It’s all about the Jacksons, baby
Be sure to keep a couple of $20s handy, because Polly Esther’s nightclub at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower is now offering a “$40 All-You-Can-Drink!” special on Monday nights and Wednesdays through Saturdays. The special, which comes in the form of a wristband, covers most liquor, including vodka, rum, gin, whiskey, scotch and tequila. The wristband will be effective in each of the club’s decade-themed rooms, even though party-goers probably couldn’t drink all night for this cheap even back in the ’90s, ’80s or as far back as the ’70s. But beware: The $40 price tag quite possibly makes Polly Esther’s the thriftiest way to get alcohol poisoning in town. (Polly Esther’s reminds its guests to party responsibly.) Doors open at 10 p.m., and the club’s cover price is included in the special.
Lip service
Back by popular demand, female impersonator Toni James will bring his late-night lip-sync contest back home to Gipsy Nightclub in the so-called “Fruit Loop” every Thursday beginning January 3. Sign-up starts at 1 a.m., which gives you plenty of time to find liquid courage at the bar before the festivities take off at 2 a.m. Toni will award $250 cash to the winner each week, and if you’re lucky, he’ll grab the mic for one of his own in-sync performances. Girl, you better work!
Horns or halos?
Leave it to a strip club to turn religion upside down. This Thursday, January 3, Scores Las Vegas Nightclub & Cabaret will be transforming its upstairs VIP room into “hell” while downstairs becomes “heaven.” Sure, the Bible had its ups and downs the other way around, but then again, the good book didn’t really say anything about 200+ naughty-but-nice entertainers dressed in fantasy wear. The “New Year’s for Locals!” party runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and includes free drinks and free food. Those looking for either a sinful or a heavenly time can probably find it both upstairs and downstairs.
Mandalay is mixing it up again
Once very hot on the nightlife scene (think, like, three years ago), Mix Lounge at the top of THEhotel at Mandalay Bay has gone through a bit of a cooling-off period. This is not to say there have not been periodic eruptions, like when the new dance floor and souped-up lighting arrived or when a few killer one-off parties went down. But the heat has been rising once again these last few months thanks to the internationally renowned Eighteenth Street Lounge Music (ESL Music). January in particular offers a unique lineup with no repeats as one-of-a-kind DJs spin everything from mod-breakbeats to spy film and near-Eastern polyrhythms: January 4-5, Raul Campos; January 11-12, King Britt; January 18-19, Ursula 1000; January 25-26, Tom B.; and February 1-2, Gavin Holland. Doors open at 5 p.m. for Mix Lounge with a $25 cover weekends, $20 weekdays; local ladies receive complimentary entry.
It’s never too cold for bikinis
LAX Nightclub is looking for a few attractive ladies—not just to populate the dance floor, but also to strut their stuff in an effort to win a $50,000 grand prize, a guest appearance on Criss Angel’s Mindfreak and the title of Miss LAX 2008. Beginning Wednesday, January 9 and continuing every Wednesday until the March 26 finals, the Luxor nightclub will invite hot swimwear models to compete for the crown in this brand new contest.
A panel of celebrity judges will narrow the contestants to a select few, but the final determination will be made by Las Vegas’ own club-goers, who can cast their votes online at www.LAXtheNightclub.com. Bikini models interested in competing are encouraged to register at the site, although walk-ins will be accepted.
Hey hey, he’s a Monkee
There’s going to be serious monkey business at Beauty Bar on Friday, January 10. Excuse us—that’s Monkee business. Legendary Monkees guitarist Peter Tork will be performing a rare, intimate indoor show with his band Shoe Suede Blues. Contrary to popular belief, Tork actually played his instrument, and if you don’t believe it, stop by the venue at 10:30 p.m. for a night of storytelling and songs that’ll change your tune to “I’m a Believer.” Afterward, Tork will be signing memorabilia as well as hopping behind the turntables to DJ a set with Beauty Bar’s own Dave Knapp. Tickets are $15 at the door.
The name game
Still in its infancy and already onto a third name, Head Candy—formerly the Lounge at Trader Vic’s—will reemerge in 2008 re-branded as StarrBar. When it does, a new lineup of entertainment will come with it, including Neo-Ritmo, a Latin night of turntablism and percussion with DJ GC and the Mayan Kings.
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“Forget about the stupid Strip! The real party is Downtown on Fremont Street. This is where the cool people are.”
–Mayor Oscar Goodman addresses the throng of 14,000 revelers crowding beneath the Fremont Street Experience canopy on New Year’s Eve.