Kayla Hale doesn’t mess around when it comes to belting out tunes, whether it’s a little “Dream On” by Aerosmith or “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses! She also doesn’t mess around when it comes to slinging drinks; she’s the lead bartender at the Strip’s new karaoke bar, Smelly Cat at Grand Bazaar Shops.
“Everyone’s a damn good singer here,” Hale says. “From bartender to servers, the whole staff sings, from Frank Sinatra to Johnny Cash and everything in between. We love to get fun with the crowd. I never expected to work in a place where our whole business is karaoke. This place is a beautiful space. They really nailed it here combining a bar and karaoke.”
Hale has a long history of bartending and performing (she currently dances burlesque at local’s favorite bar Double Down Saloon). “After bartending at spots around town, I saw a listing online for Smelly Cat, and I was like, ‘Those are two things I love to do—bartending and karaoke. So why not!?’ And I’ve been here since we opened our doors.”
Once inside, guests are treated to a large bar and lounge and daily karaoke. There’s even a live band a few nights a week. “You get to front the band!” says Hale. And in between whipping up the cocktails, Hale will jump onstage and rock out. “I feel lucky,” she says. “… I feel like I’ve found success. I feel like I’ve found a job that brings me joy and happiness, and I enjoy doing it every day.”
Dancing Queen Photo by: Christopher DeVargas
Libation: Dancing Queen
Smelly Cat’s signature cocktail, the Dancing Queen, is a 100-ounce behemoth of New Amsterdam vodka, cherry, lime and soda. Other fun-named, large-format cocktails include Mr. Brightside and Single Ladies. Drinkers have the option of trying the large format cocktails in 16 ounces and shot form, too.
Benefit: Smelly Cat offers the famous Dole Whip in several specialty cocktails, like the Escape with pineapple and two rums.
Grand Bazaar Shops. smellycatvegas.com
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