Party Picks by The Circuit Tm:

If you are reading this, Party Girl, then you must have survived the Halloween weekend. Just about every club and bar in Las Vegas got into the spirit and I counted at least sixteen costume contests going on all over town with huge cash prizes. As I fold up my “sexy pirate” costume and bid October adieu, I look forward to the winter. Despite the chill, the Las Vegas party scene is definitely turning up the heat.

Halloween weekend we said a tearful ‘good-bye’ and a hopeful ‘see you soon’ to some dear old friends. Seven Nightclub, which has dominated a significant portion of the nightlife and after-hours scene in various forms for five years, closed its doors for good Sunday morning to make way for the City Center Project. Seven’s Zohar Robin assures us a new venue is already underway involving many of the same players. The new venue called “Stage” will be located at Las Vegas Boulevard and Freemont Street and is on pace to open in the first quarter of the new year.

High atop The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, the Mix Lounge expects their new dance floor to be ready to rock in December. Studio 54 quietly begins its renovations the first week of November. The club will close for the holidays and unveil its brand new look just before the New Year. On Sunday, October 30^th, La Bete closed its doors for a brief makeover. “Tryst”, as it will soon be called, will celebrate its grand re-opening on New Year’s Eve. The Light Group’s brand new mega-club Jet will also celebrate a NYE grand opening at the Mirage. New Year’s Eve is a tempting time to open up a new nightclub or four. But November is nothing to sneeze at.

The Empire Ballroom is committed to getting you down there at least one night a week no matter what. The renovated freestanding club formerly known as Utopia celebrated an August “soft” opening, and an October grand opening, and now offers three new events to delight and entice you. Tuesdays, stop in around 10pm and enjoy the sounds of hometown hero DJ Scotty Boy until the hilarious, unpredictable 80’s parody band phenomena Metal Skool takes to the stage. Hairspray, leather pants, surprise guest stars, and uncensored, unrelenting laughter makes for a pretty good time. Fridays, promoter Tiffany Masters brings you Enchantment, total immersion into a world of provocative dancers, magicians, and creatures, all set to the exotic sounds of DJ Snezana. Saturdays, Empire Ballroom wants to see you bright and early at 3am for Late Night Empire, an audacious and bold after-hours concept aimed right at the heart of the local and industry crowd. Bring your shades, party girl.

But why not try something new? There are alternatives to waiting in a line for the door, the bar, the restroom and the dance floor. Beacher’s Madhouse can’t help you with the first one as it takes a while to seat the hordes that turn up for the show (hence, Madhouse) but the bar comes to you, the restroom’s not a problem and the entire place is your dance floor. For those of you who have no idea what I’m referring to, Beacher’s Madhouse at the Hard Rock is the curious lovechild of a nightclub, a comedy show, a supper club, and an adult circus. Tickets are only $25 so grab a few friends and try something new. For more info and to purchase tickets visit www.BeachersMadhouse.com.

Speaking of new, two new weekly parties will be added to the Party Girl’s social calendar this November. Mist Bar and Lounge at TI will be premiering their new Vapor Wednesdays on November 2^nd. Socialites and industry professionals are invited to present their business card at the door and enjoy a hosted bar from 9pm to 10pm. And on Mondays, journey to the top of the Rio where the VooDoo Lounge presents Vegas’ only Latin industry night, Elevacion, honoring a different local industry member each week.

On the music scene, November is huge month with U2, the Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Def Leopard and Depeche Mode hit the Joint at the Hard Rock; Jamiroquai, Mos Def, Lisa Marie Presley, and Liz Phair play the House of Blues; and Fishbone, Powerman 5000, and Veruca Salt heat up the Empire Ballroom.

Lest we forget, November has its holiday weekend. For many of us transplanted from afar--say, New York-- Thanksgiving weekend can be a lonely time. Unable to journey home, many locals turn to their adopted Vegas “families” and celebrate with potlucks, gourmet Turkey dinners (like the one served at Boa Steakhouse), and a long weekend of rampant debauchery. One such party you can put on your calendar right now is Light Nightclub’s annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drop on Thursday, November 24^th. With Black Friday officially kicking off the Holiday Season the next day, there will be no shortage of ways to give 2005 the going-away party it deserves. See you in December, Party Girl!