Las Vegas Weekly

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Goodbye, worst year ever. Hello, new Vegas party spot!

Adding to the roster of venues opening on New Year's Eve is Smokin' Hot Aces at the Venetian. It's been a long road for the space formally occupied by Venus and Vivid that more recently planned on becoming Automatic Slim's. But after a tour of the space last week, the Weekly is almost certain the rock 'n' roll bar will open as Smokin' Hot Aces just before the ball drops on 2010.

Designer Andrew A. (yep, just "A.") — who's also worked on Rok Vegas, Miami's Love & Hate and Miami Ink, to name a few — was behind the space's French-inspired embellishments fused with rock 'n' roll and gambling motifs. The interior walls are now adorned with Smokin' Hot Aces logos, and paint is dry on a sexy Varga girl pin-up mural. Finishing touches are being completed on a giant prop slot machine near the entrance.

A pool table, jukebox and three sizes of Pabst Blue Ribbon should arrive any minute to be ready for the venue's big grand opening bash December 31 with DJVJ CB Shaw and band Lake Effect Mud from New York (the soft opening is December 28). Tickets are $60 in advance, $80 at the door and are available online at wantickets.com. Doors open at 8 p.m. with an open bar until 11 p.m., and table service is available. Also included is a champagne toast at midnight, plus a complimentary continental breakfast buffet at 3 a.m. to soak up all that New Year's booze.