Nightlife

LAS VEGAS NIGHTLIFE
Las Vegas' First Nightclub
In 1930, Frank Detra took a chance and opened Pair O' Dice, Las Vegas' first nightclub. Located on what was then known as the new highway to Los Angeles (today, we call it the Las Vegas Strip), the club was open only at night. In addition to bands and jazz performers, the Pair O' Dice served Italian food. Most notably, the establishment had a
history of closing and re-opening because it sported gaming tables before the city had legalized gaming and served alcohol during Prohibition.

Nine years later, the Pair O' Dice was sold to police captain and commander of the vice squad Guy McAfee who renamed it the 91 Club.

The Place to Be
From elaborately themed nightclubs that stay open until dawn to the new wave of trendy, ultra-chic lounges Sweeping the Strip - visitors know when they step out in Las Vegas for the night, it will be an experience they won't forget. Here are some of the hottest places to be for extraordinary nightlife:

*Gold Diggers, the newest nightlife experience at The Golden Nugget, is a state-of-the-art entertainment venue boasting a large dance floor bordered by bartenders serving up enticing libations in a fun-filled atmosphere. Just steps away from the party, the nightspot opens to a 180-degree, oversized balcony providing stunning views of Fremont Street Experience.

*One of L.A.'s hottest nightclubs lights up Luxor with star power courtesy of celebrity investors DJ AM and Christina Aguilera. From the creators of PURE Nightclub, LAX Las Vegas combines the best of its Los Angeles namesake with the energy and excitement that only Pure Management Group can create. Catering to a sophisticated Hollywood crowd, LAX is a "see and be seen" place for club-goers, A-list celebrities and the social jet set.

* The newest nightlife venue at Wynn Las Vegas is Blush, a boutique nightclub impeccably decorated and offering a casual-chic atmosphere beginning at 9 p.m. nightly. Blush features a lighted onyx dance floor and cream-colored lantern ceiling sculpture in an intimate 4,500-square foot space.

* eyecandy sound lounge & bar (tm) is located at the center of Mandalay Bay's casino floor, and features interactive touch tables, revolutionary iPod® sound stations which, on promotional nights, allow guests the chance to hear their personal music mixes integrated into the lounge's repertoire. Instead of traditional bottle service, eyecandy features tables that can be purchased by the hour, where guests can drink their choice of libations throughout the evening.

* The Light Group, which redefined the Las Vegas nightlife landscape when it opened Light Nightclub at Bellagio six years ago, has remodeled the space into a revolutionary nightlife concept named The Bank. The Bank transforms the Las Vegas nightclub experience by offering a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and catering to a discerning audience with highly refined sensibilities. The 6,600-square-foot space is managed by New York club owner and international promoter Danny A and The Light Group's Jodi Myers.

* The Opium Group brings its signature brand of South Beach style to Las Vegas with Miami's chicest hotspot, Privé, and the legendary, Living Room now open at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Featuring 12,000 square feet of luxuriously appointed design elements created by renowned designer Francois Frossard, Privé mixes the ethereal whimsy of South Beach with dramatic elements that are quintessentially Vegas. In addition to a distinct atmosphere, guests can expect surprise performances, celebrity guests and world-class service. The 3,000 square foot Living Room offers a modern twist on the cozy cigar lounges of the 1940's, featuring cushy cognac leather sofas, luxurious burgundy drapery and a grand granite bar.

*Poetry replaced OPM inside the Forum Shops at Caesars, upstairs from Wolfgang Puck's Chinois restaurant. The club features urban pop art, black chandeliers and a playlist leaning toward hip-hop and R&B.

* Poly Esthers opened last year at the Stratosphere. The 26,000-square foot venue features multiple themed rooms from the '70s, '80s, '90s and today. Currently, Poly Esthers operates in Austin, Texas; Denver; New York; Philadelphia; San Antonio, Texas; and Washington, D.C.

* Designed to offer an extended experience before and after The Beatles(tm) LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, The Beatles(tm) Revolution Lounge at The Mirage features music by the legendary group as well as a psychedelic sensory environment. The ultra lounge has been designed as a contemporary interpretation of The Beatles' era, combining modern technology with pop culture symbolism.

* From Mariah Carey to Dennis Rodman to Janet Jackson, A-list celebrities have found their new nighttime paradise at Tao Nightclub at The Venetian. New York City's celebrity haven opened its Las Vegas location in fall 2005 to much fanfare. This 40,000-square foot "Asian City" is the venue for experiencing a memorable night in Las Vegas, all under the watchful eye of Tao's signature 20-foot Buddha. Nightlife impresarios Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss of New York's Marquee nightclub fame have brought their vast experience to the creation of Tao by designing a high-energy space where VIP skyboxes with espresso machines and European bottle service satisfy the celebrity crowd, but where a private table isn't required to have a great time.

* Jet Nightclub at The Mirage is the latest evolution of nightlife artistry developed by the Light Group. Previous Light Group creations include Light Nightclub (Bellagio), Caramel Bar & Lounge (Bellagio) and Mist Lounge (TI). Acclaimed designer Jeffrey Beers has transformed the 15,000 square feet of space into the ultimate nightclub experience.

* Tryst at Wynn Las Vegas comprises 12,000 square feet with décor that consists of deep reds and browns and black. Immediately upon entry, guests take in the breathtaking view of the 90-foot waterfall and secluded lagoon. A separate ultra lounge primarily plays house music.

* Rouge is the new upscale lounge at MGM Grand. The lounge showcases deep reds and black contemporary design. The bar's centerpiece is the Adam Tihany-designed backlit projection wall of glass bottles that flicker throughout the night. Rouge is in the space formerly occupied by Teatro.

* Beacher's Rockhouse Bar rocks the house every night at Hard Rock Hotel. Open until 6 a.m., the eponymous bar is known for its raucous atmosphere, complete with host Jeff Beacher's gigantic smile painted onto the dance floor, platforms for go-go dancing and a full-service bar with Beacher's Babies who not only bartend, but also dance on top of the bars.

* Formerly known as Club Utopia, another freestanding hotspot to check out is the Empire Ballroom which is located next to MGM Grand and across the street from Monte Carlo. Designed by The Paul Steelman Design Group, the club accommodates 1,300 patrons and features several different rooms. Candlelight and chandeliers are the décor for this nightclub, which also features an upper balcony with views of the Las Vegas Strip.

* Open 24 hours, The Icehouse sits on the same land as the historic Pacific Fruit Express Co. icehouse that served Las Vegas and the Union Pacific Railroad. The plant was built in the early 1900s and demolished in 1988.

* Downtown Las Vegas' 3rd Street is quickly gaining popularity as one of the newest hotspots in Las Vegas. Located in the heart of downtown, 3rd Street is a dining and entertainment district, featuring some of the most well known hotspots in nightlife. New York's famous Hogs & Heifers opened with its unique brand of entertainment where bartenders wear halter tops and leather pants and are armed with megaphones to keep the mood as raucous as possible. Next door, Triple George Grill features not only great food, but also a classic lounge where patrons can relax in oversized leather armchairs, smoke cigars and banter with the pianist. Next to Triple George is Celebrity Nightclub, which features live music regularly, and Sidebar, an intimate bar specializing in classic cocktails. Nearby, on Fremont Street East, Beauty Bar offers patrons a nail polish with their cocktail amidst décor taken straight out of an old New Jersey beauty parlor. Next door is, The Griffin, a new tavern with a movie-set feel, vaulted ceilings and two fire pits, Just around the corner, locals discover a cozy, sophisticated lounge called the Downtown Cocktail Room, serving signature martinis in a classy atmosphere.

* The Hard Rock's Body English is one of the largest nightclubs on the Vegas scene. Banquettes and bars on a mezzanine level afford patrons a posh perch from which to take in the dance floor action below. Designed to be retro-swanky and sophisticated, Body English has been described as being reminiscent of a 1960s rock star's mansion.

* Tabú at MGM Grand is credited as being the ultra-lounge that jumpstarted the trend. The lounge features state-of-the-art technology. Guests interact with images projected onto the tabletops that move around with the wave of a hand.

* Owned in part by Celine Dion, Shaquille O'Neal, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Pure Management Group, PURE Nightclub is Caesars Palace's newest nightclub. The 2-story nightclub is 36,000 square feet, boasting three separate experiences. The main room features oversized beds, three bars and a VIP area that overlooks the dance floor, not to mention a fantastic balcony with an incredible view of the Las Vegas Strip. PURE recently topped E! Entertainment's list of the world's hottest nightclubs.

* Located next to PURE is the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. The Pussycat Dolls, the star-studded dance troupe that originated in LA's Viper Room, entertains Vegas visitors on a nightly basis with its unique brand of cabaret.

* After more than three years as one of the top nightlife destinations on the Las Vegas
Strip, Tangerine Lounge & Nightclub has closed its doors. The club, which opened July 4, 2004, will undergo a major renovation and expansion. In spring 2008, it will open as an entirely new, top-tier nightlife escape. New York design firm Seed is overseeing the project.


* Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce at Mandalay Bay is another burlesque hotspot that opened in late 2004. Modeled after its Hollywood namesake, Forty Deuce is an intimate setting with plush seating and décor. Several times per night, dancers perform to a three-piece combo featuring stand-up bass, drums and a sax.

* Also at Mandalay Bay is MIX atop THEhotel on the 64th floor. The 300-capacity lounge features wall-to-wall black leather décor with red accents. The lounge is located adjacent to Alain Ducasse's restaurant of the same name that features one of the largest chandeliers in Las Vegas.

* MGM Grand's Studio 54, the namesake of the '70s and '80s New York nightclub that defined an era, was recently named "Best Place to Dance" by the Las Vegas Weekly's Reader's Poll and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

* Another legendary New York bar that is now in Las Vegas is Coyote Ugly at New York-New York. Its now world-famous bartenders dance atop the bar and sass customers.

* Rain is the Palms' nightclub, which features lavish special effects throughout the 3-story venue. In addition to fog, water and lightning, streams of fire intermittently shoot out above the dance floor. Venture upstairs to the 55th floor where guests will find ghostbar, the popular hotspot that has been featured in numerous reality shows including E! Entertainment's "Party at the Palms" and MTV's "Real World: Las Vegas." Guests at ghostbar enjoy its cozy atmosphere, which is complemented by a spacious balcony with a panoramic view of Las Vegas. With the opening of the Palms' Fantasy Tower last year, the hotel added yet another nightclub, Moon. Located at the top of the tower and featuring a retractable roof, the nightclub boasts panoramic views of the city below as well as an outdoor patio, private VIP room and exclusive table service.

* Drinks take center stage at many bars and lounges. At Caramel in Bellagio, specialty drinks are served in chocolate and caramel-coated martini glasses. Red Square at Mandalay Bay not only offers more than 100 types of Vodka but also keeps drinks cold on their bar made out of ice.

* One of the nation's largest microbreweries, the Monte Carlo Pub and Brewery, is located at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, and downtown's Main Street Station houses the popular Triple 7 Restaurant & Brewery, recently named by the Las Vegas Review-Journal as one of Las Vegas' "hidden gems."