Las Vegas Weekly

October 23, 2008 · 1:40 PM

Strip Scribbles: Jenna Jameson, racy rumors and tonight’s tips

By Robin Leach

I must update out story from yesterday about Dancing with the Stars professional Julianne Hough being rushed to hospital after the “results show” that saw our local singing songbird Toni Braxton get the axe. Julianne, who is a former Las Vegas music and drama academy student, admits her stomach pain was so intense she had to curl up in a tight ball on the floor backstage – and that was when concerned crew members called for Toni’s standby ambulance. Julianne says the daylong stomach pain that eventually felled her is still a mystery but after a night in the hospital she was released, feeling better -- but she’s skipping today’s first cast rehearsal for Monday’s upcoming show as a "safety precaution."

*Getting ready for "baby makes three." Mixed martial artist Tito Ortiz and ladylove, former adult movie actress Jenna James, are getting ready to introduce their new baby to a life of luxury. They’ve just bought a new four-bedroom home in Huntington Beach, Calif. The waterfront mansion has a library, walk-in wine cellar, private boat dock and balcony and 3.5 baths! In my best rich and famous voice let me tell you they got it at a bargain economic downturn price of just $3.4 million! Jenna says she’ll still be back and forth to Vegas but until the baby is born she’s resting up there staring at the ocean!

*Sir Elton John resumed a new run of shows at the Caesars Palace Colosseum last night – and he’ll be there on Halloween Eve with his Red Piano show continuing through Nov. 9.

*WICKED WHISPERS & RACY RUMORS. Just asking what hotel president is taking the heat from the board of directors now that word is out that he’s going on the chopping block any moment now? Just asking what famous Hollywood face will start rehearsals in January for a February starring appearance on the Strip where the TV star will have to peel-off plenty of clothes? Just asking which major hip and hot Strip restaurant will get a new permanent "face" up front so guests from L.A. and locally will always get the same recognition instead of “stares” in the past few weeks?

*Congratulations to the executives and staff of the Hard Rock hotel casino in advance of their expansion milestone tomorrow morning when they hold an 11 a.m. “topping off’ ceremony. An Evergreen Tree and an American flag will be hoisted to the top of the new North Tower -- a 17-story building with 479 luxury guest rooms and 10 luxurious pool-suites on the main level and a decadent 3,400-square-foot penthouse. First guests will be checking in next September after furnishing and decorating has been completed. The 3-hour celebration will attract Morgans Hotel president Randy Kwasniewski, Exec VP Brian Feigenbaum and 700 of the construction workers and executives from MJ Dean Construction.

*STAR SURVEILLANCE: The VIP section at the Bank nightclub in the Bellagio is jam-packed with celebrities and OC actress Shannon Lucio was there with girlfriends and Jacksonville Jaguars star Jerry Porter. The night before, Death Row Records founder Suge Knight, Sunset Tan’s Olly Girl Molly Shea, actor Bradley Cooper and former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. all hung out there ... VH1 reality vixen Heather Chadwell joined with her sexy Playboy model friend, and Vegas resident, Jesse Preston to party at ROK Vegas inside New York New York to kick off the new Rock of Love Charm School show ... Our hometown jamband, Moksha, is winning a solid following of fans and our celebrity photographer Erik Kabik was at the Puff lounge when they performed there. This coming Sunday they will perform at the Beatles Revolution lounge in the Mirage.

Photo: Light Group

Jerry Porter and friends

Photo: Light Group

Oily Girl Molly Shea

Photo: Light Group

Suge Knight

Photo: Hew Burney

Jesse Preston

Photo: Hew Burney

Heather Chadwell

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

Moksha

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

Moksha

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

Moksha

*The LAVO restaurant and nightclub has started a new weekly business mixer in the Palazzo and among those attending the first event was Palms hotel owner George Maloof, who escorted Girls Next Door star Holly Madison. Then Hefner’s ex and the casino tycoon had dinner of Caramelized Salmon and Mediterranean Sea bass. Holly held onto her stuffed animal-puppy when she went out onto the hookah patio where her group of friends was joined later by motocross star Cary Hart. Also there was American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee who treated her dancers to dinner of pizzettes, beef kabobs and chicken paillard since they were all in town for a private show. Then they all hit the upstairs dance floor where celebrity chefs Daniel Boulud and Paul Bartolotta were spotted along with President George W. Bush’s former press secretary, Ari Fleisher.

Photo: Eric King

Kurt Busch, George Maloof, Blake Sartini and Lon Kruger.

*Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps partied at the hot and hip Prive nightclub inside the Planet Hollywood casino resort with a brunette lady friend and five pals. The swimming star was at VIP table 69 and in the DJ booth. He ordered two magnums of Perrier-Jouet rose champagne for the group and spywitnesses tell me Michael and his lady friend did get "pretty affectionate" – but nobody knows who she is – at least for now!

*Screamers- The Haunted Bridge opened yesterday (WED) all along the famed Brooklyn Bridge at the New York New York hotel casino. It’s the first time the "bridge" has been completed, converted for the Halloween extravaganza. It contains props and sets used for more than 10 years by local and international stars on the Strip – including Siegfried & Roy, Nathan Burton and Steve Wyrick. More than 25 actors in ornate costumes are the scary talent creating the ‘horrific sights and sounds’ throughout the attraction and its dark mazes and haunted enclosures. The spine-chilling, blood-curdling house of horrors will remain open until Sunday, Nov. 2.

*Poker fans and NASCAR fans alike helped raise $25,000 to benefit the Kurt Busch Foundation. Kurt, along with Palms honcho George Maloof, UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger, two-time Indy race champion Al Unser and numerous other local VIPs, turned up at the Sierra Gold ultra-tavern for the NASCAR speedster’s charity Poker Tournament. Todd Morgan was the grand prize winner of the event, getting a private meet and greet with Kurt, NASCAR Sprint Cup garage and suite passes and a helicopter ride out over the crowded race-day traffic! As an added bonus George Maloof gave the winner a free weekend stay at the Palms. After the tournament Kurt went with eight friends to the Moon nightclub at the Palms, where the group had one round of Kamikaze shots and then relaxed on the rose Perrier Jouet champagne before ending the night at 2 a.m.

*We get the first good look today at Irish hypno-magician Keith Barry, who kicks off a month long trial run at the Planet Hollywood showroom on Tuesday. Keith, who can induce temporary amnesia and paralysis in his act will perform several of his incredible illusions on Ellen DeGeneres’ TV talk show this afternoon. It's his second rapid-return appearance. I’m told if his run here on the Strip is successful he will be extended past the present Nov. 27 end date.

*Comedy actor John Caponera, who co-starred with Drew Carey in the Good Life TV series back in 1994, headlined his comedy routine at the Improv club in Harrah’s. Also on the comedy lineup were Pam Matteson with her Stevie Nicks impression and "Cher tongue workout barbell" routine along with comic Alan Busky.

TONIGHT'S TIP:

The chill-curdling cast of Saw 5 celebrated the horror movie’s weird world premiere at the Planet Hollywood resort casino and follow with an after-party at the hotel’s Prive nightclub…..Olympic gold swimming ace Michael Phelps will join with UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin at the launch party for the innovative new jewelry line, Skeletal Metal, that Iron Chef Kerry Simon is hosting at his new Simon Restaurant in George Maloof’s Palms Place tower. A host of other Olympic athletes including medal winners Eric Vendt, Stacy Sykora, Nicole Davis, Abby Wambach, Nicole Branagh and Rich Lambourne will be there to check out the unique collection of rings, necklaces and bracelets made from reconstructive metal plates used to mend broken bones by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Crovetti. ….Comical late-night TV talkshow host Craig Ferguson starts a week’s run of his Scottish-accented humor at the MGM Grand ….The ‘Devil Driver tour’ raises hell pulling into the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay with the three-power pack of rockers Snot, Straight Stitch and Instinct of Agression and if your summer tan has faded our kind buddies at the BLUSH boutique nightclub will give you a complimentary Tan factory shine if you sandal your way to the WYNN.

TOMORROW’S TEASE:

The sexy Sirens of TI celebrate their fifth anniversary and Luxe Life has an exclusive chat with Stacey Kane who plays Si” in the nightly waters of piracy and plunder! Plus we’ve reached the one week to go countdown to Criss Angel’s Believe world premiere and the Mindfreak magician runs down his daily hour by hour pressure-packed diary exclusively for Luxe Life. The James Beard culinary kings come to town along with reality TV star, Kim Kardashian and the “Fetish & Fantasy” folks get an early start to their Halloween hysterics.

COMING NOVEMBER 1: Our brand-new multimedia Web site, Vegas DeLuxe, is on its way with daily 24/7 breaking news updates for all the luxury lifestyle secrets of Vegas plus all the latest celebrity happenings all over the Strip.

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