Up on the roof

AIN'T TOO COOL FOR POOL

The Pool at Palms Place is all wet...thank goodness!

"Picture a backyard pool party with all your friends." That's how Jon Gray--assistant to Palms president George Maloof--sees his new Tuesday evening pool party panning out. Driving around this sweltering dust bowl of a valley one night around 8 p.m. Gray though, "What else could I be doing this time of night?" Other than restaurants, the answer is not much--the clubs and lounges really don't open for hours and the daytime pool parties have packed up for the night. That's how Gray and a keen Maloof came up with the idea for the hip soiree. The evening begins in the lounge at Simon restaurant at Palms Place with cocktails from 6-8 p.m., then moves outside to the pool from 8-12 a.m. Swimming is encouraged as is enjoying the sounds of resident DJ 88 and a healthy rotation of guest DJs such as Adam 12 (She Wants Revenge) on opening night, July 1, Samantha Ronson on July 8 and Chris Clouse performing live on July 15. Typical Vegas nightclub nobbery? Out the window, says Gray of his no-cover charge shindig: "We're not taking ourselves too seriously." Oh, good. Cannonball, anyone?!

BEAUTY AND THE BEAT

Beauty and popularity reign supreme, at least for the next few weeks

It’s about time someone tells it like is. Ironic though that that someone should be a prominent Las Vegas nightlife company. Whatever the reason for the sudden bout of honesty, Light Group is coming clean about our perception of beauty—“It’s what’s outside that counts.” Bad news for many of us but for some—especially those who bear a striking resemblance to a Barbie doll—this can be very profitable news. Beginning Monday, June 23, specially chosen ladies of the blonde bombshell persuasion will face off in the first annual Vegas Blondeshell Awards at Jet’s industry night. On Monday, July 7, one lucky lady will drive off in a custom pink convertible.

But while the Blondeshell awards will take three weeks to yield its winner, here’s a little instant gratification: The Bare Rally, a good ‘ol fashioned popularity contest. It’s like high school, only drunker. Voting begins this Thursday, June 19 at LightGroup.com/BareRally for the most popular of 12 charismatic nightlife figures and closes the evening of Wednesday, June 25. The next day, whoever has the most votes and brings the biggest entourage to Bare pool lounge at the Mirage (pictured above) wins a three-day cruise on a fully-stocked yacht on Lake Mead with 11 of their best new friends. Needless to say, if your itinerary includes Bare that day, you might want to arrive a little early

to beat the stampede.

A HARDY WELCOME

Christian Audigier poised to attack his next project--Vegas!

It's all in the timing. Sushisamba may not have opened this week as planned but that’s not the only project that’s got us salivating, chomping at the bit for a good old fashioned grand opening. Hell, at this point we’ll even take a soft opening! Though it was slated to begin slinging high-end sushi and Robata this Thursday in the Palazzon Shoppes, (and subsequently bring the highly anticipated Sugarcane Ultralounge with it one week later), Sushisamba’s opening has been pushed back indefinitely while crews put the finishing touches on the intricate signature ribbons that will weave throughout the space.

We won’t have to wait long, though, as Christian Audigier (the culprit behind the Ed Hardy trucker hat phenomenon) will debut his club (a partnership between Pure Management Group, TI and Audigier) where Tangerine once ruled. Says a humble Audigier, “I feel like I can do anything and this is just another facet of who I am. I have so much to offer this world from what you wear to how you relax, party and enjoy life. This will be an extension of how I do it and everyone will be able to do it with me. Let’s party!” The ego lands on July 4.

Xania Woodman has never met a martini she didn't like.