Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Columnist Jerry Fink: 375 club giving locals the 411 on entertainment

In the Entertainment Capital of the World, the staid old Alexis Park hotel was never known for its entertainment.

In its heyday it was always a classy joint on Harmon Avenue, west of Paradise Road, that provided fine dining at the Pegasus and comfortable rooms and a place for meetings. There was a bar to have a quiet drink -- but entertainment was all but nonexistent.

When the Hard Rock opened down the street more than nine years ago, the lack of entertainment at the Alexis became even more glaring.

Van Halen helped owner Peter Morton turn the first spade of earth at the Hard Rock groundbreaking in 1994.

The Rolling Stones, B.B. King and countless other big-name performers have been part of a steady stream of entertainment flowing through the Hard Rock -- and past the Alexis.

But things may be about to change.

Richard Alter bought the 500-suite Alexis and the adjacent 206-room Americana Apartments in May for $70 million and recently acquired 4.7 acres of vacant property behind the Americana for $10 million.

Alter has announced a $300 million project to develop a 28-story, 1,000-room hotel and a 70,000-square-foot casino.

Construction of the newly named Alexis Resort won't be completed until April 2007 -- but already there is entertainment in the hotel.

The 375 Supper Club, named after the venue's street address on Harmon, opened recently and features DJ SugarCube.

SugarCube at the once-stuffy Alexis?

The place could implode just from the shock.

But club managers Raul Machin and his partner, Brian Decherico, seem to know their stuff. Both have extensive backgrounds in nightclubs -- Decherico in New York and Machin in Vegas.

"We're raising eyebrows," said the 29-year-old Machin, who has worked with clubs since he was 20.

Machin is the managing partner of RTM Entertainment, which runs the 375.

The heart of the entertainment is 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays (when a full menu is available).

SugarCube is there Friday nights. There's a remote radio broadcast Thursdays and Latin music Saturdays.

Machin and Decherico created the 375 Supper Club by combining an old bar and the Pegasus dining room and adding patio seating.

"We gutted the place," Machin said.

While the rest of the hotel is undergoing construction and re-construction, fans are partying at the 375.

"Brian and I put our minds together to figure out what would work here to attract more local people," Machin said.

Competing with the high-profile Hard Rock down the street might be tough, but Machin isn't afraid of the big guy.

"We aren't competing with the Hard Rock," he said. "The club's business is predominantly from the hotel -- out-of-town people.

"We might get some of their overflow business -- instead of them going to a Strip hotel they might come across the street to our place."

But Machin is going after the local crowd.

"Locals are getting killed with the mega clubs," Machin said. "They're getting raked over the coals. They can't afford to pay $800 for a table."

By comparison, there is only a $20 cover for the 375.

"The average Joe just likes to go out with a couple of friends, sit and enjoy some music," Machin said.

Machin recalls the Alexis from his youth.

"My mom has lived in town for 40 years," she said. "This is where people used to come after work.

"When it opened, it was a classy hotel. People would come here for birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries. It was one of the nicer places in town when it opened."

But the place fell on hard times.

"Previous owners ran it into the ground," Machin said.

While the 375 is creating a new image at the venue, the managers aren't doing away completely with the old.

There is a dress code: no sneakers, jeans or jerseys.

Lounging around

For jazz fans, one of the best places to hang out on a Sunday night is the Hurricane Bar and Grill, 10420 S. Bermuda Road (Bermuda and East Pyle Avenue). Tommy Alvarado and his band start about 9 p.m. and jam until after midnight, inviting guest musicians and vocalists to join them. Last Sunday, Loretta St. John and Gary Anthony were among those who stepped up to the mike.

Speaking of Anthony -- the Frank Sinatra tribute artist recently started a one-night-a-week gig at the City Lights Bistro, 4850 W. Flamingo Road (Flamingo and South Decatur Boulevard). When he opened, he was scheduled for Tuesday nights, and then it was changed to Wednesdays. So if you want to catch a top-notch Sinatra artist, drop by the Bistro around 9 p.m.

Or, you can catch him from 9:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. Thursdays at Casa di Amore, 2850 E. Tropicana Ave.

The Bar at Times Square at New York-New York now offers daytime entertainment with the Dueling Pianos from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Fridays.

The talented vocalist Darin Ames is now appearing at the Bootlegger Bistro starting at 8:30 p.m. Sundays.

And speaking of the Bootlegger (where Sonny King hosts "Off the Cuff" Friday and Saturday nights): Vocalist Jimmy Hopper surprised everyone when he dropped by late Friday to perform a couple of songs.

Hopper was one of the favorite headliners at the Bellagio's Fontana Bar lounge for four years before he signed a contract with Harrah's entertainment to become touring headliner for its properties at Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, St. Louis, San Diego and Phoenix.

The soulful singer just completed a six-month tour and says he is going to take some time off in Vegas to kick back and relax and spend some time with his 4-year-old daughter.

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