2 0 15 NIGHTLIFE IS S UE BEST BOTTLE LIST
In some clubs, a bottle list is just a menu of marked-up widgets you order to legitimize the rental of your party real estate. Nothing sexy about that. But there’s no reason why, when you’re paying $750 for a $39 bottle of vodka, there shouldn’t be a little wiggle room for quality and to express your personality. XS embraces the opportunity to set before you not only the standard bearers of Grey Goose, Patrón and Dom Pérignon, but also the new entrants such as Elyx, 50 Bleu, Roca Patrón and Beau Joie, not to mention Stolichnaya ginger beer for Moscow Mules. And it never hurts to have a few large-format bottles on hand, just in case. How about 30 liters of Armand de Brignac “Ace of Spades” brut for $200,000? BEST COCKTAIL SERVERS
In a city that prides itself on service, it stands to reason that this would be one of our most competitive categories. So it should come as no surprise that we have a tie! Omnia’s Karla Luna and Hakkasan’s Abbi Cooperman have smiles that can light up a room and energize your night. But that’s not all. Our 2013 pick for BestLooking Cocktail server, Luna says that what sets her apart is her passion. “Some people fall into the restaurant and nightlife business out of necessity, while others have a real passion for hospitality. I am enthusiastic about being in the service industry as a career and am not just doing it to get by.” For Cooperman, it’s all about the guest interaction. “It’s so amazing meeting people from all over the world and hearing about their lives. I truly love and appreciate my repeat guests who come back just for the ‘Hakkasan experience.’”
COCKTAIL SERVERS BY JIM K. DECKER
BEST INDUSTRY NIGHT
What makes our Tastemakers the Tastemakers? They know what’s hot—now and in the future. So it’s no wonder they chose XS’ Movement Mondays as the city’s best industry night. Occasionally alternating with
The Lightning Round!
Diplo’s Mad Decent Mondays, the Movement series brings clubgoers sets by progressive, cutting-edge talent. Past bookings include Kanye West collaborator Hudson Mohawke, trap/hip-hop/electronic producer RL Grime and “heaven trap” proprietors Slander. Best of all? It’s free for locals. XSLasVegas.com. BEST BOTTLE SERVICE PRESENTATIONS
When you want to really pop off—and have the ducats to do it right—no place helps you make a statement quite like Omnia. Forget having a herd of waitresses simply spell out your name in cardboard letters—how 2012! Here, ethereal aerialists descend from high above to deliver vintage rosé while an entire marching band parades out the large-format spirits. But what is perhaps the craziest thing we’ve seen in any club is Omnia’s life-size faux horse that was wheeled out for a truly special delivery. OmniaNightclub.com.
BEST PRE-PARTY DINING WITH A SCENE
STK attracts the bold and the beautiful before club nights at Marquee and serves dinner with a twist. Between its center-room DJ booth, pulsating musical selections and appealing crowd, a visit can also serve as the main attraction. Find scenesters dressed in their best party attire, munching on high-class delectables and sipping attractive cocktails. The party is especially bumpin’ on Monday nights before Marquee’s industry soiree. TOGrp.com/Restaurant/STK-Las-Vegas. BEST UNDERGROUND LEADER
By now, you should be aware of After, either because it took home this same award last year, or because of the afterhours outfit’s infamous strict “DJ Rules,” which went viral on the web around the same time. In 2015, the group promoting #proper #afterhours continues to bring fresh, underground acts such as Spektre, Coyu and D-Unity to a city saturated with big-name DJs and megaclubs. And with events being held at places such as Foxtail and Backstage Bar & Billiards, the after-party never seemed so inviting. AfterLasVegas.com.
BEST BRAND AMBASSADOR
Kristen Schaefer actually does do it all. When the former Absolut Vodka brand rep was promoted to brand “agent” for Absolut Elyx, she went copper crazy for the singleestate product and its exclusive copper pineapple chalices, and she took the whole town with her. From the city’s intimate dens of mixology to orchestrating EDMfueled bottle parades in nightclubs, no glass has been left unfilled. Now a triple-agent, Schaefer is also the first female president
› BEST PARTY STARTER Tequila. › BEST DJ DUO OR TRIO Nervo. › BEST BOUTIQUE CRASH PAD The Cosmopolitan. › BEST DANCE FLOOR (FOR ACTUAL DANCING) XS. › BEST VALET-TO-CLUB-TO-VALET ARRANGEMENT 1 OAK. › BEST POST-CLUB GRUB
The Peppermill. › BEST PARTY HOLIDAY Halloween. › BEST DECISION EVER (IF YOU’VE BEEN DRINKING) Uber. › THE BOTTOM LINE—DAYCLUB OR NIGHTCLUB Nightclub.
VegasSeven.com
Lisa Pittman’s women’s weekend, Shedonism, came incredibly close to taking this one, but perhaps our Tastemakers chose Share Nightclub & Ultra Lounge’s Share Thursdays simply because it happens yearround. The recurring party features male and female go-go dancers, two-for-one drinks until midnight and sounds by DJ Nick Ayler, making it the best excuse for anybody to start the weekend early. Since admission is free and there’s no dress code, it’s an experience that should be shared with everyone. (Sorry, had to.) 4636 Wynn Rd., ShareNightclub.com.
Only narrowly beating out XS’ Natalia Badzjo, Tao Group vet Larson Legris takes his place as Las Vegas’ go-to rainmaker. He is the one host who can make the impossible possible, be it populating your last-minute dance-floor table with a full complement of models on Memorial Day weekend; scoring you an invite to some of the city’s most exclusive parties; landing seemingly impossible fight tickets; or absolutely anything else you may desire. And as one of this year’s Featured Tastemakers, Legris hands out some hardware of his own on Page 25.
When it’s time to move the party away from the Strip, our Tastemakers hit up Downtown—natch—and Commonwealth is their venue of choice. The pre-Prohibition-style digs boast a killer craft cocktail menu, an eclectic lineup of local resident DJs (including Impakt, PDOT and Cyberkid) and a balcony with a stunning view of Fremont (which happens to be the best place for drunk-people-watching). Beyond that, we’ve also heard rumors of a super-secret speakeasy within the footprint, which makes this the perfect place to turn up or simmer down with a drink. (Full disclosure: Commonwealth is owned by the owners of Vegas Seven parent company WENDOH Media. But our Tastemakers didn’t hold that fact against it, so neither will we.) 525 Fremont St., CommonwealthLV.com.
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BEST LGBT PARTY
VIP HOST WITH THE MOST
BEST OFF-STRIP PARTY
November 12–18, 2015
Best Cocktail Servers Abbi Cooperman (left) and Karla Luna.
of the United States Bartenders’ Guild’s Las Vegas chapter and a proud new mother.
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