Las Vegas Weekly

December 28, 2009 · 1:02 PM

Strip Scribbles: Nathan Burton adds Atlantic City to his schedule

By Robin Leach

Nathan Burton and Don Marrandino.

Photo: TVT

It will take a little magic to pull off Nathan Burton’s new travel schedule: The Flamingo headliner is going bi-coastal. Tickets go on sale for his new run of every other weekend appearances at Harrah’s in Atlantic City beginning Jan. 10. I don’t dare think how new airport security rules will handle all of his back-and-forth disappearances and reappearances!

He’ll continue his regular late afternoon shows daily here in the Donny & Marie Osmond theater, and then tackle the New Jersey commute every other Friday night for his Saturday headline show. Nathan will return Sunday in time to be back at the Flamingo for his Monday illusions.

The tricky round-trip flight schedule is the brainchild of former Harrah’s Las Vegas President Don Marrandino, who recently moved home to New Jersey to run five Harrah’s properties in Atlantic City and on the East Coast as regional head honcho.

Don’s new duties and domain as “Mr. Cool” were profiled this past weekend. Meantime, you can watch the newest Nathan Burton video on YouTube as he performs magic on the Strip to baffled visitors:

*I don’t know whether these are old or new rumblings, but I’m hearing reliable rumors for the first time that Harrah’s honchos have had serious, secret negotiations with Harrod’s in London getting Strip frontage space for a department store here. Apparently, executives have looked seriously at the available Strip front space at Caesars Palace. I’m also hearing now that with The Rio President Marilyn Winn running Planet Hollywood after Harrah’s concludes that mega-transaction in March that Caesars President Gary Selesner will take on duties as president at The Rio, where the musical chairs of management originally began for him. Marilyn also runs Bally’s and Paris for Harrah’s.

*Chef Lee Anne Wong of Bravo’s Top Chef will be one of the special guests along with other international chefs at this year’s Top 100 Chinese Restaurant Awards Gala at The Venetian/Palazzo resorts on Jan. 5. Last year, my longtime friend Martin Yan was the Lifetime Achievement Award winner at the prestigious event.

Star surveillance

Before going off to star in her own Peepshow, Holly Madison checked out Untamed Illusions starring the Fercos Brothers in the neighboring Theater for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood. … Celebrated chefs Julian Serrano and Kerry Simon mingled with guests at their respective restaurants in the Palms and Aria during the holiday week, with Julian at Julian Serrano on Christmas Eve. … Shane Victorino, outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, was at The Playboy Club in the Palms with six friends and played blackjack with UFC President Dana White, who was at another table with a group of friends enjoying Perrier Jouet Rose champagne. … Australian skateboarder Jake “Ironman” Brown was at Moon in the Palms and showed off his dance moves. … Actress Kym Whitley was at Ghostbar in the Palms and treated her mom to drinks at a table overlooking the Strip.

Tonight’s tips

The last three shows of entertainer extraordinaire Barry Manilow get underway at the Las Vegas Hilton as he readies his new contract run on the Strip come March 7 at the Paris. Barry’s multiyear-run at the Hilton comes to an end on Wednesday night.

Tomorrow’s teases

The world of VIP hostesses has come under the magnifying glass of full scrutiny since Tiger Woods’ self-admitted transgressions, but it’s not just a Las Vegas nightclub phenomenon. We’ll rip back the shrouds of secrecy here on the Strip and at other gaming meccas and jet-set hotspots.

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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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

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