Pyramids are immutable testaments to man's inspiration and engineering skill, unchanging throughout time. Everywhere in the world except for Vegas, that is.
It didn't take being an industry insider to know that with the takeover of Mandalay Bay by MGM-Mirage, changes would be afoot at the south Strip's sister properties, the Luxor and Excalibur.
While we're still waiting to see if the Sherwood Forest Cafe gets remade into an ultralounge, new major developments have to come light at the Egyptian-themed resort.
We broke the news in March on LAX and the Roxy going in on the ground floor, replacing Ra, with a Pure Management Group-run restaurant where the now-shuttered Hamada was. Now comes news that Wasted Space, a tattoo parlor and rock 'n' roll bar, and Impala, a Mexican restaurant with Kerry Simon as partner-chef, will be on the second floor. Both are scheduled to open in the last quarter of this year, or possibly the beginning of 2007.
Wasted Space will be a joint project between native son and motocross/TV star Carey Hart, his wife and rocker Alecia "Pink" Moore, and San Francisco's One Industry Group. In the Bay Area, One Industry Group is responsible for nightspots Suite 181 in SF and Glo in San Jose, and sushi restaurant Mas Sake and Impala, both in Frisco. In an exclusive conversation with the Weekly, Drew Adelman, One Industry Group partner, talked about the concept.
"We teamed up with Carey, and teamed up with this concept called Wasted Space," said Adelman from his San Francisco office. "Basically, the tattoo shop, similar to what they have over at the Palms, we're putting it over at the Luxor. We're taking that tattoo concept, a 1,200-square-foot tattoo parlor, and glass-enclosing that in the middle of a rock 'n' roll bar. So it's going to be fairly unique. This is going to be like a Hart & Huntington tattoo shop surrounded by Wasted Space."
The surrounding bar will be a big draw, he predicted. "Instead of people sitting around waiting, now they'll be able to come in and hear music, watch someone play and have a cocktail. That's the way it should be in Vegas."
Offering needles, ink and plenty of wincing by appointment only, Wasted Space also will be a 8,000-square-foot, live-music venue, and with the connections Hart and Pink have, Adelman said people can expect to see headline talent taking to the stage.
"Carey's got some pretty unique individual friends. Black Eyed Peas coming in. Aerosmith coming in. You know, we've had beers with these guys and it's 'Where can we go?' 'Once we build our own place, you guys can go here.' It's going to be a huge, huge following in this," he said.
Small-percentage celebrity partners, whom Adelman declined to name, will also provide conduits to rock talent.
With all the stars involved and expected to be milling about the place, is it any surprise that TV cameras won't be far behind? One Industry Group is in discussion with A&E, the folks behind Hart's hit series, Inked, to include his latest venture in the shooting schedule.
"Inked's going to play a big part in there," he said. "There's more of a story when it comes to being a bar and alcohol and sexy girls there, you know what I mean? It'll still be over at the Palms, but at the same time, they'll be following him, so if he's coming over here, that's where they'll be."
Whether tape is rolling or not, Wasted Space should be visually cinematic, thanks to interior design by the McCartan firm. Known for sleek lines and a modern, Asian-tinged design, or "post-hip" in owner Colum McCartan's words, the company has worked on boutique hotels nationwide. But those places ain't no rock 'n' roll bars and it will be interesting to see what develops.
"We have a really cool concept and design that's going to be coming out," said Adelman. "It's not going to be that Hogs & Heifers-type deal. ... It's not going to have the fancy Formica but we're going to have a phenomenal sound system and a phenomenal lighting show. But it's going to be a lot of down-to-earth stuff."
Don't expect down-to-earth at Impala. The San Francisco location is notable not just for its cuisine but also for being a scene for the town's trendy people, thanks to DJs spinning electronic music in the main room and lounge area, mirrored ceilings and monitors airing videos of bucking broncos and bikini-clad babes.
On the menu, expect grazing food and new takes on dishes, such as jalapeno poppers stuffed with goat-cheese chicken wings with watermelon escabeche (a highly seasoned marinade) and oyster shooters with something called a margarita foam.
As for concerns about the Hard Rock Hotel's star chef doing double duty across the Strip, Adelman said that to his knowledge, there is no noncompete agreement binding Simon. "He can be an executive chef and he can be a partner anywhere," he said.
And, according to Adelman, Simon might not be eclipsed by the celebrity light shining on his rocking neighbors, hinting that TV cameras might be doing some filming at Impala, too.