Empire Spreads its Reign
The freestanding nightspot is diving deeper into the entertainment realm, adding to its already substantial list of attractions with the recent arrival of Fashionistas from Krave, set to begin its new run at Empire Ballroom February 8. Producer and adult-film king John Stagliano cites the funky, hard-to-access corner at Desert Passage as one of the main reasons for the switch, and Empire Ballroom has a ticketing kiosk right on the Strip. Also, he felt many patrons had a hard time separating Krave's gay-themed nightclub activities from the show, despite the"Harmon Theater" tag added this past summer to help better distinguish the two. Word is that another Krave production, The Soprano's Last Supper, is set to follow Fashionistas over to Empire soon.
Party with the A-List
Empire Ballroom Consulting Partner Gino LoPinto will also strengthen the influence of his already prolific company, Vegas Alliance, when he launches www.VegasAList.com. Vegas Alliance's director of marketing, Adam Gould, snuck in a teaser about the site in the Weekly's Beyond The Rope interview last issue. (Did you catch that? Sure you did.) But don't try to log on just yet—the site won't be up until January. When it officially launches in March, VegasAList will offer free membership to qualifying locals and industry members.
“It's strictly club-access," says LoPinto, who will use the newly formed community to offer card-holders free entry and rotating special promotions to their favorite hot spots,"and that includes the weekends." LoPinto will, of course, drive some of that traffic to Empire, but he is optimistic about the program's city-wide appeal and aims to be the first name on club owners' lips when a new venue debuts. His secret weapon? Members will be able to view the actual guest list, so there will be no more surprises at the door. Remember, knowledge is power!
Exercise your rights
The noms are in for the City's Best 2007 awards, as chosen by AOL CityGuide, with the winners decided by you, the savvy and discerning consumer. Forty-seven categories span Best Dining and Best Nightlife, but the most coveted award (at least by Vegas standards) will go to the Best Dance Club. And the nominees are: Drai's, Jet, Light, Moon, OPM, Pure, Studio 54, Tangerine, Tao and Tryst.
If you have a strong opinion one way or the other, visit cityguide.aol.com/lasvegas/best now and say your piece. If not, pick the one you last remember entering but can't recall leaving, and then move on to the other categories, such as Best Dive Bar, Best Date Bar and Best Happy Hour. We trust your decision.
Friendly to All
Las Vegas moved into the Top 10 of gay-friendly destinations in the U.S. this year, according to a recent survey by Harris Interactive, mirroring a growth of gay- and lesbian-friendly establishments in the city. With Las Vegas ranking eighth behind such cities as San Francisco, New York and Miami, it's no wonder nightclubs like Krave (which began its second year in September) have seen such a pleasant increase in business.
Think Maybe the Two Are Connected? |
"Man, I gotta take a piss!"
Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden to himself as he entered Body English Sunday night for the XXXmas School Dance and Dorm Days 2, and just moments before ordering his next round of Coronas.
Cocktail o' the Week |
The 64th FloorMix, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, $18
Ingredients
2 oz. Cane Rum
1 1/2 oz. cherry brandy
Simple syrup splash
Sour mix splash
Grenadine splash
Topped off with soda
Getting nice and high, this fruity confection is a fabulous way to take in the view at the south end of the Strip. The best part is, if you've had one too many, the bathrooms boast one of the best views in the lounge, so it's a win-win.