Lesbians Take Over Sin City For Dinah Vegas

Dinah Vegas set Sin City on fire with thousands of lesbians hitting the Strip from Apr. 25-28 for sizzling hot dance parties, afternoons by the Flamingo Pool, high-stakes poker, a White Party and a closing tea dance. Hosted by Girl Bar and Truck Stop Girlz, this year's Dinah was bigger than ever, living up to its moniker as "The Greatest Women's Weekend in the World."

"Time and again I've been asked what made Dinah Vegas such a huge success last year, and my answer is always the same: every venue and space provides a completely new and unparalleled experience that only Sin City can offer," said Dinah Vegas Founder Sandy Sachs. "There is truly nothing like it on the planet for women and it's where the party never stops -- there are no last calls."

Las Vegas is a place that people visit to indulge in their wildest fantasies, whether that means being tied up and ravished by a duo of busty women, going skydiving, driving a race car at top speeds, hitting the jackpot or just walking down the strip sipping from a strawberry daiquiri that stands taller than a first grader.

Just a few minutes into my five-day stay at the luxe and centrally located Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, (the official hotel of Dinah) I had been offered the chance to shoot a machine gun in the desert, spend the evening with a "hot-ass escort" and enjoy a free limo ride to a seedy strip club. I saw three Latino Elvis impersonators, a seven-foot-tall Chewbacca and the worst Stevie Wonder impersonator ever.

And although I couldn't escape my feminist guilt over the objectification of women, I was not immune to the allure of a city full of topless ladies. Las Vegas has a plethora of strip joints, dancers and ladies of the night, but on the slightly more artistic end of things, there are also elaborately staged burlesque shows to enjoy.

Jubilee!

I attended a performance of "Jubilee!" at Bally's one evening, and was struck by two things: first, that Japanese tourists really dig showgirls; and second, that every one of the more than 50 women in the show had absolutely perfect, natural breasts.

The cast of "Jubilee!" performed seven numbers in their 90-minute show, including the non-topless "Titanic" and Fred and Ginger homages, but also more sensual showgirl numbers like the famous red feather dance, and a very elaborate Samson and Delilah skit with amazing mechanized set pieces.

Having been to Michigan Womyn's Music Fest, I am no stranger to a sea of bare bosoms. But these perfectly-shaped, Hershey Kiss-nippled breasts were a world away from those hairy-pitted dykey dugs. Some fun facts about the show: dancers have to re-audition every six months, the heaviest headdress weighs 22 lbs. and about 4,2000 lbs. of dry ice is used in each performance.

Sinfully Delicious

All these tits make a girl hungry, and Vegas is the perfect place to indulge. The absolute culinary highlight of my stay was a perfectly prepared, bone-in ribeye from Gordon Ramsey Steak at the Paris Las Vegas. The restaurant is easy to find; just follow the scale replica of the Eiffel Tour, cut through the casino and prepare to be wowed. From the extensive wine list and tasty cocktails to the sides of truffled mac and cheese and creamed spinach, every bite was sinfully delicious.

Chef Christina Wilson took a moment from her breakneck pace expediting orders to say hello. She landed this coveted position after winning the TV cooking reality show, "Hell's Kitchen," and judging by the cuisine that evening, we have all ended up winners.

The French bistro Mon Ami Gabi, also located in the Paris Las Vegas, is an ideal location for a tasty brunch. Featuring a deep balcony set close to the sidewalk, this is an ideal location for both people watching, and enjoying the regular eruptions of the famed fountains at the Bellagio Hotel, directly across the street. Think of it as urban whale-watching.

Partying From Dusk Til Dawn

But when the sun is shining, the best place in Vegas to be is right next to the pool. Thanks to Dinah Vegas Executive Director Sandy Sachs, this year's event was held at the expansive Flamingo Hotel pool, a sprawling oasis complete with luxurious cabanas, lagoons, in-pool go-go cages, multiple bars and a grotto with a waterfall.

On Saturday afternoon, about a thousand ladies jockeyed for lounge chairs and the best view of the ample eye candy. The crowd at Dinah Vegas was diverse, featuring older lesbians as well as pretty young things, but almost all of the women were toned and tanned. Hailing from still-chilly New York, I was among the few pale partiers in a sea of burnished Angelenos and glowing San Franciscan hippies.

There was much talk about a savvy crew of Australians who had flown over for that afternoon's high-stakes High Heel Poker Tournament, and although I never did find them, I did speak with Deb, a high-roller who said she had risked about $1,000 a day on the tables since arriving.

As the afternoon progressed, I watched my new crew of journalists from lesbian websites and magazines dwindle as one got boozy and chased tail, two others headed to Margaritaville and another mysteriously disappeared for several hours.

But we all rallied and reunited back at the pool later that evening for the Dinah Vegas "Flamingo White" party. There, strippers catering to the lady-loving clientele performed gravity-defying air humping, feathered showgirls posed for pictures and the performance troupe Little Miss Nasty showed just how short cutoffs can be.

With a few exceptions, the ladies almost all gamely dressed in white and took to the poolside "dance floor" to shake their stuff. But after seven hours drinking in the unforgiving desert sun, many just couldn't make it out. Although the venue was lavish, it was a bit too big for the event, making it feel under-attended, despite the hundreds of women who turned out.

Tea For More Than Two

Top parties for the weekend were the welcome party on the 51st floor of the VooDoo Lounge in Rio, where the strippers were naughty but the DJ kept playing the same tracks all night long; and the Sunday closing Tea Dance at Diablos Cantina at the Monte Carlo Resort.

This proved to be the hit of the weekend, featuring the right mix of indoor and outdoor space, the perfect size for the crowd, delicious margaritas and nachos and a DJ that hit every note right.

Here, those ladies who had merely ogled strippers all weekend got in on the action, bumping and grinding against the pretty young things with no shame. The event was billed as a seven-hour party, but went well past the 9 p.m. end time. As the Tea Dance finally wound down, it sent a limbered- and liquored-up posse of lesbians loose on the Las Vegas Strip to indulge those diversions that make Sin City the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Next year's Dinah Vegas will be held on Apr. 24-27, 2014. For more information, visit www.dinahshoreweekend.com.

Enjoying Las Vegas No Matter When You Visit

But even if it's not Dinah Vegas, Sin City still offers a lot for lesbian travelers. On Saturday night, KittyBar attracts 800 women to their Saturday night party, the sole weekly girls-only event in Vegas. DJ Sayne spins house, hip-hop and Top 40. This dressy party is the place to be seen. It's located next to Krave Nightclub, just off the strip attached to Planet Hollywood on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Harmon.

Midweek revelers should head to Booty Bar, the Wednesday night mixer at Share Nightclub. DJ Lisa Pittman spins up the hottest tracks, and lesbian go-go dancers keep things interesting.

And Friday night was made for Fab Fridays at the Bikini Bar. This party is primarily for lesbians of color, but all women are invited to dance to the clubs rotating assortment of old school R&B, house music, hip-hop and neo soul. Best of all, there is no cover charge.

If you're into more group social events, from grabbing coffee or drinks to dinners, movies, and even target practice, Vegas locals share their plans via Meetup.com's Lesbian in Vegas group. Join up to become a part of the conversation and the fun.

While you're in town, support your sisters by grabbing dinner at the Border Grill at Mandalay Bay. There you can enjoy the cuisine of Susan Feniger, voted the finest lesbian chef in the world by Out Traveler Magazine.

And give it up for "The Queen of Strip" as he stages his long-running female impersonator show, "Divas starring Frank Marino." This 75-minute show features Marino as Joan Rivers, flanked by superstar impressions of Britney Spears, Cher, Diana Ross, Madonna, Dolly Parton, Beyonce and more. Catch him evenings (except Fridays) at The Quad.

Those in search of the exotic can partake of drag racing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sun Buggy Desert Racing, walking gourmet food tours, a strip/gun club, exhibits of artifacts from The Titanic, old mobsters, neon signs, or even indoor skydiving.

Nature lovers can also enjoy a bounty of day trips, including treks to the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam. Or, take a drive to the Valley of Fire State Park, where the smooth red rocks and Native American petroglyphs will mesmerize you. No matter when you visit, Sin City has a way of making all of your fantasies come true.

For a complete look at Vegas attractions, visit VisitLasVegas.com.