Kats’ Cool Hangs
Updated September 29, 2024 - 12:44 pm
Looking for the coolest hangs in Las Vegas? They’re not always where you think. John Katsilometes has you covered with the hippest spots in town, on and off the beaten path. See below for Kats’ newest and most righteous suggestions:
Clint Holmes at the Smith Center
Clint Holmes’ “Icons Reimagined” plays Myron’s at the Smith Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Holmes will spin the classics from Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick and Lionel Richie, among other legends. Holmes has known all of those folks. Should be another dandy; go to thesmithcenter.com for intel.
Mencia to perform at Composers Room
Carlos Mencia’s “The Mic of Mencia” karaoke show runs 9 p.m. until “late” Sundays at The Composers Room at Historic Commercial Center. Singing, comedy, beverages, no cover, free parking. Set it to music.
Check out Midnight Bleau at Fontainebleau
Nowhere at Fontainebleau is a sweet, swanky hang. Jennifer Keith is back Saturday, with Midnight Bleau on Sunday-Monday and Mikalah Gordon from Tuesday through Thursday. Hours are 8 p.m.- 12 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. No cover, but reservations encouraged; go to fontainebleaulasvegas.com … And know that you can “join in an impromptu game of billiards,” say those who run the joint.
Chase Brown at Notoriety Live
Chase Brown continues to kick it up at Notoriety Live at 7 p.m. Fridays. Brown has a fervent — fervent, I tell you! — following, singing country hits in his leather vest and matching jacket. He brings the multi-mirrored “Disco Ladder,” and does his best to commiserate with the his tip-wielding fans. Go to notorietylive.com for intel.
Laughs and more at South Point
A double-dip from South Point. The rollicking ’80s tribute band (and really, a whole experience) The Spazmatics play the showroom at 10:30 p.m. Saturdays. Get in the depeche mood for Depeche Mode, as we say. The “Dirty at 12:30” comedy showcase plays Fridays, doors at midnight. It’s $10 to Spaz out; no cover for the funny. Go to southpointcasino.com for intel.
Hear Saxman Duo at Harrah’s
Keeping in the Caesars family with The Saxman Duo at Harrah’s Piano Bar from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Soothing sounds. No cover.
Here come the ladies at Rouge Room
Staying on the Red Rock scene, Rouge Room is offering a Ladies’ Night from 7 p.m.-close beginning July 5. DJ Maria Romano hosts the opener. Rouge Star Karaoke runs 7-10 p.m. Thursdays, starting July 25. This is Karaoke ZX, backed by houses band The Busker Kings, featuring Ben Carey, the former bassist for Lifehouse; and Gigi Gonaway, former tour drummer for Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Go to RedRockResort.com for intel.
Check out ‘Piano Show’ at M Resort
The “Chris & James Piano Show” plays 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Thursdays at Amp’d at M Resort. Chris Mavridis and James Hill co-star. No cover, 21-over, requests and gratuities welcome.
Mermaid music at Silverton
Live music in Mermaid Lounge at Silverton is on from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The series is dubbed “Mermaid Lounge Live!” with acoustic tunes from an array of Vegas artists. No cover, must by 21-over. It’s a fine time, and a fin time, go to Silvertoncasino.com for intel.
Share some laughs at Wiseguys
Organically inspired comedy is on display from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays with “Bucket List” open-mic at Wiseguys at 1511 Main Street. Find the building with Pauly Shore, Don Rickles, Richard Pryor and Joan Rivers painted on the exterior. Cost is $5 (a mere pittance); go to wiseguyscomedy.com for intel.
Dancin’ at Grandview
Deja Vu Dance & Show Band (haven’t I seen this act before?) plays South Point’s Grandview Lounge at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Tickets are $10 — a mere pittance — available at Ticketmaster.com.
Craig Canter at Grape Street Wine Bar Cafe
Veteran showman Craig Canter is up 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Grape Street Wine Bar Cafe in Downtown Summerlin. The set list is ’60s and ’70s, food gets good reviews. You might see the odd celeb, too. No cover.
Piano show hits the notes at M Resort
The Chris & James Piano Show plays 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Thursdays at Amp’d at M Resort. These guys have proven a popular draw in a crowded dueling-pianos field. Chris Mavridis and James Hill are the stars, and Amp’d is a very cool lounge-showroom hang. No cover, 21-over, requests and gratuities welcome.
Wes Winters at Grandview Lounge
On the topic of classic entertainment, piano great Wes Winters plays at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at Grandview Lounge at the South Point. No cover. Stage at the front, bar in the back, 21-and-over.
Perrico band playing Shag Room
David Perrico’s “Pop 40” band plays the Shag Room at Virgin Hotel from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays. The vocally dexterous Lily Arce on the mic. The place thumps. No cover, but gotta be 21-over.
Goin ‘Late’ at S Bar
The “Late Affair” dining and entertainment at scene at S Bar at Mandalay Bay runs 9 p.m. Saturdays. This is a mix of fine noshes, cocktails (including zero-proof libations and FizzyWater) and entertainment in a swanky lounge hang. We need to make a return to this hovel ASAP (S Bar was once Red Square, the place personally famous as my first triple-digit bar tab ever in Las Vegas). Go to mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com for the intel.
Twins ongoing at Piano Bar
The Twins dueling piano show at the Piano Bar at Harrah’s runs 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Kimberly and Tamara Pinegar’s festival of sing-alongs packs the place. Slip them a request, and also a tip. No cover.
Pete Vallee at Harrah’s Piano Bar
The Pete Vallee juggernaut continues at Harrah’s Piano Bar. Valle’s Big Elvis show plays 2 p.m., 3:30 and 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Vallee has been singing as The King for some 25 years. No cover. Maybe you’ll be called up as “Little Elvis.” I know I have.
Grandview gets ‘Dirty’
On the topic of only-in-VegasVille entertainment, “The Dirty at 12:30” comedy showcase is purring along at South Point’s Grandview Lounge at 11:59 p.m. Fridays. That’s 31 minutes earlier than 12:30, but a chance to get, um, lubed up at the bar. But not too much. We’ll turn “Lefty” loose on you.
David DeCosta at Siegel’s Bagelmania
A first for our friends at Siegel’s Bagelmania, with crooner David DeCosta at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. He works for tips in his Sinatra-styled presentation. This is a CHA for the singing, and also the brunch experience. My favorite menu item is the Jason Strauss Avocado Toast; best beverage is the FizzyWater named for yours truly.
Whip Its at Carnival
The city’s predominant, parody, German-flavored, leather-clad, S&M-tinged, rock-cover band continues to throw it down at Harrah’s Carnaval Court. We speak of The Whip Its, wielding microphones, guitars and also riding crops, play 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Musically superior. Funny. And even a little unsettling. No cover; feel the vibe with this veteran act.
Alain Nu at Notoriety Live
Our first mentalist ever in CHA, Alain Nu, “The Man Who Knows,” runs 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays at Notoriety Live. He is an international man of mystery, who, according to the venues, uses “untold powers to foretell our actions, reveal our unspoken thoughts and create seemingly unexplainable phenomena.” It’s not untold now. We tellin’ it. Go to notorietylive.com for intel.
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John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.