Las Vegas Weekly

September 2, 2009 · 2:24 PM

Strip Scribbles: Rumors intensify of Whitney Houston concerts in town

By Robin Leach

Whitney Houston performs on the set of ABC's Good Morning America.

Photo: ABC TV

Buzz intensifies after Whitney Houston’s taped Central Park concert in New York for ABC’s Good Morning America yesterday that her upcoming, exclusive mini tour -- still to be announced -- to support her new CD will include holiday concerts here. Her career comeback, after rehab and a horrid marriage and divorce to Bobby Brown, around the launch of her new album I Look to You is exactly as Vegas DeLuxe predicted several months ago with the simultaneous Sept. 1 day of release and GMA kickoff, her first TV appearance in seven years.

Whitney’s mother Cissy Houston and daughter Bobbi Kristina watched her performance. Next up for Whitney are appearances with Oprah Winfrey on the season premiere of her talk show on Sept. 14 and 15. Oprah says “nothing will be off limits” in their candid interview about the drugs and tumultuous marriage.

*The new ultra rock tattoo parlor Vince Neil Ink at The Rio, a collaboration between the Motley Crue singer and chopper builder “Count” Danny Koker, has opened on the Masquerade Village’s second floor. The 2,800 square-foot parlor has four artists’ workstations and a private VIP room. The black and red walls studded in purple velvet highlight our hometown rocker’s and Motley Crue’s memorabilia, and there are custom choppers by Count’s Kustoms.

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

Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.

Kanji tattoo master Jerome Swanson, with 17 years of experience, leads the six respected and experienced artists. Twigg Sparks specializes in fine line and portrait inkings; Josh Petty favors a bold and bright new school and realistic art form; Junior favors neo-traditional art with horror realism and skulls; Jake-N-Eggs is the traditional guy; and Matt Ahn uses Polynesian- and Asian-style influence from his home state of Hawaii.

*Reality TV star Jon Gosselin celebrated his last night on the town here with dinner at Stack and dancing at Jet, both in The Mirage. He took his mother and four friends to dinner, where they enjoyed lobster tacos, sashimi, pomegranate martinis and vodka Red Bulls. After dinner, the father of eight headed to Jet, but Mom called it a night. He continued with vodka Red Bulls, but did toast with Dom Perignon while watching Beacher’s Madhouse and being mobbed by fans.

Photo: Courtesy

Jon Gosselin.

The Jon & Kate Plus 8 star continued his partying later at Steve Wynn and Victor Drai’s XS in the Encore, where Holly Madison had a reserved table. Jon arrived just before 2 a.m. with a small group and held court in Victor’s VIP section before calling it quits at 3:30 a.m. No dancing for Jon, who spent most of his time texting and chatting.

Photo: Darrin Bush/Las Vegas News Bureau

Jimmy Osmond.

Photo: Glenn Pinkerton/Las Vegas News Bureau

Petula Clark.

*In a quick photo wrap-up of star happenings around town, Darrin Bush and Glenn Pinkerton of Las Vegas News Bureau captured Jimmy Osmond in performance with his brothers at The Orleans showroom; two-time Grammy Award winner Petula Clark singing at the JW Marriott Resort; and from the MAGIC fashion marketplace, the Queen of Hearts presiding over Disney’s Mad Tea Party at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Photo: Courtesy

Chesty and Ronnie, formerly Ronnie the Limo Driver.

Photo: Courtesy

Ron Jeremy and Chesty.

Photo: Courtesy

Chesty and Ronnie, formerly Ronnie the Limo Driver.

*It was the world’s ultimate gathering of busty strip-tease dancers and erotic and exotic dancers under one roof! The 17th Annual Adult Nightclub and Exotic Dancer Awards were held in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. The Gentlemen’s Club Expo was a festival of flesh for the rock and jock awards, with shock jock Howard Stern’s former limo driver known solely as Ronnie as a presenter. He and his date palled up with 72 triple E strip dancer Chesty -- check out the photos! Dallas Cowboys legend and Super Bowl champ Ed “Too Tall” Jones and motocross superstar Carey Hart also handed out awards. Carey hosted the after-party at his Wasted Space, where Lisa Ann, star of Nailin’ Palin, porn legend Ron Jeremy, the “Naked Comedian” Jade Simone St. Clair and other adult entertainment stars partied. Ironically, no men’s adult clubs here were nominated in the eight categories! Guess we don’t have to be!

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

Marie Osmond, center, and Jersey Boys cast members.

Star surveillance

Strip headliner and entertainer Marie Osmond took a night off from her Flamingo show to watch Jersey Boys in the Palazzo. After the show, Marie went backstage to meet the cast and congratulate them on “a wonderful performance.” … Vanessa and Angela Simmons, daughters of Reverend Run of Run-DMC, enjoyed dinner at Strip House in Planet Hollywood. … The fashion world converged on Tao in The Venetian for MAGIC’s official kick-off party with Benji Madden taking over the DJ booth, while sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso of Australia’s The Veronicas were in the crowd watching. They’d all dined on vegetarian fare before heading up to the nightclub, where the girls even climbed into the DJ booth to dance behind Benji. The Good Charlotte musician later turned up with Jessica at XS. … Celebrity choreographer Shane Sparks of America’s Best Dance Crew and So You Think You Can Dance was spotted having lunch at Pink Taco inside the Hard Rock Hotel yesterday.

Photo: Al Powers

Benji Madden.

Photo: Al Powers

Benji Madden spins at Tao in The Venetian.

Photo: Al Powers

Benji Madden and the Veronicas.

Tonight’s tips

Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses perform a one-night concert paying homage to the swinging music of his father Louis Prima at the Hilton. That legendary career began back in the 1930s when the old man was known as the King of Swing, and by adding early rock ’n’ roll to the big band sound and New Orleans jazz, they kept on going right through the ’70s. Now junior, who started out at 22 as a rock band singer and songwriter, keeps dad’s memory alive with his own swing that’s uncannily similar! … Outrageous funnyman Andrew Dice Clay resumes his last set of four nights of comedy at the Riviera through Saturday. … Actress-singer Juliette Lewis performs with her Licks in the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm. … Bob Weir and Ratdog with Jackie Greene perform at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. … Restaurant Week continues with Human Rooster Fighting’s “Tournament of Chefs” at the TNT in the Luxor. Top Chef Masters contestant Rick Moonen and Adam Sobel, his executive chef at RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay, take on Stephen Hopcraft of Seablue at MGM and the recent winner of the Food Network’s Chefs vs. City. The chefs will dress in rooster suits, strap on oversized chicken feet and stomp out as many balloons as possibly tied to their competitor’s feet! Money raised from this madness goes to Three Square food bank, and the champion chef can buy $250 in drinks at the bar!

Photo: TVT

Rick Moonen and Adam Sobel look for a few new ideas.

Air Supply will perform four shows at The Orleans Showroom over Labor Day Weekend.

Tomorrow’s teases

Our exclusive interview with Air Supply as they kick off four nights of concerts here, marking their 35th year in music and how a new Las Vegas record label will keep them moving and grooving for another decade -- at least! Plus, we join Penn & Teller along with Holly Madison for the Human Rights Campaign fundraiser, while Kristy Swanson, the original Buffy Summers, parties at Tabu.

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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