Drop Dead Gorgeous: It’s not just skin deep
Forget Miss America—the Drop Dead Gorgeous Beauty Pageant is returning to Las Vegas. In its second year, the annual Beauty Bar-sponsored event promises an irreverent, tongue-in-cheek take on the traditional beauty pageants of yesteryear. It’s a tribute to nontraditional sexy style, vintage sensibility and great music.
Twelve debauched debutantes (plus, last year, one guy in drag), will be judged on attitude as well as looks and will strut their way from New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas to compete for the $2500 grand prize and the title of Miss Beauty Bar 2008—an honor won by local hottie Grace Atencio in 2007.
Hosting and keeping the proceedings suitably outrageous will be infamous female impersonator Toni James, who’s performed at Gypsy, Studio 54 and the Joint, among other Vegas venues. Canadian electro/hip-hop duo Thunderheist will provide the soundtrack and steady bass beat as the pageant’s headlining musical guests.
The event takes place on December 8 in the Showroom at the Plaza (the site of the Rat Pack’s final performance). Doors open at 8:30 p.m., and afterward, the party moves to the nearby Beauty Bar, where it all started. The after-party will feature Joel Gion (of Brian Jonestown Massacre and DIG! fame) with his new band, The Dilettantes.
The Living Room goes live
While the rest of us were tending to our turkey hangovers, sneaky Opium Group Las Vegas used Thanksgiving weekend to soft-launch the Living Room, the first of their two projects slated for Planet Hollywood. Though big sister Privé will be opening in late December (we’re hearing December 20 ...), the nightclub’s anteroom is now open Fridays and Saturdays. Located just at the top of the escalators originating in the casino floor’s so-called Pleasure Pit, the Living Room will serve as pre-party, afterparty and a party unto itself once the club is open. Until then, the plush, bejeweled lounge is open from 7 p.m. to close. In this period of soft opening, be sure to catch an eyeful of the pinup-style cocktail staff uniforms—among the sexiest in town—as well as the sporty vests and caps on the runners and the George Clooney-esque undone bow ties and crisp tux shirts on the bartenders.
Brrrr. It’s 54 Below!
On December 7, Studio 54 will be heating things up by lowering the temperature to 54 Below, the winter wonderland-themed soiree that marks 10 years of partying at the legendary MGM Grand nightclub. While the décor promises to reflect the chilly, arctic theme, the entertainment will be decidedly warmer. With Frederick’s of Hollywood as one of 54 Below’s sponsors, Studio 54 will be giving away sexy gift bags to the first 200 VIP guests, and models will be showing off the lingerie store’s “barely there” offerings throughout the evening in the exclusive VIP area. The crowd will also be entertained by aerialists and go-go dancers as they move to the beat, courtesy of DJ Dynamixx. It all culminates in a sultry performance by the dancers of MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris. With entertainment sure to keep the temperature steadily rising, this is one winter ball where it’ll be safe to check your coat at the door.
Speaking of hot ...
Beginning December 2, Mist Bar & Lounge at TI will be bringing Vegas nightlife a little Latin flavor every Sunday night at 10:30 with Calor. The Latin dance music night replaces Wild Out Sundays: Una Noche Latina and will feature top Latin DJs spinning the hottest in salsa, meringue, reggaeton and rock en Espanol.
M.A.D.a.M. returns to Downtown
Following a string of events installed at nightclubs on the Strip—Vinyl Wednesdays at Tao, Flux Fridays at Polly Esther’s and the short-lived Superficial Sundays at Blush—Matt W. and Ducky Slaughter of M.A.D.a.M. Management will next week be adding another feather in their cap, this one taking place Downtown along with their Ink Fridays at Icehouse. Pandemic Fridays (Ducky: “Because it’s infectious!”) at the Canyon Club at the Four Queens will pull from live local bands and DJs to create one raucous night of rock. All manner of rock, in fact, from indie and alternative to punk and metal, will have its turn to infect Vegas beginning December 7 with the MDV Entertainment Magazine release party featuring live performances by Slaves of the King, Give ‘em Hell and Omegarilla from 11 p.m.-1 a.m. and DJ Shred from 1-4 a.m. Now, where did we put that “vintage” CBGB’s T-shirt?
iTune into Vegas
A little over a month ago, Apple announced that it now offers over 2 million tracks at just 99 cents each. Since its grand opening, Eyecandy Sound Lounge & Bar at Mandalay Bay has been making good use of the online music library to get their musical offerings in front of a Vegas-hungry public. Eyecandy Sound Lounge Volume 1, mixed by resident DJs the Fort Knox Five (yeah, really just four DJs) features 19 tracks available for $18.81 or 99 cents each by visiting the group’s artist page and selecting iMixes by the Fort Knox Five. To get even more Vegas on your ’pod, check out Wolfmother and John Legend live from the Palms, music from the Blue Man Group and of course, Celine Dion.