Snoop Dogg

Thursday, April 24, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Go: What to Do, Where to Go & Why

By James P. Reza

Last weekend was a busy one for the Hard Rock Hotel, as retro-leisure hipsters descended on the resort's lush pool area for the day-long Mondo Tiki. Though the event seemed a bit drawn out and the bands were, well, not as exciting as hoped, reviving the pool party concept was welcomed by pretty people ready to drink and chill. The crowd was a nice mix of Vegas scenesters, visitors in town for the annual Rockabilly Weekender at the Gold Coast, and the requisite tan-and-tight contingent.

If rumors of the Hard Rock adding a topless pool area are to be believed, the hotel will clearly dominate the dollars of the young and the restless.

Meanwhile, indoors at the hotel's newest eatery, Simon, the tide seems to be turning in favor of restaurateurs Kerry Simon and Elizabeth Blau. Though it was said the restaurant initially failed to draw the kind of attention hoped for by resort owner Peter Morton (who abandoned his own Mortoni's space to Simon), the place is now starting to draw the right stuff. A nice bar scene is developing with the locals, and the bartenders are friendly and efficient in a laidback, California sort of way. Design-wise, the clubby, modern room looks pulled straight from Palm Springs, so don the ass-pants and the Armani and strut your way in.

You laughing

at me?

Radio host Howard Stern is back broadcasting at the Hard Rock through April 24, and a host of Stern's bizarre radio stunts and contests are sure to be on the agenda. As is typical, Stern's crew gets around while in town, with Gary Del'Abate hosting events at the Club Paradise strip club and "Stuttering John" Melendez bringing his live act to the Hard Rock's Joint on Thursday (April 24, 9:30 p.m.; 693-5066). Radio fans recognize Melendez's train-wreck radio interviews in which he attends press conferences to blindside celebrities with the kinds of questions we all want to hear answered, but that make us turn away from the radio when they are asked.

Meanwhile, we're hoping that the three-day engagement of comedian Dennis Miller at the Paris Le Theatre des Arts (April 25-27, 9 p.m.; 946-4567) will be less of a train wreck than his recent performances here. Miller is known for his cynical libertarian attitude and a sense of humor that requires more than a glancing knowledge of current events, politics and sociology to understand. His somewhat bitter approach can, evidently, turn on him, as it seemed to recently at the Bellagio, where he wandered on stage looking like a man who'd lost his luggage. An avid supporter of the war on Iraq, it will be interesting to hear Miller's take on the current situation.

Backbeats &

Bustin' Rhymes

Sold out almost before it was on sale, the legendary Beastie Boys--the hip hop band that killed a wildly successful college rock concert series at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall by trashing the facility's dressing rooms back in the '80s--perform Friday to what is likely to be the most boisterous audience the House of Blues has ever seen (April 25, 8 p.m.; 632-7600). Formerly a punk rock outfit--remnants of which occasionally pepper their albums--the Beastie Boys, a nasally crew of three New York white Jewish kids, unexpectedly released the biggest selling rap record of the 1980s (Licensed to Ill). Though initially derided as poseurs (mainly a result of their campy posturing linked to that first album), the Beastie Boys' second effort, Paul's Boutique, silenced the critics and ultimately gained them respect with rappers across the board. DJ Hurricane reunites with the Beasties for this performance, a benefit for slain Run-DMC turntablist Jam Master Jay.

Unable to score seats to the Beastie Boys but still long for the hip to the hop to the body rock? Check out Spring Bling at the Aladdin Theatre on Sunday (April 26, 8 p.m.; 736-0111), where Snoop Dogg and Da Brat will be tearin' it up, West Coast style, while Mystikal spices things with the flavor of NC-17 dirty Southern rap. With an unmistakable rapping style that sounds like a literate stoner telling really, really good street stories, Dr. Dre protégé Snoop Dogg drawls his lyrics over a George Clinton/P-Funk-inflected backdrop, making his sound unique and irresistible. Snoop tours behind 2002's Paid tha Cost to be Da Bo$$.

Campus cram

And just when the entertainment mix seems poised to abandon the wine-and-cheese set until the next First Friday, along comes the 29th annual UNLVino Wine Tasting Festival, held Saturday at the Paris ballroom (April 26, 3-7 p.m.; 946-4567). A long-running benefit for UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, UNLVino attracts the city's movers, shakers and wannabes to a massive mingle-and-drink where 100 vintners offer more than 300 varieties of wine while live music plays in the background. Wear something dark and machine washable.

On the university campus proper, the stages come alive this week, first with the university's annual version of Short Attention Span Theatre, the Ten Minute Play Festival (April 23-26, various times; 895-2787). Held in the Paul Harris Theatre, the festival (this year themed around Frankenstein) features eight 600-second plays directed by UNLV MFA students Susanne Burns and Aaron Tuttle. In the UNLV dance department, students choreograph "Both Sides Now," a performance of ballet and modern dance held in-the-round at the Black Box Theatre on Saturday (April 26; 895-2787).

Rounding out the busy week at UNLV is classical pianist Andre Watts, performing Sunday at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall as part of the vaunted Charles Vanda Master Series (April 27, 4 p.m.; 895-2787). Considered a superstar of classical music, Watts' performances with the world's great orchestras and conductors complement his sold-out recitals and appearances at the most prestigious international music festivals.

Hey, Mr. DJ

GO couldn't let you off the hook without telling you where to go midweek to get off the hook. This week it's the old fave standby, the Venetian's V Bar, where smart-engineer-guy/turntablist DJ John Doe launches his new weekly gig spinning on Thursday nights. Get your weekend started early by grooving deeply to Doe's trademark hard funk and soul. The V Bar even makes a midweek concession with a slightly relaxed dress code favorable to Doe's funky fans. Check it out.

James P. Reza is the editor of the Best Places-Las Vegas guidebook. E-mail nightlife, cultural event & dining tips to jpreza@lvcm.com. Deadline is the Saturday prior to publishing.