Las Vegas, NV (8/15/07 - 8/20/07)

Chicago, IL (O’Hare) to Las Vegas, NV (McCarran International)
Dates: 8/15 – 8/20-07
Airfare: $398 (United Airlines through http://www.travelocity.com/)
Spending: Approx. $300
Lodging: FREE – Thanks to my wonderful friend, Melissa!

TOTAL COST: Approx. $700

REVIEWS:

M J's Bar & Grill
3417 S Jones Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89146
(702) 364-1102

UPDATE 9/21/07: This venue has closed down.

I visited this bar/venue twice on my trip – once to see the band of a friend of a friend (Jesus or a Gun) and once to see my former drummer’s new band (The day after…). I had never been here in the past and, of course, I was excited to check out a new place. It reminded me a lot of the Cheyenne Saloon, which is also in Vegas, but this place was cleaner. I heard from local friends that MJ’s is the new “butt-rocker” home of Vegas. It was pretty big, with a nice bar and a decently sized stage. They also serve food, so there is no smoking allowed inside (Nevada law!). I didn’t eat there, but I did see quite a few people pouncing on the individual slices of pizza, which could mean one of two things – either the pizza is awesome or the patrons were just really drunk. I’m proposing that the latter is correct, having tasted many a crappy pizza while living out west. I liked this bar/venue and I’d definitely go back there.

Bonus! Check out the awesome all female punk band that opened up for The day after… - The Dirty Panties. They rocked.

Champagnes Cafe
3557 S Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89169
(702) 737-1699
http://champagnescafe.blogspot.com

Champagne’s is the definition of old school Vegas cool. I’m pretty sure that the door into this place is actually a wormhole, transporting you back in time 50 years. The walls are covered in red and gold velvety wallpaper and the long, narrow bar glows red from the overhead lighting. There are booths on the side and a tiny little stage in back, where Champagne’s hosts karaoke (with classy K.J. Bobby Shawn) on Friday and Saturday nights (which is the reason I popped in for a visit). The crowd here is a motley mix of young and old, hipster and hip-replaced, and the atmosphere is quiet and laid back. And the music! You’ll hear the likes of Frank Sinatra and classic lounge acts most frequently. Beers run about $3 and mixed drinks are about $4.

I’ve met more interesting characters at this bar than any other I’ve ever visited, and almost all of them have been local to the Vegas area, which is a major rarity. If you stop in for a visit, make sure to talk to as many people as possible - you’ll definitely walk away with a story or two to tell your friends back home.

Dino's Lounge
1516 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 382-3894
http://www.dinoslv.com/

I could go on and on about Dino’s, so I’ll try to hold back.

Dino’s was one of my favorite spots when I lived in Las Vegas. I went to karaoke there on many a Friday night with friends of mine who are in a local burlesque troop called Babes in Sin. Karaoke’s hosted by Danny G., who, incidentally, looks like an older, more bearded version of one of my ex-boyfriends… not that I should be bragging about this. Either way, Danny G. has a giant karaoke book with just about every song you could every wish to drunkenly bellow to your friends. I usually go for a little AC/DC and Alanis Morissette. The kids love it.

They have a house shot called a “blumpkin” – and if you don’t know the meaning of that word, Google it, but not at work.

The crowd is a mix of locals and tourists, many of the rockabilly persuasion, all happily co-existing in the little world known as Dino’s Lounge. The bar touts itself as “the last neighborhood bar in Las Vegas” and I think they’ve nearly hit the nail on the head. Every time I’ve been there, I’ve run into at least one professional Frank Sinatra impersonator, which is about as “neighborhood” as Vegas gets.

Note: Sometimes Dino’s hosts local bands, in which case karaoke doesn’t get under way until 12:30 – 1:00 a.m. If this bugs you, you might want to call ahead. Karaoke days are Thursday through Saturday.


Bonanza Gifts Shop
2460 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89104
(702) 385-7359
worldslargestgiftshop.com

I stopped into “the world’s largest gift shop” on my last night in town to pick up some last minute souvenirs before heading home. It’s big. So big, in fact, that I was too overwhelmed with cheap-o gifts to force myself to look through the entire bounty.

I walked away with a statuette of a showgirl for my roomie, Ashley, a coin purse and a key chain (featuring a naked dancing boy) for my other roomie, Stacy, and a shot glass and a transparent green visor for myself. I should have taken a photo with one of their decorated security guards, but I did not (hindsight is 20-20).

If you’re looking for a gift that says “Las Vegas” on it, this is the place. If you asked, I’m pretty sure they’d stamp your poo with those words and sell it back to you for $7.99. Although not an upscale joint, it did the trick and it did it well.