Las Vegas Weekly

October 27, 2009 · 5:10 PM

Strip Scribbles: Sammy Hagar sets opening date for Cabo Wabo

By Robin Leach

Sammy Hagar.

Photo: RedRocker.com

Rock legend Sammy Hagar is ready to shake up Las Vegas Cabo style when he opens his Cabo Wabo Cantina in early November at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. Then on Dec. 4, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will host an official grand opening bash with a live performance by his band the Waboritas. The two-level, 15,000-square-foot live music venue, cantina and restaurant will be located directly across from CityCenter opening days later.

“I’m ecstatic to introduce Las Vegas to the Cabo Wabo lifestyle,” Sammy said. "The cantina’s fun-loving, fiesta atmosphere brings a rock and roll vibe to the heart of Las Vegas like people have never seen before. We are going to rock the Strip!”

Cabo Wabo Cantina transformed Cabo San Lucas from a sleepy Mexican town into a major tourism and party destination, and the new Miracle Mile offshoot will bring the same vibrancy and laid-back attitude to Las Vegas with a new hard rockin’ dining and nightlife experience. Sammy says it’s not uncommon for him to sneak in for surprise performances.

The Strip complex will become the flagship U.S. location. The original opened in Cabo San Lucas in 1990 and went on to become the inspiration for what is now one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

*It’s now official that our Strip will close in early December -- first for the Las Vegas Marathon and then for the NASCAR 12 top drivers and their racecars! Chris Powell, head honcho at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, sat with me at yesterday’s British Airways luncheon at Jasmine in the Bellagio and told me the “dinner of champions” would be held here for the first time after years in New York. The cars will drive at a max of 30 mph from the Encore to Mandalay Bay and end up outside MGM Grand and a viewing area outside the new Hard Rock Cafe. The NASCAR race at LVMS is the last weekend in February next year and the first week of March in 2011.

Photo: Dimitrije Curcic

The cast of Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity at the Zombie Precinct horror house at New York-New York.

Photo: Dimitrije Curcic

Horror actors Joe Estevez and Reggie Bannister at the Zombie Precinct horror house at New York-New York.

*Members of Zumanity turned out in full costume to explore the Zombie Precinct Haunted House at New York-New York. Also wading through the gory scenes were horror film actors Reggie Bannister of Phantasm and Joe Estevez, who is Martin Sheen's brother. After the visit, they signed autographs.

Photo: Shane O'Neal/N9NE Group

Playboy Bunny Jessica Hinton with Miss Playboy Club October 2009 Daycita Long.

*At the monthly Miss Playboy Club model search in the Palms, May 2006 Playboy Playmate Alison Waite named Las Vegas resident Daycita Long as Miss Playboy Club October 2009. Daycita, who is a full-time model, posed with beautiful bunny Jessica Hinton for our photo.

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

Amaury Nolasco of Prison Break and Jennifer Morrison of House at Doug Reinhardt's 24th birthday celebration with Paris Hilton at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel on Oct. 24, 2009.

*Prison Break actor Amaury Nolasco and his girlfriend actress Jennifer Morrison of House were at the Hard Rock Hotel celebrating BFF Raul’s birthday. They ate in Robert De Niro’s Ago and partied at Body English. Not knowing that Prison Break co-star Dominic Purcell was walking the red carpet for Affliction’s grand opening party, Amaury surprised Dominic and playfully posed for photos together. Heroes actress Dawn Olivieri also attended the Affliction party, along with Formula 1 driver Colin Buis, skateboard legend Rob Blasko and UFC fighters Keith Jardine and Tim Sylvia. The next night, Jennifer and Amaury had dinner at Tao in The Venetian.

Star surveillance

Singer Rob Thomas dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms before his concert at The Pearl. He and two friends stuck to Fiji water while devouring the big eye tuna tartar, sauteed Dover sole and a side of creamed corn. Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer was across the room with 10 guests also drinking Fiji water but choosing a 12-ounce filet steak. Also dining was actor Mark Salling (Noah Puckerman in the new Fox hit Glee) and a friend enjoying crispy calamari, lobster pot stickers and a Kobe burger. Upstairs in The Playboy Club, English poker player David “Devilfish” Ulliott was with six guests, including entertainer Matt Goss, who arrived with 15 more guests, all enjoying vodka cocktails. One flight up at Moon was Malcolm in the Middle actor Justin Berfield. … Over at Iron Chef Kerry Simon’s Palms Place restaurant, shock comic Andrew Dice Clay and friends enjoyed brunch and used Kerry’s signature cotton candy to make moustaches, beards and other head ornaments. … Joe Jackson ordered ribs from Kerry for his dinner and ended with the Junk Food dessert platter. … Porn princess Tera Patrick went into the kitchen to make her own pile of cotton candy for her table.

Photo: PR Plus

Vinnie Paul of Pantera is flanked by ghouls at Fright Dome at Circus Circus.

Photo: PR Plus

Vinnie Paul, right, with a chainsaw wielding clown at Circus Circus' Fright Dome.

Vinnie Paul of Pantera and friends all confessed that they were terrified as they took a private tour through the darkness at Fright Dome at Circus Circus with owner Jason Egan. … Jessica Alba and Cash Warren took a private hard hat tour of the new luxury Hard Rock Hotel tower opening in December and then caught The Steve Miller Band at The Joint before trying their luck at the high-limit gaming tables. … Paris Hilton, boyfriend Doug Reinhardt and baseball legend Pete Rose had lunch together at Sushi Roku in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace with shock rocker Alice Cooper dining quietly at a separate table nearby. Paris then took off to check out her favorite monkeys at a nearby pet store. … Actor Stephen Dorff was at Tao ordering lobster won tons, satay of bass, crispy rice and spare ribs before adjourning to the nightclub, where boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. danced all night long on the catwalk celebrating a friend’s birthday.

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

Paris Hilton and Doug Reinhardt at his 24th birthday celebration at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel on Oct. 24, 2009.

Tonight’s tips

Harrah’s Improv showcases comedian Charles Fleischer with supporting act Sam Fedele through Sunday night. Charles is the voice behind Roger Rabbit. … For music lovers, get ready to jump up with Bouncing 20 Souls, Bayside Broadway Calls and Murder Majesty at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. … Halloween parties continue with the Vampoween $5,000 grand prize vampire contest at Blush in the Wynn, while the J-Rocoween $5,000 costume contest is at Moon with the Joe Jackson This Is It party and Michael Jackson dance re-creations, plus the Studio 54 Nightmare circus opens for fright and fear with aerialists and dancers interpreting Michael’s “Thriller” moves.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Wayne Newton.

Tomorrow’s teases

Mr. Las Vegas returns to the Strip with the premiere of his new Tropicana spectacular Once Before I Go, and we’ve got the sneak preview of Wayne Newton’s show and a backstage meeting with the superstar himself, plus Wynn chef extraordinaire Paul Bartolotta is all set for Top Chef: Las Vegas as a guest judge.

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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