As bartenders throw up bottles in the air for an exciting flair show, music begins to play and all eyes are directed towards the bright lights and dance show on the main stage.
The iBar, located in the center of Island Casino at Harrah's Casino and at Riverport in Maryland Heights, has brought a new meaning to night life and has shown that not just gamblers come to the casino anymore.
Although slot machines can be found along the right side of the bar, stand-up blackjack tables are situated in the front of the bar and roulette tables are located along the left side of the bar, one of the main attractions inside this casino is the bar itself.
On both sides of the bar, over 100 different assorted types of liquor line the shelves, while plasma television screens hang above the bar. Besides the plasma screens on the far right and left sides of the back of the bar, spectators can catch a sports game being played on two giant drop-down screens.
On the weekends, the giant television plasma screens are raised for the special live performances by the iCandy dance revue. These energetic and professional dancers, who come from all over the world, light up the stage with their unique hip-hop and pop dance performances. Sometimes their dance routines become a little risqué, especially when their skits involve special props such as chairs or being swung in the air. The iCandy dance revue performs weekly Thursday through Saturday from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m.
When the fluorescent lights shine all across the bar and the atmosphere is full of nothing but the sound of ringing slot machines and loud music playing, everyone anticipates the live bar-side dance performances.
Duc Lee, senior, international business, said he thinks that the iBar is a good new addition to the casino.
"I've been to the new iBar and have hung out with my friends there," said Lee. "Where else can you go and see girls in sexy outfits dancing and have the possible chance of walking away as a winner?"
The iBar is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 a.m. and is open 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Another favorite bar at Harrah's casino that has drawn a large crowd is the Voodoo Lounge, located outside of the casino. It opened in April 2004 and cost the casino $16 million.
With the bar's 32-foot-tall glass windows that display video clips and digital images, the ceiling stage above the bar, the deluxe size booths, the center dance floor and the floor length bar, the construction and design of the bar have impressed many visitors.
Although visitors must be 21 years of age to enter, Voodoo does not require people to have a casino card.
Laura Haywood, junior, business and server manager at Voodoo, feels that there are numerous perks to this hot spot.
"I think that the Voodoo is an attractive place and is in a good location," Haywood said. "It is easier for people come here rather than to drive all the way downtown for a good time."
Haywood said that another advantage to Voodoo is that they have live bands instead of the typical DJs and that it is a great destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties.
"On Friday and Saturday nights, there is no cover charge for women," she said.
Because the bar is often packed on the weekends, Haywood said that people should try to come early to be admitted and avoid the long lines.
In addition to the live bands that play anything from popular rock to classic 80s, the Voodoo also has flair bartenders that put on bottle shows while making drinks.
Haywood said that many of the flair bartenders have been trained to perform their drink tricks or have had experience working at other bars and their stunts could be comparable to those a person would expect to see at a party type bar in Las Vegas.
The popular flair tricks bring a sense of entertainment to the club. The Voodoo has had Flair Devils from Las Vegas, people who specialize in bartending and drink tricks, come in and train new hires and give them more up-to-date ideas with their work, such as bottle-handling and pouring stunts.
On busy nights, the bartenders must work at a fast pace and be able to mix numerous drinks at once.
Along the left and right sides of this fully stocked floor length bar are cages for cage dancers on the weekends. The cage dancers perform every Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Some of the bands that perform at Voodoo include the "Ultra Violets," "Hollywood Five," "Poprocks" and the "Steve Leslie Band."
The Voodoo Lounge is open for lunch and dinner, serving a variety of food like All-American burgers, pizzas, pastas, salads and more before the real party begins at 9 p.m.
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