May the Fourth be with you

Happy birthday, America! We got you a little something: boobs. Well, it’s not too far-fetched. A whole passel of Independence Day-themed events roll out this weekend beginning with Red White and Boobs at Hawaiian Tropic Zone, where one lucky lady (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) will get to undergo a free breast augmentation. I’m not sure that’s quite what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they said that all men are created equal and are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but if happiness is a bounteous rack, then … who are we to judge? There’s also Red, White and Booze at Mist, with $4 Jell-O shots and draft beer; Red, White and Va Va Voom at CatHouse (with Chef Kerry Simon’s famous red, white and blue cotton candy, a seductive display by All-American Lingerie and gifts from Louis Vuitton, Moet Hennessy); and Red, White and YOU at the Palms. (Sirius Radio’s America’s Next Best DJ contest is at Ditch Fridays, noon with DJ Skribble; DJs ROB and Greg Lopez give a 2x4 DJ performance at Rain; and Ghostbar is just one of many keen high-up places from which to watch the fireworks.) With all these parties going on, we’d like to remind you to exercise caution as you imbibe for America this weekend—remember, it’s red, white and blue, not red, white and spew.

(Heading contributed by avid Weekly reader Zach Conine.)

Electric Daisy shows some Vegas roots

Road trip! Vegas dance-music fans buckled up in the cars of their friends with the most fuel-efficient rides and made the pilgrimage to the Electric Daisy Carnival last Saturday. The 12th annual massive thrown by Insomniac Events opened the gates of the LA Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Park at 4 p.m. (ish) to an estimated 60,000 ready-to-party people from all around the world. However, long lines kept ticket-holders at bay for hours on end (and a bit cranky after paying a minimum of 25 bucks for parking). Yet, the good vibes returned inside the main gates with six stages and carnival rides aplenty included in the admission price.

Faces familiar to Vegas club-goers included Z-Trip, Benny Benassi, Armand Van Helden and Eddie Halliwell. Alongside DJ Dan, Donald Glaude showed the crowd that bass can virtually peel your clothes off—perhaps that’s why many at EDC showed up wearing little more than strategically placed daisies! Moby’s main-stage set eliminated any doubts that hardcore techno fans might shun him for his commercial success.

Unfortunately, DJs with the largest followings were scheduled to take their respective stages at the same time, leaving fans with the excruciating decision of sticking with an entire set or bouncing from area to area. Closing out the evening was Paul van Dyk. However, quite a few sophomoric train wrecks and some lengthy epic transitions left many grumbling in disappointment during the cattle herd out of the festival gates.

Earlier in the evening, noteworthy sets included Freestylers, a killer stage show from Rabbit in the Moon and Villains, throwing down so hard that no matter how much you’d try to walk away and grab some cotton candy, their music kept drawing you back, and you couldn’t stop dancing.

More info at insomniacevents.com..

We’ve been burned before, but …

Liza Minnelli once sang, “It’s gotta happen/Happen sometime/Maybe this time.” The latest in from the club construction front lines is that Rok Vegas—of NY and Miami’s brand Rok Bar, and of which there have been more false alarms than we’d care to recall—will finally be arriving at New York-New York on or about August 21 in Rita Rudner’s former theater space. We’re not holding our breath, but we’re saving the date and selecting an outfit nonetheless. Also en route, Lavo, the newest creation from the Tao/Strategic Group folks, was confirmed by two high-level insiders this week to be on track for an early August soft opening with a grand opening slated for the week before Labor Day. Labor Day weekend itself has been set aside as a Plan B, but here’s hoping Lavo gets its druthers.

Auction month

Break out the checkbook, it’s auction time. On the block are Vegas’ finest nightlife and entertainment personalities. Sponsored by the Weekly, New Vista Community’s fifth annual Adam & Eve’s Charity Love Fling will be flung at Privé on Friday, July 11 with lovelies like Tiffany Masters (CatHouse), Jon Gray (The Palms) and trumpeter Rico DeLargo up for the bidding, not to mention the Chippendales dancers and cast members from Mamma Mia! Tickets are available at NewVistaCommunity.org. Also, the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth’s Smokin’ Hot Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction will be held the following Friday at the Palms with even more attractive singles to bid on. Tickets and info at nphy.org..