Door guru Timothy Sheldon rules the gate at Southside, one of my favorite haunts. Let’s talk about larger than life -- he already measures up to about 6' 5'', but on a weekend night he still stands on a wooden crate to pick through the crowd. Southside and Timothy have a firm attitude about their door; they firmly believe that mixing up the crowd and having a variety of enthusiastic patrons is the key to long-term success. Timothy is a classic figure -- invariably dressed to the nines -- and he takes being a gentleman very seriously, both on and off of his little box.

Friday
2 p.m.: The Venetian. Check in. Large, velvet-upholstered rooms make one feel like an imperial mistress.
3:30 p.m.: Lunch at Mon Ami Gabi. Sit on the patio, watch the Bellagio fountains, and plan the weekend’s attack.
5 p.m.: Sephora. Someone forgot their cleanser/lipgloss/eyeshadow brush. Or whatever excuse you want to make.

You’ll sleep when you’re dead.

1. Drai’s (Strip: Central) - Locals and tourists, gays and straights, executives and wage slaves, all party together until 9 a.m. in this small, sophisticated, plush club.
2. Jet (Strip: Central) - Huge nightspot features three different rooms, each with a different soundtrack and atmosphere. The later it gets, the more room there is to dance.
3. Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (Strip: South) - The transplant of Los Angeles’ famed burlesque revival club does something they’d never do in LA: stays open until 8 a.m.