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Vegas Business / The Light Group / Morgans Hotel Group / Nightclubs / Restaurants / → All Tags

Group On, Group Off: Morgans Hotel Group to Take Over the Light Group

We knew that that Las Vegas nightclub and restaurant company, The Light Group wasn't having a good year (cough, Harmon, cough) but things have ended on a much better note with an acquisition by the boutique hotel operator, Morgans Hotel Group.

Morgans once managed the Hard Rock Las Vegas but that partnership went south after Hard Rock sued Morgans for sullying up their name with Rehab and other too sexy events. Oh and business was just not very good for Morgans.

Yet now Morgans is heading back to Vegas in a big way after announcing that they are purchasing a 90 percent controlling interest in the Light Group to the tune of $46 million. Andrew Sasson, the founder and chairman of TLG, will join the Morgan's board of directors while Andy Masi will remain as the Light Group's Chief Executive Officer.

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Snapshot / Openings / Nightclubs / Nightlife / The Mirage / 1Oak / The Light Group / → All Tags

1Oak at The Mirage Already Getting Top Billing

It's still three months away from opening at The Mirage, but 1Oak is already sharing top billing with hotel headliner, Terry Fator. The resort is just as excited as we are, it seems, about the club's New Year's Eve debut as it has already added its logo to the marquee.

Surfing around the Internets, we also found a dedicated website at 1oaklv.com (if only a placeholder for now) as well as a Twitter handle (@1oaklv... which seems to be repurposed from JET) and a Facebook page which Light Group, a partner in the venture, is using to advertise for a 1Oak hiring fair October 17-18.

We already know how 1Oak will channel The Harmon when it comes to its design, but what do you know about the coming club? Share deets, anonymously or not, down below!

Vegas News / Openings / The Light Group / Harmon Hotel / → All Tags

The Light Group Moves On From The Harmon

Forbes magazine goes deep "Inside The Vegas Party Machine" with The Light Group in a new article just released on the web yesterday.

The fact-stuffed feature shares enough numbers to make your head spin just as much as a night out in one of the nightlife giant's clubs. ("Busboys complete 34 tasks before guests take their first sips"! "Bussers have to lure at least ten (attractive) women a week"!)

But, it was one little sentence, included as almost an after-thought, that had us riveted the most:

"In the works: a second club in the Mirage, a lounge in the Bellagio and, with the help of Cirque du Soleil billionaire Guy Laliberté, a Cirque-themed nightclub in the Mandalay Bay Casino."

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Restaurants / STACK / The Light Group / The Mirage / Food / → All Tags

'Adult Tater Tots' and Other Small Bites at Stack at The Mirage

The other week after checking out the lack of sawdust scene at Gilley's at TI, we found ourselves looking for a more upscale place to eat. We could have crossed the street and headed over to The Venetian/Palazzo for some grub but we've already tried most of the restaurants there. And we were looking for an option that didn't cost a fortune but also didn't involve eating at a food court.

So we skedaddled over to The Mirage. Our dining companions were down with either BLT Burger or STACK but since we also weren't in the mood for a cholesterol fest, we decided to look at the menu at STACK. And it had us at "Adult Tater Tots"--your favorite school lunch treat wrapped with bacon and brie.

Check out our Food Porn gallery below!

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Pool Parties / Pools / Liquid / Aria / The Light Group / → All Tags

Liquid at Aria is Currently Working The Pole

Remember last month when we said the pool scene at Aria would be "blessfully stripper pole-free"? Yeah. We take that back now.

Liquid, the adult pool/nightclub at Aria is hosting Poolapalooza today in which pole performers competed for a $5,000 cash prize. Straight from the Liquid website:

Liquid hosts the first "poling by the pool" event of its kind! Join some of Vegas' most talented and versitile* pole performers, Thursday resident DJ Scene, all while kicking it poolside at the most exciting new pool lounge on The Strip. Thirsty for pole dancing fun? Get some Liquid this Thursday!

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New Year's Eve 2009 Guide / Nightclubs / Haze / The Light Group / Aria / → All Tags

Kick Off the New Year in a Haze at Aria

If you're planning on doing some bottle-popping and bumping and grinding during your stay at Aria, you should know before you go that the all the nightlife options are run by The Light Group, the company behind so many other popular Vegas nightclubs like JET and The Bank.

In fact, you really can't pump a fist in Aria without doing it inside a Light Group venue. Here's their line-up: The Gold Lounge outside the Viva Elvis theater; the Deuce lounge off the casino floor; several small bars like The View, Bar Moderno, City Bar and Pool Bar; Liquid, which will be a pool dayclub a la Bare at the Mirage; and the Haze nightclub which is located downstairs.

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Cashing Out / Blog World / CityCenter / The Light Group / → All Tags

Bloggers Invade The Strip This Weekend

Don't be alarmed if you see a lot of geeky guys tech-oriented men and women holding up conference badges at several nightclubs tonight. It's just the bloggers attending the Blog World Expo.

The Light Group has given out special discounts for attendees who can only get them by holding up their conference badges. That includes drinks at Diablo's, Caramel, Mist Bar and the Brand Lounge a swell as free "expedited" admission to The Bank, JET and Revolution. Remember what happens in Vegas, will totally be blogged about in real-time.

Here's what else is on this weekend:
· The Luxor has put together the Se7en Sexy Sins Halloween Package [Luxor]
· Jay Leno, Bob Dylan and the original Frankie Valli will all be performing this weekend [Visit Las Vegas]
· Bloggers are bad tippers? [@VegasCabbie]
· Is the new CityCenter sign totally fugly? [@Hunter]
· Guest Gauge is listed at SLOW [LV Sun]

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Industry Nights / Nightclubs / JET / Locals Vegas / The Mirage / The Light Group / → All Tags

For An Attitude-Free Industry Night, Check out JET Tonight

Hanging in Vegas on a Monday night and want to party like a local? Swing by JET Nightclub at The Mirage for its wildly popular Industry Night. We’ve always preferred Las Vegas better on non-weekend nights (less crowds, lower cover charges, less douchebaggery, easier to get ressies, etc.) and now we make a point of going to JET for Industry Night if we’re in town.

On Mondays, local hospitality workers get in free with the flash of a local ID (there’s never a cover for local women). Non-local guests can go online to buy a VIP Entry ticket for $40, which fast tracks them for immediate entry and includes cover charge.

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CityCenter / Aria / Harmon Hotel / The Light Group / Nightlife / Pools / → All Tags

Not-So-Shocking News: The Light Group To Run Aria's Nightlife and Pool

Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter, August 2009.

The Light Group already runs several nightlife establishments through the MGM Mirage's monopoly collection of hotels on the Strip so it's no surprise that they've been picked to operate four venues inside Aria Resort & Casino within CityCenter as well as the Harmon Hotel & Spa, which has been put on hold until late 2010.

Inside Aria, the Light Group will run Union Restaurant and Lounge which will serve contemporary American food; the Liquid Pool (opening in spring 2010) which will actually feature more than one pool; the Haze Nightclub and The Deuce Lounge, a smaller bar with high-limit gambling.

The Light Group already runs JET and Caramel at The Bellagio, BARE at The Mirage and several restaurants with the MGM Mirage family. Hmm...we think it's about time they start a loyalty program a la The Borgata's Nightlife Rewards program.

Bachelor Parties / Dudes in Vegas / Survival Strategies / Concierges / Concierge Services / The Light Group / → All Tags

The Easiest Way to Plan a Vegas Bachelor Party

Make sure you book a pool cabana that can hold your crew and some honeys!

Unless you’re cut from the same cloth as Clark Griswold, planning a buddy’s bachelor party in Las Vegas can be challenging at best. Securing the best rates! Making reservations! Lining up transportation! Booking tables! Poolside Cabanas! The tasks can drive a good man batty.

But there are other ways to go about this; namely, concierge services.

Private concierge services work independently of hotels and schedule everything from limo transportation to table service, dinner rezzies to rezzies at strip clubs. VIP services outfits such as VIPVegas.com, VegasVIP.com, Red Carpet VIP and the unforgettably named Vegas VIP Hottie Hosting.

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Bachelorette Parties / Girlfriend Getaways / Jeannette Ivy / The Light Group / → All Tags

Who To Call For All Your Party Needs

We have two pieces of advice if you are planning your Bachelorette or Girl's Night Out party in Las Vegas.

· 1. Keep It Small. You may have 19 friends that want to celebrate your last weekend of freedom but try to pick 6-8 of your nearest and dearest. A smaller group makes everything easier from figuring out the costs to getting into the clubs.

· 2. Consider Hiring a Party Escort. No, not that kind of escort. More like a party hostess who will plan your entire evening or weekend and give you personal attention at every one of your party stops. Someone like Jeannette Ivy.

Jeannette works with The Light Group, which has some of the most popular nightclubs and restaurants in town. As a VIP party host she coordinates an entire evening out at the Light Group properties and essentially takes care of whatever you can't be bothered with as you celebrate (regret?) your final night as a single gal.

Jeannette will set up your prix fixe dinner at one of the Light Group's restaurants (Fix, Yellowtail, Brand, Stack or Diablo's Cantina) and reserves your table at one of Light's clubs or bars (JET, The Bank, Caramel, Revolution or Mist). Daytime activity is even taken care of with Light's BARE pool at The Mirage. Everywhere you go, you will have VIP attention, i.e. no waiting in line or other annoying buzz kills.

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Restaurants / The Light Group / Diablo's Cantina / Monte Carlo / → All Tags

Diablo's Cantina Is Hell (The Good Kind) On Earth

The Light Group has done it again. The nightlife group, which owns The Bank and Yellowtail in the Bellagio and Jet in the Mirage among other properties, opened Diablo's Cantina at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in October 2007 and the 13,000-square-foot two-level entertainment complex has been a hit ever since.

Located Strip-side with lots of open-air areas, the restaurant is perfect for outdoor dining and people-watching over the Strip. But the place can get a little rowdy. Aside from regularly showcasing live bands, Diablo's boasts more than 75 tequilas. With that amount of tequila, you can bet Diablo's gets rowdy on a regular basis.

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