EDITORS NOTE

Yes i'm back after a hiatus (another one) trying to clone a new liver isnt as easy as on the telly! No reviews just my opinion on Vegas so far. With recent events starting to simmer, validation's met and certain admissions of guilt. I decided to rant a little and why not? I'm the only writer and i can do whatever i want! So read and stay healthy!
ciao
love this pic!

Vegas Entertainment Review

Thoughts on the day after tomorrow and the future of us all:

Hello boys and girls…this is your friendly neighborhood writer of all things indecent and immoral. There are no reviews on any one place specific this week. Instead I’ll share my thoughts on the things I’ve seen thus far. Many of you will think: “Who really gives a shit anyway?” True enough…who really does give a shit? You do… all of you! Even my enemies want to know if I’ve drowned in my own vomit! Why not? I did not pack up and move to L.A. or Oregon I moved to the absolute worst place on planet earth to find some level of peace and artistic flavor. I could have moved to Baghdad or Tora Bora but I hear the Americans who live there are seriously fucking up the neighborhoods. Good one!
THE STORY SO FAR….
I’m sitting on my favorite barstool at the Champagne Café in Vegas, I am quite certain that when I’ve sucked this town dry and move on, the owners of the Champagne will find a nice corner and put up my picture and possibly name a drink in my honor. A testament to a life well lived; In the meantime I’m resting up after a long night at Light, a mini club tucked away in the money pit known as Bellagio. A terrible night; the drinks were expensive and the people were mostly zombie tourists. No one interesting to interview; so far everyone is concerned with how they look dancing to the wretched top 40 mix I hate so much. In fact the only interesting thing that has happened in the last couple of days has been reuniting with an old acquaintance. The details of which are not really important, the important thing is: this victorious feeling I’m having. I’ve been nurturing this moment. You see I knew it would come…eventually.
LIBERTINES, LESBIANS and BLACK UNDERCOVER COPS
I left San Diego amid some controversy not too much controversies just enough to effectively kill a reputation. They say Vegas is a good “second chance” city. I always come back with: “second chance to do what?” Sitting next to me is a young man who seems to have all the answers: “Fuck them, the one’s who hate on you, those who really know you…know you, they will never leave your side….even if you are an unbelievable cad, the type that forgets birthdays. This place was made for people like us; People with no remorse in taking advantage of the kindness of others. We live off our merits; of course we do have to produce in order to gain acceptance and this can happen in the arts. This town is void of true original art. You only need to produce and let these people know what your doing without letting them know what your doing. This town feeds off others; the zombies want something new, something fresh, if you let it …this town will destroy you. If you can show confidence and patience this town can be yours. Just like seducing a woman, if you come on too quick and too needy she will wipe the floor with you…and your money. Be warned. A life of pleasure is what we live, we can seduce them all and eventually we will. Others will hate you for this life.” This weird guy made some good points even the lesbians sitting next us, trying to be cute, stopped making out for drinks and listened to the Libertine share his knowledge. You see in situations like this, the Vegas relocation, I find myself unrestrained and I enjoy testing the social constraints of our society, I enjoy it so much that I do it often and I know no bounds. Except physically hurting someone, I’ve wanted to but I wont do that. However this last personal taboo was to be tested the following weekend. Same bat-place, same bat-channel I was enjoying a few drinks at the café with friends and testing a woman’s fidelity (with much success) to her husband, when a large black man stinking of booze and rage put his arms around me. The night would go right down the toilet from there.
THERE ARE NO HOT LOCAL GIRLS

This is taking too long already. Let me explain myself: Las Vegas is a simple town despite all the glitz, glamour, gangsters and whores. This town will not hide its true face. After you’ve been here for a month you get a vibe for what’s going on, However in order to do that you need to fully immerse yourself in this culture of excess. For example I lived in San Diego for almost 10years it was not until the last 5 that I fully had a handle on the culture and women. For the wanna-be hip Las Vegas ghost you need to venture locally to get a good view. The difference between the ghosts and the zombies is unique. The locals or newly entrenched residents become ghosts, haunting the strip with a slight look of defiance. They think: “This town was made for me, I can conquer this place as long as I stay clean”. The zombies are the tourists who can only live for 48-72 hours before dying off. Yet they’ve been here enough times to know better and they still fall for the same old $30 cover charge. “I’ll fuck anything, do anything, what happens here stays here..right?” Now the professionals like myself, we are the rare breeds. We have traveled vast distances, seen many awful things and fought in the longest campaigns. In many ways Las Vegas is another hurdle to jump on that long winding road to oblivion.
The professional comes here with a reason…not like a weird hick poker player from Crawford, Texas looking for a “Game.” No we are here for the experience, and the action that only an entrenched doughboy from New Jersey can endure. We have come to seek our fortunes. Not fortunes in the sense of material gain (that’s always nice though) but in the bragging rights that proclaim: “veni, vidi, vici.” Some of us came to get away from the past, a past that sometimes continues to haunt us; others are here to wash away the pain of a dull and unhappy life. Whatever the reason this town cannot be taken lightly. One false move that could be considered illegal and your done….game over. Imagine a young rookie pitcher in his first major league game, trying to find that strikeout pitch. A pitch that somehow the menacing, steroid filled player from Mill City hasn’t seen before. Chances are he has seen that pitch many times before.
THE END
The bottom line is this: Despite what this town can represent (corporate greed) Las Vegas just might be the Vanguard of the apocalypse or a new Babylon for the 21st century, the kids eat for free here. Or Vegas is just another desert town convincing passer-bys of limitless opportunity, either way I like it here. I like the prospect of meeting ghosts and fucking with the zombie clan. No matter what you do there is always something happening here, these are the major leagues. Whatever weird fucked up shit you’ve done in whatever trashcan city your from, it’s been done in Vegas and chances are someone was stupid enough to pay the $30 to watch. In all probability I was there laughing and taking notes. Be warned!

EDITORS NOTE

Well here we go again...another update another long winding story for the masses. The last several weeks have been wierd and that's puttings things mildly. Included in this weeks update is the long delayed review of one of Vegas' old school diner/bar's called the Peppermill. At some point while some of you wander the strip, drunk on your power and money you might run into this place. As for the ending of the review...yes things got wierd fast as they will here in Vegas. I take it all in stride. Elton John has nothing to worry about...the rocketman is safe. Have fun and look for more reviews...i'll be seeing some of you real soon.

Grilled Chee Sandwiches, A Lovely New/Old Assistant and No hats

Review: The Peppermill

The Vegas Strip on a Thursday night is the calm before the storm. With Friday night looming the local’s head out to the mega-clubs, enjoying industry nights, cheap drinks and the occasional hand job.
This night was a strange one; I had a new “Assistant” tonight, someone equally adept at maneuvering these dangerous waters. The night however started innocently enough, several drinks at a local Fremont street establishment while we bided our time with shots of Whiskey and Guinness. A mediocre “Irish” band played U2 songs to tourists; we tuned them out and planned our night. The Peppermill has been a Vegas mainstay for more than 20 years. Nestled across from the aging Stardust the Peppermill is a neon beacon for any weary drunkard with just enough money for a warm grilled chee sandwich. We walked in a little after 11:00 pm. I had heard that Peppermill was a dark environment ideal for lovers, cheating wives and drunks. Naturally we were intrigued enough to check this place out for ourselves.
HOW DOES MY HAIR LOOK??
A good question to ask your assistant when asked to remove your hat upon entering a restaurant/bar; we were confused. The Peppermill boasts an impressive diner with standard diner fare. The whole place looks cluttered with assortments of plants and neon lights; imagine a jungle setting, now imagine that jungle setting in the middle of the Tron movie set! It’s confusing, scary and a little cheesy.
The bar located at the back of the diner was decent; this is where I was asked to remove my hat, for the good of the public. The fire pit was the centerpiece of Peppermill, with young couples getting cozy, sipping on mai-tais and hoping for a potential sleepover that would include the precursory tickle fight. I could relate I needed a tickle the kind that my drink wasn’t providing. My assistant was enjoying herself “Jackie Ohh” was getting tipsy and our conversation was getting interesting. The bartenders (old school variety) could sense this and they were all too eager to continue pouring the drinks.

COSA NOSTRA ACTORS & THE ROCKETMAN COMETH!
According to one of the head bartenders Robert DeNiro would come in and have a couple drinks while filming “Casino” I believe they might have filmed a scene right where I was sitting. Unusually tightlipped it took some prying by “Jackie” to get our man to give up the goods on some of the more salacious behavior he’s witnessed here at Peppermill. Alas dear reader he did open up but only after I compromised an “off the record”.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Peppermill is a fine place for a bullpen session or an after hours nightcap. The no hats put me off a bit. The wait staff was friendly and the bartenders were pro’s; I couldn’t imagine trying to get a bartending job here, the positions are hereditary. This is a good temporary escape from the current Disneyland inspired scene. If you want old Vegas with lots of neon then Peppermill is your spot. Jackie Ohh certainly enjoyed herself and the company was a nice change. After we finished our drinks we bid the crew adieu and headed to Art-bar, little did I know that night would become much weirder than ever before.

eDiToRs NoTe

Sheesh...another weekend with more reviews. The time here has become wierder and the weather continues to test me. I just finished up a weekend with good friend Michael Pasko from Mill City fame. Some of you San Diego readers (are there any?)might remember him. No places were reviewed but we sampled a little bit of the Vegas thang, with plenty of booze not enough women (except that girl Pasko was dancing with at Beauty Bar)and while Pasko was dancing with a cutie, I had some Anorexic doll pretending she was deaf while i explained to her why i like washing dishes with comet. Enjoy the reviews and i'll be seeing some of you (unts in a couple of days!!!

J'ai besoin d'une boisson !

Risque @ Paris Las Vegas

Saturday night: Once again I’m tired from a long visit with friends, so when I heard that Risque at Paris was having a Latin night I felt refreshed, I needed to see this for myself.
Risque is an interesting place aside from the corporate links that bind many mega-clubs in Vegas, Risque was surprisingly low key. I arrived at 1200am to a packed casino but no line to the club. I knew then that this was to be tourist night. Most tourists are in the clubs by midnight, no sense staying up too late the kids would be waiting, and if mommy shows up at 700 am with someone other than daddy or “Uncle John” the situation then becomes complicated.
I met Emily Curtin the Sales Coordinator for Risque and away we went on a high speed tour of the club. According to Emily the club boasts six dance floors one of which was having Latin night. We spoke at length outside the club on a patio over looking the strip across from the Bellagio.
Risque has been in action for 5 years; despite competing with mega-clubs like Pure at Caesars the club is doing well. Emily handles all the special events and VIP promotions, for over a year she has been getting people inside the club. Judging by the mostly tourist crowd that was crowding the main floor….her job was secure.
Latin Backbeats, Yale and Rum
Louis the 14th would be appalled at coming home after a night on the town with whores and baguettes to find a hundred or so Hispanics dancing in one of his parlor rooms! The theme of the Paris Hotel if you haven’t guessed is Paris in all it’s decadent splendor. The main club area is trendy and neat however the smaller rooms with the music variety look exactly like a 17th century Parisian room, complete cavernous halls and vaulted ceilings.
I spent my time in the Latin dance room where the Rum was flowing and a pleasant and very married Yale graduate was testing my knowledge of history.
Highlights
The atmosphere at Risque is laid back with minimal meat market mentality; this I suppose is due to the high tourist count. The music on the main floor was top 40; the key is the side rooms that play a variety of music which is always nice.
Low Lights
Just when i was about to dive into a nice discussion with my Yale friend concerning the limits of monagamy and marriage the lights came on! It was only 300 am i had assumed these places were open all night. Bad memories and flashbacks of New Jersey quickly filled my mind with dread!

Forty Deuced

Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce @ Mandalay Bay

Late night tonight vague recollections of the evening, it’s Monday morning I know because when I left the house six hours ago I was barely sober and now I have to keep one foot on the bed and one on the ground to make the room stop spinning. After successfully making it home from the Vegas strip I can now lay back and smile about the gorgeous Australian woman, the midget and of course the beautiful burlesque performers. As my vision spirals away toward an unknown complicated vortex I shall recant my adventure.
Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce is what many consider a club however unlike the unimaginative Tangerine at T.I. Forty Deuce showcases some of the world’s best burlesque dancers. When I say burlesque I mean the whole package including a live jazz band that play’s the alcohol drenched, money grabbing sounds of raw jazz that a woman can strip to! Yes despite Forty Deuce being fully entrenched in tourist nirvana the vibe screamed professional’s only! This was a Sunday night in Las Vegas, while most are on a red eye back home wondering how to pay the mortgage and making sure the bruises are not noticeable, the real pro’s come out to play.

I met Michael Brown the Manager at Forty Deuce (not the Michael Brown of Katrina fame) we went through the club and he introduced me to some of the staff, which of course were friendly and courteous. The club itself is not a huge Vegas mega-club rather a small semi circular establishment, with a modest dance floor and a cozy VIP section.
The VIP section was perfectly positioned to view the stage, and view I did!

Dirty Jazz
At around 200am the dance music came slowly to silence and the raw sounds of trumpets and trombones were heralding the onset of something truly spectacular. Two beautiful women came strutting onstage and began a perfectly rehearsed routine that left most in the club searching the floor for their respective tongues.
Writing about Forty Deuce can really do no justice to the theme and attempts by the club owners to really showcase something new yet old, to this gin soaked, burnt out Vegas mob.
Highlights
The music before the Jazz band came on was decent a light house mix that kept the crowd moving and interested. Obviously the actual band was excellent good musicians with their hands on the pulse of what was once true and filthy Jazz…the type that made white people wince! The dancers unlike the endless stripper clones in Vegas were beautiful and enticed the entire crowd with less show and more show.
I recommend Forty Deuce to anyone visiting Vegas and anyone living here writing stories about Vegas.

Editors Note

Well it's been a long time since i've updated, recent trips to Flagstaff and a much needed recovery period are to blame. Included in this new batch of reviews is the Salsa Congress at the Stardust(Tony B included)and my review of a cool local bar called the Divebar and a review of Club Cherry at Red Rocks Casino. I've kept them short and sweet. Look for another update next week...this is were i join the Metro Cops and I review my first Fashion Show. Also look for a new music section where i interview and review local and mainstream bands. It pays to be a Journalist!!! I look foward to seeing some of you NOBS in August...in the meantime read and enjoy!

(hard at work)

EL Guapo

Las Vegas Salsa Congress

Stardust Hotel

I was sitting in an office amid 120 degree weather last Thursday afternoon when I received a call from long time friend Anthony Biondo aka Tony-B. Tony was going to be in town for a night and a day, specifically for the 6th annual Salsa Congress. His girlfriend Adrianna was competiting in the event, which boasts the best Salsa dancers this side of the Mississippi. I naturally wanted to cover this event being an avid fan of salsa music and not wanting to pay the 40.00 entrance fee so I flexed my press credentials powers to the max. The Salsa congress has been convening for the last several years in an effort to expand the culture that bore Salsa music and the rhythmic gyrations that accompany such great music that spans several generations.

I met Tony at the Marriott suites and we made our way to the Stardust Hotel on the strip, we quickly got past the initial pleasantries and made our way to the nearest lounge. Press registration was a breeze. I spoke with Nate who described himself as the tall white boy amid a sea of Latin. He wasn't too hard to find and away we went. The event itself is a great example of culture that is so often misunderstood and associated with stereotypes not befitting nor giving credit to the artistic stamina needed to bring about such beauty to a culture long since passed over.
The ballroom was packed with an assortment of white, brown, yellow and black. These were the dedicated students of a cultural byproduct whose worth will always be unknown to the mainstream. Only those with the sense of style and grace could bring about envy to those with none.

My papa told me!
My parents were the hit of local Tri-state party and dance circuit of the 1970's. My sister and I would stay up late with the other kids high on Pepsi watching our parents dance the night away to Tito Puente, The Grand Combo, Orchestra Harlow, Willie Colon, The Fania All-Stars and many great Latin artists hitting you live. This was their peak. Many years later my friends and I would try to re-create this world in San Diego, hoping that our peak would rival that of those who came before us. In many ways they did. Sadly those peaks have the eventual downfall. The music like the memories are forever.


The actual competition was a fascinating spectacle in regimented dance, mixed with improvsation and flair. Salsa dancing and the dancers including Adrianna (tony's girlfriend) were spectactular. The movements are basic, it's the dancers with true skill who add the flavor and excitment to the routine. Adrianna and co. had enough flair and determination to make this competition a must see in Vegas or anywhere. I'll be honest i don't remember who won the overall event the Corona's were flowing that hot night in Las vegas.


I recommend to anyone needing a good injection of latin culture to visit or look up the Salsa congress online for any events being held in their cities. The music alone is worth the price of admission. The DJ and the dancers certainly knew their business. The salsa being played ranged from the really hot and heavy of the 60's and 70's to a few recent hits.
I blame you Father
I sat there watching the dance floor filling up with people shaking and strutting their stuff. I was pretty buzzed and i couldn't help noticing the hot,hot ladies waiting for a guy like me to ask them to dance. Except i couldnt..in all my years my father neglected to show me 3 things: 1)How to seduce women 2)how to throw a curveball and 3 how to dance!!
Highlights

It was great seeing my friends again it had been too long. The music and solidarity of the event left me wanting more. The organizers of the event knew how to put this thing together and it was evident. The music and dancing were beyond my expectations. Much credit to Adrianna and co for a great performance(and pic). Look for this event in a city near you and for god's sake learn how to dance!