New columnist loves the nightlife

So, they decided to give me a column. And I couldn't be happier.

This new weekly Neon fixture will feature information, news, chatter and gossip about the Las Vegas nightclub and nightlife scene. Basically, I'll bring you a little bit of everything for the party people venturing out at night in the entertainment capital of the world.

I'm not one who enjoys disclosing personal information and meaningless tidbits about my life, but I'll give you a few things about me. Trust me, I promise to make this short and sweet.

After 12 years working as a sports writer/columnist/copy editor at three newspapers, I made the leap to the nightlife scene in February when I was named the celebrity writer for the Review-Journal and Vegas Confidential, the celebrity and entertainment Web site featuring columnist Norm Clarke.

The transition from sports to entertainment was smooth and simple. I just work with "stars" in a different field of play, so to speak.

Want a little more? OK, just a few things.

I grew up less than 90 minutes from New York City and miss the summer humidity of the Big Apple more than I enjoy driving down the Strip at 11 p.m., feeling like I'm inside a hair dryer on high since it's still 95 degrees.

I was named one of Las Vegas' top socialites in December by a group of local nightlife gurus and celebrities.

I can't stand house music, but always seem to find myself in the Parlor on Sundays at the Hard Rock Hotel catching Jack Lafleur's weekly set.

I occasionally will wander into Seamless and catch some bass-pounding/hearing-destructive house music because I think, pound for pound, the best lineup of DJs (Hollywood, Swift, Inferno, Shift, Svast, Hart, etc.) run the show there.

I named Tao my 2006 nightclub of the year, but frequent Pure and Body English more than any other local venues.

OK, that's enough about me. Let's get on to the more important stuff going on around the city.

Devilish Club coming to the Strip: The Light Group, a major player on the Las Vegas nightlife landscape, has another hot nightclub headed our way with Diablo's Cantina, at the Monte Carlo.

The 13,000-square-foot entertainment complex, scheduled to open Sept. 13, sounds like it's going to be a combination of a Fat Tuesday and Dick's Last Resort with a touch of that crazy, energetic feeling you get during a fun night at Beacher's Madhouse or a trip down to Mardi Gras (just a little less debauchery).

According to Alex Acuna, public relations director for Light Group, Diablo's Cantina will be a "casual yet alluring dining and drinking destination. Its open-air design will provide an inviting and high-energy environment to help set the festive tone.

"Diablo's will combine all the fanfare and charm of a Mexican coastal cantina with the excitement and vibe of a lively 'people-watching' hot spot."

Diablo's will be a two-story venue, with the first floor incorporating the main dining area with an energetic bar and lounge. All patrons will be able to access the venue via an entrance on Las Vegas Boulevard, which will feature a walk-up frozen/specialty drink bar. You also will be able to enter Diablo's through any entrance to the Monte Carlo.

The second floor is slated to feature an open-air center bar area and stage for live music, rotating entertainment acts and weekend DJs.

Light Group brass gave Wayne Crane a well-deserved promotion, naming him director of marketing for Diablo's after a successful stint boasting the same duty at Mist lounge inside Treasure Island.

Crane tells me that Diablo's will waste no time jumping right into battle with the big fish of the Vegas scene and will quickly carve its own niche on the nightlife landscape.

C-Webb's 'Bada Bling': Detroit Pistons player Chris Webber brings his second annual Bada Bling Celebrity in Las Vegas on July 20-22, with a star-studded lineup.

The event raises money to benefit The Chris Webber Foundation, whose main objective is to increase literacy among disadvantaged youth.

The highlight of the celebration comes July 20 at OPM nightclub inside The Forum Shops at Caesars with performances from hip-hop legends Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. Hip-hop star DJ Biz Markie will handle the music from the turntables following their performances.

Weekend's best bet: Pure nightclub's American Curves/One Model Place bikini fashion show is set for Saturday inside Caesars Palace. Not a whole lot needs to be explained here. You get the picture.

Jeremy Pond is the celebrity writer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Vegas Confidential. His column will appear Fridays in Neon and online at www.lvrj.com and www.normclarke.com. He can be reached at 383-0298 or via e-mail at jpond@reviewjournal.com.