Mash-Up

Show badges are required for most events: Starting on Monday, rocker Sammy Hagar and his Cabo Wabo tequila get spirits moving at Rain at the Palms. Tuesday's Vino Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Hilton is sponsored by Southern Wine & Spirits and is followed by Super Cold Industry Nite at Tao, sponsored by P.I.N.K. vodka and Coors Lite and open to the public at 10 p.m. Later that night at Tryst, Nightclub & Bar Magazine honor their February cover models, Tryst's managing partners Cy and Jesse Waits, open to the public at midnight. Things close out Wednesday night back at Tao with the Promo Only DJ Showcase, where some of the best of the turntablists will put their own spin on the week. Some unofficial parties will be going off around the Show, like the Stoli welcome party on Sunday at Light and a special midweek appearance by DJ AM at Pure on Tuesday.
Believe it or not, the night isn't the only time when interesting things happen; there are two daytime events we have our sights on in particular. At the Las Vegas Hilton's Power Lunch on March 4, Tao managing partner Jason Strauss will speak, making this one industry picnic that we wouldn't want to miss. Southern Wine & Spirits will sponsor Shake It Up!, a Battle of the Mixologists at the Las Vegas Convention Center on March 6. Esteemed bar chefs will duel it out and be judged by the cocktailing elite. For more info and exhibitor info, go to www.nightclub.com.

Building a wine empire

Our favorite grape nuts are back, as Rock n' Roll Wine launches its Amplified! tasting series at Empire Ballroom on March 2. Providing the rock portion of the grapefest will be the guitar-driven indie rock of Dashboard Confessional, and the pairing couldn't be sweeter. In conjunction with Mix 94.1, local artists Jeremy Cornwell and Big Bad Zero will open for the headliner.

Vino fanatics Chris Hammond and Sonny Barton will spotlight 15 wineries, showcasing more than 50 distinct wines including, of course, their own Amplified Wines. Founder Hammond's libation sensation started as a house party and has since evolved into a national phenomenon. Forty dollars gets you all the entertainment and wine you can stomach and maybe then some. Visit www.rocknrollwine.com for tickets and info.

Everybody was break-dance fighting

The short window of gorgeous outdoor weather is starting to open, and what better way to celebrate spring than with a little break-dancing on the Strip? The Sidewalk Shuffle starts Tuesday, March 6, a weekly break-dance battle taking place on the pavement outside host Margarita Baby Pizza Kitchen & Bar's 3049 S. Las Vegas Boulevard location. Resident DJs Theory and Ala Mode Soul Rebel and guest DJ Casey provide the outdoor soundtrack, promising: "Culture, music, moonlight, movement!" Fueling the fight will be pizza, sandwiches, margaritas and beer provided by your gracious hosts.

Paradise found

The nightlife scene in Las Vegas is definitely worthy of a reality show. Focusing more on the entire entertainment spectrum surrounding the lifestyles of a group of locals, Paradise City (see review Page 67), the new show debuting on E! March 4, will finally give the world a peek into the absurd realm of the Vegas club scene that most tourists never get to see.

With Body English/Rehab honcho Jack LaFleur starring in the show, you can be sure the nocturnal circuit will get major play. After promises of "clashing cliques and love triangles galore," we think they might actually just be showing the truth. Expect the Palms to be well-represented as Playboy Club cocktail waitress April Rawlings and JJ Jones, executive assistant to George Maloof, join LaFleur.

Honor thy stripper

The Rockhouse Bar and Nightclub is the latest to capitalize on our city's partiality to the profession of removing one's clothes for a living. Strip on the Strip, the new industry Monday night at the Imperial Palace club, is bringing in all the buxom dancers around town to join the already scantily clad wait staff for a party of their own. Best of all, the Rockhouse will also start offering free shuttle service to whichever gentlemen's club is featured that week.

"Everyone wins," said Rockhouse owner/operator Jonathan Fine. "People come in here for a drink with strippers, then get a ride to go see more strippers. Then we give them a ride back if they want." It's a convenient and safe alternative to the $39 straight-to-your-door "escort" promotions going on nightly up and down the boulevard.