Las Vegas Weekly

November 17, 2009 · 3:42 PM

Strip Scribbles: Sushi Samba anniversary to include Oprah’s karaoke king

By Robin Leach

Sugarcane Lounge in Sushi Samba at The Venetian.

Photo: Sushi Samba

Talk show titan Oprah Winfrey’s $250,000 karaoke winner was 6-foot-5, 350-pound Abraham McDonald, and now he’s headed to Las Vegas. Abraham will join me and Strip entertainers Zowie Bowie tomorrow when we try to perform the traditional Japanese ceremony of breaking open a giant barrel of sake.

It’s to celebrate the first anniversary of Sushi Samba in the Palazzo, while locations in New York, Chicago and Miami celebrate their 10th anniversaries. There will be gorgeous samba dancers to brighten the festivities as they serve Brazilian, Peruvian and Japanese fusion cuisine.

The VIP party will open to the public at 10:30 p.m. when Abraham launches “SakeOke,” a new weekly event in Sugarcane Lounge. He’ll invite guests to participate in karaoke, and all sake bottles will be discounted 20 percent. Fear not, folks: I won’t be singing along with him, but you can bet Zowie Bowie will!

*America’s tallest Christmas tree is headed to Las Vegas for the holidays. It’s a giant 109-foot-tall White Fir, and it will be unveiled at The M Resort on Dec. 12 after 10 days of decorating it with more than 10,000 lights and ornaments. The tree arrives Dec. 2 at the outdoor Villagio Del Sole plaza at M, with the lighting ceremony Dec. 12. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served as carolers make merry in the piazza. “We’re happy that The M Resort can bring in the nation’s tallest Christmas tree to our backyard. It will be an amazing sight to see, and we’re hoping it spreads holiday cheer around the country,” said Anthony A. Marnell III, M’s chairman and CEO. The resort is offering a special fa-la-la package for the holidays, with rates starting at $110 a night, with a $75 dining credit.

Photo: MGM Mirage

The Bellagio and its world famous waterfalls.

*In other holiday gift-giving back from our casino resorts, The N9NE Group is giving all locals free admission at its nightlife destinations in the Palms from Dec. 1-30. (not Dec. 31, obviously!). This includes Rain, Moon, Ghostbar and The Playboy Club. … At the Bellagio, one promotion offers what might be the all-time bargain there, with $99 for a room midweek and $159 on weekends, with a $50 Free Play credit. The promotion runs Nov. 22 through Feb. 18, and there are certain January nights (Jan. 10-14, 24-28) when Free Play is $100!

Photo: Raul Morales/Cashman Photography

Dr. John and Angela Ruckdeschel at the Nevada Cancer Institute's Rock for the Cure gala at The Mirage on Nov. 12, 2009.

*Congratulations to Nevada Cancer Institute’s founding Chairwoman Heather Murren on the news that her recent Rock for the Cure fundraiser netted more than $2 million for the night. Now board Chairman Stephen Cloobeck has announced the creation of the Murren Family Distinguished Director’s Chair. The first person with the academic honor to hold the chair will be Dr. John C. Ruckdeschel, the institute’s current director and CEO, and every director thereafter in perpetuity. Be sure to read our exclusive interview with Jim Murren, CEO of MGM Mirage, today about CityCenter and his belief that the Las Vegas economy is poised for a grand recovery.

*Fox will be using live cut-ins from Strip stars on New Year’s Eve when our local America’s Party alternates back and forth with the live broadcast anchored from Times Square. A slew of stars will appear here live and pre-recorded.

*One of the world’s greatest racecar drivers and winner of five Formula 1 championships arrive in Las Vegas today. Michael Schumacher will be racing Thursday, Friday and Saturday at The Rio in the SK-USA Karting World Championships. The course has been designed for The Rio parking lot.

Photo: Wicked Creative

Sisters Khloe, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian.

*Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian grinned from ear to ear at her baby shower when a sweet surprise from her favorite confection company, Sugar Factory at The Mirage, delivered a “Candy Prince” gift basket. The light blue, baby boy-themed basket overflowed with Sugar Factory treats such as chocolate baby boy booties, “It’s a Boy” chocolate cigars and fudge-dipped good fortune cookies. The Kardashians are huge fans of Sugar Factory creations and are often seen on red carpet events with Couture Pops in hand.

Incidentally on another Kardashian family note: Kim Kardashian has booked Eva Longoria Parker’s new Beso restaurant opening here at CityCenter for a huge private party on Dec. 30. Is it connected to Reggie Bush and the long-hoped-for engagement?

*Las Vegas Rocks Cafe, the historical dining-themed experience, is set to open downtown on Dec. 1. My friends Tony Sacca and Josette LeBlond, who own the new restaurant and entertainment spot, are offering employment for bartenders, cocktail waitresses, food servers and dishwashers. They tell me that those interested need to apply in person at 450 Fremont St. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week and next.

Photo: SFE PR

Criss Angel with his unprecedented five Merlin Awards.

*It’s a busy, busy afternoon for me shooting not one but two videos and a TV show. At the Nevada Ballet Theater, I’ll actually bust a move for the “Save the Dance’ fundraising campaign, followed by the holiday greetings for the Miracle Mile giant Strip-side video screens at Planet Hollywood. Then I sit for Canadian TV cameras for segments about the Las Vegas economy, new tourism attractions and a Criss Angel profile. The UNLV Rebels promo “Lights, Please” that I shot at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign a week ago starts airing at this Saturday’s game.

Photo: XS

New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia at XS in the Encore.

Photo: XS

Dwight Yorke at XS in the Encore.

Star surveillance

Nightclub czar Victor Drai welcomed sports celebrities to his XS in Steve Wynn’s Encore, including Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia and soccer star Dwight Yorke, as well as actors Sherri Saum and Kamar de los Reyes. … Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. was at The Playboy Club in the Palms with eight friends at a VIP table. … “Sugar” Shane Mosley dined at Stack in The Mirage on rib eye, organic roast chicken and mac and cheese. … Entourage star and Las Vegas regular Jeremy Piven dined at Yellowtail on sushi and sashimi and then stopped in the Bank at the Bellagio partying the night away. Reality TV star Robert Kardashian Jr., who dined at Stack earlier, was at a nearby table. Houston Texans quarterback Rex Grossman partied at the Bank, too, and posed for pictures, while World Series champion Derek Jeter enjoyed his night out. … Over at Society Cafe in the Encore was regular Louis Anderson and nearby former New York Mets player “Rusty” Staub and Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who on his way out stopped to congratulate a bride and groom who were celebrating their nuptials. … Actress Rosario Dawson dined at Lavo in the Palazzo with her boyfriend DJ Mathieu Schreyer, ordering minestrone soup and eggplant parmigiano before going to see their friend Kevin James perform his standup across the Strip at The Mirage.

Photo: Darrin Bush/Las Vegas News Bureau

Chris Noth with IGT's new slot machine bearing Sex and the City's name at the G2E Global Gaming Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Nov. 17, 2009.

*As the G2E Global Gaming convention continues today, magician Jackson Rayne will make an attempt at a Guinness World Record by attempting the fastest escape from a strait jacket. The world record is 10.19 seconds. He’s deliberately chosen the most difficult jacket for the challenge. … Our good friend and always helpful colleague Alan Feldman, who heads up public relations at MGM Mirage and has worked for two decades in the gaming industry as one of the most respected and influential communicators, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations, Alan, and very well deserved.

Tonight’s tips

Legendary veteran comic Shelley Berman headlines at Harrah’s Improv for the next six nights with Darryl Collier and Avi Liberman. Shelley has been teaching humor, literary and dramatic writing for 19 years at USC and recently played Larry David’s father on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. … Flamingo comedy headliner George Wallace will once again emcee the 16th Annual Cactus Lighting at Ethel’s Chocolate headquarters in Henderson. Strip headliners Zowie Bowie will perform with entertainer Michael Grimm.

Photo: SK+G

Zowie Bowie, Clint Holmes, George Wallace and friends at the Cactus Garden holiday lighting.

Tomorrow’s teases

Peepshow headliner and reality TV star Holly Madison re-creates the Lucille Ball grape-stomping episode when she celebrates the arrival of the first of the new Beaujolais Nouveau being flown in from France to the Paris Las Vegas. We’ll explore the breathtaking new retail palace Crystals at CityCenter, as our five-part series continues with a look at all the celebrity chef restaurants and the extraordinary art collection. Plus, comedy actor Kevin Burke of Defending the Caveman celebrates the first anniversary of his downtown Psychic Comedy that he juggles simultaneously.

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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— From Vegas Deluxe

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