Kats’ Cool Hangs

Looking for the coolest hangs in Las Vegas? They’re not always where you think. John Katsilometes has you covered with the hippest spots in town, on and off the beaten path. See below for Kats’ newest and most righteous suggestions:

Groove Culture Band at Sand Dollar Lounge

The Groove Culture Band is back at OG Sand Dollar Lounge on the corner of Polaris Avenue and Spring Mountain Road at 10 p.m. Thursday. This outfit is led by drumming and percussion great Pepe Jimenez, who we saw most recently with the Diamonds at Bruno Mars’ The Pinky Ring. No cover at Sand Dollar; get the groove going and try the pizza.

Winters returns to Grandview Lounge

Piano master Wes Winters is back at South Point’s Grandview Lounge at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, continuing May 17-18. No cover, no tickets, no hassles, enjoy this vintage showman.

Hear ‘Big Thing’ country on Fremont Street

Fremont Street Experience and iHeart Radio’s 95.5 The Bull present “Country’s Next Big Thing” at 7 p.m. Wednesday. HuntrGirl, runner up on season 20 of “American Idol,” headlines 1st Street Stage. The series is a platform for emerging artists. No cover. No seats. It’s standing time at FSE.

‘Where Art Advocates for Survival’ fundraiser

Some lead time for “Where Art Advocates for Survival” fundraiser at Portnoy Gallery at 1537 W. Oakey Blvd. from 6-9 p.m. May 16. Criss Angel, Jeff Timmons and Ricardo Laguna are the celeb reps for the event, which is a benefit for the Save Haven Wildlife Sanctuary. The night is also an unveiling of “The Endangered Series Collection” by Vegas artist and gallery proprietor Neal Portnoy. The collection is “a visual exploration of the delicate balance between nature and humanity,” as Portnoy’s site describes. May 16 is also National Endangered Species Day. Go to events.humantix.com for intel.

Mermaid music at Silverton

Live music in Mermaid Lounge at Silverton is on from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The series is dubbed “Mermaid Lounge Live!” with acoustic tunes from an array of Vegas artists. No cover, must by 21-over. It’s a fine time, and a fin time, go to Silvertoncasino.com for intel.

Share some laughs at Wiseguys

Organically inspired comedy is on display from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays with “Bucket List” open-mic at Wiseguys at 1511 Main Street. Find the building with Pauly Shore, Don Rickles, Richard Pryor and Joan Rivers painted on the exterior. Cost is $5 (a mere pittance); go to wiseguyscomedy.com for intel.

Dancin’ at Grandview

Deja Vu Dance & Show Band (haven’t I seen this act before?) plays South Point’s Grandview Lounge at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Tickets are $10 — a mere pittance — available at Ticketmaster.com.

Check out ‘Thursdays Live’ at One Steakhouse

One Steakhouse is launching a live-music series, “Thursdays Live,” in its lounge 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Thursdays beginning Jan. 25. Sara Loera, who sings in a sultry manner, re-imagines classic rock hits. She’s in the room from opening night through Feb. 15. No cover. This is a terrific move, as the only singing from the restaurant has been “Funologist” Johnny O’Donnell uncorking Irish tavern tunes.

Craig Canter at Grape Street Wine Bar Cafe

Veteran showman Craig Canter is up 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Grape Street Wine Bar Cafe in Downtown Summerlin. The set list is ’60s and ’70s, food gets good reviews. You might see the odd celeb, too. No cover.

Piano show hits the notes at M Resort

The Chris & James Piano Show plays 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Thursdays at Amp’d at M Resort. These guys have proven a popular draw in a crowded dueling-pianos field. Chris Mavridis and James Hill are the stars, and Amp’d is a very cool lounge-showroom hang. No cover, 21-over, requests and gratuities welcome.

Wes Winters at Grandview Lounge

On the topic of classic entertainment, piano great Wes Winters plays at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at Grandview Lounge at the South Point. No cover. Stage at the front, bar in the back, 21-and-over.

Perrico band playing Shag Room

David Perrico’s “Pop 40” band plays the Shag Room at Virgin Hotel from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays. The vocally dexterous Lily Arce on the mic. The place thumps. No cover, but gotta be 21-over.

Goin ‘Late’ at S Bar

The “Late Affair” dining and entertainment at scene at S Bar at Mandalay Bay runs 9 p.m. Saturdays. This is a mix of fine noshes, cocktails (including zero-proof libations and FizzyWater) and entertainment in a swanky lounge hang. We need to make a return to this hovel ASAP (S Bar was once Red Square, the place personally famous as my first triple-digit bar tab ever in Las Vegas). Go to mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com for the intel.

Twins ongoing at Piano Bar

The Twins dueling piano show at the Piano Bar at Harrah’s runs 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Kimberly and Tamara Pinegar’s festival of sing-alongs packs the place. Slip them a request, and also a tip. No cover.

Pete Vallee at Harrah’s Piano Bar

The Pete Vallee juggernaut continues at Harrah’s Piano Bar. Valle’s Big Elvis show plays 2 p.m., 3:30 and 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Vallee has been singing as The King for some 25 years. No cover. Maybe you’ll be called up as “Little Elvis.” I know I have.

Grandview gets ‘Dirty’

On the topic of only-in-VegasVille entertainment, “The Dirty at 12:30” comedy showcase is purring along at South Point’s Grandview Lounge at 11:59 p.m. Fridays. That’s 31 minutes earlier than 12:30, but a chance to get, um, lubed up at the bar. But not too much. We’ll turn “Lefty” loose on you.

David DeCosta at Siegel’s Bagelmania

A first for our friends at Siegel’s Bagelmania, with crooner David DeCosta at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. He works for tips in his Sinatra-styled presentation. This is a CHA for the singing, and also the brunch experience. My favorite menu item is the Jason Strauss Avocado Toast; best beverage is the FizzyWater named for yours truly.

Whip Its at Carnival

The city’s predominant, parody, German-flavored, leather-clad, S&M-tinged, rock-cover band continues to throw it down at Harrah’s Carnaval Court. We speak of The Whip Its, wielding microphones, guitars and also riding crops, play 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Musically superior. Funny. And even a little unsettling. No cover; feel the vibe with this veteran act.

Alain Nu at Notoriety Live

Our first mentalist ever in CHA, Alain Nu, “The Man Who Knows,” runs 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays at Notoriety Live. He is an international man of mystery, who, according to the venues, uses “untold powers to foretell our actions, reveal our unspoken thoughts and create seemingly unexplainable phenomena.” It’s not untold now. We tellin’ it. Go to notorietylive.com for intel.

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John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.