Las Vegas Weekly

May 13, 2009 · 12:09 PM

Strip Scribbles: Happy Birthday and 1st Anniversary to Nathan Burton

By Robin Leach

Don Marrandino and Nathan Burton.

Photo: Courtesy

Congratulations to Flamingo headliner Nathan Burton, who celebrated his birthday in tandem with the 1st anniversary of his magic show there. To celebrate, Nathan added a new illusion to his show where he made a custom chopper appear, and before vanishing it in mid-air, he levitated it. He had Flamingo President Don Marrandino onstage to stand underneath the motorcycle as it levitated!

Photo: Denise Truscello

Clifton Collins Jr. raises a glass.

*Onscreen in Star Trek as the evil Romulan captain’s henchman, actor Clifton Collins Jr. is one scary-looking dude! The personification of wicked, and yet in real life he’s a warm and friendly wine aficionado.

Photo: Denise Truscello

Clifton Collins Jr., Johnathon Schaech and a friend.

Clifton came to town to help open Star Trek at Brenden Theaters in the Palms last week, and our contributing photographer Denise Truscello took the official portrait and also of him relaxing with actor Johnathon Schaech. Star Trek set box office records last weekend, racking up a whopping $76.5 million for its first weekend and the pre-midnight screenings!

*Legendary NBA Hall of Famer and former Houston Rockets guard Calvin Murphy is slam-dunking his way to Vegas. He will sign autographs at the Hoop Hall Experience, the official Basketball Hall of Fame’s touring exhibit, at Planet Hollywood this Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Calvin, one of the best free-throw shooters ever, set numerous records with the Rockets during his 13-year-run with the team from 1970 to 1983. Currently the host of his own ESPN Radio show, Calvin was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Photo: The Light Group

Taya Parker at Jet.

*Taya Parker, this year’s Penthouse Pet of the Year who also won VH1’s Rock of Love Bus reality show, hosted a party at Jet in The Mirage. She stopped the photographers in their tracks on the red carpet, and then the shapely beauty hit the VIP section for more traffic-stopping moments. She chatted with everyone and took breaks to show off her sexy moves on the dance floor.

Photo: The Venetian

David Copperfield is flanked by Phantom cast members Anthony Crivello (Phantom) and Kristi Holden (Christine Daae).

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

Michael Buble at the Titanic exhibit.

Star surveillance

Master illusionist David Copperfield was thrilled with his visit to Phantom -- Las Vegas Spectacular, and after the performance, he joined the cast backstage to commend them on a phenomenal show. It was a return visit for the magician who created the vanishing mirror-chair illusion in the Phantom’s underground cave! … Actor Joe Pesci was on the outside terrace at Rao’s in Caesars Palace chatting up his plans for Pesci Pizza Parlors he plans to launch here before taking them nationwide as a chain. Joe has had all his pizza business meetings there. … Jermaine O’Neal of the Miami Heat partied in the hip-hop room of Jet, while Ray Romano and Brad Garrett enjoyed their Grey Goose cocktails in another area. … Yes, that was comedy singer Marty Allan and model actress Hillery Crouse with me at the Gold Coast filming the debut episode of Stephen Sorrentino’s new TV show Liars Limo. … Singer Michael Buble and his Argentinean actress girlfriend visited the Luxor exhibits Bodies and Titanic. The couple happily posed for a photo, and after both tours, Michael signed the guestbook with the words, “What an amazing treat!”

Tonight’s tip

It’s Sushi-Sake 101 at Sushi Samba in the Palazzo so you can get schooled in the art of Maki-Making and Sake Tasting. It’s a two-hour interactive teaching and tasting event, and as you prepare the sushi rolls, you also sip the sake. There are five courses of each!

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The Lion King at Mandalay Bay.

Photo: Las Vegas News Bureau

Bobby Flay is pinstripe suited up for blackjack.

Tomorrow’s teases

We’ll continue our series of The Lion King one-on-one interviews with the Disney musicals’ stars. Then I go into the kitchen with star chef Bobby Flay, who proves why he’s the greatest grill master guru!

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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