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PubClubbing in Las Vegas
PubClubbing in Vegas
means wild times in the pubs and clubs.
Much like the city itself, the nightlife
in Las Vegas is dazzling and overwhelming. There are so many choices,
it's hard to know which direction to head first.
Yet step away from all the glamour, and this is a remarkably simple
city to conquer. It's all about being in the right place at the right
time on the right night of the week.
Vegas
is the most bar-transient city in the world. Loyalty takes a backseat
to the new places, so what was hot just a few months ago could very
well be yesterday's news. But this much is constant: If you can't decide
where to go, head to the Circle Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel, where
there's always a cool crowd.
Another sure bet is the Nine Fine Irishman, a two-level Irish
pub in New York, New York. Because of the many conventions in Vegas,
this place could be rocking any night of the week. If not, the live
Celtic band and lovely lass Irish step dance Sharon Lynne provide enough
entertainment (ever night except Tuesdays; $10 cover Fridays and Saturdays).
There's also a pation overlooking the Strip. In the same hotel, The
Bar at Times Square with dueling pianos is often more crowded, but
the $5 cover even during the week can be a buzzkill.
And don't overlook the almost-nightly Service Industry Nights at various
clubs. These SIN nights are for locals who work at other clubs, but
are open to anyone.
Best Bars/Best Nights
Lovely lass Sharon Lynne does the Irish step dance at the Fine Nine
pub.
Most of Vegas activity occurs on the weekends, but the city certainly
doesn't sleep during the week. In fact, Wednesday may be the best night
of them all. You just have to know which bars are happening on which
nights of the week. Here's the scoop:
• Monday: Strip Clubs (see suggestions below).
The bars are largely empty and the dance clubs are not even open
until Wednesday, so if you want to experience this side of Vegas nightlife,
this is the time to do it. Because business is slow, you don't have
to worry about a dancer attaching a vacuum cleaner to your wallet and
sucking out all the money. Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, they do more
for less, more or less. For more on the city's exotic dance clubs, check
out Strip Clubs at the end of this section.
• Tuesday: Pure (in Caesar's) and SIN Night at Moon
(the Palms). Pure is a loud, low-lit nightclub loaded with
20s locals. Moon is above the Playboy Club and is popular among off-work
local clubbers.
1350 E Tropicana Ave., (702) 739-8676.
• Wednesday: Moose McGillycuddy's (Maryland Parkway),
C2K (Venetian), Club Rio and RA (Luxor). The Moose is loose. A fun,
college-aged crowd, sprinkled with locals, swarm into here for $1 drinks
($5 cover, no tank tops but shorts and T-shirts welcome). Pick a drink,
be it draft or bottled beer, well brand or call brand, and it's just
a buck. The students from adjacent UNLV sure think it's a good thing.
Be there by 10 p.m., as a huge line starts shortly afterward. Because
it's off the beaten path, taxi service from the bar is limited and not
all drivers even know the place exists; it's their loss, but should
not be yours. The dance clubs can vary according to what convention
is in town and where that convention is housed, but C2K and RA
are the best bets for club dancing (expect a $10 cover charge at
each and also, it's 80s night at Club Rio.
Moose's 4770 S. Maryland Pkwy., (702) 798-8337.
• Thursday-Saturday nights. Start at the Hard Rock Hotel
Circle Bar, 11-1 p.m. or the VooDoo Lounge atop the Rio.
The Hard Rock is the most popular bar in town, although it's much easier
to meet people at the VooDoo Lounge. Clubbers then can hit one of the
dance clubs. The most popular are Rain and Ghost Bar in the Palms,
Risque in the Paris, Baby's below the Hard Rock ; Studio
54 in the MGM Grand and RA in the Luxor .
Cover charges at the dance clubs are up to $20 and and
the drinks are "club" prices. Thursdays also has one of the
most popular SIN parties, Worship Thursdays, at Tao.
• Friday Happy Hour: Gordon Biersch Locals
used to flock here after work for the live reggae. The band is gone
but it's a good off-the-strip call for those looking to mingle with
residents in their mid-20s to mid-30s. It's a very professional crowd.
3987 Paradise Road, Hughes Center @ Flamingo, (702) 312-5247.
On the "hey this is COOL" side, the Fireside Lounge in
the Peppermill Coffee Shop (across from the Stardust) has a sunken
jacuzzi with a fireplace in the center. Small TV screens show music
videos and a couch surrounds the whole thing. Locals love the place
and it's ideal for a night-starter or a quiet nightcap with that special
someone. It's also open 24/7. 2985 Las Vegas Blvd., 702-735-7635.
• Sunday: VooDoo Lounge (Rio) and The Beach
(across from the Convention Center) and SIN Night at the Playboy
Club (Palms). Sunday competes with Monday for the Slowest Night
in Town award. Most of the revelers have left and those who couldn't
make their flight are either nursing hangovers or refuse to get out
of bed. Potential activity can be found at the VooDoo Lounge. VooDoo
is an elegant semi-tropical bar with live music and a view from an outside
deck that's one of the best in Vegas. The Beach is just the opposite.
It is a big, loud and energetic club with confetti-blasting howitzers
and shooter girls. Think wild, uninhibited Florida dance bar. At the
Playboy Club, "Sunday After Dark" is the city's big Service
Industry Night gathering place.
The Pool Parties
There's more to Vegas nightlife than meets the
night.
It's the daytime pool parties!
While just about any hotel pool can be fun any day of the week, it's
taken to new heights on Sundays. Hotels are have turned their pools
over to nightclub operators and they now include DJs and bottle service.
Caesars Palace, the Mirage and Venetian have all added these "club
pools" for lack of a better term. .And, unlike Mandlay Bay with
its huge wave pool, cabanas and cocktails, you don't have to be a guest
to be invited. A hot body (girls) and a fat wallet (guys) usually does
the trick.
Long considered the best pool in town, the Hard Rock (and we're talking
rock hard bodies here, male and female) really cranked up the party
level when it created Rehab in 2004. Within a week, the place was jammed
and it's been so ever since. It's a Sunday afternoon experience and
is so popular some actually stay in on Saturday night to go hard the
next day. People start lining up as early as 8 in the morning; Rahab
doesn't open until 11.
When the Hard Rock starts to wind down later in the day, The Tao Beach
Club at the Venetian starts to crank. It's called Sunset Sundays. The
Venetian Pool at Caesars Palace is one of the many that offers a private
area for topless female sunbathers (guys can go in for a heavy fee).
Bare, at the Mirage, is not the massive thousand-person party but a
much more intimate setting for about 250 guests. Girls who "release
the twins" are given a free shot.
And, just like their nightclub cousins, you just don't walk into these
pool parties. Cover charges vary, at least $20 for women and $30 for
men.
Strip Clubs
What would Vegas be without it signature strip clubs? Even girls go
there to have a good time
The longtime leader is the Olympic Garden. It is most popular
for visiting businessmen and no doubt quite a few deals have been done
in this place. It has two levels, with girls on the first floor and
male strippers on the second.
1531 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-385-9361.
Sapphire is the World's Largest Strip Club. Located in a former
gym, the only workout patrons get now is with their eyes.
3025 Industrial Road, (702) 796-6000.
When locals go to strip clubs, they head to Cheetah's.
2112 Western Ave., (702) 384-0074.
The Crazy Horse Too is a great ego boost. As soon as you walk
in the door, a bevy of ladies swarm around you. And they keep coming.
The Crazy Horse like a sorority party where only the good-looking girls
have been invited.
2476 Industrial Rd., (702) 382-8003.
Paradise, by the Hard Rock, is another top choice with friendly
dancers.
4416 Paradise Rd., (702) 734-7990.
 Next
stop on the Virtual Vegas Party Bus: Pubs & Bars
.
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