Las Vegas Weekly

August 28, 2009 · 1:24 PM

Strip Scribbles: Pierre Gagnaire’s new Twist at CityCenter

By Robin Leach

Pierre Gagnaire.

Photo: Courtesy

It’s exactly as Vegas DeLuxe first exclusively reported months ago. Three-star Michelin chef Pierre Gagnaire confirmed yesterday that he will open his first American restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel here in MGM’s CityCenter. Twist will be located on the 23rd floor of the non-gaming hotel. Designed by my pal Adam Tihany, the restaurant will seat just 74 diners at elevated tables to give each guest a view through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Strip.

Twist will feature a dramatic glass staircase leading up to a suspended wine loft, but the more than 300 gold globes that will appear to float across the ceiling will be the breathtaking showstopper. Pierre says his innovative menu will infuse the simplicity of classic French cuisine with a modern spin pairing flavors and textures, which have won him top recognition in France. Also located on the 23rd floor will be an 82-seat Mandarin Bar.

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

Pierre Gagnaire's restaurant Twist.

*American Idol Season 7 finalist David Hernandez is joining the band Envy as its co-lead singer for its weekly free concert at Club Madrid inside Sunset Station starting Labor Day weekend.

*Fashion designer John Varvatos is adding a second Bowery NYC concept store to his growing roster of 10 freestanding stores, with the latest located in the Hard Rock Hotel here inspired by the vibe of the original Bowery boutique housed in a space once home to CBGB. “Beyond my vision of fashion, I feel like we’re also bringing a unique bit of rock ’n’ roll culture to Las Vegas. We’ll be hosting great events like live concerts, record release parties and live broadcasts of my Born in Detroit show on Sirius, so it will be a gathering place for both fans and artists,” John said.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Iron Chef Kerry Simon is flanked by Cheap Trick, who will be performing at the Las Vegas Hilton in September.

The Hard Rock’s Bowery NYC store will showcase vintage vinyl records and audio equipment; handcrafted rock-influenced jewelry; and vintage clothing, including rare denim, leather jackets, concert tees, belts and boots. The store’s opening party this fall will feature Cheap Trick. To see a video of the new store, click HERE.

Now it’s time for us to be just as fashionable and hip as we open our new edition of what we refer to affectionately around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, Aug. 28

*It’s a music weekend with Steely Dan at The Pearl in the Palms, George Clinton and his psychedelic rock and soul P Funk Band poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel and Dweezil Zappa playing the hits of late dad Frank Zappa in the Dream Theater show at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. Dweezil, a recent Grammy winner, is on the Progressive Nation tour, which also features Beardfish and Pain of Salvation.

Photo: Jerry Metellus

Clint Holmes.

*On the other side of the spectrum, beloved local headliner Clint Holmes is in concert through Sunday at the Suncoast. Charismatic Clint will croon love songs from the first 50 years of pop music with everything from New Orleans jazz to Broadway musicals.

*Osmondmania takes over at The Orleans showroom as Wayne, Merrill, Jay and Jimmy Osmond celebrate 50 years in entertainment. The brothers set out five decades ago on The Andy Williams Show, and they’re still going strong and thrilling audiences worldwide with their harmonies.

Photo: N9NE Group

Chef Barry Dakake and Drew Carey at N9Ne Steakhouse in the Palms.

*Award-winning standup comic, writer and producer Drew Carey, who hosts The Price Is Right on CBS, brings his Improv All Stars for a late-night laugh fest at Terry Fator’s theater in The Mirage. Direct from the cast of Whose Line Is It Anyway? are Ryan Stiles, Kathy Kinney, Chip Esten, Jeff Davis, Sean Masterson, Julie Larson and, on piano, Laura Hall. It’s unscripted and unrehearsed after Drew’s standup session, with suggestions coming from the audience.

Party patrol

Actor Jason Priestley of Beverly Hills 90210 fame will celebrate his 40th birthday at Tabu Ultra Lounge in MGM Grand, while today’s 90210 star Dustin Milligan hosts his 24th birthday celebration at Prive in Planet Hollywood as Mickey Avalon performs. … Joel and Ethan Coen’s hysterically funny The Big Lebowski, one of my favorite cult classics, with John Goodman, Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore is being screened at Mandalay Bay Beach.

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

Dane Cook at the premiere of The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard at Planet Hollywood.

*Tickets go on sale today for Dane Cook’s standup concerts at The Joint on Oct. 9 and 10 and for the New Year’s run of Bette Midler shows at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace. The Divine Miss M is set for Dec. 30 and 31 and enjoys New Year’s Day off before resuming Jan. 2-31.

Saturday, Aug. 29

*Singers Toby Keith and Jack Ingram drive in their America’s Toughest tour to the outdoor amphitheater at Red Rock Resort for an explosive night of country music. Toby recently returned from his seventh USO tour entertaining troops in Afghanistan and is touring to support his new album That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy. Jack recently set a record for completing 215(!) radio interviews. Country continues at The Orleans Arena with the Coyote Country Fest featuring Tracy Lawrence, Tracy Bird, Bomshel, Love & Theft and Chris Young.

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

Toby Keith.

*Headline-making reality TV star Jon Gosselin is guest of honor at MGM Grand’s Wet Republic pool party. The Jon and Kate Plus 8 father will try hard to dodge questions about his marriage split and alleged romances.

*Etta James and the Roots Band perform powerful, sweet jazz at Silverton Casino Lodge; Great White and former Warrant lead singer Jani Lane headline at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay; and Tommy James and the Shondells take a step back in time with their ’60s hits at the Cannery.

*Tickets go on sale today for two special fall events: Grammy winner Justin Timberlake’s Oct. 17 concert with Alicia Keys, Ciara, TLC and Taylor Swift at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for his annual Shriners fundraiser capping off weeklong golf events and the Bob Dylan concert Oct. 18 at The Joint.

Photo: The Associated Press

Justin Timberlake at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.

Party patrol

Ford model Amber Rose hosts the daylong Tao Beach party at The Venetian. … The finalists in Maxim’s Top 10 2009 Hometown Hotties are revealed and then celebrate with glamour girl April Rose at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel. … Caramel in the Bellagio celebrates the night’s MMA battle in Portland between our hometown hero Randy Couture and opponent Antonio Nogueira at UFC 102. … And Friday Night Lights star Scott Porter hosts his 30th birthday celebration at Prive.

Sunday, Aug. 30

*Two-time Grammy winner Petula Clark headlines a 4 p.m. show at the Rampart. During her 50-plus-year career, she has sold some 70 million records, including her big hit “Downtown.” The British-born singer, who has appeared in more than 30 movies, was a child entertainer for the troops during World War II!

*Sexy, stunning 90210 starlet AnnaLynne McCord, who also starred as the scheming Eden Lord on Nip/Tuck, hosts Wet Republic. The party marks the start of our twice-annual MAGIC fashion convention week here.

Photo: Ana Dobrijevic

AnnaLynne McCord.

*The Miss Playboy Club August model search draws to a close at The Playboy Club in the Palms with the announcement of this month’s winner by beautiful Playboy Playmate Alison Waite.

*Nathan Maxwell and the original Bunny Gang, who have absolutely nothing to do with Hugh Hefner’s hutch, perform at Wasted Space.

Photo: TVT

Doug Reinhardt, Paris Hilton, Doug's sister Stacey and Jeff Beacher.

Monday’s teases

We’ll have the full photo coverage of all the highlights from the Michael Jackson tribute concert, his celebrity star presentation and our chats with family patriarch Joe Jackson and sister LaToya. We also will wrap up the Fantasy Football Superdraft Weekend of stars and prep for the return of Jeff Beacher’s Beacher’s Madhouse to Jet in The Mirage.

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

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