Vegas needs tourists to come back and this weekend, for whatever reason, promises to be the most happening few days thus far in 2009. If you have the time and want some distraction, this is the weekend for a spontaneous Vegas vacation.

The biggest attractions are the debut shows for the Hard Rock's new Joint concert hall. Tonight the first show at the Joint is Vegas locals the Killers. Saturday is Avenged Sevenfold and then Sunday night Paul McCartney plays the venue, which has a maximum capacity of about 4,000.

On Saturday night, "Peepshow," the new topless production show at Planet Hollywood starring Mel B. and Kelly Monaco, holds its grand opening. I spent Friday at rehearsals for this show, and I profile one of the showgirls, a former "American Idol" contestant, in the current Las Vegas Weekly. You can read my review of the show on the Buffet on Monday.

Last but not least, this weekend seems the start of the dayclubbing pool season.  Dayclubbing has evolved over the last year or two as the resorts have attempted to get the nightclub crowd to their pools. So, dayclubbing features the sort of celebrity hosts who usually can be found at nightclubs, attached to a nightclub brand or some club sounding name, and instead of bottle/table service the pools are selling private cabanas. On Saturday at 2 p.m., you can go to the pool at Hard Rock for Rehab with guest Snoop Dogg, or you can go to the pool at MGM for Wet Republic with Lauren Conrad (pictured). Then a short time later, at 3:30 p.m., you can head over to the Venetian to Tao Beach, hosted by Mandy Moore.

Finally, on Sunday afternoon, back at Planet Hollywood, there is the taping of the Miss USA Pageant.  For the last couple of weeks, the contestants in their sashes have been a ubiquitous presence on the Strip promoting the event.

Do you think a weekend packed with events like these, combined with Vegas' lower room rates, is enough to bring back the tourists and stop the constant decline in visitor numbers? Much of this (dayclubbing, Paul McCartney in a relatively tiny venue, a new topless show with state-of-the-art production values) are the fulfillment of visions that date to 2006, the glory days of catering to the high-end tourist, with a special appeal to the young, rich and beautiful people of Los Angeles. Will it still do the trick in 2009? Or does Vegas need to work harder at putting together different kinds of bait to lure back the tourists?

Photo: Sarah Gerke