Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pasties & Panache
Burlesque dance has been teasing audience members in Las Vegas show-
rooms for decades, with productions such as
MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris
and
Crazy Girls.
But only recently has it made its way into the clubs. This
tantalizing trend involves the removal of clothing, but it's different from
the strip clubs in that there's no full exposure, thanks to fishnets and
pasties. The dancing relies on comedy, talent, and tease whereas in the
strip clubs, you'll find that a little wriggling and writhing are the only req-
uisites. There's about an even split of men and women at the burlesque
venues, and between acts DJs and dancing takes over.
The va-va-va-voom returns to burlesque at
Ivan Kane's Forty
Deuce
555
(in Mandalay Bay;
%
877/632-7800 or 702/632-9442;
cover
$
20, locals free; Thurs-Mon 10:30pm-dawn; burlesque shows are
every 90 min. starting at 11:30)
,
a speakeasy-styled lounge owned by
actor, screenwriter, and nightclub impresario Ivan Kane, and the most
authentic burlesque spot in town. When the show starts, a secret door spins
around to transform a bar area into a stage complete with a three-piece
band and a woman clad in a long evening gown and boa (standing, curi-
ously enough, next to a bed where there are two large, fake fighting rats,
presumably for its pulp appeal). The room heats up as the dancer shimmies
and even hangs from the rafters, losing more clothes with each step. It's
lighthearted, fun and sensual, and transforms a low-key lounge into a sex-
tinged cabaret. She's followed by other dancers with their own shtick, and
a DJ spins between acts. Be sure and get there early to grab a good spot
for the show—areas with good views get packed tighter than a corset, and
the elevated seats are occupied by VIPs investing in bottle service.
The Pussycat Dolls Lounge
5
(in Pure, in Caesars Palace;
%
877/
427-7243 or 702/731-7873; www.purelv.com; cover
$
10 when Pure is closed
can be long but are well worth the wait. While so many of the popular clubs try
to be on top of the latest trends, Body English manages to stray off and do its own
thing, and do it successfully. Though by the end of the evening, the decor may
have you wishing you'd brought your cape.
LOUNGES WEST OF THE STRIP
Before lounges were “ultra” and bars were competing for the highest, best view,
there was
VooDoo Lounge
5
(in the Rio;
%
800/PLAY-RIO or 702/777
-
7800;
www.riovegasnights.com; cover
$
20 men,
$
10 women; 5pm-3am nightly),
theo-
retically located on the 51st floor of the Rio. As at Mix (p. 205), the hotel floor
numbering actually goes from 39 to 50, skipping all of the 40s, which according
to Asian superstition, are held to be bad luck. And what better place to celebrate
superstition? With black lights casting a glow on the rudimentary voodoo-design
scrawled decor, along with animal skin prints on chairs and a red glow emanating
from the bar, this place hasn't lost its allure. The outdoor patio/dance floor is a
