XS The Nightclub at Encore for New Year's Fun!

By Pete Allman

In bringing in the New Year, what could be better than celebrating with celebrities and friends at Steve Wynn's and Victor Dre's XS, the new ultra-nightclub at the newly opened Encore on the Las Vegas Strip.

XS The Nightclub at Encore opened to bring in the New Year 2009.

My guests included David Darkstone, billed as Latin America's top illusionist; legendary R&B/soul artist Sidney Barnes and his wife, Clella Ann Zavada; producer-director Frank Pinnock, and my friend Beryl Warren.

Guests(from left) Frank Pinnock, Clella Ann Zavada and Sidney Barnes, Beryl Warren, along with David Darkstone.

Around nine o'clock, when I met up with XS PR Director Jeremy Pond, there were already about 300 people waiting to get in. There were lots of locals, several Las Vegas resident celebrities and plenty of visitors who know that Las Vegas is the town to party in the new year. In fact, the entire club at XS was sold out, including the $1,500 poolside day bed parties to the $5,000 some guests paid for booths and cabanas.

In Las Vegas, ultra-style clubs are plentiful, but none has the unique features we saw at XS. The nightclub is built in semicircular fashion and has multiple levels, theater style. The dance floor overlooks the pool area, which is surrounded by cabanas located on the bottom and upper levels. In addition, there is a unique feature in the huge pool area. The XS design has a gaming island towards the end of the pool, and it is a built-in, open-sided platform.

XS The Nightclub at Encore offers poolside cabanas on two levels, day beds and an open-air, built-in gaming island just a few dance steps away from the ultra high-tech nightclub's interior with a semi-circle, theater-style layout.

By the way, on Jan 5, XS will host a list of invited guests for their special celebrity grand opening. New Year's Eve was opening night for XS, following the recent grand opening of Encore. To get more information, call XS at (702)770-0097.

Among the celebrities invited to attend the special XS grand opening are: actors Blair Underwood, Alan Thicke, Antonio Fargas, Tom Hallick, Eddie Mekka and Patrick Kilpatrick; recording artists George Clinton and Sidney Barnes, along with musical family patriarch Joe Jackson; impressionist and singer Larry G. Jones; hypnotist Michael Johns and Terry Stokes; and illusionists Cris Angel, David Darkstone and Dixie Dooley.

While there, some of my guests and I took celebrity publicity shots with XS managing partner Cy Waits, former UFC champion Tito Ortiz, who was with his adult film star wife Jenna Jameson, and Olympic snow board champion Sean White.

XS managing partner Cy Waits (center) with R&B recording artist-songwriter Sidney Barnes (left) and Pete Allman.

I was impressed with XS from the beginning. Jeremy escorted my group through the impressive entryway made of contemporary metallic, gold-tone framework surrounding a revolving door and swivel glass doorways. It was a visually impressive entrance to what is considered the most elegant, ultra-high-tech club. It was done, of course, the ultimate Wynn way.

The club experience and the ambiance of Encore reflect the philosophy of the gaming property mogul Wynn, who built the mega-resorts Mirage, Treasure Island and Wynn Las Vegas, the self-named property built to honor his wife.

Spending the evening at Encore was enjoyable. My guests commented on the XS ultra nightclub experience.

"It's an awesome club. I've never seen anything like it," said Sidney Barnes, veteran recording artist and songwriter with hits on P-Funk and Chess Records labels, and leader of the '70s hit group Rotary Connection, featuring the legendary songbird Minnie Ripperton.

David Darkstone (right) with Pete Allman (2nd left) with other guests, Frank Pinnock (left) and Sidney Barnes.

Early in the evening, before it got too late, I called to wish some friends Happy New Year. One of them was Frankie Scinta, who was spending the evening with his family. He is lead performer with The Scintas, a multi-talented family that performs songs, dance, impressions, comedy improvisations and more at the Hilton. I asked him what he thought of Encore.

"The resort is beautiful. Steve Wynn is a guy who sets the pace of what Las Vegas is all about. He's always built it bigger and better," Frankie said.

By the way, the Scinta's are ending their long-running engagement in their showroom at the Hilton in mid March to pursue their scripted, reality-TV sitcom. They are working with independent film channel Sundance, and the planned show is called "Scinta's Surviving the Strip."

I wish them and all my celebrity friends the very best of success on their projects in 2009!

And to readers, subscribers and the online and print publishers who carry Celebrity Scene News, thanks for everything you did to make 2008 great, and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!

Pete Allman is a Las Vegas-based commentator, broadcast personality and celebrity interviewer. He also produces inspirational messages for television and other media. Contact him at peteonthescene@yahoo.com or (702)265-9099. Visit www.CelebrityScene.com