Las Vegas Weekly

June 18, 2009 · 2:38 PM

Strip Scribbles: Ex-porn star Stormy Daniels considers Louisiana Senate run

By Robin Leach

Stormy Daniels at Tao.

Photo: Grace Rakich

Sexy Stormy Daniels, who has been a gorgeous face and a stunning body on the Las Vegas scene for several years, is returning to her Louisiana roots for a possible political run. She’s formed an exploratory committee and has traveled across the state on listening trips to gauge voter interest in her taking on Sen. David Vitter. He’s the GOP leader whose name was linked to the blackbook prostitute scandal in Washington, D.C., last year.

Stormy, who was born and lived in Louisiana before moving here, talked about her possible run over Patron Platinum shots at Lavo in the Palazzo. Stormy says even if she decides not to run, she hopes her initial moves will prompt a Democratic challenger to go up against David. They both have a year before qualifying for the 2010 primaries.

Photo: Courtesy

Chace Crawford.

Also in Lavo was Gossip Girl heartthrob Chace Crawford, People’s newly crowned Hottest Bachelor in Hollywood (beating out Zac Efron, Robert Pattinson and Bradley Cooper), with his sister and friends. After dining on Kobe meatballs, they headed to a VIP table in the nightclub and danced to the sounds of DJ Five. The night before, Chace dined at Dos Caminos. Singer Asher “I Love College” Roth hit Lavo for the Kobe meatballs and wound up at an adjoining table to Chace. NBA star and Las Vegas native Marcus Banks also was there.

*Marilyn Monroe memorabilia will go on the auction block at Planet Hollywood next week. In addition to Marilyn’s wardrobe, hairgrips and glasses, there’s a fascinating collection of Elvis Presley’s prescription pills bottles. Photographer Denise Truscello is busy cataloging her photos of all items, and we’ll have them for you next week.

Photo: Cheryl Kagan

Scarlett.

*Redheaded red-hot magician Scarlett will have a backup team of topless dancers as she goes abraca-sexy for her new illusions show at The Riviera starting July 1. The Seductive Ladies of Magic will be her magicians’ assistants. Her recent run in an afternoon slot at the V Theater in Planet Hollywood may not have been successful, but it landed her the primetime evening at the Riv. Las Vegas director and choreographer Bobby Boling, who created the first X Burlesque show, is staging Scarlett’s new production. She has mastered some of the most difficult stunts performed by Harry Houdini and Harry Blackstone Jr., including being handcuffed with feet shackled and dropped upside down in a locked tank of bone-chilling water for an escape stunt never planned for a woman!

Photo: Mark Boowers

Tony Sacca and Charo make themselves heard.

*Also heading to the Riviera starting July 10 is international singer and guitarist Charo, our beloved coochie-coochie girl. She has signed a long-term contract to perform Charo in Concert: A Musical Sensation. “I am delighted to be back in Vegas,” Charo says. “This is one of the places where I started, where I have many friends and have called home through the years. The brand new show is full of great music, dancing and lots of comedy.” It will feature Charo’s virtuoso Flamenco guitar, accompanied by a full orchestra performing her biggest hits, complemented by her dancers, lighting and special effects.

*A new entertainment and nightlife complex has opened here. Playground is a revolutionary, 24-hour concept that includes a nightclub, a sushi restaurant, a Crazy Horse 3 adult topless club, a live music venue and hookah lounge all under one roof in a sprawling 40,000-square-foot building. Owner Dave Pappas said: “Instead of going to one place for dinner, another for live music, and then to a nightclub and winding up in a gentlemen’s club, guests can pick one or several or all to spend an entire night in one place without traveling all over town.”

Photo: Palms

Adam Dyet and his girlfriend.

Photo: Palms

Jake Brown, Bryan Herman and Sports Illustrated model May Anderson.

*More than 20 professional skateboarders took part in the Maloof Money Cup launch at the Palms. It marked the official start and countdown to the contests at the Maloof Money Cup set for the Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif., during the July 10 weekend. The kickoff featured a poker tournament to raise funs for the Maloof Skateboard Assistance Foundation, a nonprofit started by the Maloofs to help skateboarders who suffer injuries. A 50-foot fall at the 2007 X Games by Jake Brown inspired Joe Maloof to create the foundation, and at this tournament, Jake donated back his poker winnings to the charity. Among the stars partying at Moon were skaters and competitors Adam Dyet, last year’s winners Paul Rodriguez and Pierre Luc Gagnon, Bob Burnquist, Bryan Herman, Billy Marks, Adam Taylor and Lizard King. The Maloof Money Cup has become the biggest annual event in skateboarding and is a three-day competition and sports festival with nearly $500,000 in prizes.

Photo: Hew Burney/www.hewburney.com

Actor Mekhi Phifer at Tao.

Photo: Denise Truscello

Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody at Lavo.

Star surveillance

Academy Award-winning Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody celebrated her 31st birthday with a runaway Las Vegas visit. Diablo dined beneath the large Buddha statue in Tao at The Venetian with family and friends and then next day wore a stunning metallic one-piece swimsuit at a private cabana in Tao Beach. That night, she was presented with a large red, black and white cake in Lavo and upstairs received a second cake made of cupcakes and sparklers. … After filming a new show for The Style Network in the Palazzo, Bill and Giuliana Rancic chilled at Lavo and went dancing upstairs afterward. … NFL legend Warren Moon, $50 million man Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets, NHL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson with actor Mekhi Phifer and NBA basketball stars Robert Horry and Corey Maggette were all at Tao. Comedian Pauly Shore was a late arrival to the party at 2 a.m. … Guitarist Johnny Hickman, singer-guitarist David Lowery, drummer Frank Funaro and bass guitarist Sal Maida of Cracker performed poolside at Voodoo of The Rio for the monthly concert date. … Singer Andy Vargas, who is currently performing as a lead singer for Carlos Santana’s resident gig at The Rouge Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel, dined at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Denise Truscello

Cracker at Voodoo Lounge in The Rio.

Photo: Denise Truscello

Cracker at Voodoo Lounge in The Rio.

Tonight’s tips

Send in the clowns and the acrobats for the opening night of eight shows over a four-night run of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus at The Orleans Arena. … Rapper Wale will celebrate his hit song “Chillin’ ” featuring Lady GaGa when he hosts at Tao. … The hottest dancers in town compete for cash prizes in the 2nd Annual Catfight Contest at Cathouse in the Luxor to launch the new Stiletto party night there. … The catwalk at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone will be stacked with strutting stunners in brief bikinis for the Miss Coors Light contest. The winner walks away with a modeling contract, paid appearances and a $2,000 cash prize.

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

Warren Moon.

Tomorrow’s teases

Our incredible story of Criss Angel facing life or death as he walks through a military minefield for the opening one-hour special of Mindfreak Season 5. … CNN talk show host Larry King makes a debut Strip stage show appearance with wife Shawn Southwick King as his opening act singer. … Warren Moon brings his celebrity athlete friends to the Palazzo for a fundraiser. … Plus our photos of Third Eye Blind and frontman Stephan Jenkins as another invasion of Hollywood stars takes over the Strip!

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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