Las Vegas Weekly

September 28, 2009 · 4:09 PM

Strip Scribbles: Eva Longoria Parker sets date for Beso opening

By Robin Leach

Eva Longoria Parker and Mario Lopez at the opening of Eleven Spa at Town Square.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Gorgeous Eva Longoria Parker has picked New Year’s Eve for the grand opening of her restaurant Beso at MGM’s CityCenter. The restaurant, in partnership with celebrity chef Todd English (Olives at the Bellagio), is a two-story attraction with the nightclub Eve atop. Yes, Eve with an “e” and not named after the Desperate Housewives actress! Eva’s co-stars on the ABC drama will be making the trip over the desert to join her to welcome in 2010!

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Crystals at CityCenter President Frank Visconti, Eva Longoria Parker and CityCenter President and CEO Bobby Baldwin.

The soft opening is Dec. 3, and Eva tells me that she’ll be in Las Vegas right after Thanksgiving for the final touches, to get in the kitchen and cook the menu, plus do the promotional work. We have a one-on-one interview and photo shoot set with her at that time. Beso in Las Vegas is the first outpost of her celebrity-filled hit hip L.A. hangout! Next stop New York?

*It must be true love! Pro wrestler and reality TV star Terry “Hulk” Hogan and his girlfriend Jennifer McDaniel (doesn’t she look suspiciously like his daughter Brooke and ex-wife Linda?!) got tattoos at Huntington Ink inside the Palms over the weekend. The Hulk’s gal pal had his real first name inked on the inside of her right wrist. Hulk had the motto “I am that, I am” tattooed on the outside of his right forearm.

Photo: The Palms

Hulk Hogan, his son Nick Hogan and his girlfriend Jennifer McDaniel at Huntington Ink inside the Palms.

Photo: The Palms

Hulk Hogan at Huntington Ink inside the Palms.

Later, the cuddling couple went to N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms and was joined by son Nick Hogan. Although at a private banquet table, Hulk was friendly while signing autographs for fans. Curious to know what the Hulk packs away at the dinner hour? He started out with the stuffed mushroom appetizer, followed by 12-ounce filets accompanied by lobster mashed potatoes, green beans and creamed spinach. He still had room for creme brulee, blueberry tart, double chocolate cake and fresh berries for dessert.

*I’ve managed to track down information on the closely held secrets of the plot of Face of Vegas that Vanessa Minnillo, Beth Ostrosky and Carson Kressley are filming here for ABC. Their monthlong shoot -- now at the halfway mark -- at Planet Hollywood will air in January. Men and women, married and single, are competing to be the hottest, most outgoing, most competitive King or Queen of the Strip. In true reality form, there are various challenges to narrow down the final winner, who becomes a spokesperson for our entertainment Mecca. The winner will host a party at one of our premiere nightclubs with their names up in lights on the Strip. A preliminary contestant search was filmed in Dallas.

Photo: TVT

Beth Ostrosky and Carson Kressley.

*I’m told that yesterday, there was a casting call at the season’s final Rehab pool party for a new E! TV reality show to be filmed here featuring hostess Tiffany Masters and her Cabana Charms team of extraordinary eye candy that decorate so many of our hotspots in town.

*Chart-topping comedic phenomenon Jeff Dunham has announced a one-year agreement that makes The Colosseum at Caesars Palace his exclusive Las Vegas home. The arrangement calls for a minimum of six shows through the end of December 2010 and will kick off with two holiday-themed performances on Dec. 11 and 12. Tickets go on sale Saturday.

*Click HERE for our earlier story of Las Vegas resident Jay Cutler’s third Mr. Olympia title he won over the weekend at The Orleans Arena. I forgot to tell you he walked away with the $155,000 top prize, and the runners-up received a payday of $90,000 for second and $60,000 for third.

Photo: Firm PR

Mr. Olympia champion Jay Cutler.

Star surveillance

Movie superstar Eddie Murphy sipped on Pepsi while his gorgeous date enjoyed champagne at LAX in the Luxor. They left the VIP area and joined the crowd on the dance floor. … Carson Kressley, Vanessa Minnillo and Beth Ostrosky watched Cher’s show at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace over the weekend. Carson and Beth dined on specialties from the Lavo kitchen. Beth, a vegetarian, had the margherita pizza, and Carson enjoyed the Kobe meatballs. Vanessa joined retired NFL hero Warren Sapp at the owner’s table of The Tao Group partner Jason Strauss for flights of sake along with Kobe rib eye, satay bass and sashimi before heading upstairs for the Worship party in The Venetian nightclub, where they danced the night away. … Derek Fisher of the L.A. Lakers took his wife to Lavo for late-night dancing, where he ran into Dan Cortese of MTV Sports, Warren and MMA fighter Urijah Faber.

Photo: imagesofvegas.com/IS Photo

Warren Sapp.

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

Dan Cortese.

Macy Gray dined on Lavo’s terrace with her kids, who watched the Sirens show across the street at Treasure Island. She described her Kobe meatball as “the best on Earth.” Nearby, L.A. Clippers star Craig Smith dined on margherita pizza, while now

Lavo regular Chazz Palminteri had a glass of super Tuscan wine to go with his tomato and basil spaghetti and chicken Marsala. … Rex Lee of Entourage and separately Elisabeth Rohm of Law & Order dined at the Italian eatery, enjoying signature dishes before heading up to the nightclub for Madras cocktails. Elisabeth also hit Hash House a Go Go for a brunch of fried chicken and eggs, granola waffles and the sundried tomato, basil and goat cheese hash!

Photo: Glenn Pinkerton/Las Vegas News Bureau

Chazz Palminteri.

Photo: imagesofvegas.com/IS Photo

Tye Strickland and Melissa Rycroft.

During the hot celebrity weekend at Tao, the hotspot was jam-packed with VIPs: Melissa Rycroft dined with fiance Tye Strickland and drank Love Potion #9 cocktails with the satay bass, sushi, wasabi filet and sausage rice. … Macy Gray and a large group feasted on satay chicken and bass, spring rolls, Buddha chicken, pad Thai and vegetable fried rice. … Derek Fisher enjoyed yellowtail jalapeno, swordfish, wok sirloin and finished with a fortune cookie dessert. Chazz dined on vegetable dumplings, orange chicken and crispy rice before going next door to the Palazzo for cocktails at Lavo and moving on later to check out Blush in the Wynn. … After his performance at Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam concert at the Wynn, Brian McKnight kept his own party going at Blush.

Tonight’s tips

If you’re staying home this evening to watch Dancing With the Stars, also click over to Sean Hannity’s Fox News because last year’s Miss America, Kirsten Haglund, who won the crown at Planet Hollywood, will be featured on his Great American Panel. … Hip-hop mogul and record producer Jermaine Dupri returns to spin the wheels of steel as guest DJ at Prive in Planet Hollywood. … It’s a four-pack of rockers at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay with Adelitas Way, Sick Puppies, Shinedown and Cavo. … It’s dyn-o-mite when Jimmie “J.J.” Walker brings back the Good Times along with standup comedy actor Paul Lyons and comic impressionist Greg Vaccarelo through Sunday at the Sahara for the laugh fest!

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

Adelitas Way at The Lounge inside the Palms.

Tomorrow’s teases

Our exclusive interview with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and photo tour of his new Lagasse’s Stadium in the Palazzo as his yearlong dream comes true. We’ve also got a spectacular photo gallery of the new autumn tableau at the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio shot especially for us by Tom Donoghue, plus Debbie Allen’s new Fame movie premiere.

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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