Now that Austin “Chumlee” Russell is famous, and not just a funny guy who works at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, his nights out in Vegas are a little different. Known for being the comic foil on the History Channel’s Pawn Stars—and an occasional DJ, spinning hip-hop hits at Ghostbar Dayclub Saturday afternoon—Chum still likes to party, but he does it like a true local.
“Going to Hakkasan to see Tiësto is a regular night for me,” he says. “I love Hakkasan, and I’m there all the time, but for someone who’s coming into town and has never seen that, it’s a huge deal. I basically go out now with my friends according to the DJ, and it’s usually local guys like DJ Five or Eric D-Lux who play the music we really enjoy listening to.”
You might find him at XS, too, but for the most part, Chum clubs it up in hip-hop rooms like Ling Ling at Hakkasan and Heart of Omnia. His pre-party? At home. “I have five bedrooms at my house, and there’s always someone visiting or sleeping on the couch,” he laughs.
“We party here until 11 or 12 before the club, and afterwards maybe we hit a karaoke bar in Chinatown or a late-night food spot like Pho Kim Long at 3 or 4 in the morning to finish the night off right. It’s always a race to beat the sun, to get to bed before it’s bright outside.” Chumlee, January 30, GBDC at the Palms.
