Las Vegas Weekly

July 3, 2008 · 8:55 PM

Strip Scribbles: A packed holiday weekend in Vegas

By Robin Leach

-- George Clooney and former Palms cocktail server Sarah Larson were a hot two-some for almost 12 months -- and some fans were disappointed when he pulled his routine of "ending the relationship." Most felt sorry for the gorgeous girl who had worked for the N9NE Group restaurants and clubs at George Maloof’s casino-resort. Now she has bounced back on a dinner date with British actor Jason Statham of "The Bank Job" fame. No word on if there will be more dream dates, but they looked comfortable and at ease with each other over dinner at "Iron Chef" Kerry Simon’s new Palms Place restaurant.

-- Minutes after sitting down to play poker in Don Cheadle’s celebrity tournament to raise money to help the Sudan's Darfur region, NBA star Charles Barkley lost his money -- and was out!

Don, along with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, took a midday break at the "Ante Up For Africa" suite in McFadden’s Irish Saloon at the Rio casino-hotel. Charles took a triple Grey Goose vodka and cranberry cocktail to get over the sudden loss and chatted with Mekhi Phifer and Jason Alexander. Luxe Life will have the full photo report of the stars at play when we return Tuesday.

-- Model beauty Patti Boyd, who was married to both George Harrison and Eric Clapton, dined at Cathouse, enjoying chef Kerry Simon’s Oysters Rockefeller and the short ribs. The lovely and radiant English femme fatale photographer was attending the Beatles Fest for a signing of her new book, "Wonderful Tonight," about her life with the two mega music stars. George dedicated "Something" and "What Is Life" to her while Eric wrote "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight" for her.

-- Congratulations to former Golden Nugget owners Tim Poster and Tom Breitling. The Vegas partners became mega-millionaires from their business deals involving Internet travel and downtown gaming. Obviously, Steve Wynn thinks they are strategic development experts because as he gets ready to open his new Encore tower at Wynn Las Vegas after the Christmas-New Year's holidays, he’s hired them as senior veeps! Steve says he’s added the dynamic duo to his senior leadership team to both "improve opportunities for success at current existing venues and enhance the pursuit of new ones."

-- You know I love to give you an advance heads-up for something you really shouldn’t miss out on. Well, keep the Aug. 30-31 weekend clear because all eight award-winning James Beard chefs at the Venetian and Palazzo are teaming up with the 30 other eateries there to share gourmet greatness and culinary creativity in a Carnivale of Cuisine. Mario Batali, Thomas Keller, Charlie Trotter and best buddies Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse already are plotting the food surprises for the first-ever event.

Star Surveillance

-- Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick continued his 21st birthday celebration with dinner at the mod-Mex cuisine themed Dos Caminos restaurant at the Palazzo -- and even chewed on a cigar at the end of the meal of hot salsa habanero and the Veracruz fish dish. He and his parents sipped Perrier Jouet champagne and devoured yet another birthday cake. Also at Dos Caminos, Titanic star Bill Zane ordered the same fish but with shrimp quesadillas and Asado tacos -- and still sticking just to water! ... For the first-ever King of Clubs event at the Blush boutique nightclub in the Wynn, actor Jason Statham and Planet Hollywood head honcho Robert Earl were there, along with record producer Irv Gotti … Movie comedy star Adam Sandler snagged a VIP cabana at the Palms Pool & Bungalows to enjoy some swim and sun time.

Photo: Preferred PR

The Komodo dragon is still settling in at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef exhibit.

*The killer Komodo dragon has made itself right at home in the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef exhibit since taking up residence days ago. Our photos were snapped on the first day of Killer Kate's -- whoops, Killer Ken’s -- exploration. There’s no way we’re going to get close enough to learn if the Indonesian reptile that can kill somebody in seconds is a boy or a girl.

*The two-week-long World Poker Tour got underway at the Bellagio Wednesday -- and when it comes down to the WPT main event July 11, the entry fee will be $15,000 -- but players will get three times as many starting chips than at previous events to generate a large prize pool and also kick up the action. The high-stakes poker tournaments air on the Game Show Network. During the two-week battle in the Bellagio, there will be seven no-limit hold’em tournaments in the race to the Cup.

Holiday weekend events on the Strip

Now it's time to turn over our cards and show the winning hand of all the double-ace events highlighting the holiday weekend, which gets underway tonight. One thing is for certain: This "river" isn’t running dry and we’ve called the bluff and named it the Royal Robin Rundown:

* The world premiere of Don McLean’s American Pie Viva Vision light and sound show will be open free to the public at 9 p.m. on the Fremont Street Experience, complete with an honor guard from Nellis Air Force Base performing the National Anthem. The "American Pie" rock ballad became a generation’s anthem back in 1971 and the hit single is still one of the longest songs ever to hit the No. 1 spot, at 8 minutes, 36 seconds. The mini-movie and visual fireworks and patriotic images will be shown nightly until midnight through Saturday. On Friday, there’ll also be a giant July 4th barbecue party there.

* The Grateful Dead’s rhythm guitarist, co-vocalist Bob Weir, now has a lineup known as "RatDog." He draws upon 30 years of music industry experience for his concerts of Dead music and material from Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry. The southern rock and jam band Gov’t Mule is the opening act in the rather rare Hard Rock concert ... Don’t forget Morris Day and The Time play the Flamingo with their unique sounds through Saturday night.

* Tao nightclub at the Venetian gets the holiday weekend started with Dancing with the Stars fancy-footwork beauty Shannon Elizabeth hosting one party and Chris Clouse performing at a second one.

* "Rock the Roof: Battle of the Bands" continues at Diablo’s in the Monte Carlo with host Moose-o-libre and a $10,000 prize at stake while a sister party palace, the Bare pool at the Mirage, features John Pasqualotto and Loni Mickelson as guest lifeguards

* It’s a triple threat of rancid rock and roll with special guests The Aquabats and Urchin opening for the appropriately named Rancid rockers at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

* For something completely different and a lot more genteel, head to the Springs Preserve for a unique lecture about the the "Early History of Las Vegas," complete with the city’s first nude showgirl, Lisa Medford, and early showgirl Betty Bunch, local historian Dr. Mike Green and El Rancho writer George Stamos. They will share the untold stories of our Valley’s early days.

Friday, July 4

* Famed Hollywood celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson starts a four-day visit to Vegas when she spins Sunset Sessions at the Tao pool-deck club at the Venetian from 10 a.m. through sunset. And normally actress galpal Lindsay Lohan is never far from her side, so maybe we’ll see the tied-together twosome here for the holiday weekend after Lindsay has celebrated her birthday in Hollywood (Samantha will commute to and from Vegas). Samantha will also DJ on Tuesday at the second of George Maloof’s "duck-hunting" parties at the new Palms Place pool.

* It's a unique double-header with comedy king Damon Wayans joking up lots of laughter with three nights of shows at the Orleans, then late-night Philippines singing sensation Imelda Papin will perform her hits for fans there.

* America’s most talented ventriloquist, impressionist Terry Fator, unpacks his dolls for three nights of shows at the Hilton while Lorrie Morgan sings her sweet country stylings at the South Point and the Las Vegas Tenors execute their "popera" with special guest Clint Holmes at the Suncoast.

* Music fans can choose between the fireworks show and Vertical Horizon lying or standing straight at the Beach at Mandalay Bay, or Grammy-winning British reggae group Steel Pulse at the Hard Rock, or 80s glam-metal parody band Steel Panther, which was previously known as Metal Skool, now performing at Ovation Lounge in the Green Valley Ranch.

* Comedy fans can choose between the standup eccentricity and unexpected humor of UFC color commentator Joe Rogan at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay or the "Pimpin’ Pimpin’ Tour" of hot comedy star Katt Williams, who’s appearing in the new First Sunday movie with Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan. Tickets were in such demand at The Pearl in the Palms that he’s added a second show for Saturday night.

* Now for the party roundup: Famed fashion designer Christian Audigier celebrates the star-studded opening of his new nightclub in Treasure Island, taking the place of Tangerine, and he’s promised a coterie of his celebrity friends will be on-hand ... Playboy cover model Tiffany Holliday will host Torrid nightclub’s Red White and Boobs festivities in the Hawaiian Tropic Zone at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. Dr. Pancholi of Cosmetic Surgery of Las Vegas will offer a free breast augmentation as a beauty contest first prize! Playboy model DJ Roxanne Dawn will also judge the ladies hoping to enhance their tape-measure numbers! … Indulge and Theory of Flight will make music for three nights of parties at Diablo’s in Monte Carlo’s casino-resort ... Reality TV hosts Trishelle Cannatella and Alison Waite will host parties at the Bare pool and the Jet nightclub in the Mirage searching for a new host of the Wild On TV series ... Dozens of cheerleaders will host their reunion celebration at the Bank Nightclub in the Bellagio ... Ring-girl Arianny Celeste hosts the UFC pre-fight party at MGM’s Studio 54 and special guests Three 6 Mafia and fighter Zab Judah are the expected VIPs ... Sirius Satellite Radio throws its America’s Next Best DJ contest as part of the Ditch Friday pool party at the Palms to kick off the Red, White and You three-day extravaganza.

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