Las Vegas Weekly

September 24, 2008 · 2:55 PM

Strip Scribbles: Ashley Olsen’s romance heats up, tonight’s tip

By Robin Leach

Ashley Olsen with boyfriend Justin Bartha.

* Ashley Olsen and National Treasure actor boyfriend Justin Bartha watched the Beatles Love musical by Cirque du Soleil. To avoid distracting the audience and causing a fan-scene, the hand-holding twosome arrived just as the show began and made a quick quiet entrance as the performance ended. Ashley and Justin had a romantic dinner afterwards at Stack in the Mirage enjoying executive chef Brian Massie’s shared plates of yellowtail sashimi, spicy wings, black cod miso lettuce cups and tomato soup with mini-grilled cheese. They then joined seven friends, including his co-star Zack Galifianakis, from What Happens in Vegas, for party night at the neighboring Jet nightclub. Spies said the young couple drank Patron tequila with Red Bull and Grey Goose vodkas and were arm-in-arm, danced together, “bumping and grinding one another” in the VIP section until 2 a.m. Justin is here shooting a new comedy movie The Hangover -- around Vegas for release next summer by Warner Brothers.

* Incidentally, you can watch a trailer for the new feature documentary on the making of Love at www.beatles.com/core/love/documentary/clips/ titled "All Together Now." The documentary has won raves at selected film festival screenings but will now be released as a DVD on Oct. 21 and will be on sale at the Love boutique in the Mirage – the day after digital cinema audiences get to see it for the first time in select theaters.

It details the amazing story of the friendship between the late George Harrison and Cirque founder Guy LaLiberte that led to the production that George never got to see. Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison contribute to the film. No attempt was made to disguise some of the disagreements that took place along the production cycle. Sound geniuses Sir George Martin and son Giles Martin have added a bonus feature titled Changing the Music, which reveals how they created the Beatles soundtracks and overcame the challenges of making yesteryear’s recording techniques modern and up-to-date.

* A spectacular live-stage version of the hit America’s Got Talent TV show will be staged at MGM Grand Garden Arena for one night only on Friday Oct. 17. Jerry Springer will host the stage show as he does the NBC-TV production in addition to featuring several of this year's Season 3 talent marvels and the soon-to-be-named winner! Season 2 winner Terry Fator will headline with his amazing singing ventriloquism impressionist act.

* It's official! Fall has arrived – despite the fact our daytime temperatures still hover in the 90s. So it's that time of the year that the Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens welcomes the change to the colors of fall with a tribute to harvest time. Today’s unveiling of the new displays features a towering 35-foot-tall cider mill powered by a gentle stream and a 25-foot-tall whimsical apple tree that “comes alive.” Another 10-foot-tall mythical tree has been made from recycled paper and wood. You’re invited to stroll through a picturesque archway of lush vines and evergreen shrubs surrounded by a bountiful harvest of bright orange colossal pumpkins, ranging from 350 to 850 pounds and 5,000 cattail plants alongside the ponds. Admission is free and it remains open until Nov. 29 when it will be replaced by a Winter Wonderland exhibit.

* Vegas entertainer Tony Sacca has been hosting his local TV Entertainment Vegas Style show for 23-years -- and finally he’s won national recognition. Singer-guitarist Charo will be his co-host for a new PBS special based on his archived interviews with every great star that’s appeared in Vegas with him since 1985. The special Best of Entertainment Las Vegas Style will be filmed from the Fremont Street Experience, the Venetian, the Paris and Hilton hotels on Oct. 7 and 8 for use as programming for the November pledge drive period. Donors will get a DVD copy of the Vegas special and Tony’s very own Vegas Rocks souvenir clock.

* Puerto Rico-born Rico DeLargo has been playing the trumpet since age 10. Since moving to Vegas he’s played for everybody from the Black Eyed Peas to DJ supreme Paul Oakenfold and became a resident trumpet player for the visiting DJs at Tao beach in the Venetian. Even Hef hired him for parties at the Playboy Mansion and here at the Palms’ Playboy suite. Rico’s skill comes from creating spontaneous remixes alongside any song the DJ spins – and he dances to his horn-playing without a minute of rehearsal. It's remarkable to watch and listen to him and now he’s playing at the new mod-Mex Dos Caminos restaurant lounge in the Palazzo. Catch him this weekend on Saturday and again Oct. 11. Rico truly wows with his sweet Brazilian jazz stylings and sounds. He’s built up a loyal fan following his unique Vibe Elevation show and now commutes from our hometown to gigs in Miami, New York and throughout California.

Tonight's tip:

One of the top haunted attractions in the nation, Fright Dome at Circus Circus, holds open-casting call monster auditions in advance of its Oct. 3 opening. Since the scaring started back in 2002, more than 60,000 people have thrilled to the five-acre horror haunted theme park with its ghouls and gore clad characters ... Another triple-header for rock fans at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay with Trapt and Smile Empty Soul, Adelitas Way and Otherwise.

Tomorrow's tease:

An extraordinary and candid interview with reigning Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler, as he prepares to win the title for a third consecutive time as the world bodybuilding championships get underway here in Vegas, plus American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson picks up a key to the Playboy Club and photographer Tom Donoghue provides an extraordinary album of the NASCAR truck races out at Las Vegas Speedway. That gives us 48 hours before Mindfreak magician Criss Angel lets the curtain go up on the very first night of previews of his new Cirque du Soleil show Believe at the Luxor -- and I do my best to unravel the mystery of whether Playboy Girl Next Door Holly Madison is still with Hef or is now under the spell of Criss!

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