Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

DANCE CLUBS 267
A KARAOKE BAR
Ellis Island Casino—Karaoke Admit it. You sing in the shower. And when
the acoustics are just right, you fancy you could give a Vegas lounge singer a run
for his money. Here’s your chance to test this theory without the comfort of tile
acoustics. In this small, smoky den filled with leather and candles, any number
of people from all walks of life get up and act out their lounge-singer fantasies.
You can join them. With over 6,000 titles, including multiple Englebert
Humperdink, Mac Davis, and Tom Jones selections, there are plenty of cheesy
numbers just perfect for this kind of environment. And if you stay here long
enough, you’ll hear them all.
The bar is decked out with video-poker machines, and if you’re planning on
singing, there is a two-drink minimum. For $10, you can videotape your moment
of glory. All you have to do to strut your stuff is choose a song and walk it up to
the host. You may have to wait a while for your tune, but part of the fun is watching
other people make fools out of them—er, singing. Karaoke is offered daily
from 9pm to 3am. 4178 Koval Lane (off Flamingo Rd., behind Bally’s). & 702/733-8901.
9 Dance Clubs
In addition to the options listed below, country-music fans might want to wander
on over to Dylan’s, 4660 Boulder Hwy. (& 702/451-4006). They offer
country music (live and otherwise) and line dancing, with free dance lessons.
Dylan’s is more casual and basic, with a definite roadhouse vibe.
Note: As far as a dress code is concerned, you are going to go farther with
more obviously expensive clothes, but you may not have the budget or fashion
sense for that (and who travels with really good clothes, anyway?). When in
doubt, all black should do it, and showing skin helps. Otherwise, just dress as
nicely as you can. But do avoid sports team–affiliated jerseys and baseball hats,
baggy pants, and other things that might fall under the heading “gangster-wear,”
because that’s one sure way of not getting past the velvet rope.
Baby’s This place is so cool, tears in your eyes freeze as you enter. That is not
necessarily a good thing. It means a velvet-rope policy that will probably keep
out the uncool (most of us), and futuristically hip drinks that require a bank
loan to afford, and a magazine-cover appearance is required to not feel really
lame. If that sounds cranky, it’s only because we’re kinda jealous; this is a cool
scene and it’s not its fault we’re wallflowers. This is the Vegas party bar and if you
can handle the pressure, by all means go, and have a good time for us. (Note that
Baby’s was closed for a renovation when we went to press, but the interior
changes won’t make a difference—none of us will still be able to go.) Baby’s is
open Thursday through Saturday from 11pm until 4:30am. In the Hard Rock, 4455
Paradise Rd. & 702/693-5555. Cover $10–$20.
The Beach If you’re a fan of loud, crowded, 24-hour party bars filled with
tons of good-looking fun-seekers, then bow in this direction, for you have found
Mecca. This huge tropical-themed (hence the whole “Beach” thing) nightclub is
right across the street from the Convention Center and is, according to just
about anyone you ask, the hottest club in the city. It’s a two-story affair with five
separate bars downstairs and another three up.
Just in case walking the 20 feet to the closest bar is too much of an effort, they
also have bikini-clad women serving beer out of steel tubs full of ice (they also
roam the floor with shot belts). The drinks are on the pricey side ($4.25 for an
8-oz. domestic beer), but the unfailingly gorgeous, 4% body-fat bartenders