Las Vegas Weekly

June 23, 2009 · 10:46 AM

Strip Scribbles: Mayor unveils ice sculpture of himself today at Mandalay Bay

By Robin Leach

Mayor Oscar Goodman stands next to the newest addition of Madame Tussauds in The Venetian. The life-size wax figure of the mayor was introduced as the museum opens its newest exhibit, "Viva Las Vegas."

Photo: Justin M. Bowen

Ice sculptors spent 32 hours carving 550 pounds of crystal clear Canadian ice with 10 tools to make a life-sized ice portrait of our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman. Oscar will unveil the creation today at 5:30 p.m. at Mandalay Bay’s Minus 5 Experience, the shopping arcade that connects the Luxor with Mandalay Bay.

It’s the first ice portrait of our iconic mayor and will remain on display all summer. Don’t fret -- it won’t melt. The temperature inside the music and vodka ultra lounge is 23 degrees. You’re given a parka, gloves and boots -- with our temperatures hitting 100 degrees this week, it’s a fantastic way to cool off! And the seats made from ice are covered in deerskins so you sit without freezing off your tush!

*My colleague Steve Freiss tweeted from The Orleans valet parking that Broadway diva Patti LuPone stopped her show during the opening number and called out an audience member who was allegedly texting during her performance. This isn’t the first time the Evita star has taken audience members to task from the stage -- Patti became a YouTube sensation this year after calling out an audience member for taking photos during Gypsy! Click HERE for Las Vegas Sun colleague Joe Brown’s report of The Orleans outburst.

*Our local Down Under stars will be on the red carpet to welcome their country mates for tonight’s premiere of the horror film Prey at the Brenden Theatres in the Palms. Imperial Palace star quartet Human Nature will join Thunder From Down Under, the Fantasy girls and hypnotists Terry Stokes and Michael Johns to welcome Prey’s Aussie cast of Natalie Bassingthwaite, Jennifer Hansen, Kristin Sergeant, Ben Kermode, Natalie Walker and Jesse Johnson.

*TV cameras from ABC’s Nightline filmed interviews and Strip action for an upcoming segment about the newly reactivated “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” ad campaign. I was interviewed outside Planet Hollywood before the crew went up to do a Q&A with Holly Madison.

*Three important food and wine events all at The Venetian and Palazzo to mark on your calendar. This Thursday, it’s time to stroll, swirl, sip, shop and savor at the Vineyards of Style to benefit our Three Square food bank. Seven wineries will present 28 wines accompanied to jazz by David Van Such and snacks by Restaurant Charlie, the new First Food & Bar and Zine Chinese. On Aug. 15, both casino resorts present the 2nd Annual Carnival of Cuisine with tastings from nine celebrity chefs and 20 restaurants, plus cooking demos and cookbook signings. And on Nov. 14, star chef Emeril Lagasse brings the spirit of the Big Easy to his 5th Annual Carnivale du Vin. More than 40 top names in the culinary and wine world join forces to raise funds to benefit children's charities in Las Vegas and on the Gulf Coast. The Neville Brothers will perform at the wine auction, and Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Michael Mina, Charlie Palmer and Daniel Boulud are among the first chefs to RSVP.

Star surveillance

The celebrity invasion of the Palms continues: At N9NE Steakhouse, UFC President Dana White dined with a party of 10 on rock shrimp, filet mignon and creamed corn. Also there was filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan with seven guests enjoying Kobe carpaccio, followed by the Kobe burger for his entree. … At Rain, musician Bradford Delson took in Paul Oakenfold’s Planet Perfecto, while Atlanta Thrashers’ Jim Slater partied at a VIP table with 12 pals. … Up in Moon, MMA fighters Nate Diaz and Kristopher Cope partied with 10 friends, while an entourage that included 2009 Playboy Playmate of the Year Ida Ljungqvist joined actor Harland Williams. Ida hosted the Good Life party at The Playboy Club in an elegant black sequined dress sipping on Ketel One and Red Bull. Other celebrities at Moon and Playboy included poker player David Ulliot, M. Night and MMA fighter Diego Sanchez, who enjoyed Ketel One cocktails with 40 friends. … Rappers Too Short and Xzibit partied with a group of 10 until 3 a.m. … Brothers and Sisters star David Annable was at Tao Beach’s Sunset Sessions with six friends. Gossip Girl actress Jessica Szohr joined the group when they went to Lavo just after midnight. Also at Lavo was The Ultimate Fighter 2 winner Joe Stevenson, who stuck with water. … Nicky Hilton had dinner with showman Jeff Beacher at Stack in The Mirage… Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger hosted an event at Caramel in the Bellagio for local femme fatales to meet the matchmaker and sign up for the “Find Your Sugar Daddy” contest. Local millionaires awarded each of the contestants “daddy dollars,” and the girl with the most dollars at the end of the night won $5,000 cash!

Tonight’s tips

Country king Garth Brooks performs a private concert at the Encore for the second time, leading to speculation that he might accept Steve Wynn’s offer for a run of shows. … Chef Daniel Boulud throws his first four-course and beer pairing dinner at his Wynn brasserie, which is preceded by a beer reception at 7:30 p.m. … Vince Morris starts a six-night run with Jackie Kashian and Pete Gray at Harrah’s Improv.

Tomorrow’s teases

The Criss Angel True Hollywood Story airs on E!, and we’ve got the inside scoop, plus details of how he plans the first-ever attempt to be “buried alive” under snow! … Is Carrot Top about to celebrate a contract extension at the Luxor? … Phantom celebrates its 3rd anniversary at The Venetian, and 2009 Miss America Katie Stam reaches the halfway mark of her reign with a visit to Las Vegas.

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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