Godspeed, still relevant
The Foundation Room high atop Mandalay Bay is taking the born-again route and reinvigorating its mainstay Monday-night party. “Godspeed … The Original Sin” will be resurrected on April 7 to the tunes of guest artists LA’s The Jane Does and their indie/soul/funk sound. Godspeed wasn’t necessarily a goner at any point in the past few years, but changes in crew—especially the loss of founder Michael Fuller and then music director Keith Evan—saw interest in the original Las Vegas service industry night lagging a bit. Despite its remaining a core Monday event on the nightclub circuit, a revamping of the six-year-old party was in order.
While the Foundation Room remains a membership-only establishment the rest of the week, every Monday is hyped as a transformation from ultra-exclusive private club to Godspeed’s “unique, fashionable and upscale” intimate late-night lounge, open to a thirsty public. According to the House of Blues, no two Mondays will be the same, with entertainment ranging from belly dancers and a hookah-lounge vibe to acrobats or acoustic music performances … which is exactly what it has been for the last six years. But with a little effort, Foundation Room can quickly remind us why we keep on coming back for more.
The anti-Monday
Looking for a great nightlife experience without the hassle and tourist clutter of the Strip? That’s exactly what Roadrunner Bar & Grill promises with its own new Monday-night party. There are no cover charges, dress codes or long lines—just a place where both locals and industry professionals can mingle and unwind.
Each week, a different nightclub host will act as guest host, adding to that Vegas nightlife vibe with the assistance of resident DJ Carlos Sanchez and live percussionist Cayce Andrew. Drink specials include Skyy Cosmos, Bud Lights and Heinekens for $2 apiece, and bottle service starts at $150, so you can have all the trappings of a nightclub without feeling trapped in tourist hell. The event takes place every Monday off of Pebble and Eastern, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Even swans shall have their day
Saturday, March 29 is SWAN Day at the Freakin’ Frog. But despite those two zoological references, the event is not about animals. It’s about art. SWAN stands for “Support Women Artists Now,” and that’s exactly what will be happening at the Freakin’ Frog bar across the street from UNLV, as 30 local female artists are showcased in media ranging from music to art to spoken word to film to theater.
Saturday’s celebration is one of 117 SWAN Day events held in the U.S. and eight other countries and is the first to come to Las Vegas.
“I love the city of Las Vegas, and the thing I hate to hear most is, ‘We have no culture here,’” says Trish Martin, director of operations for the Freakin’ Frog. “When the opportunity was presented to us, as a local/college bar, to sponsor SWAN Day, I jumped. It’s definitely a worthy cause.”
The event will include oil paintings by Laraine Kaizer, a viewing of the comedy-drama short film Two-Face by Vickie Maliagros and a performance by the all-girl psychedelic-electro-dance-rock band Love Pentagon. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for ages 18 and up. For more information, go to www.myspace.com/SwanDayLV.
Actual cheesecake not included
Just in time for the annual Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend (April 10-13 at the Gold Coast), the second Cocktails & Cheesecake party will take place on April 11 at the Art Bar in conjunction with the Vegas launch of Bachelor Pad Magazine. Celebrating all things relevant to the culture of the atomic age, the event will be hosted by Java, the man behind the “Bachelor Pad Empire,” the mag’s first centerfold, and current and past winners of the coveted Bachelor Pad website “Cheesecake Queen” title (note: not a reference to a down-home, small-town baking contest winner).
The night will be filled with music by Goo Goo Muck, burlesque performances and autograph and photo opportunities with some of the ladies that grace the mag’s retro-themed pages. Scheduled to perform are Betsey Bosen, Siren of the South Veronica Lashe, Bunny Bravo, Nymphette of Burlesque Lolita Haze, Kalani Kokonuts, Ravenna Black (recently featured on ABC’s Wife Swap) and a grand finale by Bachelor Pad pin-up Ava Garter. Doors open at 7 p.m., the cover is only $5, and bowling shirts and garter belts are encouraged, though preferably not together.
Lookin’ good, Hef
Continuing with the subtle and constant improvement of the Playboy Club, the N9NE Group is thrilled to unveil (soon) the demi-club’s new ultra-high-tech video wall. Composed of 60 plasma screens, the wall typically scrolls through thought-provoking images of vintage Playboy covers, centerfold shoots, Mansion parties and some very recognizable celebrity faces (and other bits) thrown in for good measure. But once the installation is complete in early May, the screens will interact with Video-SL, the latest in Rane’s Serato technology, allowing resident DJVJ Mark Stylz to incorporate the screens into the mix. This next advance in N9NE Group’s tech-savvy setup comes just after Hugh Hefner’s 82nd birthday, solidifying Hef as the hippest octogenarian to ever wear a bathrobe.