Las Vegas Weekly

October 22, 2009 · 2:03 PM

Strip Scribbles: Our mayor is the double martini toast of London

By Robin Leach

Mayor Oscar Goodman, second from right, holds the Goodman Gold Double Martini named after him.

Photo: Duesse Global

To celebrate his first official visit to London as Las Vegas mayor, Oscar Goodman was honored there last night with the unveiling of a specially created cocktail from Bombay Sapphire. It’s called the Goodman Gold Double Martini, and master mixologist Merlin Griffiths created the cocktail. It will be available for the duration of the mayor’s stay in the British capital through this weekend at the just-opened Palm Steakhouse, the first in Europe.

This cocktail is a twist on the mayor’s favorite classic gin martini, featuring a pour of Bombay Sapphire with a vermouth wash, and topped off with two gold-coated olives. The lacquered olives add a touch of Las Vegas glitz and glamour to bar life across the pond. The new martini heralds three hot new trends in cocktail culture moving across the Atlantic from Las Vegas to London this fall.

More than 1,000 bartenders in Las Vegas were polled in August, and, based on results, Bombay Sapphire predicts that Americans and Brits alike will be seeing a lot more of the 3 V’s: vegetable juice cocktails, everything from celery to pepper juice; vinegar washes, including balsamic and sherry styles; and variations on the classics. The mayor’s martini is a classic cocktail, but the addition of gold-plated olives gives an updated twist to the timeless drink.

*Carmen Electra’s sole squeeze and live-in boyfriend, Rob Patterson of Korn fame, took on the role of guest deejay at Prive in Planet Hollywood for his mash-up hybrid of turntables vs. guitar behind the wheels of steel. Rob, who now has a ponytail, ripped off his casual plaid shirt to reveal a muscle T when he went to work on his guitar solos. Fans were in awe at his string work and toned and tattooed arms!

*Singer Lana Misalucha, who headlines in Voices at the Las Vegas Hilton, plays host at her show tonight to actresses Adrienne Barbeau and Lacey Chabert, Academy Award nominee Seymour Cassel and actor Johnny Whitworth. They are all here for tomorrow’s screening of their movie Reach for Me, which is being shown at the AARP Expo in the resort’s convention halls. Actor LeVar Burton directed the film, and the local screening is in advance of upcoming theatrical distribution.

Star surveillance

The stars are beginning to find their way to Frank Caliendo’s new comedy impressions show at the Monte Carlo. Outrageous comedian Andrew Dice Clay, who is enjoying a hot run at the Riviera, watched Frank’s production, and afterward the two chatted and posed for our photo. Fellow Strip headliner and singing impressionist Terry Fator also stopped by to see the show.

Singer Gloria Estefan and husband Emilio Estefan were at Bette Midler’s The Showgirl Must Go On at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace, as was Star Trek legend George Takei, in separate parties. All of them met up backstage afterward to say hello to the flamboyant entertainer.

Beth Shak, “The World’s Sexiest Poker Player” and wearing the most remarkable pair of erotic thigh-high boots, dined at Lavo in the Palazzo with friends, including Heatherette designer Traver Rains. Beth enjoyed the kitchen’s Italian specialties and then headed upstairs to host her party. She stuck to water except for one shot of Patron to ensure that she would be on top of her poker game early next morning. Back at Lavo yet again was actor Chazz Palminteri of A Bronx Tale raving about the restaurant’s Kobe meatballs.

Bone Thugs N Harmony partied at Moon in the Palms, taking a VIP table with five friends for late-night vodkas. At separate tables in Moon were UFC President Dana White, former NFL star and Fox sitcom Brothers producer Michael Strahan, System of a Down drummer and songwriter John Dolmayan, Carey Hart and DCMA Collective owner Tal Cooperman. … The Killers enjoyed a nine-person family-styled dinner in a private dining room at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms. They started with rock shrimp, tuna tartare and shrimp cocktail and feasted on filet, rib eye and chicken for their entrees. Everyone sipped on iced tea, soda and Fiji Water, with not a drop of wine, champagne or hard liquor.

Tonight’s tips

Don’t forget the first of six concerts over three weekends by Grammy-winning singer LeAnn Rimes at Treasure Island or the mini-concert by Alice Cooper at John Varvatos Bowery NYC in the Hard Rock Hotel. … The summer concert series at Voodoo Beach at The Rio closes with a free show by Our Lady Peace.

Tomorrow’s teases

Master illusionists Siegfried & Roy present their annual K-9 fundraising trials to benefit the uniformed members of our Police Department’s canine squad -- both humans and dogs! We also prepare for the mayor’s weekend return on the inaugural British Airways flight from London after his triumphant conquering of the British capital, plus country king Tim McGraw leads an all-star invasion to the Strip to ensure that we keep our title of Entertainment Capital of the World.

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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