Points of interest for rockabilly fans in LAS VEGAS...

[Gary Rabuzzi]

I thought that since we are all spread out all over the world, we should each post some cool rockabilly/pinup friendly places and activities in our respective cities. You know, in case anyone travels there in the future...

Plenty of Burlesque - now, maybe some of it is a little modernized, and drifts away a bit form classic burlesque, but we still have a lot of cool scenes here in town. Most notably, Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce, inside the Mandalay Bay. We also have several burlesque troops here in town- The Sin City Dolls, etc. It doesn't take too much hunting to see some cool burlesque here in town...

Old school casinos- Sure, places like Bellagio and the Wynn are nice, but I find a lot of old school charm in places like the Tropicana, the Riviera, Bally's, and the Hilton. Also, Caesar's Palace has done a good job of keeping the casino current and sophisticated, without sacrificing it's old school charm.

Local music venues- we have a great local network of live music venues that features everything form hardcore punk, to rockabilly, to alternative, to straight up rock and roll. Check out the Double Down, The Divebar, and the Bunkhouse, for a start.

Vintage Vegas showgirls - There are still a few old-school Vegas production shows left. Check out Folies Bergere at the Trop, and Jubilee! at Bally's. Rhinestones and sequins, all night long, baby!

Our local music - check out the myspace pages for punk (The Vermin, The Tinglerz), lounge (The Las Vegas Nines), and some pretty unclassifiable (but cool) stuff (Saloon Door Slammers). We also get some great regional acts like The Voodoo Organist, Ruby Dee and The Snakehandlers, and Shaun Kama. Never a shortage of bands to see in town...

Dirk Vermin's Pussykat tattoo parlor - add to your ink collection at Dirk's place. He's a stalwart, old school punk rocker (fronting the aforementioned Vermin), and a fan of all things tiki!

Champagne's Cafe - the coolest watering h*** in town. No live music, but a very eclectic crowd (from the typical Merle Haggard alcoholic types, to lesbian roller derby girls), a rocking jukebox, and red velvet wallpaper. It's said that DeNiro and Pesci drank here, while filming "Casino". On Maryland Parkway, across from the Boulevard mall.

The Pepper Mill - a twenty four hour diner next to the Riviera. Good food, decent prices, and a swankadelic lounge in the back room with a floating fire pit and shag carpeting.

The Neon Boneyard - where all the old neon casino signs go to die. Would be a great place to shoot pinup pics!

First Friday - the first Friday of every month, we rope off the streets downtown in the arts district (yes, we actually have an arts district!), and feature local arts and crafts, and music.

Fremont East - Venture off of the touristy Fremont street experience, across the Strip, and hang out in swinging spots like the Griffin, and the Beauty Bar.

Viva Las Vegas Weekend - do I need to explain this one? Most of you have probably been to this weekend of rockabilly/swing/tiki/retro/pinup culture. It's Lollapalooza, with sideburns!

Okay, let's hear from some other cities!

[Gary Rabuzzi]

You got it, baby- next time you come to Vegas, I'm taking you to Frankie's tiki room!

[Ruby DeVille]

I might come up this summer! I got a healthy tax return and some friends dying for me to visit cali.

Gary Rabuzzi said:

You got it, baby- next time you come to Vegas, I'm taking you to Frankie's tiki room!

[Gary Rabuzzi]

Well, you can always crash here on your way through! I'll give you my bed, clean sheets, and I'll stay on the futon in the computer room, or vice versa, if you're more comfortable that way. Only, if you sleep in my bed, you may have to share with my dog. He thinks it's his!

[Tabby von Terror {★}]

This is AWESOME!
I'm heading out to Vegas in lat may to celebrate my 21st and THIS is exactly what I needed to see before heading out there!
YAY!
Im glad that you mentioned the old school hotels, like the Tropicana, mainly because that is most likely the place I will stay while out there!
Is there any other do not miss for a gal on her only21st in Vegas looking for a rockabilly/swing time?

[Kim Bombshell]

Does your 21st fall on the weekend Viva is? What a way to spend your 21st, at Viva! Woo Hoo!

Riot Doll said:

This is AWESOME!
I'm heading out to Vegas in lat may to celebrate my 21st and THIS is exactly what I needed to see before heading out there!
YAY!
Im glad that you mentioned the old school hotels, like the Tropicana, mainly because that is most likely the place I will stay while out there!
Is there any other do not miss for a gal on her only21st in Vegas looking for a rockabilly/swing time?

[tred]

riot doll,

depending on which weekend you are here, you should go to the beauty bar, dive bar, the aruba, or double down (depends on who is playing where that weekend). i've got a bunch of free passes to the erotic heritage museum, i'm working on an event with them (cars, rockabilly, burlesque). that place is kinda cool. the neon boneyard, as was mentioned above, is always fun and a good backdrop for some photos. if you're into the cars, i started a weekly classics/hot rods cruise on sunday mornings that draws about 300 cars each week. i'll post more as i think of it...

tred.

[tred]

oh yeah, how could i forget!

go see penn and teller at the rio. that's a good show. maybe blue man group if you're into it.

[Tabby von Terror {★}]

Ive seen the blue man group in NYC, it was great lol.
im going wed thru saturday, so i'd miss the car run :(
i plan on going to the beauty bar and the aruba already lol. and im going to the neon boneyard one day when im sober in the morning haha
what is the erotic heritage museum? i dont think ive heard of that lol

:D

tred said:

riot doll,

depending on which weekend you are here, you should go to the beauty bar, dive bar, the aruba, or double down (depends on who is playing where that weekend). i've got a bunch of free passes to the erotic heritage museum, i'm working on an event with them (cars, rockabilly, burlesque). that place is kinda cool. the neon boneyard, as was mentioned above, is always fun and a good backdrop for some photos. if you're into the cars, i started a weekly classics/hot rods cruise on sunday mornings that draws about 300 cars each week. i'll post more as i think of it...

tred.

[Gary Rabuzzi]

The Erotic Heritage Museum is a museum of all things porn. I went there last month, one of my friends' bands did a special show there. Very interesting, and not too far off the Strip. Behind the Fashion Show Mall, more or less. Any cabbie will know the spot...