Another sign of the Fremont East District's revitalization is when once-shuttered hangouts come back to roost. Thursday, September 25th, you can mark another's return when The Bunkhouse at 121 S. 11th marks its grand re-opening, with free admission, drink specials, and free music from Rusty Maples, Rose's Pawn Shop and Richard Grewar. Click here to RSVP.
Hakkasan is giving away a trip to party with Above & Beyond at their August 29th show. The winner will get two round-trip tickets, an MGM Grand Suite for three nights, dinner for two at Hakkasan Restaurant, a ride to and from the airport, and DJ booth access to the show. To enter, upload a picture of your "Blue Sky Action" (whatever that is) to Instagram and use the tag #BlueSkyAction, @aboveandbeyond and @HakkasanLV, then enter here.
Las Vegas is full of special deals for the locals (although, sadly, I guess free admission to Vegas Nocturne at the Cosmo won't always be one of them). Check out the Luxor's specials page for locals deals, including two-for-one show tickets and a free locals night at LAX.
In the mood for some Celtic music? Brendan's Irish Pub at The Orleans features live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights. Upcoming acts include Killian's Angels on the 13th, Wild Celts on the 20th, and Finnegan's Wake on the 27th. Shows start at 9:00 p.m. and there's never a cover.
Lucie's Lounge at E. Charleston and the 215 is celebrating its third anniversary today with a Customer Appreciation party, and you're invited! Festivities kick off at 2 p.m. and keep going all night long, with a free Italian buffet featuring Mike's Pizza, sausage and peppers, baked ziti, and cannoli (Mom's recipe), plus "massive" drink specials and dancing with a live DJ. Sign up for their player's card while you're there and try to score some bonus play, and keep coming back on Wednesdays for the free late-night comedy show.
Brooklyn Bowl at the Linq made a big splash in its Vegas debut with acts like Soullive and Elvis Costello with The Roots, and continues to book some of the biggest-ticket acts in the music business. But on other nights, it gives a space for up-and-coming local bands to perform, and for you to catch them for free. A special case is this Friday, June 6, at 7 p.m., when the Las Vegas WEEKLY hosts its Music Issue Showcase, featuring an EP release party by A Crowd of Small Adventures, plus L.A.-based The Moth & The Flame, Sabriel, Mercy Music and Totescity. Sign up here to enjoy the show plus complimentary cocktails by Jimador.
It pays to be on e-mail lists sometimes; thank goodness for all those years I spent entering online sweepstakes. US Weekly sent me an invite to their "Hot Bodies" party at Drai's Beach Club, on top of the Cromwell, on May 31st. Special guest was Extra host Maria Menounos, signing copies of her book, The Everygirl's Guide to Diet and Fitness, or, how she lost 40 pounds and so can you. Maria is her book's own best advertisement, because she was smokin'. I apologized for being overdressed and explained I was stopping off at IHOP later. Oddly enough, she told me she loves IHOP's pancakes. It doesn't show.
Of course this was also the best pretext ever for checking out Drai's, the new hot spot in town: Two decks of poolside cabanas, spectacular Strip views, plenty of shallow pools for splashin' action, palm trees, sofas and chairs with pink upholstery (they match the drapes), waiters bringing by trays of Better Than Peanut Butter shots, attendants standing by at the entrance to dispense towels and sunscreen, an adjacent dance club, and the beats thundering out while the young and beautiful party on in their swim togs.
During my recent stay on the Strip, I found a 20-cent slot ticket for The Cromwell in the elevator on my way down. So off to The Cromwell it was. The ghost of the Barbary Coast, which formerly stood in The Cromwell's place, looms large over the casino, which is all red velvet drapes, red leather panels, and red chandeliers, with slinky cocktail waitresses winding their way through. Superstar chef Giada Di Laurentiis is opening her restaurant Giada here, while on the rooftop is the next big thing in nightlife (and daylife), afterhours impresario Victor Drai's namesake poolside club festooned with palm trees. I have what may be an invitation to an event there later in the week, so perhaps I'll be able to report back my findings. In any event, Drai will never have to worry anymore that his legacy will be the Weekend at Bernie's movies.
Many years ago, on one of my many jaunts to Vegas, I saw a billboard advertising a "Gentleman's Club" called The Library and its "Gorgeous Librarians." Now as we all know I'm a huge fan of libraries so naturally this piqued my interest. I never managed to make it over to this off-strip club during its heyday, and was saddened beyond description when I passed its location on Boulder Highway and saw it had been closed for apparently some time now. I swear that only a few months ago two of the neon "GIRLS!" on the sign were still lighting up, but if so one of them has since flickered out. I shall never know the answers to my burning questions: Did the showgirls really dress up as librarians? Were the walls of the club lined with bookshelves? For some reason I picture row after row of leather-bound volumes.
Vegas nightspots have been playing host to celebrity DJ's lately, with everyone taking a spin from Nick Cannon and Li'l John, to Christie Hefner and Paris Hilton. So how can you resist dropping in at the Beauty Bar tomorrow night (Tuesday, May 20 at 8 p.m.) when Rookie of the Year star Thomas Ian Nicholas performs, with resident DJs Biz-E and Munkey. Need another reason to go? Okay: It's nickel beer night.
Pure, the popular night spot at Caesars Palace, will be closing after Memorial Day weekend for an extensive remodeling by its new owners. But first, the club will celebrate with one last Pure Tuesdays Industry Closing Party. The black-tie gala starts at 10:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 20th. As for the club's future, the remodel is scheduled to wrap up early next year. Beyond that: The answer is not clear.
The Silver Saddle (2501 E. Charleston at Fremont) does right there on its sign that it's a Saloon and Dance Hall, not a "casino," and although they do have a bank of slots and video poker machines and a couple of $3 blackjack tables that start dealing at 4 p.m., that sign is pretty accurate. It's a happening dance place, too, especially on the weekends, when you may get frisked coming in the door, but if it's clear you're there just to gamble, they'll waive the cover charge. Signing up for their Gold Pass card gets you $10 free play when you play $20 through the machines, although the card is available on their schedule. On our first visit, when we asked when someone would be at the cage to sign us up, we were told, "She'll be in at nine tonight." Cut a rug while you wait.
As if you needed convincing of Fremont East's newfound coolness factor, Stephen Malkmus and the Jinks will be headlining Downtown hot spot Beauty Bar this Wednesday (April 2). The Pavement frontman (recently name-checked on NPR's Wits) and his latest band will be supported by Speedy Ortiz and Same Sex Mary; doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are a paltry $20, so tell Andrew Jackson he owes you a night on the town.
Today we head up West Charleston to the tony suburb of Summerlin, turn onto Rampart, and find ourselves at the Rampart Casino, attached to the lovely Mission-style J.W. Marriott Resort. Signing up for the player's card here got us all kind of nice bonuses, like a two-for-one buffet coupon, and getting to spin the wheel for points (I earned enough points for a Rampart hat and t-shirt). They're pretty generous with the comps at the table games, too. Playing blackjack at a $5 table for an hour or so earned us two lunch buffets. That buffet is usually $9.95 (it only goes up to $19.95 for dinner on "theme nights") and it's good hearty fare, with an interesting selection at the ice cream freezer (Hawaiian Vanilla! Sea Salt and Caramel!). Naturally they have fun promotions to keep the regulars coming back. Like Plinko! And their Bonkerz Comedy Club features some of the same hilarious comedians that we've seen playing the clubs on the Strip. What's even sweeter: The Sunday has coupons for two-for-one tickets, good through March 27.
The Riviera's Wicked Vicky Tavern boasts of having over 100 beers to choose from. Want to try one? Several sources, including 24/7 Magazine and the Vegas Values Coupon Booklet, are carrying coupons for a free draft at the Wicked Vicky. We'll be staying there for three nights next month, so why not join us and hoist a few? They have live entertainment on the weekend and bar food, too. Not a bad place to relax on your way to and from the Riviera Comedy Club, where tickets are $19.99 with no hidden fees. Or half price in the Free Vegas Deals coupon sheet you can find in the magazine bins along the Strip. Or free with the American Casino Guide.
