On July 15, a crew filmed an episode of the Food Network's Glutton For Punishment, in which host Bob Blumer, "the surreal gourmet," has one week to learn a new culinary skill before going up against professionals. After he spent five days in Canada training with flair master Chuck McIntosh (DVDs Bottleslinger and Bottleslinger 2), a competition bar was set up for Blumer, and the saloon was packed with Vegas' finest flair bartenders and groupies. The shocked host was then asked to show off his routine. The result? "He did great, he really did," says Barcode, "considering he only had five days." Last week, Blumer went on to place seventh in a field of 33 in the amateur division of the Nations Flair Bartending Challenged hosted by the Rio.
Passing the Bar, a new VH1 reality show that has been in the works for over a year, is finally coming together and on its way here. The American Idol-esque show will audition bartenders nationwide and then bring the contestants to Vegas, where an exciting plot twist will be introduced. (We know what it is but our lips are stapled shut.) Hosted by Barcode and the lovely Nikki Ziering (The Price is Right), the show is reportedly in the last stages of preproduction. The grand prize is tentatively said to be housing and a car in Vegas for a year and a six-month bartending gig.
The same company putting the saloon on the Food Network is also slated to shoot a scene for an upcoming film being submitted to the Sundance Film Festival. As if that weren't enough, Barcode is Strip LV's August Bartender of the Month. When warned about getting an inflated ego, the lively Brit quipped, "Whatever! I was big-headed before I got this gig," before adding, "Honestly, mopping out the back room at 5 a.m. is very humbling."
Ra Closes
By the time you read this, Ra will be dead. The Luxor's nightclub, which opened on New Year's Eve 1997, shut its doors July 22 with little fanfare, although coasting on the recent Club World Award for its resident VJ Roonie G hopefully took the sting out. With a design inspired by the hit sci-fi film Stargate, the club served as venue and launching pad for more Vegas club notables than we have room to mention. It will be replaced by Los Angeles' LAX nightclub (co-owned by DJ AM) and the Roxy, with an as-yet-unamed restaurant filling the space left vacant by Hamada. All three will be run by industry powerhouse Pure Management Group. With AM under contract to spin at any of PMG's venues, we can make an educated guess as to who will be working LAX's opening night. Our only question now is: Are those giant quasi-Egyptian statues for sale? They'd look great flanking the doors to the Weekly offices.
Vote Early and Often
The world's largest nightclub will be the scene where the country's best DJ will be honored, and you could be there. Vote in the first-ever America's Best DJ contest (local boys Skribble, Donald Glaude and Crystal Method made the list of 75) and you'll be entered to win a trip for two to Ibiza, Spain, and VIP tickets to the award show at Club Privilege. Click over to http://djtimes.com/bestdj/index.htm. If nothing else, you'll be amazed at how many on the list are regular visitors to Vegas clubs.
We Guess He Can
Local DJ Mike Remedy was declared the Vegas winner in So You Think You Can Spin?, an upcoming reality show that will pit up-and-coming turntablists against one another at DJ Keoki's new Hawaiian nightclub, due to open at the end of August. Closer to home, Remedy will be opening for Keoki at Ice on August 5 and is spinning the first Wednesday of each month at Take 1's Hump house night, along with DJs Shoe, John Vegas and Elan. August 2 will see guest DJs Grover and Double Down Charlie Brown.
Better Late than Never
Getting a late start in the pool party season is T.I., with a new event called Whisper. But in a stroke of genius, and an attempt to avoid cases of heat stroke among its patrons, this party is taking place after that ball of fiery fury sinks below the mountains. Beginning August 10 and repeating each Thursday through the month, it will feature DJs Inferno and Exodus, with Mark Wiley lending a hand on the organizational side. Official sponsors will be Foster's beer, Las Vegas Vodka (we hear it literally glows), Red Bull and FJV Clothing, a new line from Inferno and Exodus. Along with projector displays, the party will feature go-go dancers, an oxygen bar, a henna tattoo station—and lower-priced bottles, from $195-$250. "We want to take care of our locals," says Wiley, "not bend them over a barrel just so they can have a few drinks." Swimming will be encouraged, and the Mash-Up staff encourages all the ladies from the gentlemen's clubs to take that encouragement to heart. Most of the cabanas and tables are sold out to high-rollers but if you feel lucky, shoot an e-mail to [email protected].
Put a Flower in Your Hair
All-access passes are now on sale for the Summer Music Conference in San Francisco, running from September 27 through October 1, with an outdoor festival slated for September 30. For those not in the know, that's basically the beginning of San Francisco's summer so you'll only need to pack half the usual number of sweaters.
The outdoor festival will be in the South of Market District, near the Financial District, and in keeping with a city equally known for its hippies and its hipsters, admission to this portion of the conference will be by donation. Scheduled to appear are: Ferry Corsten, Green Velvet, Miguel Migs, Doc Martin, Terry Francis, Hipp-e, Nathan Coles, John Tejada, Justin Long and Julius Papp, with other artists waiting to be confirmed.
Two of the host venues for the event will be Temple and the newly remodeled 1015 nightclub. Passes are $105 each and provide entry to all conference panels and presentations, entry to the technology expo, discounts to all SMC events, backstage access to the outdoor festival and other opportunities yet to be announced.
This will be the city by the bay's first electronic music conference and technology expo, surprising given the large role San Francisco has played in developing the West Coast electronica scene. For more information or to buy passes, go to http://summermusicconference.net.
Preceding the SMC will be the San Francisco Lovefest 2006 on September 23. Billed as a dance music parade and festival, acts will include Paul Oakenfold, Massive Attack, Christopher Lawrence, Bad Boy Bill, D:Fuse, DJ Dan, Dieselboy, Richard "Humpty" Vission, Above and Beyond, Rennie Pilgrem, Hyper, Junkie XL, Lee Coombs, DJ Rap, Andy Moor and General Midi.
For more information, go to www.sflovefest.org.
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When He Said Don't Touch the Rope, He Meant It
"I bet you think I killed Irv. Well, I did. Just write the statement and I'll sign it."
—Stephen Sakai in a statement allegedly made to authorities. The bouncer at Opus 22 in New York City has been charged with four murders and other crimes.
COCKTAIL o' the Week |
Havana Cabana
$10, Rumjungle
Ingredients
0.75 ounces Malibu Rum Liquor
0.75 ounces creme de banana
1 ounce Coco Lopez cream of coconut
5 ounces pineapple juice
Float Lahaina Dark Rum
Garnish with a sugar-cane stick and pineapple wedge, serving over ice.
Harkening back to Cuba's tyrant-free days, this tropical mix is ideal for cooling off after a stint on the dance floor, or from sitting too close to the wall of fire.