Rainbow’s end

In two days the hundreds of black-and-white photos start coming off the walls. That angular Jimi Hendrix bust will require bubble wrap. Most of the staff has already found new employment, leaving hosts acting as servers and refill lag times unbearable. The kitchen—having already slashed its menu—is additionally out of calamari. Not that the ruckus-makers over in the bar/stage area hooting UNLV on to victory were ordering much calamari anyway.

It's only been around since June 2005, and official word is that the Rainbow Bar & Grill has already outgrown its Hard Rock-neighboring locale. Yes, confirms Jerry, when it reopens this summer ample parking and a 400-seat music venue will feature prominently. Not as confirmed: Road work wreaked havoc on attendance (Sundays remained dark for several weeks now); the new location will share space with an Industrial Road gentlemen's favorite whose name very closely resembles that of author/journalist/grammar policeman William Safire.

At 11 on the dot, guitars launch a sonic onslaught. The patio crowd surges inside; sated diners take their place in the comparative quiet to dream aloud amid the cigarettes and ceiling fans. Tomorrow night's the official closing party: drink specials, buffet, more live music. But simply taking in the scene has always been the Rainbow's most enjoyable aspect. And that's the biggest question concerning the relocation: Will Vegas Version 2.0 still make us feel, if only for the evening, that we just might belong? We're counting on you, Jerry. Confirm that we truly are among the fabulous people we secretly strive to be.