Las Vegas Weekly

August 29, 2008 · 3 PM

Strip Scribbles and highlights for the holiday weekend

By Robin Leach

*Congratulations to our beloved hometown hero, Tony Curtis, who was honored this week by the Turner Classic Movies cable channel with a 24-hour marathon of his more than 100 movies, including The Defiant Ones, which won him a 1959 Academy Award nomination. It's all part of his 83rd birthday celebrations, which will see his "American Prince Memoir" being published in mid-October. It's been a two-year collaboration with respected sports author Peter Golenbock, and Tony is hoping that he’ll be able to visit Budapest, Hungary, where his parents grew up, when he makes the European leg of a book-signing tour in London at Harrods famed department store, and Paris. He’ll also be signing copies here, New York and San Francisco. Tony, who lives in Henderson, will co-promote his art paintings while on the tour but first up is the 30th reunion of his ABC-TV series Vega$ at the Luxor on Oct. 4 in which he played a casino boss working with the late actor Robert Uhrich who played the detective Dan Tana.

*The first permanent Cirque du Soleil production to open in Asia, ZAIA, celebrated its world premiere last night in a brand new custom-made theater at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel in Macau as the high point of the first anniversary of Sheldon Adelson’s first property there. It's another $150 million gamble in the belief that mainland Chinese and other tourists will support Cirque as much as its shows have won acclaim in Vegas. Cirque du Soleil productions have played to almost 80 million spectators in more than 200 cities on five continents and today is presenting 17 shows simultaneously throughout the world. ZAIA -- from the Greek name meaning “life” and “living spirit of earth,” is about the dream of a young girl who journeys into space. Many Vegas artists have moved to Asia to be part of the cast of the Macau debut show.

*The cast of Stomp Out Loud at the Planet Hollywood resort casino has teamed up with United Blood Services and on Saturday afternoon, everybody who donates much-needed blood will be rewarded with a free ticket to the show! It only takes about an hour of your time from start to finish and the blood collection will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's desperately needed because here in Vegas our average is half the national 5 percent average for collection.

*It had to happen. First producer Angela Sampras created her X-Girls to headline in a saucy, sassy, sexy topless show at the Flamingo -- and now with her husband, Matt, they’ve created The Men of X. The handsome hunks will strip down to their bikini g-string underwear for the first time this weekend down in Laughlin for an 800 all-girl bachelorette blast! They’re already set for touring shows in Wisconsin and Colorado before returning here to the Strip. My gym trainer, Richard Jiminez, leads the team and he promises me that if I keep working out, someday I might look like him! But then he’s been saying that for five years -- and just look at me! He doesn’t drink champagne or eat caviar the way I do though!

*Star Surveillance: Memphis Grizzlies star Antoine Walker dined at Fix Restaurant & Bar in the Bellagio alongside good pal, Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damon Jones. The group ordered up spicy wings and sliders ... over at Tryst in the Wynn Las Vegas was NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce, of the Boston Celtics, former NBA Sacramento Kings star Mike Bibby, now with the Atlanta Hawks, and Tom Atencio, vice president of Affliction Entertainment, who is bringing in Ozzy Osbourne to perform at his debut Mixed Martial Arts promotion Oct. 11 ... at Sushi Roku in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Doc Rivers, championship winning coach of the Boston Celtics, was at the sushi bar with a friend while George Maloof, co-owner of the Sacramento Kings, and Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenix Suns, had their heads hunched together plotting big business!

*If the bartender mixing signature cocktails at Morton’s Steakhouse looks slightly familiar, don’t be surprised to learn he is former pro ice-skating champion Keith Green. He starred in City Lights at the Flamingo, and in Le Ice at the Luxor and decided to stay in Vegas as a full-time resident. Previously he appeared on NBC’s Wide World of Sports and toured with Dorothy Hamill’s Nutcracker, and Torville and Dean’s Face the Music world tours. He serves up heavenly martinis with the speed of a skater when best friends Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner drop by for drinks!

*Two days of gourmet greatness and culinary creativity are set this weekend as the star chefs and restaurants of the Venetian and the Palazzo team up for the first annual Carnival of Cuisine. More than 30 eateries and nine James Beard award-winning chefs are throwing the fabulous feast. It takes place from noon to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. My friend, Luciano Pellegrino, of the famed Valentino at the Venetian leads the chef’s cooking demonstrations both in the main Venetian ballroom and the atrium of the adjoining Palazzo shopping area. Celebrity chefs Mario Batali, Thomas Keller, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril LaGasse and Charlie Trotter will have their restaurants represented at the strolling international festival of fine food. I’m dropping by to taste my favorites at Dos Caminos, Tao, Sushi Samba and Zefferino, and to enjoy a chilled Sauvignon Blanc at the Double Helix bar! Ticket holders also will get the opportunity to win autographed cookbooks, restaurant dining gift certificates and show tickets to Phantom, Jersey Boys, Blue Man Group and Wayne Brady.

*By doubling the scandalous sex quotient, organizers behind the new Strippers & Hustlers party hope to outshock the rival, long-standing Pimp & Ho ball. At P&H on Sunday in the Palms, foxy females will come dressed as "lusty ladies of the night" wearing as little as possible over their lacy lingerie next-to-nothings and the bad boys will come dressed as "their sellers and keepers" dressed in sensational shock-suits and oversized fedoras. At the two-day S&H bash, pink, purple and black are the colors de rigueur for the macho men to dress as con-hucksters while the wicked women come as sassy strippers in as little as legally possible!

*The Orleans Arena will be packed with gorgeous girls in various states of undress, including the Vivid vixens of adult movie notoriety along with provocative pouting Penthouse Pet of the Year, Erica Ellyson. My friend, Snake Babe, who ”dances” with snakes coiled around her and the men of Playgirl, will be among the entertainment, along with a contortionist known as Box-Man, who can shrink himself into the tiniest box imaginable. There’s even an all-female Motley Crue tribute band known as Girls Girls Girls set for Sunday night, plus Gilby Clarke, from CBS-TV’s Rockstar SuperNova will join the sexy Genitorturers band. Two sultry stars from the horror flick Ice Scream, Bobbi Billard and model Akira Lane, will perform, along with the burlesque fan-twirling Porcelain Twinz. There will also be contests for strippers from many of our adult topless joints as they battle it out for Best Pole Dancer and Best Body. Producer Perry Mann promises his eye-popping extravaganza will top anything else happening in Vegas this weekend.

*So we’d better pull out our holiday wardrobe and check out what's competing with their ambitious claim -- and boy, is the list overwhelming. In our bonanza jam-packed four-day edition of Luxe Life we have everything laced-up, dressed down and whipped into shape for what we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, Aug. 29

*One of the smartest, fresh-mouth comic geniuses of our time, Chris Rock, makes "No Apologies" when he headlines at Caesars Palace for two nights as Cher enjoys time off on the holiday weekend. And if redneck country comedy is your bag, Bill Engvall sings and laughs at Treasure Island. Ralphie May entertains at the South Point through Sunday.

*Long-tongued Gene Simmons leads KISS into the Pearl at the Palms and doubtless Paul Stanley will spend his first night in his new Palms Place penthouse condo.

*If you’re wanting music, there’s an incredible selection of stars to select from. The biggest attraction may well be 40 Years Ago Today with rock giants Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Bo Bice (American Idol), Lou Gramm (Foreigner) and Denny Laine (Moody Blues), as they team up for the ultimate tribute to the great Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album in the Dallas Events Center at the Texas Station. Also on our Kryptonite charts are modern rockers 3 Doors Down, who are joined by alt-metal Staind and Hinder for the triple threat of Sick Puppies at Mandalay Bay. G. Love & Special Sauce are at the Hard Rock with the trio’s mix of blues, rap and R-and-B; my longtime dear friends Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. -- remember those 5th Dimension hits -- are up at the Suncoast through Sunday night; crazed electic Richard Cheese is lounging against The Machine with their cover band comedy at the Hard Rock through Sunday night; Phil Vassar plays the Green Valley Ranch and Ramon Ayala is with Sueno Norteno at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

*Close-up magic headliners Johnny Thompson and Eugene Berger will amaze with sleight-of-hand wizards Paul Draper, Scott Hitchcock and Chris Randall at Jeff McBride’s Wonderground ultra-lounge in the Palace Station after his show in the SoundTrax showroom there.

*Congratulations to snowboarder champion chef Akira Back, who officially opens his new Yellowtail sushi restaurant and bar at the Bellagio, where I will stop by for a birthday drink -- but don’t expect my same-day birthday boys Michael Jackson and John McCain to be there! Meantime, up at Marche Bacchus they will be marrying a rock’n’roll wine event to the great lakeside dining experience.

*The cast members of VH1’s new I Love Money series will host at the Torrid nightclub inside the Hawaiian Tropic Zone at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. Megan will be joined by 12 Pack and Heat for the red carpet, drinking and dancing while Luxor comedy headliner Carrot Top will judge the 420 Energy Drink 2009 Calendar Covergirl contest that will end in a carrot-eating contest stunt!

*Elsewhere in the clubs: Gossip gangstar Perez Hilton will host at Tao’s nightclub in the Venetian; model Alison Waite is at The Bank in Bellagio for the casting party host-search for the next new Wild On TV series; hip-hop artist Tyga celebrates his debut hit "Coconut Juice" with a party and performance at Jet in the Mirage; Playboy playmate Stacy Fuson has a perfect pack of gorgeous girls in tow, including Leyla, Claudia, Lauren and Lindsay from Deal or No Deal at the Dirty.com sizzling sexy soiree in Prive at Planet Hollywood’s resort casino; DJ AM turns the wheels of steel in a mix-master mashup at Pure in Caesars Palace; DJ Skribble plays at the Palms Pool all day until Jazzy Jeff takes over with Mu$ic is the Currency at Rain nightclub, swimwear designer Ashley Paige, from TLC’s Bikini or Bust TV series shows her sexy swimsuit fashions with models in skimpy bikinis throughout Blush at the Wynn Las Vegas.

*Travis McCoy from GymClassHeroes is the first guest host performer at the new Rok rockclub debuting at New York New York all weekend long.

Saturday, Aug. 30

The laser-lit, video-drenched, new sexy Rok Vegas rock music nightclub in New York New York’s hotel casino celebrates its grand-opening weekend with a special performance by VMA nominee Katy Perry. The overnight star sensation will walk the “pink carpet” and then perform her smash hit sultry singles, “I Kissed a Girl,” “Hot N Cold,” and "One of the Boys." Katy, who is nominated for two VMAs as “Best New Artist” and “Best Female Video,” held the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s Hot 100 all summer long.

*Comedy is king with a royal choice between former SNL funnyman David Spade, who has two headline nights at Planet Hollywood, or Grammy award winner and Comedy Central Root of all Evil star Lewis Blackm, who takes over the Danny Gans theater at the Mirage for two nights, plus a rare Vegas treat as Bill Cosby headlines at the Star of the Desert Arena down the I-15 to Primm.

*It’s the first of two nights of Strippers and Hustlers at the Orleans Arena with the erotic exotic girls from Vivid, Penthouse Pets, Layla and the Lotus Dancers, along with DJs Scooter and Lavelle.

*Still want more music choices? Ice Cube raps his way through a midnight gig at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay after Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers with Mother Truckers take the early slot. The Tubes are at the Santa Fe Station, and Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten bring their Thunder Tour to the Texas Station. There’s an evening of Broadway, Big Bands and Bond -- James Bond -- in store at UNLV when our merry Mayor Oscar Goodman narrates the Las Vegas Rhapsody with the Nevada Pops Orchestra, which will feature the James Bond movie themes, too.

*Our rival nightclubs keep duking it out for supremacy and bragging rights: The world’s No. 1 DJ, Paul Oakenfold, starts his residency at Rain in the Palms as we reported in our exclusive interview above ... actor and comedian Chris Rock will be honored at a Jet nightclub bash in the Mirage after his Caesars Palace final show ... reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian hosts at Prive inside the Planet Hollywood resort casino ... DJ Riz of the Crooklyn Clan takes to the turntables at Christian Audigier’s Treasure island nightclub ... nearly-naked covergirl Jana Jordan spices up the newest issue of Strip Vegas with her party at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile ... The Crystal Method perform at MGM’s Wet Republic ... The Suicide Girls spring to life in the circus freaks Carnival at Krave alongside Planet Hollywood.

Sunday, Aug. 31

*Rock fans unite in delight with continuing choices between Judas Priest at George Maloof’s Pearl in the Palms or Toad the Wet Sprocket at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

*There’s a daylong party at the Palms Pool with hot stars Eric Cubeechee (which means wife Jaime Presley should be on hand, too) and Danny Love. It then continues on into Rain nightclub with the Pimp ‘n’ Ho rock stars costume ball, complete with Felix Da Housecat and the sinful Rubber Dolls.

*Two other top DJs will twist the turntables at rival clubs: much acclaimed Erick Morillo returns to Tao in the Venetian while Paul Van Dyk brings his Vonyc Sessions world tour to town, spinning at MGM’s Studio 54; Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden turns DJ at the Bank in the Bellagio and it's anybody’s guess if wifey Nicole Ritchie will show up with his twin brother, Benji, and his better-half, Paris Hilton; while at neighboring Jet in the Mirage, bad boy Bill is on the wheels of steel; DJ’s Jazzy Jeff and AM duke it out on the decks for a battle of the beats at PURE in Caesars Palace; Diablo Dimes and Saloon Door Slammers perform at the Beatles Revolution lounge in the Mirage.

*As part of the worldwide Brazilian Day celebrations, the new Sushi Samba hot hip restaurant and ultra-lounge at the Palazzo throws a daylong party starting with a special Brazilian brunch and continuing on with samba dancers into the wee hours.

*The Sugar Hill Gang will be performing live at LAX in the Luxor.

Monday, Sept. 1

*The four-day holiday wraps-up in regal style with the 11-time Grammy Award winner and Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bob Dylan strumming and singing at the Joint inside the Hard Rock. He has five songs on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 songs that shaped music, including "Blowin’ in the Wind" and "Like a Rolling Stone." Since his 1962 debut he’s released some 50 best-selling albums -- and he’s still on his NeverEnding Tour."

*HBO throws a party in the House of Blues’ Foundation Room for the same night premiere of its new Trueblood series; hip-hop star T-Pain hosts, performs and spins at Prive in Planet Hollywood along with a Broken Leash fashion showcase, and Jet in the Mirage wraps up with its semi-annual Blow Your Wad festivities.

*Today marks the kickoff of Restaurant Week. For the next seven days, some 75 of our star chef restaurants have signed on to serve up $25 lunches and $50 dinners with a portion of the proceeds going to our Three Square food delivery program assisting the valley’s hungry folks. Go to www.threesquare.org for the full listing that includes friends Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Palmer, Bradley Ogden, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, André Rochat, Steve Martorano, Luciano Pellegrini, Rick Moonen, Michael Mina, Roy Yamaguchi -- and even Joel Rubochon.

Tuesday's tease:

Cirque du Soleil Believe magician Criss Angel adds a new illusion to the spectacular getting ready to open at the Luxor that will probably upset girlfriend Pamela Anderson … Playboy king Hugh Hefner has to solve one horrendous headache in order to marry Holly Madison on Girls Next Door as the remaining two temptresses get ready to depart the Mansion … plus, the wrap-up of all the weekend star-studded parties, and we’ll see if Jerry Lewis succeeds in topping his $63 million telethon challenge.

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