Las Vegas Weekly

December 15, 2008 · 1:32 PM

Strip Scribbles: Are two more Strip resorts up for grabs?

By Robin Leach

Birthday wishes for 2009 Miss Nevada Georgina Vaughan, who celebrated her 21st birthday at the Bank.

Photo: The Light Group

Ooh! La! La! Wicked whispers and racy rumors! On top of our exclusive report last night that Treasure Island was being sold to former Frontier owner Phil Ruffin, now comes word that major negotiations also are apparently underway concerning two other major Strip casino resorts and a nightclub. I couldn’t get the rumor confirmed or denied when I asked one hotel operator over the weekend if he was in talks to take over a Strip hotel in a unique, new business deal. Then I heard that a second company’s two out-of-town owners were in serious talks with yet another out-of-town mogul to take over the extended debt position of a Strip resort that would really make eyes pop wide open! And also watch for major shakeups and pending defections in the Strip nightclub industry right after the holidays as the economy deals some body blows that prevented two continuing sales moving forward!

*Part-time Las Vegas resident Michael Jackson shocked crowds of shoppers and trailing paparazzi during a holiday shopping spree in Los Angeles. He wore a Zorro mask under his matching Indian-style headdress and matching blue tunic. He dressed his children in the same style! One of my old British reporter colleagues said it was the perfect way to draw attention to himself, and it was obvious he wanted to be seen and not go anonymously about his Christmas shopping.

*Congratulations and Happy 21st Birthday wishes to beautiful blonde Miss Nevada 2009 Georgina Vaughan. She had a soiree fit for a queen at the Bank in the Bellagio. The buxom beauty, who will compete in Donald Trump’s Miss USA beauty pageant next April at Planet Hollywood, partied alongside an entourage of lovely ladies. The sexy servers laden with sparklers presented her with a two-tiered birthday cake.

*R&B artist Ne-Yo was at Jet nightclub in The Mirage to watch pop-dance diva Lady Gaga perform three songs -- as the two performers are going out on tour together next spring. The East Village performance artist sang three songs: “Beautiful Dirty Rich,” “Poker Face” and her now-Grammy-nominated hit “Just Dance.” She put on her trademark crystal sunglasses and one-piece leotard decorated with couture origami crystals. Needless to say the frenzied crowd went goo-goo for Gaga! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!) At the end of her set, she executed a perfect dive right into the audience before her backup group rescued her and carried her off to a dressing room! Watching the high-jinx were funny foul-mouthed comedian and Hollywood’s toastmaster Jeffrey Ross and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sharper.

Star surveillance: Country music superstar duo Big & Rich took over the VIP section of the Bank at the Bellagio with 18 members of their touring entourage and security. It was quite a sight when the DJ spun their smash crossover hit “Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy” to see all 20 of the guys dancing atop the raised banquettes! … Fantastic Four actor Chris Evans and Kyle Howard of My Boys filmed a TV commercial for Las Vegas tourism at Lavo inside the Palazzo, and then stayed on to enjoy dinner and dancing before wrapping up the night at sister nightspot Tao at The Venetian next door. Also at Lavo was Oakland A’s slugger Frank Thomas dividing his drinks between Veuve Cliquot champagne and cabernet sauvignon! Also at Tao were Maxim calendar cover girl Sonia Vera celebrating the release of her 2009 calendar and Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster with friends in a separate party. … Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk performed an acoustic set to a sellout crowd at the Palazzo’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill. While staying there in a luxury suite, the singer dined at Sushi Samba, where he discovered the delights of unfiltered Kamouzumi Nigori Ginjo sake. He loved it so much that he had bottles of the tonic sent to his green room at the concert, more while he watched O.A.R.’s show, more to his suite and then some to Lavo, where he unwound the rest of the night. … Philadelphia Phillies star Chase Utley, the second baseman who led his team to a World Series crown this past season, was at a VIP table in Tryst at the Wynn. … The Ting Tings, Carolina Liar and Franz Ferdinand, all in for a weekend Vegas concert, picked LAX nightclub at the Luxor to unwind on the VIP stage. … NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver Brian Vickers was engrossed in an intense dinner conversation at the Cathouse in the Luxor with Vegas native Jamie Little, who is the NASCAR pit reporter on ESPN. … Comedy actor Kevin James spent the weekend at a Palms Place condo in the Palms and enjoyed dinner at Iron Chef Kerry Simon’s Simon restaurant there. … Bareback riding champ Josi Young, in town for the 50th Annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, partied with friends last night at Jet in The Mirage.

Tonight’s tip

Kevin Burke moves his one-man show Defending the Caveman from the Golden Nugget downtown to his new cave at the Thunder from Down Under theater on the Strip in the Excalibur, and tonight is the first performance in the uptown quarters. He still has to race back downtown right afterwards to perform his nightly standup comedy routine. … Six-time American Comedy Award nominee Dom Irrera headlines at the Riviera Comedy Club starting tonight through Sunday evening. Lisa Mende, who was “mother to the ugliest baby in sitcom history” on Seinfeld, and Mike Ivy, who makes his debut at The Riviera, open for Dom’s South Philadelphia Italian comedy stories. … The “Man on the Moon” Kid Cudi comes down to Earth with his alternative rock and hip-hop sounds when he makes “the money rain” hosting at Prive nightclub in Planet Hollywood. … Naked models and porn princess Nikki Rhodes step right from the pages of Strip Las Vegas Magazine for the $5,000 “Santa’s Naughtiest Elf’ party at Jet nightclub in The Mirage.

Tomorrow’s tease

An exclusive interview with Donny Osmond on his 51st birthday as he also gets ready to celebrate the holiday season in Las Vegas. He reveals candid secrets about the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars, and, despite how he crashed a radio-controlled plane, he’s seriously thinking about buying his own jet. … First it was Kim Kardashian caught jaybird naked on a sex tape -- now sister Khloe is stripping down to the buff. These girls just can’t keep their clothes on, but we’ll tell you why New Year’s Eve visitor Khloe will take it all off!

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