Hard Rock Hotel 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., prices vary, 21+. 702.693.5555

Rehab still going strong after 10 years

By Susan Stapleton
Photography by Christopher DeVargas

Picture 7,500 of your closest friends scantily clad in bikinis and muscle shirts, frolicking on sand beaches next to pools surrounded by palm trees, as an eclectic mix of music plays. Now put that party scene on a Sunday and you have the original daylife experience in Vegas—Rehab.

Ten years ago, the Hard Rock Hotel pioneered the idea of throwing the party after opening one of the first nightclubs in a casino, Baby’s, now home to Body English. “Pools at that point were only open to hotel guests. We figured after two nights of partying in Vegas, you needed Rehab,” says Michael Goodwin, the vice president of nightlife and daylife at the Hard Rock.

Originally officials there thought the pool party would appeal to industry people who spent their weekends working, but it quickly evolved into a destination for tourists and locals alike. “The nice thing about the formula here is that we had the investment in the pool, so the technical challenges were easy to overcome,” Goodwin says. “The formula is warm weather, a lot of sun, great ambience of the pool and some good music. Tie that in with people who want to have fun. You’re watching hundreds of thousands engaging in pleasure.”

Click photo for the story behind the photos

Over the years, the Sunday pool party has become a place to spot celebrities. DJ Pauly D, Drake, Holly Madison, Kim Kardashian, Ne-Yo, Paris Hilton, Pitbull and Psy are just some of those who have either played the venue or hosted special events there. “You can be at the pool and realize that the person next you is the drummer from Mötley Crüe … the guy standing next to you getting a drink is a celebrity. That’s what built the Hard Rock,” Goodwin says.

The music here varies, switching from new hits of the moment to tunes from the ’80s, changing direction through the course of the day. For Memorial Day weekend, the deck is stacked with Diddy taking over the 6.5-acre venue while resident DJs Richard Beynon, DJ Shift and DJ Wellman keep the beats flowing.

Goodwin notes that what drives tourism in Vegas today certainly changed from 10 years ago. Now 21- to 35-year-olds are making Las Vegas a destination to party. With that, the landscape in Vegas changed to accommodate the younger crowds. Many of the major resorts now have a pool party to satisfy that need. “Hotels have seen the value of this type of operation,” Goodwin says. “Now there are lots of options for guests. I don’t think that’s diminished the success of Rehab. The customer base for this type of operation increased for this type of party.”

Now, with events such as the Electric Daisy Carnival making regular stops in Las Vegas, Rehab has adapted to bring in entertainment to coincide with the festival. The pool party also celebrates 10 years with a $100,000 bikini invitational in late June through July.

“One of the things we like to say is, ‘It doesn’t matter where you stay, come to Hard Rock to play.”

Top photo: Misty wears Jennifer top ($45) and Melika bottom ($52), both available at Kateswim.com, hoop earrings ($48), available at Scamp and Scoundrel in Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort, bangles ($12.95 each) available at Love Jones in Hard Rock Hotel; Mandy wears Vix Paula Hermanny bikini ($96), bracelets ($21 each), all available at Love Jones

Photo on right: Misty wears Luli Fama crocheted bikini ($86), bangle ($21) and cream shell ring ($49.95), all available at Love Jones in the Hard Rock Hotel, beaded wrap bracelet ($38) available at Scamp and Scoundrel in Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort; Chris wears Midnight Soirée shorts ($68), available at Tommy Bahama in Town Square and Mandy wears Luli Fama sequined bikini ($99), bangles ($12.95 each) key necklace ($108), all available at Love Jones

Click photo for the cocktail recipes.

Las Vegas flair bartenders are ready to entertain and amaze you, all in the name of fun

By Kiko Miyasato
Photographs by Christopher DeVargas

Nico Falzone
Bar: Kahunaville at Treasure Island
Years flairing: 7
Hometown: Milan
Cocktail: Mango Mai Tai
Citizen of the world: “I’ve lived in Milan, France, Spain, London and now Vegas.”
Thanks, Ian Schrager: “I was living in London and working for the Morgans Group Hotel owned by Ian Schrager. And it was at the bar there that my manager taught me about flair bartending. He was the best.”
Hazards of the trade: “I’ve cut my lip before and had to have stitches, too. It’s normal.”

Rene De La Chesnaye
Bar: Voodoo Rooftop Nightclub at Rio
Years flairing: 10
Hometown: Mexico City
Cocktail: Witch Doctor
Sticky situation: “With all the cuts and lacerations that I get … my best friend is super glue.”
Deep thoughts: “Flair bartending becomes a Zen-like movement. You flip so many bottles, so many times. You don’t have to really think about what you’re doing, that’s the Zen part. It becomes an extension of yourself.”

Eric Parker
Bar: Flair Bar at Golden Gate
Years flairing: 7
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
Cocktail: Captain Morgan Lemon Drop
It’s a dare: “At my bar we have the best personalities; we put on a good show. We’re some of the quickest bartenders on Fremont. I challenge people to see if they can get a drink faster and/or as strong!”
Just like Bill Murray: “I get up,
I go to work at the Flair Bar—it’s kind of like the movie Groundhog Day. But you know what? This is a pretty awesome Groundhog’s Day!”

Scott Shafer
Bar: Rock n Rita’s at Circus Circus
Years flairing: 5
Hometown: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Cocktail: Diva
Lesson learned: “ I’ve had a broken toe; it took it about a year for the toenail to grow back out. You don’t flair in flip flops!”
Geek at heart: “I love pub trivia. I’m very good at it. My best category is usually geography; I’m a whiz at that.”
Six degrees of separation: “Flippy was one of the guys that inspired me to become a flair bartender. I saw what he was doing, and I decided that that’s what I wanted to do.”

Christian Delpech
Bar: The D Bar at The D
Years flairing: 19
Hometown: Buenos Aires,
Argentina
Cocktail: Raspberry Lemon Drop
Pat yourself on the back: He’s won 19 world championships.
Tom Cruise connection: “When I was 17 I saw Tom Cruise in Cocktail. I thought what he did was so cool, and I started envisioning … it as a career.”
Break out the passport: “I’m getting ready to go overseas for flair; to teach, perform and judge. Next is Bogata, Colombia, then the Philippines and then Russia.”

Tim “Flippy” Morris
Bar: Carnaval Court at Harrah’s
Years flairing: 12
Hometown: Tujunga, Calif.
Cocktail: Lucky Lemonade
Kiss From a Spider’s Toe: This is his signature move, using three tins and a bottle. “I wanted an obscure name for my move, so …”
His (cut) rule of thumb: “There are no numbers high enough—I’ve cut myself so many times. I wouldn’t stop practicing until I at least broke five bottles. If you’re not breaking stuff when you’re practicing, you’re not hittin’ it hard enough.”

By Brock Radke
Photos by Peter Harasty

Lobster bisque

Does the Las Vegas dining scene have it all? It certainly seems that way. If you can’t satisfy your cravings through the brilliant restaurants on the Strip, jump off the beaten path to discover an eclectic, diverse local culinary scene. At The Orleans—just west of the Strip on Tropicana Avenue—fine flavors can be found at longtime local favorite Canal Street, a classic Vegas gourmet room that blends steak, seafood and a few Italian favorites with a dash of that most essential of American cuisines, a taste of New Orleans.

An elegant space suitable for a special-occasion dinner, yet cozy enough for a casual meal, the restaurant is centrally located in The Orleans, decked out in warm, golden tones with plush booths and colorful murals. Canal Street is known for superior service, extra attention paid to each patron that hearkens back to old Vegas, and for two luxurious dishes that almost everyone orders: a velvety, sweet-and-savory, sherry-laced lobster bisque, and the bananas foster, prepared tableside with French vanilla ice cream, brown sugar and cinnamon, finished flambé-style with rich rum. These are the delicious bookends of a very memorable meal.

Throwback tableside service is also executed for a pair of popular salads, a classic Caesar with house-made dressing, garlic croutons and crispy Parmesan tuile, and a warm spinach salad with hard-boiled egg and hot bacon dressing. Both are perfect partners for that beautiful bisque, or an equally enchanting four-onion soup topped with melting cheese. Other standout starters include Louisiana-style crab cakes, speckled with peppers and onions, with roasted corn relish and Creole mustard sauce, and the unique antipasto caldo, a collection of fried mozzarella, mushrooms stuffed with sausage and peppers, shrimp scampi and calamari with spicy tomato sauce. If the room is putting you in an old-school mood, try traditional oysters Rockefeller or escargots bourguignon.

Bone-in ribeye

Canal Street’s specialty entrées run the gamut from tender, classically prepared chicken marsala or scaloppini and veal osso buco to lobster tail, crab legs and pan-fried diver sea scallops. The osso buco, braised veal shank with a rainbow of herbs and spices over wild mushroom risotto, is among the most popular dishes. Another favorite flavor is Parmesan-crusted veal over pappardelle pasta with tomatoes, olives, garlic and capers in a lemon-butter sauce, a sort of Spanish-Italian fusion. Like New Orleans, this menu is a mishmash of different cuisines and cultures, and a hearty one at that.

Creative dishes from the sea include a Chilean sea bass napoleon layered with roasted portabello and peppers and spinach, salmon wrapped in prosciutto and sautéed in olive oil, and grilled jumbo shrimp with a “caprese” blend of mozzarella, basil and tomatoes over linguine. Canal Street offers steaks with the bone in for extra flavor and richness, including an 18-ounce ribeye charred to perfection, a 14-ounce New York strip or a just-right 8-ounce filet mignon. Rack of lamb, prime rib and satisfying sides like blue cheese scalloped potatoes round out the menu.

There’s something tasty for everyone in this town, as there is at Canal Street. Consider a quick trip to the Orleans to see what the bayou has to offer.

The Orleans 5-10 p.m. Wed.-Thurs. & Sun., 5-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 702.365.7550

By Kiko Miyasato

Sanjiv Gupta

The road to success isn’t always glamorous. This is especially true for Sanjiv Gupta. He started out in the food and industry working as a buffet boy at a Holiday Inn near Six Flags in St. Louis when he was just 18 years old. “It wasn’t elegant, but it was a great place to make some money during the summer,” he said. Well, it’s a far cry from where Gupta works today; he’s now the manager at the new Press at Four Seasons Hotel.

Gupta, born in Brussels, Belgium, (his father is Indian, his mother Belgian, and he’s fluent in French) moved to St. Louis as a teen. It was in St. Louis that Gupta spent most of his adulthood. Until last year, he was bar manager at Four Seasons St. Louis and originally came to the Vegas location just to help out for a short period. “I was supposed to only be out here for six weeks, but they offered me a job before I left,” he said.

Now Gupta manages the resort’s newest indoor-outdoor lounge. In the morning, stop by Press for coffee and pastries, but during the evening sit outdoors, surrounded by lush foliage, twinkling lights and candle-lit lanterns while sipping hand-crafted cocktails. “The name comes from pressing coffee and pressing grapes … We’ll have 20 wines by the glass; four of them from women wine makers,” Gupta said. “From 10 p.m.-midnight we offer six cold coffee cocktails.”

“When you come to Press it’s about sitting back, relaxing, having a cocktail and just enjoying being in Vegas.”

Hibiscus Julep

Sweet and refreshing, with the perfect kick, the Hibiscus Julep is just one of three juleps that Press offers. The classic summer cocktail is mixed with Absolut Hibiskus vodka, hibiscus syrup and muddled fresh mint, then poured over hand-crushed ice and garnished with a wild hibiscus flower.

The Mirage, 10 p.m. May 31 & June 1, $39.99-$59.99 plus tax and fee. 702.792.7777

At one time Wayne Brady was the hardest-working entertainer on the Strip. In 2009, for a stretch, he could be found hosting Let’s Make a Deal during the day when the game show was broadcast from the Tropicana, and performing at night for his Making It Up show at The Venetian. He still holds the same successful day job, albeit closer to his California home, but nowadays takes his improv talents directly to fans on stages across the country. When he does come back to Las Vegas, it’s for nothing short of being part of the prestigious Aces of Comedy line-up of comedians at The Mirage’s Terry Fator Theatre.

Brady’s set is likely to have more surprises and spontaneity than an average Ace—and by average here we’re talking within the context of Daniel Tosh, Jay Leno, Ron White, Lewis Black and Kathy Griffin. He caught the improv bug at age 16, became a household name in the U.K. and the U.S. after his skills led him to Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and has kept the pathways of free association in his brain clear with constant practice ever since.

The Pearl at Palms, 8 p.m. June 1, starting at $34 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster

Scott Weiland fronted one of the most popular rock bands of the ’90s during his years as the lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots, and then fronted one of the most popular rock bands of the ’00s when he joined with former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum in Velvet Revolver. So as a solo performer, Weiland has two bands and eight total albums’ worth of material to draw from (not to mention the four albums he’s released on his own). For his latest tour, however, Weiland will be focusing on 1992’s Core and 1994’s Purple, the first two Stone Temple Pilots albums.

Taken together, Core and Purple feature eight songs that made the top 20 on Billboard’s mainstream rock chart, including hits like “Plush,” “Vasoline” and “Interstate Love Song,” all of which topped that chart. Backed by his ace solo band, the Wildabouts, he give audiences the chance to hear that voice on those classic songs again, along with selections from throughout his varied career.

7055 S. Fort Apache Road, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., hours subject to change, $39.99, $29.99 under 42 inches and seniors. 702.979.1600

Las Vegans welcome change but are sentimental when it comes to bygone institutions. Usually an imploded casino is shortly followed by a bigger, newer one, but after Wet ’n’ Wild turned off the faucets for the last time in 2004 nothing replaced it except nostalgia. When legendary tennis star and native Las Vegan Andre Agassi gets nostalgic, he can do something about it. When he and wife Steffi Graf received an offer to become principal investors in a new water park in the southwest of the Las Vegas Valley, Wet ’n’ Wild Las Vegas became a reality.

The $50 million park, modeled after an Australian cousin, is operated by media giant Village Roadshow (it released The Great Gatsby this month). Its 41-acre area contains 25 slides and attractions, including a 17,000-square-foot wave pool. Canyon Cliffs releases its victims through trap doors to plummet down speed slides. The Royal Flush Extreme swirls riders around a bowl until they are flushed through a pipe into a pool, while the Hoover Half Pipe’s river raft simulates weightlessness with a 57-foot drop. Las Vegas is wet again.

MGM Grand Opens at 10 p.m. Sun. & Thurs.-Frti., 9 p.m. Sat. 702.891.3838

Hakkasan Las Vegas is all about giving you the experience you want. The massive club throws oh-so-many options your way, so it could be considered a collection of nightlife venues.

The fourth-floor main nightclub is an amphitheater-shaped take on the big-room, DJ-focused club format you see elsewhere in Vegas. A two-level LED screen and two-tiered stage means that performances here can get very theatrical. Resident DJs like deadmau5, Steve Aoki and Hardwell curate “experiences” that blur the lines between DJ set, concert and work of art. On the same level as the main club, the Pavilion provides your first alternative experience, with an open, airy Zen garden-like layout despite its indoor location. It has its own bar and DJ, pumping out a different set list than the main room. This is the place to be to talk, mix and mingle and maybe make a new acquaintance or two.

On the third floor, you’ll find Ling Ling Nightclub and Ling Ling Lounge. The lounge emphasizes mixology, with a laid-back vibe. Most nights, the 10,000-square-foot Ling Ling Nightclub is where it’s at for hip-hop. It could easily be a standalone club, with VIP booths and dance floor. Side-rooms are often a place for turntablists to test their mettle, but Hakkasan has a rotation of Vegas’ best hitting the decks.

Elisabeth Shue

Our affection for Elisabeth Shue blossomed after watching her in beloved movies such as Karate Kid and Adventures in Babysitting, and she received a well-deserved nod from the Academy of Motion Pictures for her role in Leaving Las Vegas. Shue currently plays investigator Julie Finlay in the CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She was recently in town to tour CSI: The Experience at MGM Grand and stopped to talk to Las Vegas Magazine’s Kiko Miyasato.

Q: Do you think CSI’s Sin City setting makes the show grittier?
A: I do. I think it’s great that it’s set here because the characters are very colorful in Las Vegas. It’s a place where people come and go, so there’s a lot more potential for drama. I think the backdrop of the lights, just the Strip itself, is very colorful and dynamic for the show.

Q: Were you interested in forensics before joining the show?
A: I’ve always been interested in the drama of crime. I remember the O.J. Simpson trial. I was so transfixed; it was a little creepy how much I cared. I would drive down Bundy just to experience it; I would wonder what happened, who did it, how did it all work. I don’t know there’s just something that’s so raw and awful about murder and death, but it’s always something that’s transfixed me.

Q: Your character Julie is known as “The Blood Queen.” Does working with all that blood, even though it’s fake, make you queasy?
A: In the beginning it did, but not anymore. I think real blood would make me queasy instantly. I would probably drop in a second! But, I would say that I’m very aware of the people that play the dead bodies. I’m always wanting to take care of them; so now I see them as very alive and I want to make sure they’re comfortable. The gruesomeness (on the show) doesn’t bother me anymore; now I kind of like it.

Q: You’ve also done another big drama here, Leaving Las Vegas. With the roles you’ve had in dramas based in Vegas, does that affect your view on the city?
A: No, I love this city! We live in Los Angeles, so we come here a lot. It’s a really fun place to spend a few days. I love that you can have a massage, go to a spa, go out and gamble if you feel like it. There (are) just so many options. I love bringing my kids now. I’ve taken them to see The Beatles LOVE; we’ve seen “O” probably four or five times. I can never get enough of that show. My daughter is a gymnast and she absolutely loves Cirque du Soleil.

Q: So what did you think of the CSI: The Experience?
A: It’s awesome! It’s really cool! I didn’t have time to solve the crimes, unfortunately. Considering we solve crimes (on the show) in an hour or less, I think it would be challenging, (but) definitely interesting.

By Jorge Labrador

Yoana Baraschi In the Light beaded dress ($416), Diane von Furstenberg Swarovski clutch ($395), Rebecca earrings ($325), John Hardy bracelet ($455), Monica Rich Kosann necklace ($1,150), all available at Capri in Bellagio; crystal ring ($30), available at Scamp & Scoundrel in Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort; Brian Atwood Labrea sandals ($350), available at La Scarpa in Bellagio

As you first enter The Bank through the club’s escalator, you might think you’re ascending into nightlife heaven.

That isn’t too far from what you actually get: a two-tier space with VIP booths on both levels, a high-end audiovisual system for its entertainment and, as the name implies, an air of opulence and excess. The club’s décor isn’t merely gold-tinged; it’s drenched in gold, which pops from the otherwise dark tones of the venue’s plush seats and pitch-black tables. The Bank’s bars have ornate golden patterns etched into the rear mirrors. You’ll be seeing a lot of these interlocking gold rectangles, The Bank’s visual trademark, scattered about, whether it’s etched into something or molded into the club’s walls and walkways.

On the lower level, you’ll find that the dance floor is slightly elevated and encased in glass, facing the elevated DJ booth (on the second level) and flanked on all sides by rows of those black-and-gold VIP booths. Up on the second floor, you can hang back in a booth or look over the whole place on the mezzanine-style walkway. Everything is visually appealing, leading one to believe “good enough” must’ve not been in The Light Group’s vocabulary when designing The Bank.

The club experience is magnificent, whether you’re springing for bottle service and a booth or lined up by one of the bars on each end. Service is quick and attentive and drinks are potent and plentiful. Despite today’s more DJ-focused nightlife scene, The Bank actually hosts a wide variety of entertainers. The club’s headliners are just as likely to be big-name DJs as they are to be live performers (Bruno Mars appears on May 19, Wale on May 24 and Sky Blu on May 25), and its long-running industry party is the place to be on Sunday nights.

Bellagio
10:30 p.m. – 4 a.m. Thurs.-Sun., 21+ 702.693.8300