Las Vegas Weekly

April 16, 2009 · 11:34 AM

Strip Scribbles: UNLVino kicks off with ‘Bubble-Licious’ fundraiser

By Robin Leach

The auction at UNLVino has numerous specialty items that generally sell for much cheaper than their market price, including, but not limited to, bottles of wine.

Photo: TVT

The 35th annual wine tasting to raise funds for hospitality scholarships at UNLV kicks off tonight poolside at the Palms with “Bubble-Licious.” More than 50 champagnes will be served at the tasting to ensure that you are “drinking stars.” Palms President George Maloof and TV celebrity chef Guy Fieri, a former UNLV student, will receive a Dom Perignon “21-Cork Salute” when they are honored there with the Award of Excellence as outstanding UNLV hotel and restaurant alumni.

The three-day event presented by Larry Ruvo’s Southern Wine and Spirits continues tomorrow with “Auss-Some” at The District at Green Valley Ranch and features more than 100 Australian, New Zealand and other wines below the Equator. Other great vintages hail from South Africa, Argentina and Chile, and even the water is from Fiji!

It winds up Saturday afternoon at the Paris with the “Grand Tasting” with more than 1,100 wines from over 750 international wineries represented by 125 suppliers. Last year, 6,000 guests showed up for the tasting, which is one of America’s largest and Nevada’s oldest!

Some things just get better with age, and after 35 years, this unique educational benefit to assist our future hotel and restaurant leaders is the ultimate fun in fundraiser and enjoying wine tasting at its best!

*Are plans afoot for Sunday night to do the farewell Las Vegas party, celebration and au revoir presentation for Sir Elton John? He ends his three-year run at Caesars Palace’s Colosseum next Wednesday. I’m told he just wants to pack and leave immediately after Wednesday’s show without having a teary farewell after 246 shows.

*Comedy-magic duo and Rio headliners Penn & Teller presented hundreds of men’s and women’s business suits to Goodwill of Southern Nevada yesterday. They’d been collected throughout the Harrah’s Entertainment properties to raise awareness of Harrah’s “Giving Back to the Community” resource fair that runs all day today.

*Congratulations to Grammy-nominated DJ Chris Cox, who last night became the new resident DJ at Pure in Caesars Palace, taking over from the just-departed DJ AM. Chris has 41 No. 1 Billboard Dance chart hits to his credit!

*Students from Bonkerz Comedy Club classes at the Palace Station, along with local up-and-coming comedians, will take part in the next two Sunday night Comedy Jams. The top three winners from April 19 and 26 will win the right to audition for the head honchos of the top-rated TV show America’s Got Talent.

Star surveillance

Baltimore Ravens defender Terrell Suggs partied with friends at a VIP table overlooking Tryst’s dance floor at the Wynn. … Tryst and Encore managing partners and twin brothers Cy and Jesse Waits hosted several UFC stars, including Dan Henderson, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Michael Bisping and champion Georges St. Pierre. … Former UFC fighter Frank “Twinkle Toes” Trigg lunched on salmon salad with his wife at Hash House a Go Go, while former professional basketball player Spencer Haywood ordered the Hash House Scramble with ground turkey, mushroom and broccoli. … Micky Dolenz of The Monkees fame, and recent Gone Country star and inventor of Hang-It-All, was hanging out posing for photos with fans and having cocktails at Blush inside the Wynn resort. … The cast of VH1’s Tool Academy enjoyed the Strip sights and lights from the open-air terrace of Pure at Caesars Palace and happily posed for fan photos, while nearby boxer Fernando Vargas enjoyed his Patron tequila shots. ….. Professional skateboarder and X Games competitor Jake Brown partied at Moon in the Palms.

Tonight’s tips

Hip-hop giant LL Cool J arrives in town to unveil his new Sears clothing collection with a fashion show and party at Tao in The Venetian. … Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider and his amazing white hair return as special guest for three more nights of Monster Circus at the Las Vegas Hilton through Saturday. … Five bands will vie for the Ultimate Rock Band title in front of a live audience at Harrah’s carnival court stage as MTV Games presents VJ superstar Sway Calloway as the host. The winning band will open for the B-52’s in Atlantic City on May 9. … And don’t forget the UNLVino “Bubble-Licious” poolside champagne party at the Palms.

Tomorrow’s teases

We’ve got an advance peek at one of the biggest, jam-packed weekends in Las Vegas history as thousands invade for 72 hours of nonstop excitement. There are events galore, but my highlights are the following: The Killers and Paul McCartney open the new Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, Scary Spice Mel B and General Hospital star Kelly Monaco officially premiere their sexy Peepshow at Planet Hollywood, and it’s the Miss USA 2009 Pageant at Planet Hollywood on Sunday and airing on NBC. As if that’s not enough, its our first “Las Vegas Dancing With the Stars’ cancer charity fundraiser at Rain in the Palms, and all eyes will be on Mayor Oscar Goodman’s dancing skills as he fights through pain and injury!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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