Thursday, March 3, 12:12 a.m. I'm listening to Britney. I'm eating strawberries on dainty toothpicks, listening to Britney. I've doffed my tight black suit in favor of a flouncy '50s-style skirt, and by the way, I'm listening to Britney. But for tonight, it's OK—because it's Girls Night Out. Officially. What better way to say ciao, bella, to National Women's History Month than with a proper Vegas Girls Night Out? But we're no powder puffs; these are career women, scene-makers, power players. Bring it on, Buffy, I'll see your cosmo and microdog and raise you a Swarovski-encrusted cell phone.
Tabú is a carnival of excitement Thursday: a concrete adult playground with three platforms for us to dance on and enough video enhancements to entice even the most blitzed spring-break frat boy out of his stupor. It may be our millionth time here but we still laugh like Beavis and/or Butt-head watching the projected images recoil and adjust, the sensors reacting to our movements. Promoter Jack LaFleur's newest party, Fusion, is in full swing and a profusion of lovely ladies have donned their finery to take on the night. They are the vibrantly hued centerpieces of the VIP tables. In a feminist sort of way, of course.
While Britney slaves away, I put down the champagne like a trouper and do battle with these sexual demons. Our perimeter is secure: couches on three sides and on the fourth, an intimidating front line of ladies pose, all but daring any man to Red Rover his way in. The girls dance and laugh, carouse and canoodle in full view of the amphitheater of gentlemen, knowing quite well that their throaty laughs and flirty hair tosses are not going unnoticed. It's a game: "Catch us if you can," their eyes say.
But foolish is the boy who, unqualified in their eyes, tries to infiltrate. Oh look, here's one now. He seizes the moment and jumps into the frame as two ladies pose for my photo. Is that a "rock on" sign he's making with his hand? He is quickly tisk-tisked and the girls send him back to the boys for beer-bottle clinking, high fives and a round of "Sweet!" Another gives it a go by leaping onto our table to show us his moves. He, too, is summarily tossed, this time by our benevolent host, a revered local restaurateur with a gleaming Cheshire cat smile that is both disarming and alarming.
Tabú is the perfect scene for these dramatic sorties of the sexes. Within the staff of bona fide models, female servers do the pouring while the chiseled male bar-backs bring more ice, thin panels on their uniforms showing at least four out of their six-packs. Dancing on the tables is highly encouraged; next to us, Curls has been dancing on the table for hours and shows no signs of slowing down. The bar's design is such that everywhere is a vantage point—both for the seeing and seeing upon. At the door, bodies are streaming in and it appears someone is trying to see just how many hot people can be put in one room before the DJ's records melt.
Recognizing that DJs are artists, and rock-hip-hop mash-ups an inviting canvas, LaFleur encourages DJs to read the crowd. Jay-Z's "99 Problems" flows into Nena's "99 Luftballons." Genius, I think as I pop another strawberry into my mouth. On the couches, conversation turns to toys—some battery-powered, some not—and my face turns crimson. I choke on my strawberry and laugh; tonight we will delight in our feminine foibles and revel in our female idiosyncrasies.
Long after the bottles, long after Barry Manilow has filled us in on what happened at the Copa, and not too long after Curls has given someone else a chance to dance on the middle table, I silence the demons and accept the mixed messages we send out. As Fusion is an unconventional marriage of sounds that, when heard together, just works, there needn't be a clash.We ladies are right as rain celebrating whatever balance of power and vulnerability, control and accessibility we choose.
Xania Woodman thinks globally and parties locally. And frequently. E-mail her at
[email protected].
Xania's Hot Spots for March 10-16
Thursday, March 10th
Fusion at Tabú
Saturday, March 12th
Red Hookah Lounge at the Foundation Room
Monday, March 14
Secret Society at Sushi Roku
Tuesday, March 15
3 at the MGM—Tabú, Studio 54, Teatro After Hours for one cover
For more Hot Spots and weekly parties visit
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