XS at Encore moves party outdoors for Poolside Sundays

Over the past few summers, Las Vegas resorts have taken to afternoon pool parties like fashionable female sunbathers to designer monokinis.

But, at XS at Encore, that standard Las Vegas pool party paradigm has been tweaked a bit: Every Sunday night, the party at XS, the nightclub, moves outside, to the adjacent Encore pool, in an event called Poolside Sundays at XS.

The poolside clubbing event kicked off its inaugural season last month. However, XS managing partner Cy Waits says he and brother and co-managing partner Jesse Waits and XS co-owner Victor Drai had batted the idea around with one another since day one.

It's "an amazing pool," he explains, and one that lends itself perfectly to a lavish party.

Customers "love it," Waits adds. "We set it up just like it would be during the day, with umbrellas and the whole look and vibe of a day party. But, it's at night."

One practical benefit of those later hours: Temperatures drop to something less than hellish. And, Waits says, "nobody gets sunburned."

XS, the nightclub, is closed during the Sunday night pool events. And, in the most obvious alteration from usual practices, guests at Poolside Sundays at XS are invited to wear upscale, classy beach and swimming attire.

"At 1 or 2 in the morning, we have half of the crowd swimming in the pool," Waits says. "It's just like daytime-at-night.

"By 1 or 2, it's just crazy. We bring out these beach balls and floating (toys) and rafts, and everyone just plays with them. It's just like a pool party."

Granted, some guests do opt to stick with their favorite clubbing attire, Waits says. "But, really, a good half of the crowd, and most of the locals, come in their beach attire."

To further the St. Tropezish vibe, waitresses don white tanks and bikinis with wraps, while male hosts wear white linen.

"It's still very special and very nice, but it's a lot more casual," Waits says.

Amenities include 26 cabanas and 40 tables and daybeds, all with bottle service. The music also is customized in accord with an outdoor, pool party vibe.

"The energy is a bit different," Waits says. "When you're outside -- when you're not inside of a room -- you have more of a free feeling. It's just a totally different vibe outside."

The drink menu takes a bit of a twist toward the tropical, too, with offerings -- figure about $16 each -- that include various mojitos, rum libations and other beach-appropriate drinks.

Doors for Poolside Sundays at XS open at 10:30 p.m. each Sunday and the party continues until about 5 a.m.

"We have a really large local base," Waits says. "It's something different for them. They love it."

They certainly also love the fact that locals get in free on Sunday nights. Otherwise, cover is $20 for women and $30 for men.

For more information about Poolside Sundays at XS, call 770-5350.

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.