Las Vegas Weekly

December 4, 2009 · 7:58 PM

Strip Scribbles: Sammy Hagar officially opens Cabo Wabo Cantina

By Robin Leach

Sammy Hagar at Cabo Wabo Cantina in Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile shops.

Photo: Wicked Creative

Sammy Hagar rocks the red carpet at Cabo Wabo Cantina tonight with a grand opening fiesta and performance with his band The Wabos. Complimentary tickets were given out to the first 400 fans who lined up this morning for the giveaway. Before Sammy’s performance at 9 p.m. in his first U.S. outlet of the successful Mexican playground, he’ll add his signature collection to the memorabilia there and also give me a tour, which we’ll report next week with our photo coverage.

Photo: Wicked Creative

Cabo Wabo Cantina.

Photo: Wicked Creative

Cabo Wabo Cantina.

Although the Cabo San Lucas location has been an incredible success story for many years, the new location at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile will now become the flagship of Sammy’s future U.S. bars and restaurants.

*From everybody at VegasDeLuxe.com, Happy Birthday wishes to one of our favorite Strip stars: Holly Madison. To be honest, she doesn’t turn 21 again (wink, wink) until two days before Christmas. But tonight, she’s starting two weeks of festivities by hosting the night at Jet in The Mirage. This afternoon, she kicked off her toys for kids drive at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip, and we’ll have those photos posted this weekend.

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

Holly Madison at the grand opening of Beso restaurant and Eve Nightclub at CityCenter on Dec. 3, 2009.

On Sunday night, Holly has her own viewing party for the premiere of Holly’s World on E! Entertainment right after Hugh Hefner’s The Girls Next Door finale. You’ll catch Mayor Oscar Goodman and me in guest roles. Holly, who has a break from Peepshow during its January hiatus, is planning to take over City Hall!

*Las Vegas rang in the holiday season in grand fashion this morning thanks to Oscar. For the first time, we’re part of Good Morning America’s Lights Up America program, an annual yuletide tradition for the ABC morning show. Our Las Vegas-themed holiday window was unveiled during this morning’s broadcast. Oscar joined the GMA cast in New York to celebrate the unveiling, while GMA weathercaster Sam Champion marked the occasion in Las Vegas by conducting live remotes from Fremont Street Experience with Wayne Newton and Blue Man Group.

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

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Golden Nugget Owner Tillman Fertitta with guests at the Golden Nugget Rush Tower Grand Opening on Nov. 23, 2009.

The display depicts an outpost of Santa’s workshop, from the heart of Las Vegas, complete with “celeb elves” busy at work. As miniature likenesses of current Strip headliners Bette Midler, Carrot Top, Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond and Wayne Newton, the celeb elves each have a personality-specific role to play inside the workshop, which, upon closer look, incorporates many iconic aspects of our city. Sam officially lit the holiday tree at Fremont Street, and the broadcast also served as a collection site for the 3rd Annual Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive, a partnership between GMA, One Warm Coat and Burlington Coat Factory to benefit Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.

*Congratulations to Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap, who will be back here on the Strip in January with the 2010 pageant, as her husband Brian Kleinschmidt and she have made it to the final three teams on CBS’s The Amazing Race. Tune into the season finale on Sunday to see if they come out on top.

Star surveillance

U.S. Airways pilot hero Cpt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger has become a star after saving his passengers when he landed his plane in New York’s Hudson River shortly after takeoff when a flock of geese stalled and then shut down his engines. He’s written a book, Highest Duty, about the experience and hosted a signing at Barnes & Noble in Henderson. … The divas who dine (and the ladies who lunch) are still swooning after catching a glimpse of actor Orlando Bloom going shirtless during his meal at Lavo in the Palazzo. Orlando was with a group that included girlfriend Miranda Kerr, his cousin Sebastian Copeland, Donovan Leitch and Rosario Dawson. They stayed on in town after helping open the Vdara at CityCenter on Tuesday. One of his friends spilled a drink on Orlando’s shirt, and after three shirts were called in from John Varvatos, Orlando picked a simple white button-down and changed his shirt right in the middle of Lavo. … WWE star Melina Perez was upstairs at Lavo with a gal pal, and they stayed from opening right until closing for the Label Junkie party. … Kevin Federline enjoyed lunch at Lagasse’s Stadium in the Palazzo with his gal pal Victoria Prince, and then the couple showed up later at Tao’s Worship party in the adjoining Venetian to celebrate her 27th birthday. … Racecar champion Kyle Busch and a friend tried their luck at the blackjack tables in The Playboy Club in the Palms, but no word as to their results. … His brother 2004 NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch dropped by Pole Position Raceway to get his speed fix for three hours before the NASCAR Awards.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom at the Vanity Fair party for the grand opening of Vdara Hotel & Spa at CityCenter on Dec. 1, 2009.

Now we’re going to rev into top gear with a high-speed package of award-winning events that we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN. But first for our National Finals Rodeo fans, here are the top weekend attractions:

Brooks & Dunn play the Las Vegas Hilton through Sunday night; Tanya Tucker performs tonight and tomorrow at the Silverton; Ron White has them laughing in the aisles tonight and tomorrow at The Mirage; and Clay Walker entertains for two nights at the Golden Nugget. Tomorrow, Willie Nelson and Family with Asleep at the Wheel perform at Planet Hollywood. Sunday night, Lee Greenwood celebrates a Tennessee Christmas at The Orleans Arena. And don’t forget that the new Miss Rodeo America winner will be crowned tomorrow at The Orleans Showroom. Now here are all the other entertainment options:

Friday, Dec. 4

*The Smiths legend Morrissey has released nine solo albums and performs at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel with Doll & the Kicks.

*Former Platters lead singer Sonny Turner still has that signature style and swagger because he’s the great pretender. Sonny performs at the Suncoast through Sunday.

Photo: Coast Casinos

Sonny Turner.

*Ray Price, who started his legendary music career back in 1951, is classic country at Boulder Station, and Gloriana is at LAX in the Luxor.

*Alton White, who stars as Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King at Mandalay Bay, performs two charity benefit concerts of holiday music at The Liberace Museum.

Saturday, Dec. 5

*Comedy king Robin Williams, one of the most gifted actors and comedians of all time, holds court at MGM Grand Garden Arena. This is a make-up date from earlier this year when he had to cancel and underwent open-heart surgery.

Photo: Courtesy

Robin Williams.

*Heavy metal rock fans will be in delight when Metallica takes to the stage at Mandalay Bay, and holiday music lovers will thrill just as much with the Trans Siberian Orchestra at The Orleans Arena.

*Sammy Hagar parties at The Joint with his new band Chickenfoot made up of guitar god Joe Satriani, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and former Van Halen guitarist Michael Anthony. Bet a shot of tequila he’ll wind up back at his new Cabo Wabo Cantina after the show!

*In celebration of their 100th performance at The Colosseum, members of Cher’s 16-strong team of dancers and aerialists will meet and greet with fans after the Caesars Palace show.

*Sax player supreme Boney James plays the pipes at Boulder Station.

*Soap opera fans are in for a treat, even though their beloved Guiding Light has been canceled. The beloved actors and actresses are on tour and stop for an afternoon and nighttime extravaganza at The Rio.

*It’s party time with a knockout after-fight bash for The Ultimate Fighter heavyweights finale with Jon “Bonez” Jones, Brendan Schaub and Shane Carvin at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. … Kimbo Slice will serve as a judge in the semifinal round of the Penthouse model search and host the after-fight party at Pure in Caesars Palace. … Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans will host the after-party at LAX, where Love & Theft also will perform.

*The largest Muay Thai championship in Buffalo Bill’s history will feature all of the top Muay Thai dogs of Las Vegas, including Kevin Ross, Chaz Mulkey, Shawn Yarborough, Roxy Richardson and Jack Thames. WBC and IKKC title all fights, and the Full Rules takes place at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens' fall display.

Sunday, Dec. 6

Winter is welcomed officially at the Bellagio Conservatory with its spectacular holiday wonderland display. The inspiring centerpiece is a stately 42-foot Shasta Fir ablaze in thousands of twinkling lights, and nearby is a 7-foot-tall custom-sculpted rocking horse. We’ll post a photo gallery next week.

*Don’t forget Lee Greenwood’s Christmas show at The Orleans Arena, while Susie Dobbs headlines the next four nights at South Point.

Monday’s teases

We’ll report from Holly Madison’s premiere screening of Holly’s World, and we’ll have full photo coverage of the Great Santa Run and the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon. Tuesday, we’ll have our exclusive interview with Sammy Hagar.

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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