Las Vegas Weekly

September 3, 2008 · 2:10 PM

Scribbles: Britney, a paparazzi invasion and tonight’s tip on the Strip

By Robin Leach

* Following up briefly on my breaking story yesterday about Britney Spears and her visit to Vegas, I later discovered that both master illusionists Siegfried & Roy went to the Mirage to meet the pop princess. They personally greeted her and gave her the tour of their Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. They showed her the newest additions: a golden tiger and the white-striped baby tiger cubs. Click here for yesterday’s Brit report!

* Is comedy hypnotist Anthony Cools, who closed his Ooh La La adult topless revue at the Paris days ago, planning to move his own "raw and uncensored" show. Whispers are rampant that he’s heavily involved with the transformation of a former "rich boys" auto showroom in the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace that will likely reopen as a theater nightclub with his hypnotic comedy that he describes as "crossing the line."

* There were so many unprofessional photographers, plus a Hollywood paparazzi invasion, chasing Paris Hilton, her younger sister, Nicky, and boyfriend David Katzenberg at the Bellagio that the trio had to duck into the YSL store there and hide out until their limo arrived. These snap-happy amateurs are going to make it tougher for the well-mannered Vegas camera contingent to work properly -- so take action before the invaders get out of hand and everybody suffers. Incidentally, Nicky got herself a quick nail polish change inside Brannon’s Hair Salon at the Hard Rock hotel where she was staying. Beaufriend David Katzenberg sat with her to keep her company during the "trim and shine" process. Afterward, she handled the playing cards with finesse in the resort’s new luxurious Poker Lounge.

*We’re going to have a permanent memory of Motley Crue’s summer tour that wrapped at the weekend. Hometown rocker Vince Neil has a brief break in Vegas before going out on the road again -- and he confirmed that their CrueFest 2008 at Toronto’s Molson Amphitheater in Canada was filmed for a future DVD release. The concert was a daylong affair featuring Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Trapt and band member Nikki Sixx’s new group, Sixx AM. The local Alcohol and Gaming Commission in Ontario suspended the liquor license of the beer company’s stadium to ensure fans didn’t get out of hand for the seven hours of music and filming! Vince has confirmed that as a result of sellout crowds there will be a CrueFest 2009 next year!

* Is it a bird, is it a plane, is it…. ? In fact, it’s a super big-screen flying electronic lightship. The all-new $1 billion M resort spa casino was due to launch its new M Lightship this evening -- one of only three in the world. The unique blimp was to arrive on the southwest section of the Strip late afternoon or early evening after flying in on its maiden voyage from California. You couldn’t have missed it because it features a giant 70-foot by 30-foot TV screen (that’s 2,100 square feet, folks) broadcasting everything from live TV, streaming video, Web sites, static images and, of course, views of the M, which will be completed in March next year. However, at the last minute, the final LED panels failed to be delivered, so the unveiling has been postponed until later this fall. Luxe Life will let you know the rescheduled flight launch as soon as we get the new date!

*We’ve just learned that the new Aliante Station entertainment casino set to open on Nov. 11 will premiere six new restaurants, plus a food court:

- MRKT Sea & Land (pronounced market) is a seafood and steak house with one of the most comprehensive wine collections emphasizing value and a wine-by-the-glass program.

- Pips Cucina & Wine Bar is the first restaurant concept created and owned by my pal, wine and epicurean connoisseur Rino Armeni, formerly of Southern Wine & Spirits. Pips will combine Armeni’s homemade Italian recipes handed down from his grandmother together with many traditional Italian dishes presented in a modern interpretation. Armeni has recruited Gerald Chin to serve as executive chef. Chin has had an impressive culinary career including graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and recently worked as executive chef at the Joël Rubochon restaurant at The Mansion at MGM Grand.

- Camacho’s Cantina will bring one of Southern California’s popular family-owned and operated casual Mexican restaurants for its Nevada debut. The Camacho family, with roots in Sonora, Mexico, will offer more than 100 different premium tequilas; (Camacho’s Mexican restaurants in Southern California include Camacho’s Cantina at Universal City Walk Hollywood, Mariasol Restaurant at the Santa Monica Pier, El Paseo Inn Restaurant at Historic Olivera Street, and Camacho’s Cantina & Grill in downtown L.A. Camacho’s has additional locations inside the Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, the Home Depot Center and the Pepsi Center, as well as airport locations at Los Angeles International and Ontario International.)

- T.G.I. Friday’s, which is one of the first American casual dining restaurant chains, features its signature loaded potato skins, and the popular line of Jack Daniel’s Grill menu items. It's décor that celebrates modern classic icons of the 1970s and 80s such as disco balls, Harley Davidson gear, snowboards and MTV’s Moon Man.

- The Original Pancake House, a second and third generation family business with more than 100 franchises from coast to coast with our Nevada franchise operated by Stephan and Kim Freudenberger.

- Feast Buffet, which features a variety of live cooking stations from around the world, including Asian, Mexican, barbecue, American and Italian.

*Star Surveillance: Lovemates Paris Hilton and Benji Madden made a cute couple when they partied the night away at the Jet nightclub in the Mirage, where Cool Kids and tattooed drummer Travis Barker also made the nightlife scene ... attending the Judas Priest rock show at the Pearl in the Palms were rocker Vinnie Paul, Avril Lavigne’s hubby and Sum 41 front man Deryck Whibley plus members of Boogie Knights and the Spazmatics ... Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton, made a rare private appearance out on the town dancing with friends at Steve Wynn’s Blush boutique while attending a pal’s wedding ... Actor Vince Vaughn dined at Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar in the Bellagio with a gorgeous brunette and another couple. They took a quiet corner table overlooking Bellagio’s romantic lake and fountain show sampling celebrity Chef Akira Back’s world-class sushi, king crab dynamite and rock shrimp and two bottles of the 1982 Chateau Haut Brion, a very exclusive and expensive French Bordeaux. The restaurant stayed open an extra hour until 1 a.m. for Vince’s intimate group. Also there was actor and poker player James Woods ... Washington Wizards center Brenden Haywood enjoyed dinner with his girlfriend at the Fix Bar and Restaurant in the Bellagio ... Step Up stars Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum loved Cirque du Soleil’s O aquatic-themed show at the Bellagio -- and went backstage afterward for a full behind-the-scenes tour. They also met individual cast members and told them they want to take in another Cirque show before they leave town! ... Infamous adult movie veteran Ron Jeremy tucked into the menu delights of Mr. Lucky’s at the Hard Rock ... Tony Award winner and star of the hit show Pushing Daisies, Kristin Chenoweth, took in the Jersey Boys musical at The Palazzo ... Spotted at separate tables, Johnny Wright and reality star Kourtney Kardashian dined at Strip House in Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Denise Truscello

Paris and Benji at The Bank.

Photo: Jet

Cool Kids

Photo: Jet

Travis Barker

Tonight's tip:

It’s the band with the most unusual name in the business -- and just exactly what does it mean? The group “Mr. Lewis and the Funeral 5,” from Austin, Texas, will perform their brand of experimental rock with DJ Beelzebozo at the Double Down Saloon.

Tomorrow's tease:

Delightfully eccentric British billionaire Sir Richard Branson flies in the Entourage stars for his debut daily Vegas-New York flights on his brand new Virgin America airline. Singing ventriloquist Terry Fator fires back at his former manager for suing him over a new $100 million Strip contract. Former porn queen Jenna Jameson may well be pregnant but that doesn’t stop her from stripping down to go nearly nude in a new PETA campaign -- about exploding pet populations! Luxe Life takes a taste treat tour with the chefs of the Venetian and the Palazzo and separately discovers one top TV chef in trouble with the cops!

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