From Boutique to Sonique

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Xania Woodman

It's what the nightclubs and PR firms don't want you to know, at least not yet: They have plans. Big ones. Top-name DJs, hot 'n' sexy guest hosts, and swanky grand openings. Most clubs are accustomed to keeping their plans hush-hush. To get my greedy little hands on this coveted info meant espionage, calling in favors, and a lot of convincing.


This fall looks to be an important one, with three big openings, a grand reopening, and plenty of stellar DJ activity.


DJ Scotty Boy will be adding the Rainbow Bar and Grill to his growing roster of residencies this month. By my count, he's now working 11 days per week. Beginning September 12, the Rainbow will start Rock Mondays, spinning all things rock from hair band and garage to grunge and punk. The Rainbow also will begin a weekly, live local-band showcase September 29.


On September 21, Ice will celebrate the one-year anniversary of its high-profile takeover by Godskitchen—chronicled on Spike TV's The Club—featuring DJ Mark Sanchez.


That same night, following up on its Fashion Week edition of Boutique, Tabú will welcome designers Ted Baker London on September 21 and Glam Clothing on October 19.


This month, Vegas will experience one of the most anticipated openings of the year, with Tao Asian Bistro coming online September 23 at the Venetian. The 40,000-square-foot Asian complex will house a restaurant, banquet facility, nightclub and ultralounge. The soon-to-be hot spot will echo its New York sister's décor, which will include rich fabrics; ancient wood and stone; a hand-carved, 20-foot-tall Buddha; and water features complete with a koi pond.


With such a behemoth project as Tao hitting the scene, that weekend is gaining importance. Hoping to steal some of Tao's thunder, promoter John Lewis will bring LA and Miami's Rokbar to Vegas for two nights at Pure Nightclub. On September 23, Pure will welcome Dave Navarro, and on September 24, the evening will be hosted by Velvet Revolver. Rokbar's celebrity investors include Paul Oakenfold and Tommy Lee.


Also September 24, singer Sonique, most famous for her 2000 hit, "It Feels So Good," will perform at Seven Nightclub. That same weekend, Beacher's Madhouse will swing into action with its first performance of the season on September 23. Grand Master Flash will grace the decks at Pure on September 27 and Tangerine on September 28. Just prior, the Pure Management Group will import New York's DJ Jusske to do the same circuit September 16 and 17.


Light plans to stay busy this month with a lineup of magazine, clothing and holiday parties. On September 11, Light welcomes Ford Models LA; September 16 sees the celebration of Mexican Independence Day; September 18 will feature the Scoop Fall Fashion Showcase; and on September 25, Vegas Group Entertainment celebrates its one-year anniversary at both Caramel and Light.


Looking out to October, the Empire Ballroom, which just opened August 26, will celebrate its grand opening. Scotty Boy will hold the Friday night residency while DJ Dave Onyx will take on Saturdays.


It's a veritable shopping list of top DJ talent at Ice: October 1, Bad Boy Bill returns to the main room; October 8, Mark Farina; October 12, DJ Kaskade; October 15, DJ ICEY; October 28, Felix Da Housecat and Donald Glaude; and October 29, Monsterball featuring Sasha.


Light will hold its annual Sinners and Saints Halloween Ball on October 3, complete with costume contests and prizes, of course.


On October 25, DJ Mark Ronson will begin his new residency with Pure Management, spinning at Pure one Tuesday and Tangerine one Wednesday each month. This marks the highest profile residency since Donald Glaude joined Ice on Fridays. It's an exclusive contract, meaning Pure and Tangerine will be the only places to see Ronson in Las Vegas. A high-profile reopening sure to knock our collective socks off will be the reintroduction of the Club Formerly Known As La Bête, now titled Tryst. The summertime collaboration between hotel giant Steve Wynn and nightlife guru Victor Drai will culminate with a mid-October closing, a late December soft opening, and a New Year's Eve grand reopening with the full celebrity red-carpet regalia befitting Wynn and Drai.


Early though it may be to discuss November and beyond, clubland is filling up its calendar and reserving A-lister talent far in advance. Godskitchen will be presenting DJ Tiesto at the Orleans Arena, with afterhours at Ice on New Year's Eve. The rest of the weekend lineup will feature DJ Paul Van Dyk on December 30 and DJ John Digweed on January 1.


The Light Group is hard at work in preparation for its next big thing, the arrival of Jet Nightclub and Stack Restaurant in mid-December. Mink Ultralounge will join the others at the Mirage in February, giving us plenty more to look forward to than just the change of seasons.


Like a High Sierra jackrabbit suffering from an overactive libido in springtime, the Las Vegas nightlife scene continues to be fruitful and multiply. This fall, though the temperature—temporarily—will drop, the concentration gets denser and the competition gets even hotter. Meet me at the bar!

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