Las Vegas Weekly

December 24, 2008 · 11:32 AM

Strip Scribbles: Photo galleries galore is our gift to Vegas DeLuxe readers

By Robin Leach

Lance Burton spreads the magic of the holiday season.

Photo: Wayne Bernath

It’s difficult to believe one man could spend $162 million over three years at two Las Vegas Strip casinos, but apparently that’s what a one-time computer salesman named Umar “Omar” Siddiqui did. Omar, 42, lost some $65 million paying off enormous gambling debts here, according to IRS agent Andres Gonzalez. Siddiqui was arrested at his office at Fry’s Electronics headquarters in San Jose, Calif., and his Ferrari -- a gift from a Vegas casino -- was confiscated. He appeared in court and was ordered to stay away from Vegas until he’s formally charged with money-laundering and wire fraud on Jan. 15. The complaint said he masterminded a massive and secret kickback scheme with Fry’s suppliers. Siddiqui had been with the company for 20 years but was fired two days ago upon his arrest. The alleged kickback scheme came to light in October when another employee blew the whistle to the IRS. The shockwave reverberations have already begun to be felt here as Omar was such a high roller. It’s believed he single-handedly played for millions and was responsible in one accounting period for one-third of one casino’s “win.” Now gaming observers say the case will bring the FBI and IRS to Vegas to see how he tricked the casinos, too.

*Master magician Lance Burton, who headlines at the Monte Carlo, is one of the most dedicated supporters of our local charities. For 15 years now, he has recruited several of his fellow magicians and entertainer friends and set off on a caravan of stops to entertain children around town for the holidays. At the Variety Children’s Learning Center, magician Fielding West joined with Bob the Bird. At the Zeizah Shrine Temple’s annual party for hospitalized sick children, magician Tony Douglas joined Lance in entertaining them. Lance’s girlfriend, singer Gabriela Versace, entertained with Lance and a motley mob of magicians, and even brought along her pet Chihuahua to meet the kids at the Miller and Variety Schools.

Star surveillance: I missed American Idol host Ryan Seacrest at the Encore opening, but afterwards he palled up with Las Vegas developer friend Laurence Hallier, and the two guys hit Blush next door at the Wynn. The girls mobbed them -- and after the guys polished off a bottle of Perrier Jouet Rose champagne, they danced till closing time with the luscious ladies. … UFC fighter Frank Mir hosted a Team Mir party at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in the Planet Hollywood Miracle Mile. Be sure to check the Royal Robin Rundown below for the UFC battle and parade of parties this coming Saturday.

*Rock band Hoobastank was the highlight of a holiday rock concert with Hollywood Undead and local Vegas group Kreep. Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik got up close at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel for Xtreme Radio 107.5’s annual Hollywood Havoc concert. His collection is a great souvenir -- and will wile away the hours until the next set of rocker shows coming up in time for New Year’s.

*Basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson came to town to sign copies of his new book 32 Ways to be a Champion in Business. Fans were lined up all the way out through the door, but he took the time to autograph books, memorabilia, jerseys, basketballs and trading cards for everybody and as many who wanted photos, too.

*It took more than a year to manufacture the 7-ton Planet Hollywood Towers by Westgate sign, and the 2,850 LED lights in the mobile unit have been guaranteed to shine bright for at least 50,000 hours. Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was on hand to chronicle the start-to-finish operation as the sign finally made it to the top.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

*Hard Rock Hotel executives went ahead with their two hours of free drinks and food as a way of saying “Cheers, Las Vegas!” Despite terrible weather, crowds braved the chill to enjoy drinks on the house at Pink Taco, Carey Hart’s Wasted Space, Robert De Niro’s Ago Italian restaurant, the Poker Lounge and the center bar from female servers all sporting sexy Santa suits. It’s the first time, other than a casino opening, when a resort has picked up the tab for everybody!

Now it’s time to say cheers ourselves and grab a package from under the tree and unwrap our penultimate 2008 edition of the Royal Robin Rundown:

Photo: TVT

Guy Savoy: No one knows the truffles he's seen.

Wednesday, Dec. 24

*Celebrated French chef Guy Savoy arrives from Paris for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations at his swank Caesars Palace restaurant, and for tonight and tomorrow, he’s cooked up a special $130 per person, five-course Bubble Bar menu with oysters, Dover Sole, the world famous artichoke and black truffle soup, a baby black truffle chicken and a chocolate fondant, plus of course the most amazing selection of champagne wishes!

Thursday, Dec. 25

*Merry Christmas, everybody! Believe it or not, Jet nightclub in The Mirage is open with a visit from DJ Tiesto, who’s on his In Search of Sunrise Tour for two nights with a special appearance by Farsheed. It’s safe to expect this holiday havoc to party on till dawn.

Friday, Dec. 26

*The first ladies of soul are angling for a slot on President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration day concert. In the meantime, though, The Pointer Sisters are at Silverton Casino Lodge for one night only.

*It’s a celebration with Kool & the Gang for two nights at the Las Vegas Hilton as the four guys have you dancing to all their favorite hits. They’ll hold the fort till Barry Manilow’s Monday night return.

*Hometown crooner and pianist Brian Evans, who is racking up those TV composer credits, sings for his supper in two weekend shows at the Trump International Hotel that will now continue on weekly.

*The tribute Eagles band known as Hotel California throw down the welcome mat at the Suncoast Hotel with a concert of -- what else? -- Eagle hits. … Comedian Jo Koy starts a three-night gig with Asian overtones at South Point. … The Maz Jobrani trio will raise the roof at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

Photo: Night Vissions LLC

Frank Mir.

Saturday, Dec. 27

*It’s all about UFC 92 action tonight in the headlined and anticipated battle of warriors Rashad Evans and Forrest Griffin. After the mixed martial arts fight, almost every club in town is throwing a party. It starts at LAX in the Luxor when UFC head honcho Dana White hosts his official UFC after-fight party. Not to be outdone, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell will host his haymaker at Studio 54 in the MGM Grand, and he’ll announce the winner of an Iceman Rx Hummer H2 prize. Elsewhere in MGM, Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva will host his party in Tabu Ultra Lounge. Fighter C.B. Dollaway teams up with the MTX AudioFight team to host the UFC 92 after-party at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. Ultimate Fighter Season 8 champion Ryan “Darth” Bader and world extreme cage fighters Jamie “The Worm” Varner and Aaron “A-Train” Simpson also will attend the frenzied festivities.

Photo: Night Vissions LLC

Frank Mir.

*The Monkees aren’t coming into our zoo, but lead singer Davy Jones will be in town. He’s booked for a one-night holiday weekend gig at Silverton Casino Lodge.

*My longtime producer pal Ron Dante, who has the Archies back on the charts, opens for singing sensation Imelda Papin at The Orleans for one night only.

Photo: Courtesy

Imelda Papin.

Photo: Courtesy

Ron Dante.

*If heavy rock is your thing, you’ve got an amazing five-pack lineup appearing at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. The Cab appears with The Higher, The Maine, Ashbury and A Phoenix Forever.

Sunday, Dec. 28

*Body English nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel doesn’t let up on the bridge weekend between Christmas and New Year’s. LL Cool J is the special guest for the Sunday school that lets the ladies in schoolgirl outfits drink champagne without a check!

Coming up this weekend

Our incredible photos and interviews with daredevil stunt drivers Robbie Maddison and Rhys Millen. They know they could die when they make those New Year’s Eve jumps here in Vegas. They know they will have to stare death in the face. How will they do it? How do they face it? Vegas DeLuxe has the candid and chilling conversations with Robbie, who will attempt to scale the Arc de Triomphe at Paris Las Vegas, and Rhys, who will attempt to back-flip a pickup in The Rio’s parking lots. They both admit that what they are trying to do could very well kill them. Then we’ll be back on Monday to go Dancing With the Stars and get ready for all the fleet-footed stars coming to play here for the incredible New Year’s parties!

In the meantime, Dec. 25 (tomorrow) marks the start of the 12 days of Christmas. Our sexy, sassy starlets at the cabaret revue Crazy Girls at the Riviera present their gift of a photo package with their interpretation of a time-honored favorite: “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Beginning tomorrow, we’ll run the first photo, and each day thereafter, another photo will be posted.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everybody, from all of us at Vegas DeLuxe!

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