type of thing. Was similar and I explained to him “We’re not even close.” He said, “Okay, well never mind.” Allison Kugel: What do you think you came into this life as Scott Thompson aka “Carrot Top” to learn, and what do you think you came here to teach? Carrot Top: Wow, good questions! How to get along with other humans and learn how to be a good guy. Literally, where you’re always about love and listening to other people, hearing their problems, and becoming a human being on this planet. It’s like if every day you go to this bar and you see the same people in that bar, and everyone gets along because they’re all in that bar and they are friends. Well, take that outside of the bar and do that everywhere you go. Everywhere you go, when you walk into a store, or walk into a mall, be just as nice to everyone in that mall, same as you would be at the bar with those people that you know and see every day. That kind of thing. There is no reason why we can’t have that. Allison Kugel: And what do you think you came here to teach? Carrot top: I’m here to teach well probably the same. You want to learn how to become a good person and you want to teach people how to do that as well. Being a performer it’s kind of weird. I always feel like I wanted to be a teacher when I was in school. I had a chalk board, I used to pretend I was writing things on the chalkboard, and I had my little bell. Then I got into comedy. In a sense you are almost teaching every night. You have a new audience, a new classroom of people, and you’re teaching them. How lucky am I in my job? I go to work every night and tell jokes. Tickets for Carrot Top’s Show at the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas are available at luxor.mgmresorts.com and at carrottop.com. Follow on Instagram @carrottoplive. By Allison Kugel | Watch and listen to the extended interview with Carrot Top on the Allison Interviews podcast at Apple Podcasts and on YouTube.