Triq change: a Weekly exclusive
Big changes are already in the works for Triq Lounge, Nightclub and Afterhours, which opened on January 1, February 24 and March 2, respectively, inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. A legend in his own time, Vegas nightlife pioneer and Triq nightlife director Tony Verdugo will part ways with the twice-weekly afterhours spot after his True Masters party and birthday celebration on July 7.
Verdugo will combine forces with another founding father, Gino Lopinto at Empire Ballroom, to produce—among others—Destination Sundays with the help of old school promotion talents Pauly Mac and Big Joe. He brings with him Triq GM Gerald Pacheco, who will take a managerial role at Empire. Verdugo’s Destination Sundays kick off at Empire Ballroom on August 5, with upscale Top 40 and hip-hop music, and will feature celebrity performers and hosts, “everyone from Terrell Owens to Fat Joe,” Lopinto says. “We’re always trying to change the whole scope of the hip-hop reputation of Vegas.”
Calls to Steve Wyrick Entertainment Complex reps to find out the fate of Triq went unanswered, though it is confirmed that former bartender and bar manager Dustin Bowsher is already being trained by Pacheco for the GM position. The former Ice employee definitely has an afterhours background and says that the lounge and afterhours will continue, though perhaps with new promoters and return visits from the House Society. One wonders what is next for the Triq complex; there are already rumors that prospective investors are keen to try to acquire the multilevel space.
A Fine idea
Coming soon to the Venetian: Rockhouse bar owner Jonathan Fine of Fine Entertainment and Sting surveillance tells the Weekly that he will partner with Florida hot spot Automatic Slim’s (“Where the beautiful people come to get ugly”) to bring the bar concept to Las Vegas in the space formerly known as Vivid, and before that, Venus. The long-shuttered bar is leased to Fine. Fine praises Automatic Slim’s owner Andrew Kostas, saying that “Outside of Vegas, he’s the first honest bar guy I’ve met.” The brand’s mission is simple, says Fine. “His whole concept is ‘come in and have fun.’ That’s it. It’s not how can we make a million [dollars] off the next guy.” Turnaround and build-out of the 9,700-square-foot space should be quick, and Fine expects Automatic Slim’s Las Vegas to be ready for action in November or December. “It’s a true American bar. Like the Rockhouse.”
Luck be a libation
Sure, 7/7/07 is the luckiest day in a century, and a quick wedding—or maybe a pull on the slots at the supermarket—might be in order, but what is the proper way to really celebrate the quintessential day of good fortune? With some high-class imbibing, that’s how. Here are a couple of runners-up to the cocktail of the week worth checking out.
Available exclusively at BOA Steakhouse at the Caesars Forum Shops, the Trip Sevens doesn’t stumble. It has seven serendipitous ingredients: Bakers Bourbon (107 proof, aged for seven years), Pama pomegranate liquor, fresh lemon sour, vanilla-infused simple syrup, Peychauds bitters and Campari, and it’s topped with floating ginger beer. At $14, this charmer will only run you two sevens.
Next door, Sushi Roku will conjure up the Shichi, only available on July 7 from noon to midnight. The name itself means “seven” in Japanese (Roku means “six,” while we are on the topic). The luck of the number isn’t just an American thing, either, as the shichi-fuku-jin are the seven gods of luck in Japan. Bringing good fortune to this libation is Hangar One Kaffir Lime vodka and Midori, half of a fresh-squeezed lime, a splash of triple sec and lemon sour. It is garnished with a lime wrapped in gold leaf.
Over at Z’Tejas in Summerlin, the Triple Seven cocktail sticks to the name and is priced at $7.77. Beginning with a base of Z’Tejas’ award-winning margarita (made with gold tequila, triple sec and fresh lime juice), Blue Curacao, Midori and Chambord are blended in for a tart but lucky buzz.
Spreading prosperity across the city is the Strawberry Hardway, made exclusively for the Wolfgang Puck restaurants on 7/7/07 (although available ’til August). Named after the fierce blackjack hand in which the player gets triple 7s (hence, the hard way to get 21), the drink is considerably less stressful. Perfect for the summer, it is a blend of Chinaco Silver, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, fresh strawberries, balsamic crème and, of course, a dash of luck.
Late night gardening
As gentlemen’s clubs branch out to more than the bachelor, Eden is attempting to be the next in afterhours entertainment. The grand opening was to launch July 4, and the next go-around will be July 11, doors opening at 2 a.m. DJs Chris Garcia, Digital Boy and Mike Remedy will welcome the sunrise every Wednesday morning.
What happens in Vegas ...“Do you find it strange that I’m partying with my aunt?”–Random bachelor-party guy to equally random bachelorette-party gal outside Beacher’s Madhouse on Saturday, June 30.