Christina Dylag Transcript
Kerry Diamond:
Hi, everyone. You are listening to Radio Cherry Bombe, and I'm your host, Kerry Diamond, coming to you from Las Vegas.
Today's guest is Christina Dylag, owner of Velveteen Rabbit, a very cool bar and community hub in the Arts District of Las Vegas. I only learned about the Arts District last year, and it is a fascinating part of the city filled with lots of creative entrepreneurs doing cool things in the food and beverage space. Christina is also the author of “Tiny Little Boxes: How to Cope with Existential Dread by Way of Ice Cream and Other Means.” That's some title, right? Christina gave me a copy of the book when I visited her at Velveteen Rabbit the other week, and I can't wait to read it. She and I talk about the reason she opened her bar, why she wrote that book and gave it that title, the spiritual side of Las Vegas, and the cocktails, mocktails, and vibe at Velveteen Rabbit. Of course, Christina and I talk about the children's book that inspired the name of her establishment. I loved the “Velveteen Rabbit” growing up, and I am sure it's a special book for lots of you as well.
Speaking of Las Vegas, team Cherry Bombe and I will be there in just a few days for an International Women's Day celebration. We're hosting a fun party at Velveteen Rabbit on Friday night, the 7th. Think terrific cocktails and mocktails, tarot card readings, and food trucks. Then Saturday at Encore at the Wynn, we have a special networking breakfast and panel conversations with some of the women shaking up the culinary scene. Then Saturday night, there's dinner at the brand new Gjelina at the Venetian. Tickets are on sale at cherrybombe.com right now. You can buy tickets to the individual events or a weekend pass. We would love to see you there.
Today's episode is presented by Las Vegas. The city is a culinary playground where innovation, global flavors, and unforgettable experiences collide. From its vibrant food halls featuring renowned coast-to-coast eats to elevated fine dining concepts with world-renowned chefs, Las Vegas redefines gastronomic excellence. In 2025, Las Vegas continues to prove itself as a must-visit destination for food lovers, offering something extraordinary for every palate. There's Casa Playa at the Wynn, where chef Sarah Thompson and her team create dishes inspired by coastal Mexico. Sarah was just named a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best Chef: Southwest. Congratulations Sarah. Pinky's by Vanderpump is a new concept from the former star of the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and restaurateur, Lisa Vanderpump, that opened at Flamingo Las Vegas this past December. They offer distinctive dishes and statement cocktails that translate into Instagrammable moments for guests. You know I love a little IG moment. And last, but definitely not least, Cote, that's C-O-T-E, known for its dynamic fusion of Korean barbecue and American Steakhouse, is set to open its first West Coast location at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas this summer. You've heard from Cote director, Victoria James, on past episodes of our show, and you know she is the Bombe. She and the team at Cote are crushing it, and I'm sure this location is going to be very special. The Las Vegas culinary scene is clearly on a roll. Plan your visit at visitlasvegas.com.
Now, let's check in with today's guest. Christina Dylag, welcome to Radio Cherry Bombe.
Christina Dylag:
Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited.
Kerry Diamond:
I'm so excited too. Because when we were here last year and we had our event, you were so awesome and came by, but I didn't get to talk to you that much. It was toward the end. Someone's like, "The Velveteen Rabbit girls are here." I was like, "Ah. Where?" And of course, you two have such great style.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, thank you.
Kerry Diamond:
You two definitely stand out, so I found you in that crowd. The first thing I want to ask you, listeners will probably guess what my first question is going to be, but your bar is named for one of the most beloved children's books, “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams. Why did you and your sister pick that name?
Christina Dylag:
Well, it's something that just came to me, to be honest. And I found out after that it was my sister's favorite childhood book growing up, and it really evokes a sense of nostalgia that I wanted the space to also possess. It's interesting too, because the story parallels the story of the building. In that, before we acquired it had been burned down, and so it more or less rose from the ashes. Some of the textures on the wall are burned from the fire and we just captured that.
Kerry Diamond:
I have a copy of the book that I'd totally forgotten about, that in high school a friend Craig gave me. And I need to find it in my bookcase and look at it again. I think he even put a little inscription in it. But I haven't looked at the book since high school. And I'd forgotten the story, so I went on Wikipedia and looked at the synopsis. I'd forgotten, it's heavy.
Christina Dylag:
It really is. I actually revisited this story again, because you just forget, and then it comes up. It's interesting how, again, I felt like the story has brought even more meaning with time, in that where we started and now the evolution of Velveteen Rabbit and where it is now, it feels like it's just another iteration of it. And bringing even more meaning that I didn't necessarily think of when we first opened. It's a really special story, yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
In case people don't know the story, do you want to sum it up for them?
Christina Dylag:
Yes. Essentially, a child has a lot of toys, and this rabbit in particular that he just loves, and loves so much that it becomes worn. And then, unfortunately, the child contracts scarlet fever and has to burn all of the toys, and then the rabbit more or less rises from the ashes and becomes a real rabbit.
Kerry Diamond:
I didn't realize that “Toy Story” was so heavily influenced by that.
Christina Dylag:
I didn't know that either. That's interesting.
Kerry Diamond:
No, I'm making that up. I'm just saying I'm assuming it was because it's all about love and what makes something real.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
Or not. And to the little boy, the rabbit was a real rabbit. And because of his love, the rabbit was able to not be burned. It's like, I'm so sad.
Christina Dylag:
I know.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah, because the rabbit had been so loved he was able to become a real... Sorry. Spoiler alert, everybody. But he was able to become a real rabbit in the end. But it's just so much about love and just all the different objects that we love and give meaning to.
Christina Dylag:
Yes, it transcends the physical form to some degree. And the story it's from so long ago as well, and so having that connection to it. Everyone can connect with it on some level, so it's timeless in that way.
Kerry Diamond:
And you are a very spiritual person.
Christina Dylag:
Yes, definitely.
Kerry Diamond:
I'm not surprised there's all this meaning behind what you are doing. Would love to know where you and your sister, Pamela, grew up.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, yes. We're from Michigan, outside of Detroit, in Clarkston. We lived there for the first... Well, for my first few years, we left when I was five. My sister's three and a half years older than me. And then we lived in Arkansas for a few years.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, Arkansas, which part?
Christina Dylag:
Little Rock. And then, yeah, we came to Vegas. Been here on and off since '97.
Kerry Diamond:
Did the family move here?
Christina Dylag:
Yes, the family. Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay. Why Vegas?
Christina Dylag:
My dad just had a job here, and he would always go where opportunity was. He worked in hospitals, so hospital administration. At the time, Vegas was really being put out there as a family-friendly city, so we all came here at that time.
Kerry Diamond:
And you stayed.
Christina Dylag:
And we stayed, yes.
Kerry Diamond:
But you went away for college.
Christina Dylag:
Yes. I went to college in San Diego, went to USD out there. And then, after college I traveled for a bit. And my sister was in Portland as well, and she traveled for a bit, and she taught English in Japan. Growing up here, there really wasn't much in the way of independently owned bars and restaurants, and something that was circulating around the friend groups was, "We got to get out of here. There's nothing for us here." When we went to different cities, and then in addition to our travels, we just got very inspired and then decided to open a bar.
Kerry Diamond:
Well, you are part of a whole movement in the Arts District of Las Vegas. Some folks might not even know there's a part of the city called the Arts District. What distinguishes it?
Christina Dylag:
Well, the Arts Factory was definitely a central focus of the Arts District for a very long time. And growing up here, it felt so far away and there's so much of mystique around it. At the same time that we decided to open the bar, the city was really incentivizing people to open in the neighborhood by waiving the liquor license fee, offering various grants. And then, of course, Tony Hsieh, at the same time was really focusing his efforts on the downtown proper area.
Kerry Diamond:
Tony was the late founder of Zappos.
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
And the Downtown Project.
Christina Dylag:
Correct. Yes. And he did amazing things for the city. But the Arts District was still up and coming in a different way. And at the time, Wes Miles, who owned the Arts Factory, had a property in the neighborhood. We were looking up and down Main Street, also with our budget in mind, which was minimal. And we-
Kerry Diamond:
Totally self-funded?
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay.
Christina Dylag:
Yes. We're looking at the next door property, and it was a bail bonds castle looking place. It was really funny. And then Wes had the building next door. Doors were opening for us. The people at the city were really instrumental in helping us as well.
Kerry Diamond:
That's wonderful.
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
You don't always hear that. In Brooklyn, trust me.
Christina Dylag:
We had a couple.
Kerry Diamond:
I had businesses in Brooklyn. No one's talking about how much the city helps them in Brooklyn.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, yeah. I mean, a couple people in the city were very helpful for us.
Kerry Diamond:
But still, that's all it takes.
Christina Dylag:
Yes. Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
Someone to take an interest in you.
Christina Dylag:
So much red tape. What do you do? I don't know what I'm doing. I didn't even know how to bartend at the time. I really had no idea.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, we have so much to talk about.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, I know. Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
We'll be right back with today's guest.
We've got a lot going on at Cherry Bombe, and the best way to stay informed is to sign up for our free newsletter. You can sign up at cherrybombe.com, or at the link in our show notes. Learn about any podcast guests you might've missed, our upcoming events, early bird ticket info, pop-ups, and cool food news. We send our main email every Friday.
Would you call yourself an Arts District pioneer?
Christina Dylag:
Yeah, I would. I think we lit a flame, I would say. Especially because we were young and we didn't know what we were doing legitimately when we first opened. I think people looked at us and said, "Hey, if they can do it, so can we." It was different for Vegas as well, I would say. It really allowed for different doors to open for other people. It's definitely been a part of the evolution of the Arts District, and I'm so proud to be a part of that.
Kerry Diamond:
It seems like it's a very vibrant, happening part of town now.
Christina Dylag:
Yes, definitely. It's so multifaceted. There's so much going on. And Commerce Street is becoming more of a shopping destination, and the walkability is so much better than it was 10 years ago, 12 years ago. Yeah, it's come a long way and it's so interesting to be a part of it and to see it happen around you.
Kerry Diamond:
You threw something out there that we have to jump right to that. You opened Velveteen Rabbit and you weren't a mixologist?
Christina Dylag:
No.
Kerry Diamond:
What?
Christina Dylag:
No. I could not get a job as a bartender. I was also very shy, so that had something to do with it, I think.
Kerry Diamond:
Wait, did you want a job as a bartender?
Christina Dylag:
I tried, yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay. So, you were an aspiring mixologist?
Christina Dylag:
Yeah. Yes, I was just because... Well, I had worked in the industry, so it's not that I didn't have any experience whatsoever.
Kerry Diamond:
Tell us what your experience was.
Christina Dylag:
I had always hostess, and then I was bussing. I worked at Market in Del Mar outside of San Diego for a bit, for a couple of years. And that was eye-opening for me. Yeah, just different bars and restaurants. And I worked at Downtown Cocktail Room for a little bit, as did my sister, and that was really inspiring as well.
Kerry Diamond:
What is that?
Christina Dylag:
It's no longer open. It closed this year, but-
Kerry Diamond:
In Las Vegas?
Christina Dylag:
Yes, yes, in downtown. And it was one of the very first craft cocktail bars in Las Vegas. They had an innovative program as well, so it was really cool to see how they did things. But, yeah, I could not get a bartending job, so I was largely self-taught.
Kerry Diamond:
Why didn't people want to hire you?
Christina Dylag:
You'd have to ask them, I'm not sure. Probably the lack of experience had something to do with it, in that specific role, I would say. Yeah, I was self-taught, so I spent a lot of time mixing things up, reading books. Bar smarts, that kind of thing. And then the first day bartending was the day we opened. Fake it until you make it, I guess.
Kerry Diamond:
No kidding. No kidding. Who were some of the people you looked to for information or inspiration?
Christina Dylag:
That's a good question. David Wondrich was a big one. Just a lot of different people in the city as well. Mariena, who you know.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, Mariena.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
From the Wynn.
Christina Dylag:
Yes. And Cosmo at the time. Seeing the program at Vesper Bar was really cool, and Chandelier Bar. I have so much respect for her. Yeah, that was a big one for me as well.
Kerry Diamond:
And it sounds like you and your sister have taken bits and pieces of your personality and your travels and put them into the location.
Christina Dylag:
Definitely.
Kerry Diamond:
Because when you said that your sister had spent time in Portland, Oregon and then Japan, I could see a little bit of that.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah, definitely. I think it all blends together, so it's hard to know for sure. But we were always on the same page as far as the aesthetic, sourcing different things, creating a feeling within the environment and the atmosphere. At one point we had chandeliers made out of Buddha bottles, the beer. So we had a party and drank a bunch of Buddha bottles. It's like, okay, this is an affordable way to create something cool in here. And we had to really be artistic and creative with some of the design elements just because of the budget.
Kerry Diamond:
I did read, though, that you did not say you opened it because you couldn't get hired by anyone else. You said one of the reasons you wanted a bar was because you really wanted to be a writer, but you didn't want to have to write for money.
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
You wanted to make money a different way so you could write what you wanted.
Christina Dylag:
Yes, that was a huge motivating force for me. I wanted to create something that allowed for creative freedom, which Velveteen Rabbit has done, and creates a financial foundation for me. And from there I could really create on the side without having to really worry about it, creating something that I'd have to live off of.
Kerry Diamond:
Did that backfire? That's really hard owning your own business.
Christina Dylag:
It took a few more years than I had anticipated, but then I was able to write a book after that.
Kerry Diamond:
You did, we're going to talk about that book.
Christina Dylag:
And it's parlayed into other avenues as well.
Kerry Diamond:
Why did you and your sister decide to go into business together?
Christina Dylag:
Well, when I came up with the idea, she was definitely in mind for me. It just seemed right, that we can make this happen. And that we would be on the same page, that we would really trust each other. She won't (beep) me over. Same, vice versa. Yeah, family. Which there are so many different dynamics with any business partner. It just really aligned for us. Yeah, it just made sense.
Kerry Diamond:
Do you balance each other out in terms of your skillset?
Christina Dylag:
Yes, definitely. Now I'm on my own, so my sister's doing something different now.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, she is.
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
I didn't realize that. Okay.
Christina Dylag:
Yes. It's just this last year that I took it over on my own, she's doing something new. She has another little space and she's doing astrology readings.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, wait, tell us. I know some people, maybe present company included, who might want to go.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, absolutely. She's so good. She has a lot of different modalities that she utilizes. She does energy work and tarot readings, astrology. Venus Rose Coven. Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
Does she have a shop?
Christina Dylag:
She has a space lease within Cinemore, which is a store on Commerce Street, really close to Velveteen Rabbit. And so she's created an entirely new environment in there. It's really beautiful. It's great for little bachelorette parties and smaller group gatherings where she can do more of a ceremony. She also does tarot readings on Wednesdays at Velveteen.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, okay. How has it been for your relationship not working together 24/7?
Christina Dylag:
It's good. I think for me, we just had different ideas about the longevity of Velveteen Rabbit and what that would look like long-term. Because it was my idea at the beginning, I always saw, what if this was a staple in the Arts District for as long as we are around? And how cool would that be? I think she just wants to explore something else, and that's beautiful as well. And we own the property, so we both now still own it together, so she still has a vested interest.
Kerry Diamond:
Tell us what visitors to Velveteen Rabbit can expect.
Christina Dylag:
Definitely a unique experience with innovative cocktails, more of an experiment. We also do a lot of custom cocktails. Whatever your palate is, express that to the bartender, the server, and we can create something uniquely just for you. I'm also very much about the experience as a whole, so the playlist, I hand select every song.
Kerry Diamond:
What are some goodies on the playlist right now?
Christina Dylag:
Oh, I love Afrobeat, some more experimental songs, indie rock. I love Glass Beams, soul, Motown.
Kerry Diamond:
How are your mixology skills?
Christina Dylag:
Well, I'm more behind the scenes these days, but I do contribute to the menu. I love to guide the menu. We always have a format for each menu, but I love to help inspire the bartenders and help them to create their creations. That's really fun for me these days. But I do have a few cocktails on our current menu, and then I'll have one on the next menu. Just depends what holes we're trying to fill with every menu. That's my favorite part about Velveteen is the seasonal menus and being able to really guide those.
Kerry Diamond:
What should I order tonight when I come?
Christina Dylag:
Well, I heard you love non-alcoholic.
Kerry Diamond:
I love a mocktail.
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
I love a champagne cocktail.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, excuse me. Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
I switch it up.
Christina Dylag:
I love it. I think you'll really like Midnight Idol. It's a take on a Ramos Gin Fizz, but it's non-alcoholic. The base is for juice, and then we have a fig and chamomile syrup, lime, coconut milk.
Kerry Diamond:
Beautiful.
Christina Dylag:
Aquafaba. It's vegan. And I think you'll enjoy it.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay. How about if I'm drinking, drinking?
Christina Dylag:
Oh, drinking, drinking. Okay. Well, we have... Oh, we have so many good ones. The Omertà.
Kerry Diamond:
I want one that you came up with.
Christina Dylag:
Okay. Yes. I came up with this one. Omertà, it's a gin-based cocktail with stone pine liqueur and a plum and saffron oxymel. It has a side of mascarpone.
Kerry Diamond:
Really?
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
A side of-
Christina Dylag:
Just on a little spoon.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, that's so interesting.
Christina Dylag:
Take a little bite and then you take a sip.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay. I like that.
Christina Dylag:
It's a fun one.
Kerry Diamond:
I did my homework. That is on your Viva Las Vegas portion of your menu.
Christina Dylag:
It is.
Kerry Diamond:
Tell us what that part of the cocktail menu is all about.
Christina Dylag:
Yes. Little nods to Vegas history. The Omertà is a nod to the mob. It means basically a vow of silence, like don't rat out your homies. The menu... Or sorry-
Kerry Diamond:
No snitches, right?
Christina Dylag:
Yeah, no snitches. The napkin has "In loving memory from the family" on it, which was on Bugsy Siegel's grave after he was murdered. So it's kind of dark. And then-
Kerry Diamond:
You don't seem like a dark... You're not a dark person.
Christina Dylag:
I can be. And then, this one guest was reading the napkin like, "Oh, that's so sweet." Thinking it's from us. And then the bartender explained what it was, which I find really enjoyable.
Kerry Diamond:
That is pretty funny.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
Do you have food?
Christina Dylag:
We do not. No, no food.
Kerry Diamond:
But you have food trucks?
Christina Dylag:
Just for events. We do a lot of wedding receptions these days, corporate events. We have a parking lot right next to us, and it's our parking lot, so we have food trucks often.
Kerry Diamond:
Fun. All right. And you just got married, didn't you?
Christina Dylag:
I did.
Kerry Diamond:
Congratulations.
Christina Dylag:
Thank you.
Kerry Diamond:
I forgot I saw that on your Instagram.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, thanks. Yeah, we had a reception at Velveteen, so that worked out.
Kerry Diamond:
And your dress was spectacular.
Christina Dylag:
Thank you.
Kerry Diamond:
And that necklace that you had on.
Christina Dylag:
Thank you. Custom dress, which was a whole interesting, very creative and fun process. It was really cool to be able to work with the designers, Altered Bride.
Kerry Diamond:
Are they based in Las Vegas?
Christina Dylag:
They are. Fleur de Lis is the other company that they're connected with as well. It was a really cool process. And then Plutonia Blue is my favorite designer, jewelry, and she's in New York.
Kerry Diamond:
You took part in last year's Picnic in the Alley. I thought our listeners would be interested in that event.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah, definitely. It's for everyone, by women. All of the amazing culinary talent, female driven. Yeah, that was really fun. I brought our sorbet cart and did sorbet cocktails, so that was really fun.
Kerry Diamond:
It benefited the Women's Hospitality Initiative.
Christina Dylag:
That's right. Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
We spoke to one of the co-founders, Elizabeth Blau, but I thought that was great to see that. What inspired you to get involved?
Christina Dylag:
I had participated a few years ago, and it was really fun. It's just really great to be around that kind of energy. Everyone's a part of a singular purpose. And the event itself is just so well curated. Jolene, who heads it, is just phenomenal. She's a force. I saw her the other day and I said, "Are you still doing everything all the time?" She's incredible. I don't know how she does it.
Kerry Diamond:
I would love to talk about your writing career, as a fellow writer. You are the author of “Tiny Little Boxes: How to Cope with Existential Dread by Way of Ice Cream and Other Means.”
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
That is an epic title.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
How did you come up with it? What does it mean?
Christina Dylag:
“Tiny Little Boxes” for short. Yeah. It's all about these little boxes that we put ourselves in, and navigating outside of them in order to feel true fulfillment outside of social norms. The name was trying to encapsulate all of that. The nod to ice cream. I ended up doing this promotional vehicle in a hearse. I was selling ice cream.
Kerry Diamond:
You do have a dark side, like you said earlier.
Christina Dylag:
Definitely.
Kerry Diamond:
I didn't pick up on that, but now I'm learning.
Christina Dylag:
It's like a light dark side. I was selling ice cream out of this hearse. I was making the ice cream.
Kerry Diamond:
Is this pre-Velveteen Rabbit?
Christina Dylag:
No, mid.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah. A few years in. It was actually right after the pandemic. Because I had finished the book, the pandemic hit, and that was this time that I got the hearse. It was basically bartering your soul for ice cream. And then, the after manual-
Kerry Diamond:
Was the ice cream free if they signed their soul over to you?
Christina Dylag:
It was $6.66.
Kerry Diamond:
Stop.
Christina Dylag:
Yes. All wrapped up in a beautiful little package.
Kerry Diamond:
Was it a black hearse? Did you paint it?
Christina Dylag:
No. I'll have to show you, I got it wrapped. It's these hands of ice cream coming out of a coffin. It's actually really well done. I've since sold the hearse. But actually, at that point in time I had just started dating my now husband, and so he helped me. We were popping up around the city selling these manuals for once... Now your soul's gone, you need a manual to help you, and so we would sell “Tiny Little Boxes.” It was fun.
Kerry Diamond:
I would sell my soul for ice cream.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah. Wouldn't we all? It's worth it.
Kerry Diamond:
Why did you want to write this book?
Christina Dylag:
I was just so inspired. I think after a few years of owning Velveteen Rabbit I started getting more into my spiritual side. I was a nihilist for a while, and I-
Kerry Diamond:
Tell people what that means.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, yes, that you don't believe in God or anything after this life. But ultimately, it is about cherishing the life that you have now while you're on this earth, versus gearing yourself towards some afterlife that's not here now. It really brings you back to the present. I'm really motivated by Nietzsche and different things. I was very into that. And then, I just was very open to spirituality. I was in a sociology graduate program for all of one month. Because it was too much with owning Velveteen Rabbit. And a professor that I had was so inspiring, and something he said one day just really awakened something within me and made me think about life differently. And then I was investigating different modalities. I had a Reiki experience that was really powerful. Yeah, just did different forums and just I-
Kerry Diamond:
Tell people about Reiki, they might not know that.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, yes, it's energy healing. And Elizabeth, who had done a session on me, I was a little skeptical going in. Basically, the practitioner moves their energy through you and helps to align you, align your chakras. There was one point where she wasn't touching me, but I could feel her energy. And at one point I felt my throat open up so dramatically that she was breathing for me. It was so crazy. I've never experienced something like that before. There was just so much credibility in that moment of, this is not made up.
Kerry Diamond:
Did you feel like you were open to it? Were you a little skeptical?
Christina Dylag:
Oh, yes.
Kerry Diamond:
So you were open to it?
Christina Dylag:
Yeah, I was open. Yeah. I think you have to be to some degree, even if it's a little bit, and just giving yourself into the moment.
Kerry Diamond:
Is she a practitioner here in Las Vegas?
Christina Dylag:
She lives in Oregon now, I think. I don't know if she still goes back and forth. I think she does distance healing. Elizabeth Marshall, she does Reiki Uprising now. She's incredible. That moment just unleashed something within me. It was really amazing. And then, just delving into different things. And I was like, "I really want to write this book. It's so clear to me." And so I wrote it within six months or something, and then self-published it. And then-
Kerry Diamond:
Good for you.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
Where can people get it, on Amazon?
Christina Dylag:
Yeah, it's on Amazon. We also sell it-
Kerry Diamond:
Is it at the Writer's Block? My favorite bookstore.
Christina Dylag:
You know, it is. It should be. I think I had it there at one point. It's probably still there.
Kerry Diamond:
My favorite Vegas bookstore, in case you're wondering.
Christina Dylag:
It's incredible. It's also in the vending machine at Velveteen Rabbit.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, how cool.
Christina Dylag:
Why not?
Kerry Diamond:
Maybe I'll get a copy tonight then. You can sign it for me. Yay.
Christina Dylag:
I'll give you one. You don't have to buy it.
Kerry Diamond:
No, I'm I'm happy to support, honestly. Is it a narrative? Is it memoir? Or is it more self-help book? How would you describe it?
Christina Dylag:
It's part self-help, part memoir. Definitely some personal anecdotes. But yeah, largely self-help about navigating outside of social norms.
Kerry Diamond:
And I have to ask, what is your favorite ice cream?
Christina Dylag:
Oh. Oh, my God. You know what? Ironically, I'm not a huge ice cream person. I love cookie dough ice cream, though. I will say there are times where I'm just like, "I need this now." Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
You know what I'm a little bit of a sucker for? At least in Maine. I go to Maine in the summer. For a few weeks, they have Cookie Monster ice cream. It's blue. It's probably not spirulina or whatever. You used to get a real blue color. But it's blue with cookie dough.
Christina Dylag:
I love it.
Kerry Diamond:
And it's just so cute. It's so cute, right?
Christina Dylag:
We love cute food.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay, so cookie dough. Okay, that's not dark. I would love for you to tell me about Realm of Being and the Etheria Illumination deck.
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
You've such an interesting Instagram-
Christina Dylag:
Thank you.
Kerry Diamond:
... dedicated to that. And at first I was like, "I don't know how I wound up on that. That must not be Christina. What is this all about?" But it does go back to your “Tiny Little Boxes.”
Christina Dylag:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
You do not believe about existing in one little box.
Christina Dylag:
No, not at all.
Kerry Diamond:
You're all about exploring the different sides of your personality and what you believe in.
Christina Dylag:
Definitely. Yes. It's largely centered around human design. Are you familiar with human design?
Kerry Diamond:
I'm not.
Christina Dylag:
Oh, my God. I'll have to tell you what your type is. Human design is essentially an amalgamation of different schools of wisdom from the I Ching and Kabbalah to chakras, astrology. And so, it's really this beautiful combination of all of that. I got really into that. Actually, this project was largely motivated by a connection with my eldest sister, Tanya, who's no longer with us. And so-
Kerry Diamond:
Sorry.
Christina Dylag:
Thank you. I really connected with her after her passing in a different way, and I was able to look into her human design chart and understand some of the motivations that she had that were actually mirrored in my own experience. I felt like this deeper connection with her. I explored that more, and then I was looking at my charts, all of my friends' charts, all of my family's charts, and I started to see how these main life themes were playing out for individuals. These individuals that I knew.
And it was very interesting to see it play out, and I got really invested in it. The Etheria Illumination deck is an Oracle deck that's based on the 64 gates of human design. They're essentially these themes that are playing out in the collective consciousness and in our individual consciousness. So different themes will be pertinent to you based on the time you were born. Though we experience all the themes in some capacity, certain themes will be more relevant to you in your lifetime.
There's a gift for every theme, and then it's associated shadow. So the light and the dark. The shadow is the challenge, and it's through the challenge that we're able to fully harness the gift of that theme. The 64 gates of human design are actually connected to the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching, thousands of years of wisdom within these hexagrams then turned into the gates of human design and the 64 gene keys. There's a lot going on, but the 64 themes I interpreted in my own way, and that's the Etheria Illumination deck. And then Realm of Being is centered upon philosophy, human design, astrology, and my own thoughts about those subjects and existence.
Kerry Diamond:
I love that you did this. This is such a gift to everybody.
Christina Dylag:
It's so fun.
Kerry Diamond:
And this is the second series that we're doing about Las Vegas, and we really haven't talked about the spiritual side of Las Vegas, which is a big part of it.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah. Yeah, that's a great point. There's so much nature here as well. It's so transient, and the identity is shifting always. There's so much dark and there's so much light, and it's such a spiritual city as well. It's so unique, and it's really interesting to have basically been raised here and see it shift and evolve in such an incredible way. It's kind of wild.
Kerry Diamond:
Have you?
Christina Dylag:
Yes. Yeah. I'm a Vegas there, I guess. Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
How does one teach themselves how to use the cards?
Christina Dylag:
A lot of people pick a card per day, which is one use of it. I'm actually re-approaching the deck in a different way to see it through the lens of tarot, because tarot has different archetypes. It can be used as a tool for divination, so I'm approaching it from a different vantage point. I'll be doing more guidance through my Realm of Being Instagram soon on that. And then also, if you look up your human design chart, my human design is a really good resource, and you can see there are numbers on either side of the chart that link to the gates that are activated for you. Those numbers you can look up in the deck and see which themes are prominent for you.
Kerry Diamond:
I have a lot of work to do.
Christina Dylag:
It's an endless hole. Rabbit hole. It's crazy.
Kerry Diamond:
The Velveteen Rabbit hole.
Christina Dylag:
Yes, exactly. Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay. Few more questions. Are you good at trusting your gut?
Christina Dylag:
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
Have you always been?
Christina Dylag:
I think so. Yeah. I've always marched to the beat of my own drum in that way. I think I trust myself a lot more now. I definitely don't... I don't know. I think we're all indoctrinated to a certain degree. When I was able to see outside of that indoctrination, that was when I could really harness my own sense of freedom. But it's layered. Once you take off one layer and then you notice the other layers, we're always peeling away those layers. And I think that's an ongoing process for the entirety of our lives. Many more layers to come.
Kerry Diamond:
Do you have a motto or a mantra?
Christina Dylag:
Do what you want.
Kerry Diamond:
That's a good one. Last question. You have to plan an epic night out on the town. Where would you go, and who would you bring with you?
Christina Dylag:
Okay. Well, I'm definitely going to go to dinner at Anima, the best restaurant. Oh, it's so good. I'm going to bring the chef from Pujol, in Mexico City, Enrique Olvera. And then from there, I think we're going to go to the disco show. It's a newer show.
Kerry Diamond:
I saw the sign.
Christina Dylag:
It's really good. At the Link. It's so fun. It's an immersive disco experience. You're like on the dance floor.
Kerry Diamond:
They had me at immersive disco. Yeah.
Christina Dylag:
Yes. And then, of course we're going to end at Velveteen Rabbit.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, of course you have to.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah, we have to.
Kerry Diamond:
What would you order then?
Christina Dylag:
Oh, a mezcal old-fashioned. Or a Gray Whale dirty martini, which is my go-to at the moment.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay. Well, that sounds like a fun night. Maybe I'll tag along.
Christina Dylag:
Yeah, please come. Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, well, it's so good seeing you again.
Christina Dylag:
You too. Thank you so much.
Kerry Diamond:
So excited to come back and do our opening event with you all in March.
Christina Dylag:
Yes. I can't wait.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah, that's going to be a blast.
Christina Dylag:
Thank you so much.
Kerry Diamond:
That's it for today's show. Don't forget, we'll be in Vegas on March 7th and 8th for a special series of events. Snag your ticket or weekend pass at cherrybombe.com. I would love for you to subscribe to Radio Cherry Bombe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and leave a rating and a review. Anyone you want to hear on an upcoming episode? Let me know. Our theme song is by the band Tralala. Thank you so much to the team at Sticky Paws Studio in Las Vegas. Our producers are Catherine Baker and Jenna Sadhu, and our editorial coordinator is Sophie Kies. Thanks for listening, everybody. You are the Bombe.