They say money is the root of all evil, but it's not having money that sucks. A movie ticket costs nine bucks. Gas is two-sixty-something a gallon. And don't get me started on that greedy evil empire masquerading as a power company. I usually expect dinner and a kiss before getting screwed that bad.
Going to a club can be murder, too. The cover is $20. Drink with tip is $10. Double that if you're bringing a date. You're out $60 and you've only been there 10 minutes. But fret not; I've made some discoveries that'll ease your stressed wallet.
First up, the Whiskey Bar at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson. When it opened a couple of years back, I was impressed by its mod architecture and swinging style, but not its music and I thought it was too far from the Strip.
A recent trip changed all that: There's no cover. You can meander about the beautiful club or hang out on the patio overlooking the Whiskey Beach pool. If you've got some extra bread, you can buy a bottle and rent a cozy bed-cabana. Musically, it has two of my favorite local jocks. Fridays feature Mike White while Saturdays sport DJ One-Zero. Plus, it has a summer outdoor concert series cooking up. Already, we've seen Black Eyed Peas and old-skool faves, De La Soul.
"It's a $30 drive for the tourists to get here from the Strip," said general manager Darryl Margolis. Margolis figures no cover makes up for the big cab fare. No cover also means local working stiffs swear by the place.
I had another pleasant surprise on a recent trip to Little Buddha, the swanky restaurant that turns into a groovy lounge on weekends. There's no cover, no dress code and no hassle. Every Thursday through Sunday, you can catch the groovy house sounds of longtime Vegas jock, DJ Shoe.
Memorial Day weekend, it hosted a lingerie and bikini fashion show, featuring the Vegas debut of European DJ Sam Popat, who spun an eclectic set steeped in Middle-Eastern sounds and pounding world beats. I was quite impressed.
Little Buddha is a gorgeous spot that boasts a feng shui atmosphere. I don't know about all that, but I can tell you this: I'd love to shoot a kung-fu flick there. I haven't sampled the Pacific Rim cuisine but everyone I know who has eaten there can't stop raving about it. Every Thursday, it offers locals 10 percent off their dinner bill. So swing by, grab some sushi and groove all night long. One minor gripe: Somebody please tell me why a place called Little Buddha doesn't have sake.
Remember that swinging, new after-hours I told you about last week, Rise and Shine at the Voodoo Lounge high atop the Rio? Well, the official opening is this weekend. Be sure not to miss out on this one. The party gets cooking this Friday night at 3 a.m.
Antonio Llapur walks softly and carries a big club. E-mail him at [email protected].