I love sequels. The Empire Strikes Back is still the greatest movie of all time. I can hardly wait for the new Spider-Man to come out this summer. In the interest of sequelmania, I'm revisiting last week's column and continuing my coverage of the new spot in Summerlin, Plush at the JW Marriott.
When I left off last week, I still hadn't been sold on whether Plush would work as a regular weekend nightclub because of its out-of-the-way location. The venue's opening January 16 left me impressed with its design and potential. I also was pleased that the club/lounge is so obviously aimed at locals.
I went back Saturday and I'm honestly not sure what kind of opinion to formulate. While I was initially pleased with Plush, Saturday left me somewhat disappointed.
Everything that I'd seen or heard in regard to the place was that it promised to be a cut above the rest. The layout and design deliver to a certain degree, but there was such an unhip vibe going on Saturday that I could barley handle an hour before I bailed. The music was atrocious. I don't think 50 Cent or Abba should be played anywhere, but in the same set and mixed right after one another? Plus, of the five or six staffers who I asked, not one could tell me who was spinning. Every employee should know who's behind the DJ booth. It's just good customer service.
There also were too many velvet ropes. I'm all for upscale and bottle service, but a club that's aimed at locals has no need to create a class struggle. That's all fine for clubs on the Strip; it just seems like overkill at Plush.
Plush is a good idea. A club in Summerlin is a great alternative to having to go all the way down to the Strip for a night out. There was a crowd on Saturday; not huge but it was there. It was a slightly older, more settled crowd, which is fine, too. Plus, the cover was only 10 bucks. All good things.
But Plush has a unique position as a club and management should take advantage of it. I encourage the good people at Plush to try new things and experiment.
The Local Edge
All of this Plush talk has had me tinkering with local love and such within the scene. Growing up in Vegas, I always used to feel that locals got the collective shaft in the fun department. Tourists come here expecting to spend loads of bread, but locals have to deal with out-of-town prices, too. Locals need to get the hook-up.
Drai's and Alesium both have half-off after-hours admission for locals, starting at midnight. Venus has local specials and no cover Wednesdays, and I just heard that Rumjungle at Mandalay Bay has free admission for locals Sundays through Thursdays. Ice has come up with Local Love on Fridays. Starting at 3 a.m. and going until whenever, locals get free entry.
Antonio Llapur walks softly and carries a big club. E-mail him at [email protected].