The space once occupied by the short-lived Prana Restaurant and Lounge is finally getting some long-overdue love, though little more than dusting is required, since the new tenant bought the two-story space intact, down to the very forks and knives. New York nightclub owner Michael Bergos is best known for his Club New York and Vudu Lounge, but when Asia Nightclub and Restaurant soft-opens at Planet Hollywood on June 14, he might just be able to add Vegas to his list of conquests. Located on the corner of Harmon and Las Vegas Boulevard, just steps inside the Miracle Mile shops, the 800-capacity Asia boasts its own valet as well as a frontage inside the shops.
Executive chef and master sommelier Steven Geddess has been hired to do double duty, creating a seasonal menu and a beverage program that complement each other. Straddling the early evening dining hours and the late-night party hours, Asia will be opened by the team of Andrew Wintner and Turk Spinuzzi, who have been brought on as marketing consultant and operations consultant, respectively. Their industry clout and knowledge of the Vegas party landscape mean they will be able to seamlessly bring together plans for dinner service, a Thursday happy hour and a laid-back lounge experience. Taking a cue from the Tryst model, Wintner says “Build a gorgeous space, hire the right people and go.” Also on their team are special-events coordinator Ali Harrington, formerly of Cherry and the N9NE Group, and marketing coordinator Natalie Fisher, formerly of the N9NE Group.
Owner Bergos could not be more pleased with the way things are coming along, calling the project “turnkey.” Beyond replacing the furniture, upgrading lighting and sound equipment and installing an aquarium feature, there is precious little that needs to be touched. Bergos has a favorite room in his new venue: “It’s the most beautiful kitchen I’ve ever seen in my life.” Look for fresh faces in the DJ booth, live performances onstage, intimate parties in the private dining room and the three tricked-out sky-boxes (think of the plush corporate digs at concert venues) and ultra-VIP valet parking, not for celebrities but for Asia’s loyal, local crowd. “Hey, I’m just a small town tavern-owner just trying to sell a beer.” While we’re not quite swallowing that, we’re definitely looking forward to the “progressive Euro-Asian” cuisine and a cold sake.
The curse of success
The newest member of the pool family is well on its way, and who better than the Rio to introduce the next sun-soaked edition of daytime pool parties? High-ranking brass at Harrah’s have seen the equation of nightclub ops running the pool equaling profit, so they are not fixing what isn’t broke. Pauly Freedman and his army of hospitality troops from VooDoo, Risqué and I-Bar are moving forward with VooDoo Beach. And despite the beach suffix, Freedman isn’t looking to create something that is already out there.
“VooDoo Beach has something for everyone,” he said. “This is an alternative to the other pool parties and pool clubs out there, but we are also not ignoring what works—we are just making it more approachable.”
Apparently you don’t have to walk off a runway, have boobs out to here or abs that are billboard-worthy to show up and get wet (not that any of those things are bad, but sometimes In-N-Out is just irresistible).
“Our demographic is 21-45,” Freedman said. He then went on to describe something that sounded like the energy of Rehab without the chaos, and the remarkable service of Bare without the exclusivity and massive naked breasts.
The pool is already undergoing a small face lift, with fuchsias, blues and lime greens, along with new cabanas and group hammocks. The official launch is May 30, doubling with the launch of the recurring Latin party Color (pronounced ko-lore) taking place every Wednesday. DJs will be on-property Friday-Sunday, with happy hour every day from 4-6 at the Cruzan Cabana Bar, fresh mojitos crowned the signature drink. Ladies are always free, and men who are not guests at a Harrah’s property are $10. Freedman isn’t reaching out to the locals just yet, knowing our local scene can be harsh if everything isn’t beyond perfection. “I don’t want to pop my collar just yet. I want to make sure my staff is ready, that the concept is ready, before I throw the doors open.” Bare, which has already seen wild success this season, quietly opened last fall with the same idea.