Las Vegas Weekly

October 19, 2009 · 9:08 AM

Mayor leads group to London for first British Airways direct flight here

By Robin Leach

Mayor Oscar and Carolyn Goodman.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

With bowler and brolly in hand, our merry Mayor of Mirth is all ready for today’s trip to London. “Cor blimey, guvner, luverly bit of strife you got there, mate!” I can hear it now as Cockney’s mouths drop wide open when Oscar Goodman strides across the Tower Bridge with his birds, two Las Vegas sequined, scotches, stockinged showgirls in tow, for his Dolly Mixtures with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in the background. (Translations are below.)

Mayor Oscar Goodman, wife Carolyn and key members of our Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and other VIPs travel to Los Angeles this afternoon to pick up a British Airways night flight to the British capital. Fear not, me china, because after next weekend, it will all be direct!

After the Bert n Ernie, the celebrity contingent will headquarter on The Strand close to the hip, swinging Covent Garden area. A full itinerary has been mapped out, so they get to taste all of Britain’s foods, including one of London’s best pubs. The most spectacular conner will be at Locanda Locatelli, where Giorgio Locatelli, who is ranked as the best Italian chef in Britain, will preside over the dinner. He has held a prized Michelin star for seven consecutive years.

Celebrity TV chef Giorgio has been invited many times to open an outpost in Las Vegas but has always turned down the requests. Maybe Oscar’s personal visit might finally persuade him?

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

Mayor Oscar Goodman joins Vegas Rocks magazine's attempt to break the Guinness World Record for most guitar players performing "Viva Las Vegas" at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.

It’s Oscar and Carolyn Goodman’s first ever butchers at England. “I cannot begin to tell you how excited we are,” he told me. “We will pack in a lot of sightseeing, and Buckingham Palace is the very first stop on Carolyn’s schedule.”

I’ve told His Highness that he has to check out Harrods while he’s there and persuade the owners to finally take up that option they once held for a U.S. branch on the land near Mandalay Bay. I shall be sad if Oscar doesn’t give up one glass of mothers ruin for a ship!

The group will return from London’s Heathrow Airport this Sunday afternoon at 3:35 p.m. British time. The nonstop, 10-hour, 50-minute inaugural flight will land here, allowing for the time zone difference, at 6:25 p.m., and regular daily service begins immediately on the new Boeing three-class 777 aircraft. B.A. officials estimate that at 75 percent loads, they can accommodate 15,000 annual passengers into Las Vegas from England at the new, luxurious Terminal 5.

Our city’s loaf o’ bread summed up: “This has been a long time arriving, and it’s going to have a massive positive impact on tourism for Las Vegas. Our two countries have always been good friends, strong allies and good business partners. This just makes the bridge between us even better.”

Photo: Las Vegas News Bureau

Mayor Oscar Goodman welcomes the USA Sevens Rugby team to Las Vegas.

Before scarpering for London, Oscar attended the kickoff ceremonies to welcome the USA Sevens Rugby to its new Las Vegas home from San Diego. The new, multi-year commitment begins with the first tournament next February at our Sam Boyd Stadium. Thousands of international fans attend regularly, and it takes on even a greater future with the recent announcement by the International Olympic Committee that rugby will debut as an Olympic sport in 2016.

Blimey! Fast food and duck wiv yaaah Blighty vissy-ann. Nuff said! (Which translates from the Cockney rhyming rabbit (slang) to “Good luck on your visit to London and may it be very successful!” Other Cockney translations from this story: strife = accompanying lady/ladies; birds = girls; scotches = leggy; china = good friends; Bert n Ernie = journey; Dolly mixtures = photos; connor = meal; butchers = look; mothers ruin = gin; ship = pint of ale; loaf o’ bread = head honcho and scarpering = leaving.

Maybe he’ll be talking like me in a week’s time when I report from the landing ceremonies at McCarran?!

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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