Las Vegas Weekly

February 19, 2009 · 8:34 AM

Strip Scribbles: How long does it take to climb Strat’s 108 floors of 1,455 steps?

By Robin Leach

Stratosphere.

“Scale the Strat” event organizers are betting that fitness runners will do it in less than 30 minutes tomorrow and Saturday! The American Lung Association’s Nevada branch has teamed with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to host the vertical ascent inside the Stratosphere. It’s all to promote lung health and to combat lung disease. Tomorrow, the races will be a qualifying round, with the top 50 climbers with the fastest times advancing to Saturday’s final climb off. That’s right: They have to do it all over again -- but faster! It’s the first time this charity event has been attempted here, but it follows the annual vertical road race inside New York’s Empire State Building.

Anybody can sign up tomorrow with a $50 donation to ALA and a promise to have fundraisers sponsor them for an additional $250. Be forewarned: This event is not for the average couch potato or for individuals afraid of heights! You’d better be a competitive athlete to take on this challenge.

Wicked whispers & racy rumors

As ticket sales for shows here grow softer due to the tough economic climate, producers are turning to TV names to help lure customers and boost box office. Plans for one reality star to star in a Strip show have gone up in smoke, but another reality show star has picked up the negotiations where they were left off when they fell apart at the 11th hour. Now I’ve learned that another set of negotiations for yet another Strip show with a talented TV star are close to final signature.

*Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker was inseparable from estranged wife former Miss USA Shanna Moakler during one wild night of partying at Pure in Caesars Palace. The musician who is the mastermind behind his Famous Stars & Straps fashion line is in town for the MAGIC Marketplace fashion convention. Travis took over the entire VIP stage section of Pure with Rob & Big star Rob Dyrdek and hip-hop artists Paul Wall, Asher Roth and Kid Cudi. Asher jumped atop the DJ booth to perform several of his hit songs, including “I Love College,” after which he told the crowd, “We come to Vegas to celebrate life!” Then Kid Cudi grabbed the mic to perform his club anthems and his hit song “Day & Night” to keep the party rocking. Also at Pure were Javon Walker of the Oakland Raiders, Antoine Walker formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies, Dwight Feeney of the Indianapolis Colts, Tank Johnson of the Dallas Cowboys and Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers -- all enjoying their Grey Goose and Belvedere vodka cocktails along with Dom Perignon champagne. They were joined later in the night by Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden, recording artist E-40, UFC fighter Sugar Shane Mosley, poker pro David Williams and rapper Too Short as the party continued yesterday morning till the lights came on pre-dawn!

*For the second consecutive year, Tao restaurant and nightclub group took top honors in the Sexiest Server Contest when their Lavo cocktail waitress Vanessa Remijio edged 51 other contestants for the $10,000 first-place prize.

*NASCAR champion Kurt Busch is throwing open the doors of his Pole Position raceway track when he arrives next week for NASCAR races at Las Vegas Speedway. Kurt will host the first Sprint for Kids fundraiser, with several NASCAR superstars and celebrities taking part in a one-hour endurance competition next Thursday. Kurt’s brother Kyle has promised to participate, along with Jamie McMurray, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Sam Hornish Jr. and David Stremme among the drivers. There will be 12 teams of four participants -- each paired with a NASCAR celebrity -- competing as a relay race team in the electric race karts with speeds up to 45 mph. Kurt will hold a meet and greet with participants paying a $500 entry for the charity.

*Mirage executives are thrilled that they had to give away a check for $165,000 to Robert Ward at the Los Angeles Lakers-Atlanta Hawks game. A senior at USC, Robert, 23, of Mission Viejo, Calif., sunk a one-attempt shot from half-court to win the money! He got a standing ovation from the sell-out crowd at the end of the third quarter, plus high-fives from Lakers stars including Kobe Bryant. The Mirage was insured against his win for a very modest premium and wound up getting worldwide publicity for what previously has been an impossible shot for amateurs!

*Actress Annie Wersching (24) was a guest of former Vegas marketing executive Phil Cooper at the grand opening of the Agua Caliente Casino resort spa. Phil, who worked with us here and is seen with David Fendrick, leader of the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians, handled the celebrity red carpet and performances by Billy Joel, Matchbox 20 and Martina McBride.

Star surveillance

Fresh out of rehab, actress Tara Reid was joined by her father for her first night out in Vegas. She enjoyed a chopped salad and veal Milanese at Lavo inside the Palazzo and stuck to Pepsi! …. Members of the new E! reality TV show Candy Girls have been filming at the Palms for the past two days in the Hot Pink suite of the Fantasy Tower, inside Rain and with chef Kerry Simon at his Palms Place restaurant. … Rapper Vanilla Ice toured the Mobile Beat deejay convention exhibits at the Riviera. … San Diego Chargers’ Shawne Merriman and New York Knicks’ Stephon Marbury shared Grey Goose cocktails at the Nylon Magazine party at Lavo, and Stephon discovered he and his stunning cocktail server shared the same birthday! … American Idol contestant Katrina “Bikini Girl” Darrell filmed a segment for Extra on Hawaiian Tropic Zone’s strip-side patio in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile Shops.

*How civilized to know we have the English tradition of afternoon tea as a social soiree alive and well in our town of neon hysterics. So I can safely recommend stopping into Anya Hindmarch’s new store at the Shoppes in the Palazzo. You can shop till you drop or are in need of a refreshing cup of char!

Tonight’s tip

Off-kilter Scottish comedian Craig Ferguson, host of CBS’s The Late Late Show, starts a nine-day run of standup shows at the Hollywood Theater in MGM Grand. His wry observations taken from today’s headlines have scored well in the ratings, and he’s even funnier off screen! … That coochie-coochie sex kitten Charo is in town for the premiere of her PBS special Entertainment Las Vegas Style she co-hosts with Tony Sacca. The duo, who filmed all over town for the music program, will be at Josette’s Bistro for the champagne celebration. … The Jamz cheerleading and dance championships are today through Monday night’s finals.

Tomorrow’s tease

Superstar Cher returns to a new run of her Caesars Palace concerts but says she’s “living like a nun here in Vegas.” … Brooks & Dunn and Dana Carvey head into town for an Oscar weekend of entertainment. … The Playboy Club is about to crown Miss February, plus Chubby Checker’s still twisting the night away.

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