Columnist Jerry Fink: Seven up and running as a popular Strip club

Friday, Aug. 9, 2002 | 8:45 a.m.

It was an eclectic crowd at an eclectic venue on Las Vegas Boulevard South, across the street from the Harley-Davidson Cafe.

Young people in their 20s looking chic and hip -- and older people looking chic, but at the age where they hope not to break a hip.

Fashionable customers lingered at the happening, wondering exactly what was happening, last week.

Seven, a restaurant/nightclub that transforms into a heart-pounding dance venue after hours, debuted a new concept (for it) -- dinner theater.

While customers dine on fine meals prepared by chef Ben Hadj and desserts by pastry chef Peter van Staden, they will be (in the near future) treated to performances featuring The Temptations and a tribute to the Rat Pack by Gary Anthony and his "Our Way" production (currently at the Tropicana's Celebration Lounge).

It wasn't clear whether the younger, hipper segment of the crowd enjoyed hearing the tributes to performers who reached the height of their popularity before the younger segment was even born.

Those who grew up with The Temptations and Frank Sinatra probably had a better appreciation of the performances -- but one thing almost everyone seemed pleased with was a fashion show featuring a phalanx of beautiful models.

Michaelina Bellamy, special events manager for Seven, noted that the nightclub opened in late August 2001.

"It opened with a bang," she said. "More than 3,400 people were here for the grand opening."

Sept. 11 hit Seven hard, but Bellamy says the venue has started to regain lost ground.

"Seven was designed for fun, a party place," she said.

It is ultra-modern, with a bar featuring three-person benches rather than stools; fog; exotic lighting effects; three dance floors; and sushi, along with the other menu items.

There is no admission charge to the restaurant, but for dancing, local women are admitted free and nonlocals are charged $10. Local men pay a $15 entry fee, nonlocals pay $20.

"Our technical person is Yuda Arbeli," Bellamy said. "In addition to running everything here that is technical, he's our resident DJ."

DJs are big. Some have reached celebrity status, Bellamy points out. The venue often has guest DJs who come from Europe and other distant places to play CDs for the fashionably dressed -- don't bother to come in a T-shirt and blue jeans.

Although Seven is open to the public, it often is rented by corporations such as Microsoft and conventions such as MAGIC for private parties. It's a good idea to call before dropping by.

Bellamy noted that even if the inside of Seven has been rented for a private gathering, there is always the patio, where partiers may drink and dance. And there is a VIP Pink Room for small parties.

The venue is open Thursdays through Sundays. Dinner is served from about 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Then Seven becomes an after-hours club where a thousand dancers can party until 6 a.m.

"They are all beautiful guys and beautiful girls from (ages) 21 to 60," Bellamy said. "The club is full of customers of all ages. It's a place where people can meet people."

It's large, but not so large that you get lost.

"You can stand in one section and see everyone," Bellamy said.

Although some questioned whether a Rat Pack tribute group was appropriate for a young and hip group, Bellamy said it was a good combination.

"The Rat Pack is part of entertainment history, and they are known around the world," she said. "Everybody loves Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and their entourage. And our tribute group is great guys who will bring in the elite, the classy crowd."

Entertainment for the evening jumps from one era to another -- beginning with the Rat Pack, then moving to The Temptations and, after hours on Sunday nights, going to hip-hop, when 1,600 dancers routinely show up.

"We also put on different shows," said Bellamy, who once sang with Engelbert Humperdinck and with "Folies Bergere."

"We have had different acts for different groups who rent the room. Part of my job is to make sure everybody is happy -- it's all about entertainment."

Ain't it the truth?

Lounging around

Buddy Greco and his wife Lezlie Anders were among the notables at the Bootlegger Bistro last Friday. They are preparing to debut their concert, "FEVER! A Tribute to Peggy Lee," Aug. 21 at the University of Nevada Las Vegas' Judy Bayley Theatre.

Anders is the star of the production; Greco arranged the music and will conduct the UNLV Jazz Ensemble. Plans call for a national tour of "FEVER!," but the tribute show probably would do well if it found a home in Las Vegas.

Subbing for hosts Lorraine and Blackie Hunt at the Bootlegger was peripatetic Peter Anthony, veteran local comedian/musician who doesn't so much appear onstage as capture it and hold on with his rapid-fire humor. Co-host Sonny King jokingly attempted to reclaim the spotlight several times before Anthony finally relinquished.

The Hunts were back in town Monday and hosted a new jazz night at the Bootlegger.

State of the Art, one of the more popular local dance bands, performed last week at Cabo Charlie's on Sahara Avenue at Decatur Boulevard. Look for the group to make more appearances at the club in the future. Cabo's is a neighborhood lounge where the service is friendly, the surroundings pleasant and the customers satisfied. It has live music on Fridays and Saturdays, some of it better than others -- but it's hard to beat State of the Art. They are at Sam's Town this week, until Saturday.

Another great neighborhood bar is Pogo's Tavern on North Decatur Boulevard near Lake Mead Boulevard. Customers never know who's going to join 81-year-old drummer Irv Kluger and his band of veteran jazz musicians Friday nights from 8 p.m. to midnight. Last Friday the jammers included four saxophonists, among them Jack Montrose; a trombonist and a trumpeter. The trumpeter was Ed Sherry, who performs with the Kinda Dixie Jazz Band at the Gold Coast in the afternoons. On trombone was 78-year-old Jimmy Dell, formerly with the Goofers, a group that started out with Louis Prima in the 1940s. Kluger has been conducting jam sessions at Pogo's for 18 years.

Cajun blues guitarist Tab Benoit is the featured performer scheduled for the Boulder Blues series at Boulder Station's Railhead on Thursday. Benoit, whose career started in Baton Rouge, La., is known for his swamp blues roots.