For the want of a nail file, the bar was, if not lost, then certainly curtailed.
The Beauty Bar, a nightlife concept that could only come from a hipster's brain, is opening its doors Friday to the alternative culture-starved masses of Las Vegas. The fourth of owner Paul Devitt's bars—the other locations are in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles—the Beauty Bar is '50s style salon meets cool hangout, where ladies (and men, of course) can enjoy both martinis and manicures.
At least that's the concept at the three other bars. According to Devitt, the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology has jabbed some thinning scissors through the idea's heart here. "We'll be 'demonstrating' nail polish and selling polish," says Devitt, "but no manicures." (The board did not respond by press time.) His bemused exasperation is clear as he stands amid the partly finished linoleum floor and half-wired lights, with tradesmen intently at work. Devitt, tall and thin and wearing a Beauty Bar T-shirt, isn't terribly worried all will be right for the weekend's three-day run of opening events, starting Friday with an appearance by Hizzoner, Oscar Goodman, and a performance by the LA indie group Giant Drag, all co-hosted by the folks behind First Friday. Saturday will be a second private event for Strip VIPs, with Har Mar Superstar stripping down to his tighty whities. Sunday will be open to the public with the self-proclaimed Mexican Elvis, El Vez, performing, along with DJs Scotty Boy, John Doe and Gram Funky.
If that lineup isn't enough to tell you who Devitt hopes to attract, we're going to have to shave off your soul patch.
"We want to bring some soul to this town," Devitt says, adding that he'd like to see people Downtown walking from bar to restaurant to theater. "Wouldn't that be great?" he asks rhetorically, with such conviction that it's possible to see this rough patch of Fremont, if not transformed into the Champs Elysee then at least minus the multiple check-cashing places and crack addicts. "This is the litmus test for Downtown, to give people something they'd experience in another city besides Las Vegas."
Speaking of other cities, New York was the only place where the Beauty Bar was first a salon, says Devitt, who opened its doors in 1995 with co-founder Deb Parker. The other three were different sorts of storefronts, and all had their interiors and equipment imported: in LA's case, from Bakersfield, and with San Francisco, from New York. "This is from the Capri Salon and Style in Trenton, New Jersey," Devitt says, grinning. The lights in the alcoves were rescued from the Algiers before the landmark Vegas hotel was torn down to make room for the since-canceled Krystle Sands condominium-hotel.
Once the staff has had a chance to recover from the weekend (in other words, Wednesday) the 2,100-square-foot space will feature DJs seven nights a week, possibly live bands on First Fridays and other occasions, and be used for rock-show afterparties. Also, every night of the week will be the nail polish demonstrations and martini happy hours from 6 to 9 p.m., with a polish-cocktail combo for $10. Featured martinis have names such as Miss Clairol, Platinum Blonde, Blue Rinse, French Flip and the Prell. All that's missing is servings of beer-fortified Body on Tap shampoo from the '80s.
"I want to tap into all those kids who don't want to go to the Strip clubs and listen to hip-hop," says Devitt. Except in rare instances involving live bands, there will be no cover charge. "And no bottle service to sit under a dryer," Devitt laughs.