We’re hearing rumors that international heavyweight Pacha is in Sin City for closed door meetings with executives from MGM Mirage Corp. It’s not a new rumor per se, as meetings between the two have taken place in the past, but perhaps the price tag is more palatable these days. As far as location, the CityCenter complex seems like a no-brainer.
Ameristar and Angel Music Group have renegotiated their management contract, which had the house music and marketing mavens help the casino company launch their first nightlife entity, HOME Nightclub at their St. Louis property, early last year. AMG will no longer be involved in the day-to-day operations of the venue and will instead focus on the blossoming Vegas empire, which recently added ROK Vegas (New York New York) to its management contract stable.
Rockers Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) and Scott Ian (Anthrax), along with several other high-profile hard rockers, are rumored to be in negotiations with a Las Vegas venue for their own rock ’n’ roll bar that would carry the moniker Dead Man’s Hand, a play on the two-pair poker hand outlaw Wild Bill Hickok was rumored to be holding when he was shot dead. Longtime promoter extraordinaire Gino LoPinto, and his Vegas Alliance company, also appear to be involved in the deal.
Two new haunts opening up in New York’s meatpacking district this month deserve a look; one from a nightclub super group and one from an old industry hand. Griffin, which is opening in the old PM space on Gansevoort, brings together brass from two venerable NYC venues — Pink Elephant and Cain — as well as a former TAO Las Vegas mainstay. Down the street, 675 is the newest watering hole from BR Guest honcho Steve Hanson, which features a rec room feel complete with foosball tables, and is opening in the previous Hanson-owned Level V space.
Purdue University launched a new nightclub-style event offering students 18 and over the chance to enjoy alcohol-free, nightlife-themed entertainment right on campus at Ross Ade Stadium. The event, named Studio H, was marketed to students at various campus buildings and in residence halls.
Kentucky has a new nightlife spot that takes partygoers to the top of the Lexington skyline. Named Bakers360, it sits atop the Chase Bank Building and offers a contemporary steakhouse menu before transitioning into a more traditional nightlife format while still offering a limited sushi menu.
More than a dozen survivors from the 2003 fire at Rhode Island’s The Station during a Great White concert have filed for bankruptcy protection. The 222 victims and survivors from the fire that left more than 100 dead and 200 injured have only seen about $2 million of the $167 million settlement.
Wildly successful nightclub promoter John Huntington opened his brand-new tattoo parlor, Huntington Ink, at the Palms Casino Resort on May 1. The co-creator and executive producer of the hit A&E reality series “Inked” was a former partner with motocross star Carey Hart in the popular Hart & Huntington tattoo parlor previously housed in the same location. With Hart out, Huntington closed the venue for a complete overhaul, adding Asian design flairs, interactive touch screen units and a state-of-the-art sound system for his DJ friends.