Las Vegas Weekly

May 29, 2009 · 11:54 AM

Strip Scribbles: Bette Midler nears 100-show milestone at The Colosseum

By Robin Leach

Bette Midler in The Showgirl Must Go On in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Superstar singer Bette Midler will celebrate her 100th performance of The Showgirl Must Go On at the Caesars Palace Colosseum on June 7, and to celebrate, the new Serendipity restaurant there is creating and naming a Divine Miss M Sundae.

The ice cream concoction will be on sale for all of June at the Strip front branch of the New York dining hotspot. Simultaneously, there’ll be a champagne reception to toast to Bette’s success in the award-winning Guy Savoy restaurant to open its new Krug champagne lounge.

*Let’s set the record straight! To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. The bad boys of Xtreme Radio (incompletely and incompetently) doctored up my Wikipedia entry so that they could mourn my alleged death in their inimitable style. Only problem is I’m alive and well and still getting the inside scoop for Vegas DeLuxe.

For all of you who stressed out and showed care and love with your phone calls, emails and tweets, I thank you sincerely. And for the few who Twittered their applause, I simply yawn. Xtreme Radio also had me affiliated with another Las Vegas publishing group instead of the Las Vegas Sun and Las Vegas Weekly Web sites here at Greenspun Interactive. I guess that’s what I should expect from people with little manners … and education!

*Las Vegas simply does it better! I know of nowhere else in the world where a swimming pool has celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck to serve you the snacks or amenity butlers and butlerettes to produce the suntan lotion and Evian water spritzers. The new and exclusive daytime luxury pool experience Azure has just opened at the Palazzo, and twice a day each Saturday, fashion models will showcase apparel and accessories from Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch and Barneys New York at the pool. I just love the fact that the Canyon Ranch Spa Club provides a 50-minute cooling and invigorating massage treatment called Champagne on the Rocks featuring the finest of the bubbly!

*My friend Kathrine Baumann, who CNN dubbed “the Andy Warhol of bags,” arrives in Las Vegas today to exhibit her new line of Swarovski crystal-adorned fairytale bridal favors at the JCK convention. The wedding accessories feature a trio of fairytale princess collections of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston, Queen Latifah, Kim Cattrall, Paula Abdul, Cate Blanchett and Calista Flockhart are among the stars who wear Kathrine’s whimsical haute couture and classic handbag creations. Kathrine also will unveil her poker chip-jeweled collection while at the jewelry convention that runs through Tuesday.

*Congratulations to the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay on the birth of two female and two male sandbar shark pups. They averaged 1 kilogram and 54 centimeters in length at birth. The animal care staff confirmed the pregnancy in October, and the mother, one of 11 sandbar sharks in the tank, was transferred to the onsite Husbandry Center. The shark pups are now on display in a special exhibit until July 6, when they will be moved to the Husbandry Center until they are mature enough -- read big and ugly enough to fend for themselves -- to return to the aquarium.

Star surveillance

For the seventh consecutive time, The Rogue Joint resident Carlos Santana ordered his usual chicken fried steak and eggs when he took his family for late breakfast at Mr. Lucky’s in the Hard Rock Hotel. He’s been a regular since arriving to start his residency. … Basketball legend Julius Erving, aka “Dr. J,” went backstage to meet magician Criss Angel to congratulate him after watching his Cirque du Soleil Believe at the Luxor. … Luxor comedian Carrot Top welcomed crooner Brian Evans to his show. Brian is in discussions about headlining here on the Strip. … Flamingo headliner George Wallace, hypnotist Anthony Cools and Kevin Burke from Defending the Caveman were joined by Tropicana funnyman Bobby “The Pitbull of Comedy” Slayton at a joke-filled Mon Ami Gabi luncheon in the Paris. … Holly Madison enjoyed the Swedish-styled massage and a facial at George Maloof’s Drift Spa at Palms Place. … Free agent Frank Thomas celebrated his 42nd birthday at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms with his wife Megan and family. Frank feasted on rock shrimp, bone-in filet with sauteed spinach and creamed corn and wine. Later he showed up at Blush in the Wynn for Platinum Patron shots.

*The world’s first Barbie hotel suite will be unveiled at the Palms Fantasy Tower on Monday on the heels of her 50th anniversary! Interior designers Happy Chic have incorporated signature items from her Malibu Dream House into this bachelorette and birthday party destination. Part of the pampering in pink includes skirted, corseted, lace-up dress chairs and a sunburst mirror made from 65 reproduction 1959 Barbie black and white swim-sit dolls. The 2,350 square-foot suite can hold 50 and has an extra-large Jacuzzi and two-way fireplace!

Now it’s time to pack up our collection and live the fun and fantasy of today’s real-life Ken and Barbie dolls heading into town for a weekend of fun. We’ve laced up the highlights in a pretty pink package we refer to affectionately around here as the Royal Robin Rundown:

Friday, May 29

*Pop princess Christina Aguilera shows the sparkle and the bling at Tao in The Venetian when she launches the 2009 collections by jewelry designer Stephen Webster as part of the giant JCK opening officially here tomorrow.

*David Alan Grier foxtrots from Dancing With the Stars for two nights of standup comedy shows at Lance Burton’s theater in the Monte Carlo. … Bill Maher has a run of his sarcastic, savage humor at The Orleans through Sunday night.

*The smooth sounds of the saxophone make it easy to chill out in the heat of the summer night when jazzman David Sanborn blows beautifully at the South Point. … Sugar Ray mixes the sounds of funk, metal, pop and alternative rock as they “Fly” poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel.

*Abracadabra! Comedy magician Jeff Hobson waves the wand as emcee when he presents the World Stars of Magic at the Suncoast for three consecutive nights. Illusionists Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh will dazzle with their fire tricks, and Jeff promises that a living, breathing, talking head -- with absolutely no body -- will help audiences find their seats!

*Pennywise, Revolution Mother and Pepper join Authority Zero at House of Blues. … While Otherwise with special guest Solidify are at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel.

Party patrol

Adult XXX actress Sasha Grey goes R-rated and legitimate in Steven Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience and will celebrate its premiere with a party at Lavo in the Palazzo.

Saturday, May 30

*The big concert of the weekend is Fleetwood Mac at MGM Grand, but there’s triple competition from The Offspring, Alkaline Trio and Street Dogs at The Pearl in the Palms. … Mystic Roots Band plays Mandalay Bay Beach. … The Animal Collective roars and screams at House of Blues. … Rounding out the musical night are Loverboy and Night Ranger at the Sunset Station, while British guitarist Robin Thrower from Procol Harum plays his blues rock at Boulder Station.

*Tickets go on sale for two upcoming Hard Rock Hotel concerts. Blink-182 is reuniting for their first tour in five years and performing July 24 will Chester French and the Motion City Soundtrack. It’s the first national tour for Stone Temple Pilots in eight years, and the rockers will play The Rogue Joint on July 2 to kick off the Independence Day holiday weekend.

*More than 100 fighters from 14 states will battle it out in adjoining rings in The Orleans Arena as Tuff-N-Uff presents one of the largest amateur mixed martial arts events in the world. After a brief intermission to reset the stage, it’s The Future Stars of MMA as a team from Mexico takes on our best amateur MMA fighters. A portion of the $25 ticket goes to local charities including St Jude’s and the Shade Tree.

*Former NBA great Michael Brown, who played 11 seasons with the Chicago Bulls, the Utah Jazz, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns, will sign autographs at the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Hoop Hall Experience at Planet Hollywood from 3 to 4 p.m.

Party patrol

Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian will host the Spring Bling at the Pools of the Palazzo. The concert featuring Sara Bareilles and Colby O’Donis will benefit the Lili Claire Foundation, and Vanessa Minnillo, Shari Belafonte and American Idol alum Chikeze have promised to show. … Mel B will break from her Peepshow duties at Planet Hollywood to host the Hot Bodies contest at Tao. … Actress Heather Graham, who stars in the comedy Hangover, is the June cover model of our sister Vegas magazine celebrating its 6th anniversary with a party at Pure in Caesars Palace.

Sunday, May 31

Amazing percussionist Ravi Drums will accompany DJ Chris Garcia at the 12-hour Sunset Session set for Tao Beach. … Erykah Badu performs at the House of Blues.

Monday’s teases

Barbie gets her own pretty-in-pink sexy suite at the Palms. … We’ll have our photo reports of Christina Aguilera’s jewelry party, Heather Graham at the Vegas Magazine Sixth Anniversary Party and Mel B’s hotter than Hot Bodies bash at Tao. … Later in the week, our sit-down with Marie Osmond as she reveals the secrets behind her smile, even after her house burned to the ground, destroying 30 years of memories and valuables!

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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