By Fred Minnick

Fuse, a nightclub in the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, is not your typical Nashville honky-tonk. Designed by acclaimed hospitality architect Jeffrey Beers, Fuse burns, with its posh decor reminiscent of a flashy Las Vegas lounge. But looks alone don't cause Fuse to sizzle. Original and interactive top-quality cocktails, scintillating finger food, and a dance-crazy music vibe draw droves of merrymakers to this dazzling space.

Haute Hip-Hop

Clearly Fuse's Vegas-like ambience is irresistible to the nighthawks of Nashville. Tiger-striped throwback pillows adorn long, brown-cushioned benches in sections separated by shimmering gold curtains. Red and yellow rays of light bathe the modern red leather sofas and simple black barstools between the dance floor and the enormous horseshoe-shaped, blackgranite bar. The 14,000-square-foot, $10 million nightclub features go-go dancers, restrooms with see-through one-way privacy panels, VIP covers with concierge service, and a misting vodka locker filled with more than 60 brands. The club's July 2008 opening featured Kid Rock spinning records in the DJ booth, as well as celebrities Kim Kardashian, Ty Herndon, and Nick Carter. And the Bravo TV network held a casting call at Fuse for its show Make Me a Supermodel. On any given night, waitresses in red dresses and black or white high boots serve a diverse multitude of guests from 75-year-old grandmas to professional athletes to country music singing sensations.

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