Sunday June 12, 3:50 p.m. "Hey baby, if you don't want to get wet, don't come to a pool party." The offending splasher smirks at the splashee in her pristine, never-intended-to-get-wet bikini. She dabs, adjusts, and focuses on her bronze. Her mock-horror melts into a smile; like the weather, he's pretty hot.
It's another scorcher, made humid by misters hung from the awnings that surround the square VIP pool at the Pond, the newest development at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino. A year ago, on the reality show American Casino, we watched as locals were tossed out on their water-wings for infiltrating the pool complex, but thanks to the wild success and national exposure of daytime pool parties such as Rehab at the Hard Rock, we now have Green Valley's Nirvana and the Hilton's South Beach Sundays. At night, the pools come alive once more for Skinny Dip Tuesdays at the Palms' Skin Pool Lounge, Tropical Heat Wednesdays at the Hilton, and Remix Fridays at Green Valley.
Nirvana is the new kid, a slick collaboration between promoters John Lewis and Garrick Edwards who, along with toast-of-the-hosts Tiffany Masters, form the Karma Syndicate. Nirvana is quickly gaining a reputation as an entertainment- and service-industry hangout, while Rehab remains the clear leader in tourist satisfaction. Locals are still deciding which summer hot spot they'll hang their beach towels at for the remainder of the summer season.
Sporting white linen (slightly wilted by the sun) Lewis, Masters and her team of hostesses zip about, filling cabanas, greeting guests and just plain looking good. I'm hunkered down in the shade, intently working on a raspberry margarita and contemplating lunch. I can understand why few hotels have taken on the daytime pool-party gig: It's a massive operation to create an outdoor nightclub in Vegas. The Pond's bar is a tad understaffed so do yourself a favor and order a drink to sip while you wait to order your next, or wisely invest in a $20 bucket o' beers. To the left of the bar, DJs Hollywood, Supra and Dakota tag in and out of the booth.
Before the shadows grow too long, we make our move to Rehab, where it's a very different scene. Rehab is a massive tropical paradise with winding paths, multiple lagoons, coves, bars, gaming and even a lazy river. The crowd is comprised mainly of visitors from top feeder markets like New York, LA, San Diego and Phoenix-Scottsdale. Local cocktail servers and dancers add to the mix, keeping up their perfect tans and showing off some bold bikini couture. Bachelor parties and local businesses reign supreme from the cabanas overlooking the entire scene.
This is Pinocchio's Pleasure Island, where naughty is very good and where bad little boys and girls come to play. And play they do. At the first Rehab of the summer, a helicopter dumped hundreds of foam balls on the crowd. Today, it's large toy syringes which do excellent double-duty as water pistols. Promoter Jack LaFleur of Human Events is full of great ideas, and when the sun finally sets on paradise, he is more than happy to escort the masses down into Body English for his next event, Red Carpet Sundays.
Price-wise, pool parties are all over the map. Nirvana charges $30 for general admission to the beach complex and $60 for access to the Pond. At Rehab, gentlemen are $30, ladies $20 and local ladies $15. The Hilton's South Beach Sundays are $20 for men and $15 for ladies. In the evenings, Skinny Dip Tuesdays are $10, and free for local ladies; Tropical Heat Wednesdays are $15 for men, $10 for ladies; and Remix Fridays at Green Valley are free. One nighttime event conspicuously missing this season is Moorea, whose absence is attributed to the recent MGM Mirage takeover of Mandalay Bay.
Sundays are hot (thank you, Paris) and there are plenty more of them before the summer ends, so ladies, grab your mom's oversized D&G sunglasses, a sexy serape and some tanning oil. Guys, do some quick crunches—and try not to splash.
Xania Woodman thinks globally and parties locally. And frequently. E-mail her at
[email protected] .
Xania's Hot Spots for June 16-22
Thursday, June 16
Steel Pulse at Skin, the Palms, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 17
Remix at Green Valley, 7 p.m.
Paint It Black, featuring the Gun Shys at Ice House, 10 p.m.
DJ Poet of the Black Eyed Peas at Plush Lounge, 10 p.m.
Nokturnel presents Lust Afterhours at Club Seven, 2 a.m.
Saturday, June 18
DJ Skribble at Ice, 10 p.m.
Sunday, June 19
South Beach Sundays at the Hilton, noon
Rehab at the Hard Rock, noon
Nirvana at Green Valley, noon
Monday, June 20
Angels Gathering, Godspeed at the Foundation Room, midnight
Tuesday, June 21
Bewitched screening party, Skinny Dip Tuesdays at the Palms, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, June 22
Tropical Heat Wednesdays at the Hilton, 5:30 p.m.
Ice now open Wednesdays with a surprise new resident DJ announced , 10 p.m.
For more Hot Spots and weekly parties visit
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