Las Vegas Weekly

June 19, 2009 · 1:27 PM

Strip Scribbles: Cher talks about her daughter’s sex change decision

By Robin Leach

Cher.

Photo: AEG Concerts West

For the first time, superstar Cher has talked openly about her daughter Chastity Bono’s decision to undergo a sex change to become Chaz Bono. The Caesars Palace headliner said that she doesn’t understand Chastity’s decision to go under the knife for the operation that will transform her from female to male.

In a statement, Cher said that while even not understanding the identity change, she will still support Chaz and continues to love her child.

“Chaz is embarking on a difficult journey, but one that I will support. I respect the courage it takes to go through this transition in the glare of public scrutiny, and although I may not understand, I will strive to understand. The one thing that will never change is my abiding love for my child.”

Photo: Denise Truscello

Willem Dafoe at the 2009 CineVegas Film Festival Filmmaker and Honoree Awards at the Palms.

*Actor Willem Dafoe finally made it to the actual Strip with a dinner at Lavo in the Palazzo. During his visit for CineVegas, he kept insisting that he’d never been to the Strip. When he was here, he hadn’t left the Palms, which is just off the Strip. Some 25 years ago, he’d shot a film here on the northern outskirts of town and had never returned, not even once. However, this visit changed things, and he stayed an extra day so he and his son could have dinner at Lavo.

*The Young & the Restless wedding of a lifetime is set for Charlene Lee and Willy Williams at the MGM Grand on July 19. They are the winners of a “wedding of their dreams,” beating out 2,600 couples who entered the daytime soap opera’s contest. Veteran Y&R stars Christian LeBlanc and Tracey Bregman will fly in to be the witnesses. The couple will be married poolside at the MGM Signature Towers, and musicians from Cirque du Soleil’s O at the Bellagio will perform the wedding music. The couple gets to see that show as part of the trip and a wedding celebration dinner at the Mobil Five-Star Joel Robuchon restaurant. MGM also picks up the tab for the wedding cake, dress and even their wedding bands.

Sarah Feldberg

Rao's three California wines are now available for purchase at Las Vegas Whole Foods.

*Today and tomorrow, shoppers at Whole Foods in Town Square and The District at Green Valley Ranch will get to meet the team behind the successful Rao’s restaurants in New York and here at Caesars Palace. The family is launching its Rao’s signature wines made by Robert Summer at his Vineyard at Strawberry Ridge and includes the Napa Valley Chardonnay (2007), Merlot (2006) and Cabernet Sauvignon (2006). Carla Pellegrino, executive chef, will be on hand with her husband, Frank Pellegrino, the managing partner, and his celebrity owner father Frank Pellegrino Sr. Click HERE for our June 4 story reporting the launch of the retail wines.

*Fascinating trivia in connection with the Clampus Vitus historical preservation group presentation of a plaque to commemorate the Aug. 1,1931, opening of the Railroad Pass on the Boulder Highway tomorrow at lunchtime. The Railroad holds the fourth gaming license issued in the state and is the longest operating casino in Nevada. That’s because the first gaming license issued was just a test paper and destroyed. The second and third licensees have long since left the industry, and that’s how Railroad now owns the honor. It’s so old, the hotel even has a Heritage Room museum!

Now it’s time to look forward to all the newest attractions on the Strip this weekend. Yes, there are some old-timers returning to rewrite history, but also a host of newcomers, as we write another page of history in Sin City we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, June 19

*Legendary Motown singer and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm. Show some “R-e-s-p-e-c-t” for “Soul Sister #1” and make the 20-minute drive south on I-15 for her show.

*Comedy king Jay Leno has some time on his hands now that he’s not working late night and gets ready to play primetime this fall, so he’s got a two-night gig at Terry Fator Theatre in The Mirage.

Photo: Jerry Metellus

Clint Holmes.

*Local headliners Clint Holmes, Susan Anton, Domenick Allen of Foreigner and Filipino heartthrob Martin Nievera team up for the three-day debut of their show Vocal Soup at the Suncoast. The 90-minute show will feature solo spots, duets and group numbers and include everything from rock hits to Broadway classics. Frank Sinatra’s pianist and conductor Vincent Falcone will conduct and perform as a special guest.

*Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin brothers share their more than 50 years of country sounds as they sing of “Houston” and “All the Gold in California” at the Sunset Station. There’s also comedy with Harland Williams at the Palms, and Wilco, the Chicago rockers led by Jeff Tweedy, makes sweet music at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Photo: Issac Brekken

Joel Madden.

Party patrol

Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden puts away his song sheets to play DJ at Prive in Planet Hollywood.

Saturday, June 20

*It’s the finale of Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter battle between Team U.S. and Team U.K., with the showdown being broadcast from The Pearl in the Palms. Earlier in the day, UFC fighter Michael Bisping will do a live ESPN broadcast from the Findlay Toyota showrooms at the Valley Auto Mall in Henderson as he heads up a Veterans Supply Drive in a promotion titled “Stock ’Em & Load ’Em.”

*Country queen Loretta Lynn, who has gone from a “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to reign at the top since writing those first hits on the back of a supermarket shopping bag, is still out on the road with her unique songs. She pulls into the Texas Station for a rare one-night concert.

*En Vogue sings those sweet sounds in harmony at the Silverton. … Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy are at the Star of the Desert Arena for all their country hi-jinks. … Todd Rundgren has “Seen the Light’ and has been “Set Free” for his show at the Aliante Station. … The “Inevitable” act with one of the most unusual names in showbiz, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, proves ‘”Hell” is “Hot” at Green Valley Ranch. … If rap is your thing, you have MC Hammer, Tone Loc and Young MC at the Thomas & Mack Center. … And Paul Williams has a two-night run at the South Point.

*Competing comedy stars! Chelsea Hander takes a break from late-night talk for her standup comedy show at The Rogue Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel, while “Sledge-O-Matic” Gallagher takes his raucous humor and mallet to smash his watermelons at the Sunset Station.

Photo: Coast Casinos

Broadway diva Patti LuPone.

*Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who starred in Evita and Sweeney Todd on the Great White Way, brings her vocal magic to The Orleans for two nights with her show Gypsy in My Soul.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Joe Rogan.

Party patrol

Mel B gets ready to end her three-month run in Peepshow with a farewell bash at Tabu in MGM before she moves back to Los Angeles. … Actress Terri Polo isn’t hiding the fact that she’s turning 40 and celebrates her birthday at Prive. … The porn princesses of Vivid’s XXX films celebrate its 25th anniversary at Pure in Caesars Palace. … Comedian and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan hosts the UFC after-fight party and his new Spike TV special at Tao.

Sunday, June 21

*Incredible illusionist and prince of prestidigitation David Copperfield continues his run of marvelous magic at MGM’s Hollywood Theater twice nightly through July 1.

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

Jersey Boys cast members Erich Bergen, Jeff Leibow, Travis Cloer and Deven May at the premiere of Smokey Robinson Presents: Human Nature at the Imperial Palace.

*The second in a series of Strip performer cabaret benefit concerts at the Liberace Museum features Travis Cloer, Erich Bergen, Kristofer McNeeley and Leslie Goddard of Jersey Boys, Kristen Hertzenberg from Phantom , Pilita Danesh of Sin City Heat and the vocal group Mosaic. Barry Manilow’s conductor Joey Melotti conducts the house band with three of Bette Midler’s cast, Tom Barney, Sonny Emory and Mike Miller.

*To celebrate Father’s Day, the Bank in the Bellagio throws a “Find Your Sugar Daddy” event hosted by Patti Stanger of Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker, and she promises to spill secrets of her high-class hook-up techniques.

*Congratulations to my friend Sami Ladeki, founder of Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza, on his 20th anniversary. He kicks off a four-day celebration today by giving 20 percent of his lunch and dinner sales as a donation to the Leukemia Society, Three Square Food Bank, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Public Education Foundation.

Beverly Poppe

Holly Madison.

Monday’s teases

Sexy Holly Madison becomes the showgirl next door as she begins her starring run in Peepshow at Planet Hollywood, plus an advance look at E! Entertainment’s True Hollywood Story on her former beau, Mindfreak magician Criss Angel. … We’ll have the full wrap up of all the stars partying throughout the weekend, and later in the week, we’ll sit with 2009 Miss America Katie Stam for a look at the first six months of her reign, plus our chats with Las Vegas residents Smokey Robinson and Mary Wilson about their very first day of work at Motown.

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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