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Sage Vice

Strong morals in strange places? Author Richard Abowitz seeks to justify the ways of Vegas to mankind.

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June 4, 2008
A reality show starring me and a porn star? Help me decide
June 13, 2008
Dylan: Father and Son
July 14, 2008
Obscenity undefined: Stagliano reflects on his indictment
July 22, 2008
Wrath doesn’t live here anymore: Inside the Libertine
June 27, 2008
Even in troubled times, entrepreneur says this bud’s for you

Recent Posts

July 30, 2008
Late-arriving Paris has quite a pair — 300, in fact
July 22, 2008
Wrath doesn’t live here anymore: Inside the Libertine
July 14, 2008
Obscenity undefined: Stagliano reflects on his indictment
July 7, 2008
Paris! Welcome to Sage Vice
July 2, 2008
The Tao of Donovan (in a Las Vegas penthouse)

Archives

07.30.08 · 12:37 PM

Late-arriving Paris has quite a pair — 300, in fact

The woman at Dillard’s told me how to get to Macy’s but suggested I check her store first. But, of course, her store was not going to have in stock what I was looking for: Paris Hilton. “In person, at Macy’s? When?” she whispered conspiratorially. When I let her know the moment was an hour away, she decided that is when she would go to lunch. I felt bad for her because I didn’t actually expect Hilton to be on ... Read more...

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07.22.08 · 6:38 PM

Wrath doesn’t live here anymore: Inside the Libertine

It’s hard to make a living on wrath, even in Las Vegas. Most forms of wrath go by ugly names, such as assault. But Ed Hurt found a way to cash in on biblically sinful, wrathful urges. It was a couple weeks after Valentine’s Day when Hurt opened the Libertine. He was excited because he’d found in this town a huge market and absolutely no competition. “How many people get to say they were the first to create something especially ... Read more...

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07.14.08 · 9:38 PM

Obscenity undefined: Stagliano reflects on his indictment

I first met John Stagliano in the summer of 2004 reporting a backstage feature for Las Vegas Weekly on the creation of his show, Fashionistas, at what is now Planet Hollywood. I had never heard of him before that. The show opened in the summer of 2004 to great acclaim and lasted for three years. That beat Hairspray, Spamalot and The Producers, to name a few of the better-financed shows that closed more quickly. However, it wasn’t the longevity but ... Read more...

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07.7.08 · 10:18 AM

Paris! Welcome to Sage Vice

Good Charlotte, a band more famous for girlfriends than hits, recorded their latest video at the Palms on Sunday. This, of course, resulted in Paris Hilton stealing the spotlight, lackey Jeff Beacher at her beck and call and the sort of drama meant for reality television and not reality. The Palms conveniently donated this photo, and we welcome Paris Hilton to her inaugural appearance in Sage Vice. It is a philosophical riddle to me: If I was being tortured, would ... Read more...

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07.2.08 · 11:33 AM

The Tao of Donovan (in a Las Vegas penthouse)

Back in the day, Donovan’s questionable musical skills were more than compensated for by his pixie perfect folkie look that was the dream of a generation of women. These days he is plumper and his hair thinner, but he still has the ego to place a gigantic pillow under his butt to hoist himself a few inches above my 5’ 6” of height. This is before he starts speaking to the value of selfless meditation. There is something horrible about ... Read more...

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06.30.08 · 11:51 AM

Lust in a time of recession

Given a choice between sex and drugs, which vice do you think people will be quicker to drop in a recession? Apparently, people cut the discretionary sex first. I met Ms. J. at the Elephant Bar in the District. I’ve learned in the past that when interviewing a hooker, ask for a table away from any children. So, we found an isolated corner for the three of us to talk: Ms. J., her unemployed boyfriend and I. I was lucky ... Read more...

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06.27.08 · 1:08 PM

Even in troubled times, entrepreneur says this bud’s for you

Las Vegas was proclaimed to be in a recession yesterday by a prominent local economist. Of course, that is based on models that apply to the mainstream economy. In the spirit of this blog, I’ve decided to do a series to see how the 7 Deadly Sins are doing in recession: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. These principals are from the early days of Christianity and hardly apply to 2008 Vegas. Even in the good economic times ... Read more...

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06.24.08 · 5:01 PM

Complaints and consequences

Last night I introduced my best friend to the woman I am dating. It seemed the right time as I had met Aurora’s father the day before. While I was nervous meeting her dad, I was hysterical having her meet Caroline. I knew I would be on my best behavior with her father, but when it comes to Caroline and Aurora, one of the things I like about both of them is that I can never entirely predict how either ... Read more...

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06.24.08 · 7:30 PM

Vanishing

Oh no. I no longer exist. My Wikipedia entry has been deleted. So, what if it was written by a stripper? (She wrote me an email claiming credit.) For months I had felt my existence was part of the vast sum of human knowledge people have access to on the online encyclopedia of everything. I love Wikipedia, so exemplary of the net’s special mix of thoroughness coupled with a sketchy level of accuracy. But I existed; I was real. I ... Read more...

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06.13.08 · 12:38 PM

Dylan: Father and Son

Father’s day weekend is upon us. And, a new album came out this week. A man stands there, on an album cover, literally, a man with his hat in his hand. His famous name is on the cover of the disc, too, and the producer, Rick Rubin, is a legend at helping artists reconnect with their muse. Open the packaging and the disc has the famous label, Columbia, there, too, even with the dissolution of the recording industry: Columbia Records. ... Read more...

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Cocktail of the Week

Cocktail of the Week Dec 31, 2008
by Xania Woodman

The Bearded Clam

A verrry distant cousin of the Mojito, the Caipirinha and the Batida is the Bearded Clam, created by Frankie's Tiki Room by bartender Alice Hartling. In a pint glass, muddle ...
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