The Good: Tao Nightclub, Venetian
Years ago, I went to Tao’s New York City restaurant and was very impressed. The decor was beautiful, sushi was excellent and our server was so great I still remember his name, Princeton Saunders. Princeton offered to get us into the nightclub as VIP later that night, but sadly, I was in town for only the afternoon and never got to experience Tao after dark. So when a promoter for the chain’s Vegas nightclub tracked two of my coworkers and I down while we shopped at the Venetian, I was very eager to see what it was like.
We arrived at 11:30pm to a line snaking out the door and into the Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes. Despite the long lines to get in, the promoter fulfilled his promise to get us right in the door. Pools of floating rose petals lined the granite entryway and red spotlights flashed across the room in sync with the techno music.
Women in lingerie danced on platforms high above the red chandeliers while others posed on white silk beds lining the club. Our trio was immediately offered entry to a VIP lounge where we sipped on complimentary Absolut and mingled with young, trendy partygoers from all over the world.
Between complimentary drinks from bartenders, the VIP lounges and hospitable guests, my friends and I went until closing time without spending a dime. Instead we danced to great music and hung out on the balcony overlooking the pools in front of the Venetian. I’d recommend Tao to anyone looking for a fun night in Las Vegas.
www.taolasvegas.com/tao
The Great: GhostBar, The Palms
Fifty-five floors above the Las Vegas strip sits GhostBar, the fashionable nightclub that has played host to celebrities and movie scenes. Most recently, the bar’s open air deck was featured in the 2008 blockbuster film “21” with Jim Sturgess.
An elevator shoots patrons from the ground floor to the white-washed lounge where fully stocked bar and female bartenders dressed as angels wait to grant the wishes of each guest. The white walls serve as a blank canvas for alternative electric colors splashed across the lounge.
For those brave enough to look down, the skydeck gives guests a 360-degree view of Las Vegas’ famous landmarks lit up at night. A second bar is set up on the balcony, serving a hand-picked list of wine and imported beers. If you’re looking for something stronger, try GhostBar’s specialty drink “the ghostini,” made with Absolut, Midori and sour.
“This bar is amazing,” said Tom Oldham, a 27-year-old resident of Irvine, Calif. “I’m afraid of heights so I don’t want to look over the balcony but the floor-to-ceiling windows still offer an incredible view.”
In addition to unparalleled views and signature cocktails, GhostBar offers an eclectic mix of music spun by different deejays each night.
Although you must grab a cab to the Palms if you’re coming from the strip, a trip to GhostBar guarantees a trendy yet elegant evening in Las Vegas.
http://www.n9negroup.com/#/ghostbar/main/
The Ugly: Prive, Planet Hollywood
On our way to dinner at Koi, Planet Hollywood’s posh sushi restaurant, my friends and I were given wristbands promising open bar from 10pm-midnight at Prive, the hotel’s recently reopened nightclub. If my friends and I had the opportunity to read this article about Prive’s past http://blogs.lasvegascitylife.com/cityblog/2009/07/23/notes-from-vegas-clubland-planet-hollywoods-prive-misbehaves-gets-shut-down/, we would have steered clear but we were naïve and thought it sounded like a great deal to start our night.
We finished dinner around 9:30pm and hoped to be the first in line to take advantage of the open bar. 9:30 became 10 and 10 became 10:30 before the bouncer showed up. We weren’t admitted into the bar until after 11pm and by then our cocktails from dinner had worn off and we were in desperate need of a Red Bull Vodkas to keep our spirits up. Unfortunately for us, the “open bar” consisted of rail drinks served out in Solo cups, meaning RBVs weren’t on the menu. We drank vodka sodas as quickly as we could and watch the openly rude bartender insist Marines pay over fifty dollars for the Long Island Ice Teas they’d ordered in hopes of free drinks.
My frustrated friends and I were ready to leave and made a trip to the ladies’ room. The “new” club must have still been under construction because a stall in the women’s restroom was missing crucial pieces of its wooden door that left little to the imagination of a passing peeping tom.
As we left, the owner tried to lure us back in by offering us a spot at his VIP table... if we were willing to pay an additional $10 to reenter the club. If we hadn't made up our minds already, that was enough to ensure none of us will ever return to Prive.
www.privelv.com
Halloween Party at the Historical Society of D.C.
October ended on a damp note in Washington, DC but Halloween was hot as hundreds of young adults celebrated at the Historical Society of D.C. Hosted by the local social networking web site Late Night Shots (LNS) as well as the bars George and Gin & Tonic, the event offered a fully-stocked open bar and live band to the costumed attendees.
“This is definitely the best place to be tonight,” said Kyle Bye, a Maryland native who came home from Charleston, S.C. to party as Alvin the Chipmunk. “Some of my friends were worried it’d be overcrowded but I think this is the perfect amount of people.”
With the obvious draw of a four hour open bar, the event sponsors capped ticket sales at six hundred to keep patrons satisfied.
“Everyone knows the worst part of an open bar is waiting in endless lines,” said Reed Landry, co-host for the evening. “To reward those who acted early and bought the cheap tickets, we set up five bars, each manned with two or three bartenders around the venue and limited the number of attendees to keep drink lines moving.”
Ticket prices started at forty dollars but rose quickly as word spread and the event’s popularity grew. “I bought a few extra tickets in case more friends decided to come last minute but ended up selling them for over one hundred dollars a piece on Craig’s List,” said Knute Scholl of Virginia.
One of the biggest draws for the event was the promise of an appearance by DJ Curious. The 28-year-old disc jockey came to the DC Area by way of South Africa and spins house music at a variety of clubs and lounges around the city. Between band sets, DJ Curious kept the crowd dancing with a mix of 80s and contemporary music bouncing off the hall’s marble walls.
“I’ve seen DJ Curious perform before and have always enjoyed parties at Gin & Tonic, so I knew this would be a good time,” said Bye.
Unlike the usual parties hosted by LNS and the Georgetown-area bars, dressing up in costume was required for entry at the Historical Society’s Halloween Party.
“I had so much fun checking out people’s costumes and seeing how creative everyone could be,” said Ellen Devine, an Arlington, Va. resident. While some patrons chose traditional costumes like ghosts and vampires, others picked media celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga and Colorado’s “Balloon Boy.”
No matter how elaborate their costumes, as the crowd streamed from the hall’s main doors well past midnight, it was obvious everyone enjoyed the Halloween celebration brought to them by LNS.
“When’s the next party?” yelled a man in the crowd. “Where can I get my tickets?”
-L
“This is definitely the best place to be tonight,” said Kyle Bye, a Maryland native who came home from Charleston, S.C. to party as Alvin the Chipmunk. “Some of my friends were worried it’d be overcrowded but I think this is the perfect amount of people.”
With the obvious draw of a four hour open bar, the event sponsors capped ticket sales at six hundred to keep patrons satisfied.
“Everyone knows the worst part of an open bar is waiting in endless lines,” said Reed Landry, co-host for the evening. “To reward those who acted early and bought the cheap tickets, we set up five bars, each manned with two or three bartenders around the venue and limited the number of attendees to keep drink lines moving.”
Ticket prices started at forty dollars but rose quickly as word spread and the event’s popularity grew. “I bought a few extra tickets in case more friends decided to come last minute but ended up selling them for over one hundred dollars a piece on Craig’s List,” said Knute Scholl of Virginia.
One of the biggest draws for the event was the promise of an appearance by DJ Curious. The 28-year-old disc jockey came to the DC Area by way of South Africa and spins house music at a variety of clubs and lounges around the city. Between band sets, DJ Curious kept the crowd dancing with a mix of 80s and contemporary music bouncing off the hall’s marble walls.
“I’ve seen DJ Curious perform before and have always enjoyed parties at Gin & Tonic, so I knew this would be a good time,” said Bye.
Unlike the usual parties hosted by LNS and the Georgetown-area bars, dressing up in costume was required for entry at the Historical Society’s Halloween Party.
“I had so much fun checking out people’s costumes and seeing how creative everyone could be,” said Ellen Devine, an Arlington, Va. resident. While some patrons chose traditional costumes like ghosts and vampires, others picked media celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga and Colorado’s “Balloon Boy.”
No matter how elaborate their costumes, as the crowd streamed from the hall’s main doors well past midnight, it was obvious everyone enjoyed the Halloween celebration brought to them by LNS.
“When’s the next party?” yelled a man in the crowd. “Where can I get my tickets?”
-L
Fall Fete: A Nautical Affair
The Corcoran Gallery of Art’s 1869 Society sponsored the Fall Fete. The event started at 8 p.m. Ladies in dresses arrived on the rainy evening preparing for a preview of the Sargent and the Sea exhibit. The event promised a night of art, dancing, and open bar.
The 1869 society is a organization of young professionals through the Washington D.C are. It boasts of bringing together up-and coming art patrons 25 to 42. Members are offered privileges that range from private exhibits to networking and socializing. Most importantly the members plan the Fall Fete, their yearly event. Members are responsible for recruiting at least 10 people to attend the gala. A ticket to the Fall Fete counts as a donation to the Corcoran Gallery.This year the Fall Fete fell on a rainy Saturday night. However that did not discourage party goers. "We pregamed at a friends place and arrived promptly at 8. We didn't want to miss any of the open bar," said Erik Hopkins a first time party goer. Entering the gallery top 40 music can be heard, and registration tables neatly appear. Attendees are greeted by registration tables handing out wristbands that correspond with tickets.
The Captains which is the priciest ticket mingle at the upstairs bar on the balcony in front of the exhibit, VIP to the right on the first floor, and general on the left. The DJ is stationed in the middle and food buffets in close proximity to the bars. "We did a really good job this year of selling VIP tickets, the VIP bar line is longer than all the others," said a steering committee member.
The women in attendance are a wearing a range of dress from sparkly cocktail to long ballgowns, and its safe to say that no one in attendance is over the age of 50,perhaps even 40. As the even progressives mingling begins, and the dance floor begins to get crowded. The official party ends at midnight, but like any successful event the after party was being held at the W Hotel just down the street.
If you go:
- The guy girl ratio is about 10 to 1.
-The general ticket is worth it.
-The real party is at the after party.
-Bring friends, you will meet new people but it may take the crowd a bit to warm up.
-Be prepared to drink only clear liquids (to avoid stains the Corcoran has a no red policy). The party actually ran out of mixers, and started pouring straight (insert clear liquor here) drinks. However party goers didn't seem to mind.
Details:
Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 Seventeenth Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia
Click here for directions.
Tickets
1869 Society Members $90
Non-1869 Society Members $100
VIP
1869 Society Members $125
Non-1869 Society Members $150
Includes an invitation to the 10/14 preview reception of brand new restaurant; access to the Fête’s VIP-only bar and lounge; and an invitation to the VIP post-reception at Midtown Loft.
Captain $200
Includes all benefits of VIP plus: access to the Captains-only bar with endless sparkling wine; and possession of the luxurious Captains gift bag.
-M
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