Las Vegas Weekly

November 7, 2008 · 2:33 PM

Strip Scribbles: Princess of Magic Scarlett receives prestigious Merlin Award

By Robin Leach

Scarlett.

Photo: Cheryl Kagan

*Congratulations to Scarlett -- Princess of Magic at the V Theater in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. She has just won the prestigious Merlin Award, the equivalent in magic circles to an Academy Award. It was presented to her by Tony Hassini, president of the International Magicians Society. David Saxe, president of the V Theater, was on hand for the ceremony. Scarlett, who hails from Reno, presents her family-friendly magic show six days a week at the V Theater, and it includes some Harry Houdini trickery, which she’s the only female magician to successfully accomplish.

Photo: Cheryl Kagan

Scarlett, David Saxe and Tony Hassini.

Photo: Cheryl Kagan

Scarlett and David Saxe.

Photo: Cheryl Kagan

Scarlett and Tony Hassini.

*TBS’ “Friday Night Movie and a Makeover” teams up tonight with hair color expert Michael Boychuck and the staff of his Color salon at Caesars Palace. They will give one deserving couple the ultimate makeover during the 2006 Queen Latifah film Last Holiday when it airs tonight at 9. Last Holiday is an updated, gender-reversed adaptation of the 1950 film of the same name written by J.B. Priestley.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Clinton Sparks and Sean Kingston.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Sean and Clinton, onstage at Body English.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Sean Kingston, stops on his way to Body English.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Carey Hard and crew, at Body English.

*Star surveillance: Jamaican rapper and reggae singer Sean Kingston gave a surprise performance at Body English inside the Hard Rock. He partied with E! The Daily 10 hosts Sal Masekela, Ben Lyons and DJ Clinton Sparks at the Smashtime event. … Also at Body English, Major League Baseball player John Lackey of the L.A. Angels celebrating his bachelor party with St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Adam Kennedy; as well as Die Hard director-producer Renny Harlin, boxer Mike Tyson and Capital Films producer Kia Jam. … Actor Frankie Muniz, best known from the hit TV series Malcolm in the Middle, enjoyed dinner and the bikini pageant at Hawaiian Tropic Zone inside Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. … Excalibur headliner and funnyman Louie Anderson dined at Brand Steakhouse at Monte Carlo on a feast fit for a king: king crab scampi, lobster bisque, beet salad, filet mignon and sea bass. … Five-time Grammy Award-winning American blues and rock guitarist George “Buddy” Guy hit chef Geno Bernardi’s Nove restaurant at the Palms. When the chef came out to greet him, both men knocked over a wine glass, which shattered as they shook hands! Guy, the father of female rapper Shawna, has inspired the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Photo: N9NE Group

A great pairing: Buddy Guy and Geno Bernardo.

*Singer-pianist superstar Billy Joel makes his triumphant return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Valentine’s Day next year as part of a limited number of shows in select cities. The engagement will be one of the first in North America since his record-breaking and critically acclaimed “Last Play at Shea” at New York’s Shea Stadium. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

*Another theater ticket-restaurant dinner tie-in that makes economic sense for pocketbook-strapped visitors. At Planet Hollywood, Hawaiian Tropic Zone offers Stomp Out Loud ticketholders the opportunity to experience restaurateur David Burke’s eclectic menu before the show with a buy one entrée, get one free offer now through Thanksgiving.

*Poker goes to a whole new level when the Hard Rock Hotel launches its new “Dream Team Poker” this weekend, and celebrities Heidi Montag of The Hills, ER’s Mekhi Phifer, Knight Rider’s Yancey Arias, Roger Cross from 24 and Jean-Robert Bellande from Survivor: China will be among the first stars to play! Poker prince Jamie Gold, who won the 2006 World Series of Poker, and bracelet winners David Benyamine, Erica Schoenberg, David Daneshgar and Kenny Tran will also play. It all kicks off tonight with a welcome party in the penthouse and a red carpet extravaganza at high noon tomorrow. There’s a VIP party at Body English tomorrow night. Poker play begins tomorrow in the sexy, hedonistic, new poker palace there at noon, and then Sunday morning the final three tables get serious for the big prizes. Some 25 teams of three will play in the newest, hottest spin on the game of poker with its unique scoring system. That adds an extra level of strategy and excitement. The “Dream Team Poker” event coincides with the new topping off of the resort’s new north tower. It’s scheduled for completion next September, and the 17-story building will feature 10 luxurious pool suites and a new adult, European-style pool zone with the luscious ladies from Rick’s Cabaret as hostesses!

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Improvements are towering at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Now it’s time for me to take to the river, turn the cards and come up with double aces. We’ll show our winning hand with the best of Vegas this weekend with what we affectionately dub around here as the Royal Robin Rundown:

Photo: Scott Doctor

George Lopez, shown during an event for Don Cheadle's charitable foundation, is at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Friday, Nov. 7

*Funnyman George Lopez has two back-to-back, Latino-themed comedy shows tonight and tomorrow at the Las Vegas Hilton, and it’s guaranteed that he’ll have his fans laughing in the aisles. … Also yukking it up will be comedy partners and real-life pals Ray Romano and Kevin James in one more of their solo and double turns at The Mirage for two shows.

*At noon today, more than 1,000 of our local students will be treated to a Cirque du Soleil choreographer’s showcase in a collaborative project with our Nevada Ballet Theater. Cirque is donating the Mystere Theater at Treasure Island, and regular members of the public can attend the 1 p.m. performance Sunday and again next Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m. The unique showcase features new works danced by artists from both companies.

*Creative conjuror Jeff McBride’s magical interactive Wonderground club is open again tonight and tomorrow. Hurry to see it because at the end of the month, it vanishes for a while! This weekend Wonderground hosts comedy magician Mark Kornhauser, currently adding elements to ventriloquist Terry Fator’s new upcoming run at the Mirage, and Sophie Evans, who recently won the BBC reality show Sorcerer’s Apprentice and is the only woman to ever win an International Close-Up Magic title. Jeff performs his Magic at the Edge show at 8 p.m. today and tomorrow, and then his guests take over in his Soundtrax Showroom at the Palace Station right afterwards.

*James Darren brings back memories of those teen beach days when he sings the ’60s for two nights at the South Point. … Comedy actor Steve Solomon explains why he’s in therapy when his play My Mothers Italian, My Father’s Jewish ends up at the Suncoast through Sunday night. … New-wave British band The Fixx celebrated its 25th anniversary three years ago, and all of the original members will be at Ovation in the Green Valley Ranch with new bassist Gary Tibbs for two nights. … Dave Mason, who rocked in his early days with pal Steve Winwood in Traffic, goes solo at the Santa Fe Station Chrome showroom. … San Francisco hard rockers Y& T have hit the road since 1974, and they are still going strong. They’ll perform a “Mean Streak” at Club Madrid in the Sunset Station.

*Entourage star Rex Lee hosts a Snow Queen vodka party at Prive in Planet Hollywood.

Saturday, Nov. 8

*As we mentioned earlier, Madonna kicks off the first of her two MGM Grand Garden Arena “Sticky & Sweet” tour concerts tonight, and you might just find her unwinding at Tao’s 3rd anniversary party afterwards. That’s where she hung out the last time she played here! Her tour DJ, Enferno, will twist the wheels of steel at Blush in the Wynn after their MGM show.

*Delayed once because somebody screwed up the date with a double booking, my friend Alan Thicke’s son, heartthrob Robin Thicke, makes good this time with his special show at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. He’ll prove his skills at both songwriting and singing his pop, soul and R&B originals.

*Play poker with the pros and if you win, you could claim a 2008 105th anniversary edition Harley Davidson motorcycle out at the Red Rock Resort. It’s a benefit heads-up for our local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation hosted by Hoyt Corkins, who says all top nine finishers will get prizes. The 100,000-sqare-foot Red Rock Harley store celebrates its grand opening all weekend long, with the Hawaiian Tropic beauties to add their sexy sizzle.

*The band that shaped the music we know as rock ’n’ roll returns to town. Bill Haley rocked around the clock with his Comets back in the ’50s, and now the group’s original members Marshall Lytle, Dick Richards and Joey D’Ambrosia are joined by new members David Byrd and Jackson Haney to perform classic hits such as “See You Later Alligator” and “Shake, Rattle & Roll” at the Club in the Cannery.

*Laguna Beach star Chase Johnson flexes his rebel studliness when he hosts the party at Prive in Planet Hollywood.

Sunday, Nov. 9

*If you didn’t catch her yesterday, Madonna does it all over again tonight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

*It’ll take 12 hours for the riders holding on for grim death to the rankest of bucking bulls at the Thomas & Mack from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. to determine the $3 million new world champion, who’ll also get a $1 million bonus payday!

*Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! In fact, it’s dozens of jets as the Las Vegas Air Show takes to the blue skies above our Nellis Air Force Base. It’s the 61st anniversary of our USAF aviation nation with the close-flying Thunderbirds, acrobatic vintage bi-planes, Stealth bombers and MIG 17s -- and more high-speed technology than you could ever dream of. More than six decades of air supremacy are celebrated in all things Air Force.

*If you’ve never been to the Sunday Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues, I recommend you put it on your schedule for one of these upcoming weekends. It’s a reverential ritual by now!

Monday’s tease

Over the weekend, we’ll post our early Morning Call photos of Lindsay Lohan and gal pal Samantha Ronson on Saturday morning, plus the stars at play at Tao’s 3rd anniversary party on Sunday morning. And Monday we’ll be back with full reports on those events, plus Madonna’s visit to Vegas and the incredible, nerve-wracking, brow-sweating story of the two poker players who will go head-to-head later that night for a winner-take-all prize pot of $9 million -- on maybe just the turn of one card!

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