Bars/clubs: LA Nik at night

Downtown Minneapolis after dark can sometimes seem like another world. Touring it with L.A. Nik is like encountering another universe.

Nik, 46, looks like he stepped out of a Mötley Crüe video, circa 1985. Morning, noon and night he's clad in all-black, right down to his fingernail polish. The silver skull necklaces draped around his neck complete his character. Think Keith Richards crossed with illusionist Criss Angel.

I spent one night with this self-appointed ultimate scenester. Nik might be the most famous bar-goer in downtown. Actually, he insists he is the most famous person in downtown. Mayor R.T. who?

Nik landed in Minnesota two years ago like a marooned astronaut. He adapted to his new surroundings by turning downtown into his kingdom. For him, Minneapolis is free of Tinseltown's pretension yet filled with undiscovered gems. He loves downtown. For the most part, it loves him. He acts like a goodwill ambassador, shaking hands and talking up the area's restaurants -- a Downtown Improvement District officer without the uniform.

Minnesotans sometimes treat Nik like a zoo animal, taking photos of him with their cellphones. So for the past two months, he's been promoting a photo contest on his website: "Take a Pic With L.A. Nik." Snap a shot with him, send it in to RockinThisTown.com and the best one will win $1,000 (deadline is next Wednesday). The purpose, he says, is to get people to come downtown.

"I eat, play and stay in downtown," Nik said (he lives in Loring Park now).

Our Saturday night began at Zelo, the swank Italian restaurant favored by junior executives. Nik was the only person with a giant skull belt buckle. Drinks seem to find their way into his hands. "We like colorful people," a manager told me.

Next was Wondrous Azian Kitchen, where owner Thom Pham told me Nik is "the craziest person I've ever met" (this coming from Thom Pham). The two are reviving "The Gong Show" at Pham's bar every Sunday night.

On the street, we ran into one of Nik's friends, who took us into the new Cowles Center. We were thrown into a rowdy, packed room where an all-black drag-queen contest was in full swing. It was like a scene out of the movie "Paris Is Burning." The crowd was electric with tall men in bright, skintight outfits. We slipped out after about 15 minutes.

"I'll try anything once!" said Nik.

Nickolas Pilotta grew up in Delaware. "I've been called every name in the book, but I knew who I was going to be by the ninth grade," he said.

He moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s, where he drummed in bands but never found stardom. Still, he lived the life. He opened a club, hung out with famous comedians and befriended hair-metal gods. I asked him if he did a lot of coke.

"Absolutely," he said. "I was like Charlie Sheen. People were just throwing me 8-balls."

Fast-forward to 2009: Nik was clean and working several angles, one of which brought him to the Twin Cities. He designed a mall kiosk called "Go Hollywood Live," which allowed customers to record audition tapes for movies and TV shows. It lasted for eight months at the Mall of America. But he was here to stay.

During our late-night adventure, two police officers flagged down Nik on the street. Turns out cops love him.

"Nik, how you doing!" one shouted.

Nik is concerned with recent incidents of teenagers fighting on Nicollet Mall.

"That needs to be nipped in the bud real quick," he told the two cops. "That'll scare people from coming downtown."

Not everyone is charmed by Nik. Some people think he's full of B.S. "I got the feeling he's created a character and now he's selling it to Minneapolis," said Fox 9's Todd Walker, who co-hosted the Ivey Awards red carpet with Nik. "But I'm not sure anyone is buying it."

Well past midnight, an intoxicated woman came streaking toward us as we walked down 10th Street. Nik, concerned for her dignity, pleaded with the woman to put her shirt back on.

As we walked toward the W Hotel, a carriage approached.

"Oh, this is my guy," Nik said. He went straight to the horse, stroking its belly and resting his cheek against the steed's furry hide.

"What's up, buddy?" he said, massaging the horse. "I got your spot -- right there."

The beast swung its giant head around to greet Nik.

Yes, even animals love L.A. Nik.