There's a fantastic restaurant in the bottom of the Wynn Casino, certainly not cheap but if you're splashing out...
A very cool bar/club called Tangerine in Treasure Island was one of the hot places in 2007, but might be off the 'chic' list now.
Voodoo lounge atop the Rio casino is always a nice way to start the evening with a fantastic view from the deck on the top floor. Always impresses, but early evening means it's not heaving and you still get the lights.
As for the helo, I can't comment, but if you have a PPL or better, you can get it endorsed at the FSDO office at Macarran and hire a Cessna or PA28 for peanuts from North Las Vegas Airport. They were very accomodating and you can get a little piper for the day for the price of 2 x helo tickets. You can use the same tracks and there are plenty of little airfields, all hospitable! Bit of a faff, but definitely worth the effort.
I did this last in 2000 though, so don't know how difficult 911 has made it for those following, sorry.
Bars and clubs were good as of 2007.
Enjoy
RK
