Vegas has one of the sexiest restaurant scenes on the planet and the Nevada Restaurant Association celebrates Vegas food and drink with the Las Vegas Epicurean Affair on September 9 from 7-10PM at the Palazzo Pools.

The affair is as indulgent as Vegas itself in an evening of sensory overload from the lush Palazzo setting to the almost 75 restaurants and beverage companies on hand.

VIP admission tickets are $150 and gets you in the party a full hour early at 6PM with general admission tickets a bargain at $100. Private cabanas are available for $300 and seat up to six people.

For tickets and more information, visit the Nevada Restaurant Association Website.

The restaurants and bevvy companies scheduled to participate: Banzai Beverage Corporation, Binions Ranch Steak House (Four Queens), Bradley Ogden (Caesar’s Palace), Canyon Ranch Grill (Palazzo), Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Chicago Brewing Company (Four Queens), CUT (Palazzo), D.Vino Italian Food & Wine Bar (Monte Carlo), Dos Caminos (Venetian), Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar (Monte Carlo), Elements Kitchen & Martini Bar, ENVY The Steakhouse (Renaissance), Fiji Water, First Food & Bar (Palazzo), Fosters America, Gaylord India Restaurant (Rio-All Suite Hotel & Casino), Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall & Bar-B-Que (Treasure Island), Gordon Biersch Brewery, Grand Lux Cafe (Venetian), The Grape (Town Square), Guy Savoy (Caesar’s Palace), Hash House A Go Go (Imperial Palace), Hoegaarden, Hugo’s Cellar (Four Queens), II Mulino (Caesar’s Palace), J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Jasmine (Bellagio), Karlsson’s Gold Vodka, Khotan Asian Bistro (Treasure Island), Lagasse Stadium (Venetian), Laguna Champagne Bar (Palazzo), Lavo Italian Restaurant (Venetian), Leffe, Le Meullier Gourmet, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Marche Bacchus, McCormick & Schmicks Seafood Restaurant, Memphis Championship Barbeque, Mesa Grill (Caesar’s Palace), Moet Hennessey USA, Morel’s French Steakhouse & Bistro (Palazzo), Nobu Las Vegas (Hardrock Hotel & Casino), Nora’s Wine, Bar & Osteria, Origin India Restaurant, Palm Restaurant (Caesar’s Palace), Paymon’s Hookah Lounge , Postrio Bar & Grill (Venetian), Prime Steakhouse (Bellagio), Red Square (Mandalay Bay), Remy Cointreau USA, Ricardo’s of Las Vegas, Santos Spirits (featuring Ambhar Tequila), Skyy Vodka, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Silk Road Wine & Spirits, Southern Wine & Spirits, Stella Artois, SUSHISAMBA (Venetian), Table 10 by Emeril Lagasse, (Venetian), Tao Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar (Venetian), TYKU Premium Asian Wine & Spirits, The Cupcakery, Wirtz Beverage Nevada and Zine Noodles (Venetian).

Vegas is giving New York City a serious run for its money as the un-serious Stand-Up Comedy Capital of the world.  Stand-up comedians have always been part of Vegas history and the fabric of The Strip, but lately, there seems to be a comedian invasion.

In addition to the legendary headliners packing the casinos every night, there are no fewer than five casino comedy clubs and a few big acts almost every weekend stopping by on tour.

The Headliners
After a stint on “Celebrity Apprentice” where people got to see his human side, Andrew Dice Clay has set up comedy shop at the Las Vegas Hilton. You can see him Wednesday through Monday with tickets starting at $60.94, but we recommend splurging the $115.94 to sit in the “Dice Pit.”

Comedy legend and late-night TV regular George Wallace keeps it real Tuesday through Saturday at Flamingo with tickets running from $59.52 to $87.07.

(Side note on the ticket prices: They seem to be very exact inspiring a Seinfeldian joke: “What’s the deal with these ticket prices? Do they not know how to round-up or do they just have  a bunch of extra pennies they need to unload?)

Frank Caliendo rolls out his George W. (Bush, not Wallace) imitation Thursday through Monday at Monte Carlo while other comedy greats headlining in Vegas worth your hardly-earned money include Rita Rudner, Louie Anderson and Carrot Top.

Comedy Clubs
Vegas casinos, especially old-school Vegas casinos, keep the Vegas comedy tradition alive with their own comedy clubs. Comics range from up-and-coming jokesters to club headliner-type of talent. Harrah’s, Four Queens, Riviera and Sahara all have comedy clubs on-site while The Palms maintains its sexy-leadership role with Playboy Comedy.

Two regular shows of note: The Sin City Comedy Show at Planet Hollywood combines burlesque and comedy every night and The Dirty Joke Show at Hooters (dirty-joke appropriate) gives insight to the comic mind with three comedians trying to out-do each other, kind of like dueling banjos but with dirty jokes.

Comedians on Tour
Vegas is a must-stop for any comic on tour or if they need to pick up some extra cash for the weekend. They include people on the brink of super stardom like J.B. Smoove (May 20-22, Playboy Comedy) or big names like his “‘Til Death” co-star Brad Garrett (June25-26, Mirage).

Other comics stopping by in May and June:
Cheech & Chong (May 21-22, Mirage), Lewis Black (May 29-30, Mirage), Wayne Brady (May 27-31, Venetian – technically a headliner with an erratic schedule), Ron White (June 11-12, Mirage), David Spade (June 11-12, Venetian) and Dave Attell (June 11, Treasure Island).

Just like his hit song, Sean Paul has “the right temperature” when he helps kicks off the return of Ditch Fridays at the Palms pool. The reggae rapper will be on-hand Friday May, 7 when the popular pool party starts another season as one of the best reasons to “ditch” work. The party is happening so unfortunately, your boss or a co-worker also might be there so it’s a good idea to bring one of those big floppy hats and maybe even some over-sized novely Big Bird sunglasses.

The Ditch party rocks from noon to 7PM every Friday. Sean Paul will be performing live at 3PM for the kickoff party. Admission to Ditch Fridays is $25 or free for local ladies.

If you still have the energy (this is Vegas so who doesn’t?), New Kids on the Block will be performing later that night and Saturday too at The Palms inside The Pearl Concert Theater.

For everything Palms, check out the official site.

Fans of both Country and Western have reason to celebrate with the re-opening of Gilley’s in Las Vegas. The Vegas locale of the famed honky tonk made popular in the classic ’80s movie ‘Urban Cowboy’ has upgraded from the no-longer-there New Frontier to the very-much-there Treasure Island.

With the rebirth of Gilley’s comes perhaps the three most exciting words on the Strip: “bikini bull riding.” Just like the movie, the mechanical bull is alive and well (as much as robotic bovines can be alive and well) at Gilley’s with Gilley Girls riding the beast in bikinis on Sunday nights. The bull is open to the public for $5 rides everyday from 11AM-2AM.

While Vegas is sometimes referred to as the “adult Disneyland,” Gilley’s Las Vegas is a roller coaster short of being the “adult Dollywood.” In addition to the bull, Gilley’s features Texas-style BBQ, a saloon and a honky tonk with live bands and DJs Thursday through Saturday. Gilley’s is open 11AM to 4AM, but the dancehall’s official hours are “dusk ’til dawn.” Other nights of note are Tuesdays Locals/Service Industry Night, Wednesdays Ladies’ Night and of course Sunday’s Bikini Bull Riding.

Check out the official site for menus, group reservations and more info.

If you’re staying at Green Valley or fancy a short drive to Henderson, Barley’s Casino and Brewing Company is hosting the 7th Annual Brewfest on May 15 from 2-8PM. In addition to their own special beers for the event, Buckbean Brewing Company, Boulder Dam Brewing Company, Gordon Biersch, Stone Brewing Company, Tenaya Creek, Chicago Brewing Company, Czechvar, Bosteel and Kokanee.

Music will be provided by local acts Otherwise, Kil Jaden and Noise Media starting at 5PM with DJ Ron Ferraro spinning an early set from 2-5PM.

Brewfest tickets are $30 and if you’re not into sampling beer, there are $5 sandwiches and a cash bar for cocktails.

Check out the Barley’s Casino and Brewery site for directions.

Vegas fans will be able to “feel it in their heart and their bones” when one of our favorites DJ Tiesto hits up Aria’s Haze in Vegas on his Tour of North America on April 3.

The world-famous DJ will be experience the two polar opposites of the American experience in just as many days. The night before spinning Vegas glitz and glamor, Tiesto will be spring breaking it at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark Park on South Padre Island in Texas.

Tickets are pricey at $125, but well worth it. For more information, check out Tiesto Tickets.

Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert headline two days of country all-star concerts on April 16-17 during the Academy of Country Music’s sepcial ‘The Week Vegas Goes Country.’ (The week’s name is trademarked week so recognize, yo.)

The free, yes free, concerts get away at 7PM both nights at the Fremont Street Experience as a preamble to the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Lady Antebellum headlines Friday night’s concert which includes Emily West, The Band Perry, Danny Gokey and David Nail. The line-up for Saturday includes Joey + Rory, Gloriana, Randy Rogers Band, Luke Bryan and ACM nominee (and bonafide hottie) Miranda Lambert.

For more details, check out the Academy of Country Music’s official Website.

The Tuscan bistro 3 Tomatoes and a Mozzarella is hosting a Spy on Vegas open bar featuring Fat Tire on April 1 from 6-9PM. As far as we know this isn’t an April Fool’s Joke, because if it is, that’s just mean.

For more Vegas open bars, check out Spy on Vegas.

When people ask us for recommendations on where to stay in Vegas, we usually answer that question with a question: Are you going to do anything in the room other than take disco naps, shower or a if you get really lucky, put a sock on the door? In other words, are you looking for a crash pad?

It’s easy enough to get to the different nightspots, restaurants and pools in Vegas so if you just need a crash pad, save some money and use that at the roulette or for bottle service.

Harrah’s is advertising ‘deep discounts’ this spring and summer and should provide for a noble crash pad. Harrah’s is knocking off 25% off their rates for April and 30% off during May-August. Be forewarned, there are no celebrity nightclubs, but PURE is basically across the street (kind of) at Caesar’s.

Check out harrahslasvegas.com or for more deals, VEGAS.com.

The new Hennessy Black is launching Vegas with a party at PURE on Tuesday March 30.

As much as it pains us to hear someone order a Hennessy and Diet Coke (who are we to judge?), the new, sexy Hennessy Black is more versatile when it comes to cocktailing.

The party is from 9PM-midnight with music by DJ Flex. RSVP is required using guestcode.com and event code 462.

Be sure to check out spyonvegas.com the next day or so for candid event photos.