Will be played by Mickey Rourke or Gary Oldman in the movie. (Photo by Hew Burney)

Korn’s Munky got himself a guitar-cake for his birthday Friday night at Rare 120 inside the Hard Rock Hotel, and did what comes naturally. Shoved fistfuls of the neck into his mouth. It was quick thinking, as the cake was made out to “Monkey,” and you have to make sure you get all the cake you can before an actual monkey comes along with a legitimate claim to dessert. Hell, the evil Raiders of the Lost Ark monkey could be hiding anywhere. Best to keep a supply of poisoned dates on hand at all times.

After the band’s show at The Pearl Friday night, Munky returned to the Hard Rock where Eric D-Lux played “Freak on a Leash” at Vanity around 3 a.m. Good thing, too. We heard the evil Indiana Jones monkey left right around 2:30.

By Jason Scavone

Alfonso really needs to learn when to turn to his left. (Photo by Scott Berry. Additional photo by Shane O’Neal.)

Alfonso Ribeiro is pretty down on doing the Carlton Dance in public, which is a shame because if we were Alfonso we’d either breakdance or Carlton Dance into every room we entered. But maybe he doesn’t want to spend his days being greeted with delighted crowds and thunderous applause.

Ribeiro was at Rare 120 inside the Hard Rock Hotel Saturday night, where he was spotted shaking hands with Jason Giambi before heading to Body English, where the Tigers’ Dontrelle Willis was partying.

Choreographer Cris Judd was at Lavo inside Palazzo celebrating his engagement to girlfriend Kelly Wolfe, right around the same time ex-wife Jennifer Lopez was busy falling down on the AMAs. Finally, Kari Ann Peniche, who was in the November 2004 issue of Playboy, was with three friends at Playboy Club inside the Palms.

By Jason Scavone

Marilyn Manson and the Plastic Boobies of Despair.

Li’l Mary Manson was at Rare 120 last night for dinner before dropping in on the Poker Lounge. How do you sit there and play cards with Manson without snickering the whole time? “Oh, really, the Antichrist is going to raise that 9-high board? Guess I better foooooold. No, of course not. All in.” Or maybe that would just be us. To be fair, we probably shouldn’t be playing poker with metal guys.

Also at Rare 120 was genuinely scary Slayer guitarist Kerry King. (SLAYER!! \m/ \m/ \m/ … sorry. Habit. Ahem.) Manson is at The Joint tonight with September Mourning. Slayer (SLAYER!! \m/ \m/ \m/ … oh, God, again? Really sorry about that.) has toured with Manson in the past, but they’re not playing together right now. Instead, Slayer (swear to God we’re not going to do it this tim– SLAYER!! \m/ \m/ \m/ … oh, dammit all.) will be playing German metal-fest Wacken next week, the festival that has given us this.

By Jason Scavone

The official drink of the Guess Who.

Bulleit Bourbon, the liquor that bills itself as frontier whiskey and made an appearance on Deadwood, is a rough-and-tumble bourbon that doesn’t seem like it would play well with others. Rare 120 at the Hard Rock Hotel isn’t letting that slow them down.

The American Woman — one of 13 on their signature menu that includes drinks made with dill, tabasco chipotle-marmalade mix and, in a turn to the totally rad, Yoo Hoo — is the only whiskey-based cocktail on the menu. That’s OK, though. When you get it right the first time, your batting average stays high.

The drink is Bulleit with Cointreau, lemon juice and orange juice, shaken in strained into a cocktail glass and garnished with an orange wheel. It has a spiritual forebear in the Bronx Cocktail — one part bourbon to half parts sweet and dry vermouth, mixed with orange juice. Yes, really, we swear: Bourbon and OJ can go together. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

All the swank’s been swept under the rug. (Photos by Ray Alamo | SpyOnVegas.com)

Rare 120, the Hard Rock Hotel’s new steakhouse, debuted its industry night last night to a packed house to a soundtrack of slightly rare New Wave delights. (“Just Can’t Get Enough?” “Let’s Go All the Way?” Hell yes, ’80s.)

“New” being the operative word. Gone is the ’50s/’60s swank revival of AJ’s Steakhouse and in its place is a chic, modern spot with white leather couches, contemporary furniture and bottle service in the lounge area.

The bar is still in the front of the room, right as you walk in. The lounge starts on the raised area near the bar (which keeps AJ’s geometric back-bar design, overlooking the hallway outside), then spills over to the corner of the main dining room below. Projection video screens line one wall, where the DJ booth is located. (Sin City and Night of the Ghouls were on tap last night.) The dining tables open up out on the pool. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone