Las Vegas Weekly

June 26, 2009 · 11:01 AM

Strip Scribbles: NBA stars party and play at the Wynn and Encore

By Robin Leach

Los Angeles Lakers' Luke Walton gets an earful.

Photo: Tryst

It was a big night for sports at Blush in the Wynn as Derek Fisher, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar and Trevor Ariza of the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers joined with New Jersey Nets’ Keyon Dooling and Theo Ratliff of the Philadelphia 76ers for a night out on the town. … Nick Collinson from the Oklahoma City Thunder was at the Society Bar inside Society Cafe at the Encore for lunch and was followed in much later for dinner by Andrew Bynum of the Lakers, who sat at a nearby table to Brendan Haywood of the Washington Wizards and Sean May of the Charlotte Bobcats. … Who was that high-roller big spender in the bungalows at Wet Republic in MGM who shelled out more than $70,000 of his own money as cash prizes to the bikini beauties competing in a swimsuit contest, and then treated the girls to Cristal as he ordered magnums of the bubbly?

*Congratulations to all involved at Dick’s Last Resort in the Excalibur as it celebrates its 2nd anniversary tonight. Known for massive cocktails and finger foods by the bucket, Dick’s will be the site of festivities with tribute bands Dangerous Hours and Panama all weekend long. Resident entertainer and mascot Taco and his wild and wacky antics have made the venue a hangout for people wanting fun, entertainment and a good time on the Strip. He’ll be giving away prizes throughout the weekend and promises his own water show and musical sing-alongs.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Carmen Electra is the guest Playboy Bunny flanked by other Bunnies.

*The 3rd Annual Ditch Pool Party Bunny Hunt gets underway today for those beauties who want to become a Playboy Club Bunny, which could possibly wind up with stardom if the winner is spotted for a nude magazine layout. Applicants must be 21 and older, and finalists will be whittled down to the mid-afternoon final judge’s selection and then the naming of the winner.

Now it’s time for us to hop out of here, add some decorum around our birthday suit and look as pretty as a picture for a jam-packed winning weekend of mega-shows, concerts and parties that we wrap up in ears, a tail and a pink bow and affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, June 26

*Gin Blossoms have ‘”Found Out About You” and “Mrs. Rita” and their many other career hits including “Hey Jealousy” and “Hear It From You.” Grammy-nominated band Tonic that goes well with gin opens for them at the Hard Rock Hotel pool.

Photo: Eric Johnson

Neo soul icon Maxwell will play The Pearl at the Palms on Friday.

*R&B star Maxwell, full name Max Rivera, melds his Puerto Rican and West Indian heritage for the neo-soul music he’s made so popular, and although he started out with only a Casio keyboard, he plays The Pearl at the Palms tonight.

Photo: Coast Casinos

Clint Black.

*Prolific songwriter and country legend Clint Black, who has recorded more than 100 of his compositions, will play three nights at The Orleans showroom. Male Vocalist of the Year winner Clint has racked up 13 albums selling more than 20 million in his 20 years in the business since being named Best Newcomer in 1989.

*The Blue Oyster Cult released its debut self-titled album in 1972. The band pulls into the Boulder Station, so “On Your Feet or On Your Knees,” give them a warm welcome, while Gary Puckett sings for his supper for two nights at the South Point without his Union Gap.

Photo: Kingston Gee

Cheng Yinghua.

*One of the fastest and most exciting indoor sports in the world is table tennis, and world-class stars, fanatics and Hollywood celebrities are here for the HardBat Classic tournament at The Venetian for the next three days. There’s a $100,000 first-place prize, so players will be using their topspin to collect the fortune!

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.

*Two special items of note: Following today’s 7 p.m. performance of Jersey Boys at the Palazzo, the cast and crew will meet Nevada Public Radio listeners and members for a Q&A to helps boost noncommercial broadcasting here. Then Mandalay Bay Beach presents one more classic outdoor movie screening with Tropic Thunder while filmgoers frolic and float in the wave pool there!

Photo: Tao

Kourtney, Robert and Khloe Kardashian.

Star surveillance

Precious Peepshow pet Holly Madison celebrates her first week onstage at Planet Hollywood when she hosts the midnight party there at Prive. … Reality TV star and boutique owner Khloe Kardashian will bring along her sisters Kim and Kourtney, mom Kris Jenner, brother Rob and Kim’s boyfriend Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints to celebrate her 25th birthday at Pure in Caesars Palace. Doubtless some of it will wind up on E!’s Keeping Up With the Kardashians. … Actress and upcoming MTV host Ashley Hartman celebrates her final night of bachelorette status with an Orange County-styled party at Tabu Ultra Lounge in MGM Grand. The steamy blonde beauty starts Love Squad on MTV on July 11. … Pitbull will perform live and host the late-night shenanigans at LAX in the Luxor.

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

Pussycat Dolls: Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta, Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Roberts.

Saturday, June 27

*The gorgeous and glamorous Pussycat Dolls perform at The Pearl in the Palms, and it coincides with casino marketing chief Jimmy Tipton’s annual pajama party there, so expect it to be the wildest weekend of the year! I’ll be on front line duty there for all the action -- and I mean all the action!

*Lindsay Lohan hosts her poolside party at Wet Republic in MGM this afternoon.

*Guitar giants Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood join forces for an amazing concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Photo: Illustration by Jerry Miller

Artie Lange.

*Actor, writer, producer, comedian and radio personality Artie Lange stars at The Rogue Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. Artie’s a regular on The Howard Stern Show and produced his DVD It’s the Whiskey Talkin.’

*For the first time in four years, multi-platinum recording star Yanni is back on tour and brings four singers and an orchestra to Mandalay Bay Events Center.

*Stand-up comic Bill Engvall brings those blue-collar jokes to a one-night-only gig at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm. Bill is a member of the Blue Collar Comedy group, which includes Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Ron White, and his self-titled sitcom airs on TBS.

*The veteran queen of soulful jazz Etta James and the Roots have canceled their concert at the Silverton due to illness. The concert has been rescheduled for Aug. 29.

The Killers.

Other attractions

Tickets go on sale today for our hometown heroes The Killers for a Sept. 19 show at Mandalay Bay Events Center. … Magician Steve Dacri is MC and singer Kelly Clinton performs with Tony Sacca and Samson the contortionist at the Colors of Lupus gala fundraiser at the T.I. ballroom. … Poker champion Doyle Brunson teaches with Mike Caro in another of their poker seminars today and tomorrow at The Rio convention area. … “CineVegas Under the Stars” at the Springs Preserve continues with The Secret Garden.

*Tennis star Anna Kournikova, actor-model Antonio Sabato Jr., actor Jonathon Schaech, actress Regina King, actor Aaron Paul, table tennis phenom Biba Golic, actor Justin Kirk, actress Autumn Reeser and actor Judah Friedlander are all expected for the 5 p.m. all-star celebrity table tennis tournament at The Venetian. The after-party for the HardBat Classic is at Sportsbook Bar & Grill in the Palazzo.

Party patrol

Rapper Lil’ John takes over the DJ booth to twist the wheels of steel at Prive.

Photo: TVT

Human Nature toast to a successful run at Imperial Palace.

Sunday, June 28

*It’s the 23rd Annual Ribbon of Life with 250 performers from nearly every show on the Strip, led by comedian George Wallace and Australia’s Human Nature with host casts of Ka, Jersey Boys, Love, La Femme, Phantom, Zumanity and more for the Golden Rainbow fundraiser.

*The I Kissed a Boy (And I Liked It) contest between five straight and five gay men vying for first prize of $1,500 is at Krave in Planet Hollywood.

*Carey Hart presents the Deadly Seven at his Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel, and Grammy-winning producer Benny Benassi plays DJ at Wet Republic.

*A comedy night, Tickled Pink, debuts at the Harmon Theater with Shayma Tash headlining and hosting Julie Goodman and Jason Stuart.

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

Andrew Ragone (Raoul), Anthony Crivello (The Phantom) and Kristi Holden (Christine Daae) celebrate Phantom -- Las Vegas Spectacular's third anniversary at The Venetian.

Monday’s teases

Lindsay Lohan will probably play hardball with pool party photographers at Wet Republic, but we’ll endeavor to post happy snaps. Then to start the week off right, as we edge closer to the Fourth of July, we’ll have our close-up on the Pussycat Dolls pajama party at the Palms and all the antics of Howard Stern’s sidekicks. Midweek, we have an exclusive interview with Phantom producer Scott Zeiger of BASE Entertainment about The Venetian show’s three-year success story.

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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