Las Vegas Weekly

December 22, 2009 · 9:31 AM

Strip Scribbles Photo Gallery: Twilight star turns 25

By Robin Leach

Jackson Rathbone celebrates his 25th birthday at the Bank in the Bellagio on Dec. 18, 2009.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Twilight and New Moon star Jackson Rathbone brought members of his band 100 Monkeys to town to celebrate his 25th birthday at the Bank in the Bellagio over the weekend (he turned the Big 2-5 yesterday). Jackson’s career began as a DJ and has shifted into acting, but he never gave up his music roots. Now 100 Monkeys starts its debut tour on Christmas, with the first gig in Costa Mesa, Calif., before a run at the Roxy in L.A.

Twi-hards mobbed Jasper Cullen for photos at the Bank, and leading lens lady Denise Truscello snapped all the action. Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik also shot Jackson at Jet in The Mirage. Jackson told fans he was just a regular guy from Nebraska and that the sudden fame and notoriety was overwhelming. Joining him at the Bank celebrations were MLB player Jason Giambi seen dancing with his wife to Jay-Z’s No. 1 hit “Empire State of Mind” and Bryan Greenberg and Victor Rasuk of HBO’s How to Make It in America, which is produced by Mark Wahlberg.

Photo: SK+G

A few good Marines and the Fantasy cast at the Luxor.

*Six U.S. Marines had some of their Las Vegas dreams come true when they attended Fantasy at the Luxor as guests of one of the show’s dancers, Amber. She has spent the past 10 years visiting and performing for the U.S. Armed Forces overseas and promised our nation’s heroes that if they ever came to Las Vegas, they’d be her guests at the show.

*There’s mighty aggressive marketing going on along the Strip after the CityCenter opening. To ensure that guests remain loyal at the neighboring Bellagio, there’s an offer running through March 10 with the room rate at $99 weekdays and $159 on weekends. It includes $50 in free play and 2 for 1 tickets for any MGM show. Free play is doubled if you stay there during three midweek January periods!

Photo: TVT

Paris Hilton and Michael Boychuck at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel.

*Hair color king to the stars Michael Boychuck had a clean sweep at the Hair Wars contest when his three salons, Amp and Primp at the Palms and Color at Caesars Palace, won all the awards yesterday. Michael won for best salon, best makeup artist, best hair extensionist and overall Hair Wars winner. Congratulations to my best pal! One of his models had her hair done up as a bottle of Perrier Jouet champagne! Today, Michael shuttles back and forth to L.A. to coif Paris and Nicky Hilton and the Hilton family for their Christmas celebrations.

Photo: PR Plus

Rex Lee, second from right, at Ghostbar in the Palms on Dec. 18, 2009.

Star surveillance

Film director and producer Michael Bay dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms in a party of 10. Before leaving, Michael took a tour of the kitchen and hung out with executive chef Barry Dakake. Jason Giambi also dined at N9NE, with four friends, and, at the end of his meal, did shots with chef Barry. Nearby was former MLB player Howard Johnson and three friends. Up at Nove Italiano, NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris was solo for supper. He signed chef Geno Bernardo’s kitchen door before going upstairs to play blackjack in The Playboy Club. Also signing Geno’s kitchen door after dinner was track and field athlete Felix Sanchez. Rex Lee, Lloyd of HBO’s Entourage, enjoyed The Executive Lounge’s annual holiday party at Ghostbar in the Palms. DJ Felix da Housecat partied at Rain with five guests and then at 1 a.m. took on the turntables and rocked the house for a two-hour surprise set. At The Playboy Club, UFC President Dana White partied with six friends and then moved up to a table at Moon until 2 a.m. Also at Moon, Matt Sorum and his four-girl, sexy rock group Darling Stilettos celebrating their successful showcase.

Tonight’s tips

Magic legends Tony and Ferdinand Fercos unleash their new, mystifying Untamed Illusions at Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts for a run through Jan. 3. It has 15 illusions, spectacular acrobatics, world-record juggling acts, a white Siberian tiger, a Bengal tiger, a black leopard and Sinbad the lion. … The Improv at Harrah’s showcases Geechy Guy with supporting acts Scott Henry and Ron Morey through Sunday. Geechy is a Las Vegas resident who once beat Ray Romano on our old series Star Search and went on to claim a Guinness World Record for telling 676 jokes in one hour.

Photo: Shane O'Neal/N9NE Group

DJ Tiesto and Jason "J-Roc" Craig.

Party patrol

The Santa Claus with the most helpers wins $5,000 at Moon when the Nutcracker Dance Factory entertains at J-Roc’s holiday belles party.

Tomorrow’s teases

An exclusive interview with Holly Madison to celebrate her birthday as she takes on a new role of author, plus our four-part series of Cirque du Soleil’s new spectacular Viva Elvis at Aria in CityCenter continues with a fascinating one-on-one interview with director and author Vincent Paterson.

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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