Location, Location, Location!
Great dates start with a great venue
By BETTIE PUDGE
One of the greatest characteristics about a city are your options when it comes to dining, art, entertainment, culture, etc. Las Vegas has all of the above and then some. It's always great to meet a date at some hole-in-the-wall restaurant with great food or a live music venue that showcases local talent. I'm going to let you daters in on some real gems in Vegas that, in my opinion, make for a great date!
FOR THE BREAKFAST LOVERS
I don't think I can extol the virtues enough about how good breakfast is. I can eat it anytime day or night! Say you meet someone who happens to love pancakes and eggs as much as you do? May I suggest the Original Pancake House? They have pancakes up to your ears in all shapes, sizes and flavors. The location inside Green Valley Ranch Station stays open until 10 p.m. and also features an extended menu (hamburgers, sandwiches and more) in addition to breakfast. Come hungry!
VIEW FROM THE TOP If scenery is your idea of romance, no place in Las Vegas has a better view of the Valley than the top of The Stratosphere. Once you're up at the top of the tower, your options are limited on entertainment. You can go on one of the three rides at the top of the observation deck, eat inside the Top of the World restaurant or have cocktails in the lounge. If you're considering this as a possible date venue, please make sure your date isn't afraid of heights.
COCKTAILS, ANYONE?
If you and your date want to imbibe, take advantage of some of the places in Las Vegas that cater to those of us who drink. For those on a budget looking for that "classic old school Vegas vibe," it would be a crime not to check out the Fireside Lounge inside the Peppermill Restaurant on the north end of The Strip. Talk about ambience -- big red booths surrounded by ample amounts of fake cherry blossom trees, mirrors and a lot of neon. This place is cooler than cool. If money is no object and you're looking to up the ante on the swank factor, try Caramel Bar & Lounge inside Bellagio or Tabu inside the MGM Grand. The vibe is cool and delicious with drinks to match!
SING LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING
For those brave souls who can't resist an opportunity to make a spectacle of themselves, why not make a night out of karaoke? There's many a place in town to sing your heart out ala William Hung but there's really only ONE place in town that takes the karaoke crown: the bar inside Ellis Island Casino. The place is jumping every night from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. but get there early to snag a seat! The place is exceptionally small and fills up fast.
GOOD OLD-FASHIONED LAS VEGAS KITSCH I cannot recommend enough this one particular choice for Las Vegas entertainment: Cook E. Jarr! Performing every Tuesday and Wednesday at Harrah's Carnival Court, Cook E. is a Las Vegas staple. Covering the latest and greatest in your favorite dance songs, Cook E. wears sport jackets with no shirt, gold jewelry, jeans and flip flops. He sings over a very sophisticated karaoke soundtrack. If his incessant dog barking between song lyrics doesn't get you howling with laughter, his harassment of the audience will. Do me a favor and please get up and shake a tailfeather to Cook E.'s rendition of "Poison" by Bell Biv DeVoe. It's my favorite!
HUNGRY?
There are a lot of places to eat in Las Vegas. It's one of the reasons that make this town so great! If you're not too hip on chain restaurants, Vegas isn't short on hip, little bistros or places with a flair for the unusual. Here are some of my faves: Paymon's Mediterranean Café: the food is good, the décor is interesting, the vibe is without a doubt very "date friendly." Firefly: Tapas is a great way to share the whole food experience with a date ... literally! Menu items are offered in appetizer-sized portions. It's the one time you're allowed to pick off someone else's plate. In fact, it's encouraged! Marrakech: Another international pick that reeks of date appeal. If you get bored with your date or the food, you can always stare lustfully (or enviously) at the belly dancers. Roadrunner Saloon (Eastern and 215): Vegas isn't at a loss on the whole bar/restaurant genre but surprisingly, this place is a tad different -- an outdoor patio with couches, booths and a firepit; inside are pool tables, TVs and two duckpin bowling lanes behind the bar. Fun stuff!
HERE, DOGGY DOGGY! If, by chance, you and your date are dog owners/lovers, I'm all in favor of meeting up at one of the local dog parks for a casual "sniff and wag" session. How about an early-evening romp with your date and your pooch? It's casual, fun and takes the pressure off of a topic to talk about. Plus, here's one idea where drooling on a date is actually OK. Don't forget the water dish and toys. Woof!
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
If you enjoy the outdoors, the Las Vegas Valley has some great places for hiking, biking and everything in between. Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam ... shall I go on? If you're into something more casual and like viewing nature from a distance, how about a leisurely drive around the Red Rock loop around sunset followed by dinner? Or a drive up to the Lodge at Mt. Charleston for baked brie and wine? Trés romantique!
Good luck and happy dating!
Do you have any ideas on topics I should be covering about the singles' scene in Las Vegas? Please email me and tell me about them! bettiepudge@reviewjournal.com
If scenery is your idea of romance, no place in Las Vegas has a better view of the Valley than the top of 
I cannot recommend enough this one particular choice for Las Vegas entertainment: 
If, by chance, you and your date are dog owners/lovers, I'm all in favor of meeting up at one of the 
