Las Vegas Weekly

April 13, 2010 · 5:19 PM

Strip Scribbles: Jennifer Harman poker event benefits animal shelter

By Robin Leach

Shanna Moakler.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Las Vegas Strip stars will join pro poker players and guests for the Fourth Annual Jennifer Harman Charity Poker Tournament to benefit the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals No Kill Shelter this afternoon and evening.

Peepshow star Holly Madison, actors Lou Diamond Phillips, Dennis Haskins, Robert Iler and Shaun Sipos, comedians Louie Anderson and Carrot Top and actresses Jennifer Tilly, Nancy Cartwright and Shanna Moakler are scheduled to participate alongside Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu and Andy Block, among others. The grand prize is a $10,000 World Series of Poker Main Event seat, and the Top 10 finishers share $30,000 in prizes.

Photo: imagesofvegas.com/ispphotography

Shaun Sipos at the Fly Girls premiere party at Lagasse's Stadium in the Palazzo on Feb. 26, 2010.

*In a review of the gaming business at rival Atlantic City, experts say 11 casinos there have been struggling financially for more than three years, and three of them are in bankruptcy court. Another hasn’t been able to make a loan payment since last summer, and a fifth now says it might close. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who has gaming interests here, is named as the likely buyer of the three Donald Trump hotels there if he beats out Beal Bank in Dallas for the assets. This explains why Steve Wynn said emphatically this week that he’s not interested in entering the Atlantic City market!

*A special grindhouse double feature is being premiered here at Sci-Fi Center. Las Vegas’ Mike Davis wrote and co-produced Pervert, a horror sex comedy filmed here starring porn actress and ex-California governor candidate Mary Carey. Mike’s second flick, Sex Galaxy, is a film festival award-winning sci-fi sex comedy set 100 years in the future. It won the 2010 Polished Apple Award and also is released on DVD.

Sci-Fi Center is charging $7 a ticket for the two Las Vegas premieres at Commercial Center. Owned by William Powell, the store has a true grindhouse movie theater dubbed The Underground Screening Room that seats 50.

Photo: Joe Fury/N9NE Group

Holly Madison at Hugh Hefner's 84th birthday celebration at the Palms on April 10, 2010.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

It’s a jam-packed day for Holly Madison, and her TV cameras from her new reality TV series Holly’s World will track her every move. She’ll shiver -- in a fur coat -- at Minus 5 Ice Lounge in Mandalay Bay, where she’ll introduce her own cocktail creation being added to the new celebrity drink menu there. Then she’s off to The Venetian to walk the red carpet for the Jennifer Harman poker benefit. Then her Peepshow co-star Josh Strickland joins her at Cashman Field for Holly Bobblehead Night. Holly will throw out the first pitch, and Josh will sing the national anthem.

Photo: Wicked Creative

Tommy Lee at Sugar Factory.

Photo: Wicked Creative

Ace Harper and Matt Sorum at Sugar Factory.

*Hollywood and rock stars are discovering the confectionary delights at the Sugar Factory stores here in Las Vegas, as the taste treats have become the darling of the celebrity jet set. Drummer Matt Sorum of Guns ’N Roses and Velvet Revolver fame stopped by The Mirage outlet with girlfriend Ace Harper of Darling Stilettos. The couple purchased the signature rhinestone-studded Couture Pops and left the store with three bags. Motley Crue rocker Tommy Lee indulged in the Black Onyx Couture Pop and also left with bags of confections. And Emmy Award-winning actress Camryn Manheim spoiled her son Milo with a visit to the store.

*No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani watched hubby Gavin Rossdale’s four-song set at the Conde Nast Traveler Hot 100 List party at Haze in Aria, as Vegas DeLuxe reported on Sunday. Their pals Chris Evans, Kate Beckinsale and her husband Len Wiseman were in her group. … Avril Lavigne, Brody Jenner, Shawn White and Emile Hirsch were at The Bank Nightclub in the Bellagio enjoying shots of Jaegermeister, singing along to The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got a Feeling” and dancing into the wee hours of the morning.

*Motley Crue singer Vince Neil dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms last night with wife Lia.

Photo: Ana Dobrijevic/Cashman Photography

Wayne Brady with cast members of Cirque du Soleil's Viva Elvis at Aria.

*Actor, comedian, singer and Elvis Presley fan Wayne Brady watched Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis at Aria. He told the cast backstage that Elvis and Sammy Davis Jr. were his biggest inspirations and that he was happy to see the Elvis show with his girlfriend and daughter.

Photo: Steven Lawton Film Magic

Brandee Tucker celebrates her birthday with Michael Steger at Eve inside CityCenter's Crystals on April 10, 2010.

*Proving he is just as romantic offscreen as he is onscreen, 90210 star Michael Steger hosted a birthday party for his wife Brandee Tucker at Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve the Nightclub in Crystals at CityCenter. The couple first enjoyed an intimate dinner, for the second consecutive night, in Eva’s Beso steakhouse. After dinner, the couple went upstairs to the nightclub for dancing, canoodling and Grey Goose cocktails and Patron shots. Michael had a sweet surprise up his sleeve when he presented Brandee with a custom-made shopping-themed cake, adorned with Swarovski crystals and a replica of her favorite pair of hot pink pumps, created by Gimme Some Sugar. He also got on the mic and thanked the crowd.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Start your engines! NASCAR champion and hometown hero Kurt Busch races fans and sign autographs tonight for three hours at Pole Position Raceway in Summerlin. A one-hour endurance race also will be run in the 60,000-square-foot facility with 10 teams competing against Kurt. … Grammy-winning singer Steve Tyrell starts a run of four nights of jazz standards, with four shows again next week, at the Golden Nugget showroom.

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

Kurt Busch unwinds at Sierra Gold.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

Another episode of Top Chef Masters heats up the kitchen, and the knives are out. Our photo gallery of Whitney Houston ex Bobby Brown at his Strip showcase, plus the Professional Bull Riders roar into town for the kickoff mechanical bull contests on Fremont Street, and Fantasy headliner Angelica Bridges will showcase her nerves of steel!

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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