Las Vegas Weekly

May 8, 2009 · 10:59 AM

Strip Scribbles: Bobby Flay signs his new book at Mesa Grill today

By Robin Leach

Bobby Flay and Robin Leach in the kitchen.

Photo: TVT

The Food Network’s favorite top chef and my pal Bobby Flay will be signing his new cookbook Burgers, Fries & Shakes at his Mesa Grill in Caesars Palace for three hours today starting at 11:30 a.m. America’s most popular grill master says it’s the perfect book to kick off the summer barbecue season!

The book has tons of recipes but also sections of essentials you’ll need for each outdoor dining adventure. Follow Bobby’s directions, and you’ll always have crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!

*Please support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 2009 Hope Gala tomorrow night at the downtown World Market Center. Chef and restaurateur Gustav Mauler is masterminding the dinner, and singer Clint Holmes will play master of ceremonies. Co-Chairman and my friend Ken Henderson always makes it an incredible night, and this year the 750 guests will partake in a global destination-themed party in the journey for a cure.

*My friend John Melendez, formerly with The Howard Stern Show and now Jay Leno’s announcer sidekick on The Tonight Show, will be on the Strip this weekend with his standup comedy act. John and I became friends on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, the ABC show we broadcast from the Australian rain forest. He’ll be guest starring at the Improv in Harrah’s tonight and tomorrow with the regular lineup of comics.

Now it’s time for me to get out of here and laugh out loud over the other highlights of the weekend entertainment scene we affectionately refer to around here as the Royal Robin Rundown:

Friday, May 8

*Music fans get the ultimate treat with a double header tonight and tomorrow from the Dave Matthews Band with Jason Mraz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

*Swivel-hip-shaking Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones still gets panties and room keys thrown onstage while he’s performing at MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theater through May 20.

*Comedians Ray Romano and Brad Garrett headline together in The Mirage for two late-night shows this weekend. They do their separate shows and then team up for the joint knockout punch!

*For “Feel So Good” smooth jazz, go to the South Point for two nights of live shows with my favorite king of cool Chuck Mangione. Man does he blow sweet instrumental sounds on that flugelhorn. He’s still dedicating his compositions to Coleman Mellett and Gerry Neiwood, late members of his band who tragically died in a plane crash four months ago in Buffalo, N.Y.

*The Dirtballs and Age Ov Reason perform live at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel.

*Frank Sinatra heavily influenced male vocalists Larry Liso, Ryan Baker and Carmine Mandia, but Kelly Clinton brought them together and formed Shades of Sinatra. Lisa Smith also joined the group, and now the singers all team up for a run at the Suncoast for three nights through Sunday. It’s not a show attempting to impersonate Ol’ Blue Eyes, but a performance of his longtime favorites and a tribute to his beloved sounds of the era.

Party patrol

Actress and rising Hollywood starlet Sara Paxton (Sydney White and Aquamarine) celebrates her 21st birthday at Prive in Planet Hollywood as she gets ready for her upcoming CW series A Beautiful Life. … Hip-hop mogul and record producer Jermaine Dupri returns to Prive as guest DJ.

Saturday, May 9

*My record producer friend David Foster is hailed as the genius behind everybody from Whitney Houston to Barbra Streisand, and now some of his recording friends will salute him in a special Mandalay Bay Events Center concert. Heather Headley, Philip Bailey, Brian McKnight, Peter Cincotti and Charice Pempengco are set to pay tribute, but you can never be sure what other industry headliners will turn out in support, too. Afterward, his cast will join Vegas Uncork’d at an after-party in chef Richard Moonen’s RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay.

*Billy Ray Cyrus saw his 1992 debut album Some Gave All sell more than 9 million copies thanks to the monster hit “Achy Breaky Heart.” Now Hannah Montana’s dad performs live at the Cannery, but don’t expect Miley to drop in for this visit.

*It’s the first Fight Night Live at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel with Chad Johnson vs. Antonio Tarver, who played Mason “The Line” Dixon in Rocky Balboa.

*Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz races from his MGM concert with Dave Matthews to the Palms for a more intimate gathering in The Pearl for a special midnight show. English singer James Morrison opens.

*Tickets go on sale at noon for Creed on Sept. 27 at The Joint. All four founding members -- Scott Stapp, Mark Trementi, Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall -- have reunited after six years for their new summer tour to promote a new album. … Meantime, Steel Pulse races at the Hard Rock.

Party patrol

Sexy Maxim cover girl and actress Malin Akerman (The Watchmen) celebrates her 30th birthday with a blowout bash at Prive. Some of her friends from her films Heartbreak Kid and 27 Dresses will join the fun! … Model Katarina Van Derham, aka the St. Pauli Girl, hosts at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood. The Slovakian beauty is also featured in AT&T and Rock Star energy drink commercials. … Gorgeous model Sarah Ashley Barker hosts the release party of the latest MMA Sports magazine, in which she appears scantily clad! She’ll autograph the magazine at the Cathouse in the Luxor and expects some of the fighting warriors to drop by.

Sunday, May 10: Happy Mother’s Day!

*Two brunches of definite note! First Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon promises bottomless champagne to go with his regular pajama-clad brunch, and he’ll add a prime beef tenderloin carving station, a lobster Benedict and graham cracker pancakes to mark the holiday. … Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio hosts a brunch at his Craftsteak in MGM Grand to wrap up Vegas Uncork’d.

*M&M presents the romantic musical comedy Dancing Feet at the South Point -- and that is my exit cue to tap right out of here!

Monday’s teases

We’ll have full photo coverage of all the Vegas Uncork’d star chef dinners and parties, and later in the week our exclusive interview with CineVegas director Trevor Groth as he gives a sneak peek of what to expect at this year’s film festival.

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.

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