Over the next few weeks, every Tuesday, I am going to offer you a favorite spot in Vegas. Since Vegas is a bandwagon town, rather than innovate, we present endless varieties of the same thing. That actually makes picking a favorite easy, because the same product is being repackaged and there is going to be one spot that does this best. Here begins my choice of those places in the “Varieties of Vegas Experience.”
I am starting with a nightclub because I did not have a close runner-up. Tao at Venetian is the nightclub you need to visit here. Nightclubs have been cloned more quickly than any other form of entertainment in Vegas. More than a dozen major nightclubs opened on the Strip in the past five years.
Yet, Tao has been the hottest club in Vegas almost all those years. These days only the Wynn nightclubs sustain a similar buzz. The Wynn clubs are still new in an industry that favors the latest and greatest. But for years Tao has stayed on top. That does not seem likely to change anytime soon.
From celebrities to hot bodies, Tao is the club to go to covet, envy and desire: all the ingredients of Vegas nightlife.
Here is Jay-Z hanging at Tao this weekend.
i tell people all the time that there are about 10 nightclubs in vegas that are all about the same, and compared to your hometown nightclubs they are all probably better.
sometimes the best one is the one you dont have to wait to get in. they all provide the vegas club expierence…same music, same overpriced drinks, same hookers, its all the same…thats not bad, its just the way it is, since they are all going after the same market.
ive found the celebs usually make it less enjoyable for me..longer waits to get in, extra rude treatment (normal treatment is rude, this is extra rude) after all some ass hole celeb is there! unless you are some hot girl they can sleep with, well, then you are in the way.
im not being negative, i like the vegas club scene..im just saying you can have just as good a time at any of the clubs, so why wait in line when you can just go the next club down the strip…why not use them, instead of them using you!
Enjoyed the article, Richard.
And your comment makes incredible sense james h. I agree wholeheartedly. Why wait in line just to get victimized by them making you wait in hopes they will receive a big tip, and even when you finally do get in there after a long wait, they STILL want to hit you up for big tips for absolutely zero service rendered?
These clubs I guess are the in thing nowadays, probably because to be a mover and a shaker and someone that needs to be seen on the scene and be happening hobnobbing with the Hollywood set, you need to go but, from past reporting in Las Vegas, it appears there are unsavory people, even downright criminals, in these places. And the big problem, as evidenced from the past, these above mentioned people RUN the damn joints.
So, I’m pretty sure there will be more instances of refusing liquor licenses and fining casinos due to complete ignorance of rules, regulations and laws. Because the enticement to run them wrong and victimize patrons is still there. And it is unchecked. Because the lure of fast and loose money is too much to ignore. No one around to stop them.
And ultimately, tourists will go elsewhere. Especially when the Las Vegas nightclub owners along the Strip looks at them like they are victims waiting to happen.
Hmmmmmmmm… It seems that you forgot to mention the Las Vegas Review-Journals “Best of Las Vegas” Staff pick which went to “XS @ Encore”. But you’re right about the fact that XS is new, but “Tryst @ Wynn Las Vegas” only opened 6 months after Tao opened. And the Review-Journals Readers Pick was “Pure @ Caesars Palace” which has won many awards over the years and it just seems to me Richard that you may just be another journalist that gives out some recommendation on his “favorite nightclub” based on getting some sort of “COMPED TREATMENT”!! It just seems so curious to me that the RJ’s BOLV came out just a couple of days ago and now here you are giving out your own so-called “Best Nightclub” designation to one of the venues that did not get awarded this year by the LOCAL Staff and Readers of the RJ.
Dear Curious, Las Vegas is full of publications that offer “Best of” or “Worst Of” issues. I have decided to recommend something every Tuesday.
I actually want to address this part of your comment directly:
“seems to me Richard that you may just be another journalist that gives out some recommendation on his “favorite nightclub” based on getting some sort of ‘COMPED TREATMENT’!!”
Have you read me for awhile? I hope not, because it would break my heart if you were familiar with my writing and held this view.
I don’t want there to be any ambiguity to any reader: I have never received any comp or payment or thing of value nor has anyone close to me or who is associated with GoldPlatedDoor.com or myself.
This is true for every nightclub I cover and for any other business. My views, opinions, choices and reporting are not for sale. And, I avoid the appearance of impropriety by not taking comps from nightclubs. I show up to do my work and then I leave. My only request is for access to do my work.
In Vegas nightclub reporting is often sleazy because– as you note– the loyalty is not to the reader. Many stories are written by people who want to be part of the “Vegas club scene.” Many of these “reporters” show up with an entourage for a comped table. I find that behavior revolting. I have never engaged in it.
Bottom line: I have never benefited from any organization or individual I cover in my reporting. Yrs., Richard
I can verify what Mr. Abowitz posted in response to your comment, curious.
I have been a reader of his blog for quite awhile, even when he was with the L.A. Times. His integrity is above reproach. He tells it like he sees it and owes allegiance to no one here in Las Vegas. He just reports. Well, let me amend that. If you talk bad about Bob Dylan to him, he’ll be like Godzilla in downtown Tokyo on you. But, other than that, his journalistic truthfulness is impeccable. He even posts corrections and/or updates to his blogs.
Perhaps I’m the one biased though. Because I enjoy his comments based on the above facts. And Mr. Abowitz seems to put up with my Criss Angel tirades with regularity (I still think that idiot shouldn’t even headline a show at the Luxor).
Wait! Wait! I didn’t mean it, Richard! I have to backtrack here. Have to be careful with these compliments. I don’t want to inflate his head. He’s not used to shit like that….
Oh Richard, u had the scoup & u gave it away to Robin.
Tao? Rudest staff. Out of control security. Can’t imagine why anyone would want to go there. “These days only the Wynn nightclubs sustain a similar buzz.” Hmmm, howabout the buzz from Haze? Pure, although it sucks, still gets a ton of buzz also. Personally I like N9ne Group clubs where they don’t have to pay celebrities to show up like Tao does. When you read a celeb was at Playboy or Moon it’s because they actually wanted to go there not because of a six figure payday like Jay Z at Tao last Saturday. Tao had to pay him $130,000 to show up there and when his appearance time was over where did he go? Right back to the Palms to gamble in the Mint.
Hmmmmmmmmmm……. Sounds like Jim Morrison hit it right on the head Richard. Not only does Nine Group sustain a similar buzz, but so does Pure, Haze, and in addition to the clubs at Wynn (Tryst & XS). Although I have seen celebrity Playboy models advertised to make an appearance at some of the Nine Venues also. But going back to my comments referring to you receiving some sort of COMPED TREATMENT, I would like to directly address this part of your article “I am starting with a nightclub because I did not have a close runner-up”. Now anybody that has gone to any of Las Vegas’ several nightclubs is going to find that statement absolutely ludicrous. And would also conclude that there must have been something behind this statement. And unfortunately Richard, yes I have been reading your blogs and articles for quite some time and you do have some very outstanding pieces such as the look into EVE’s operation. And my reply to Colin, from reading your previous posts. You are very correct about much of Richards work, but I highly doubt that you have ever stepped foot in any of these nightclub venues in which we are debating. If you had, you would then understand why readers such as myself and obviously Jim Morrison were blown away by Richard not only stating that TAO is Las Vegas’ Best Nightclub, but also there not being a close runner-up. And once again I will remind you Richard, that TRYST at the Wynn opened only 3 months after TAO. And Pure has been a subject of a few of your blogs which obviously means they must be sustaining some sort of buzz after 5 YEARS of being open. And in case you were wondering, I only frequent a club once or so a month and I have never had to pay ANYONE at the door of ANY venue to get in. EVER. Nor have I ever had to wait longer than maybe 15 minutes to get in. Part of the reason is because I am a local and after working in the service industry for a number of years, almost all nightclub industry doormen take care of the local service industry workers. But, as you may have figured out by now Richard, some of us will not be fooled by your recommendations of the best Las Vegas has to offer.
Thanks for reading Curious. I am not trying to fool you anymore than I am taking comps from nightclubs. I offered readers my honest opinion and feel free to disagree as you have done. I don’t think Haze has made much of an impression yet. That could change. Tryst is outstanding and the nightclubs at Palms are fantastic, too. But if you are a tourist who has a single night on a vacation to dedicate to the Vegas nightclub experience then Tao is my choice for you. Yrs., Richard