Las Vegas Weekly

April 15, 2010 · 4:36 PM

Strip Scribbles: Criss Angel, at work on castle home, buys Cher’s chairs

By Robin Leach

Criss Angel on the blue carpet for the Viva Elvis world premiere at Aria in CityCenter on Feb. 19, 2010.

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

Believe magician Criss Angel, who is about to start his new season of Mindfreak shows on A&E, is underway with the first construction phase of his new castle home Serenity. He’s purchased Cher’s monastery chairs from her estate, and there will be a 4-foot custom sphere aquarium for a saltwater tropical fish collection.

One of the windows will be a 46-square-foot custom stain glass instillation, and a 12-foot-tall iron fence will line the front of the unique property. Criss expects Phase 1 to be finished mid-May when we’ll get our first look at the magnificent estate.

Cher, now appearing here at Caesars Palace, recently sold her palatial spread in Hawaii. She’d built it on spec and never spent a night there. But she returned to the islands before resuming her Caesars run of April shows and was spotted shopping at the Whalers Village on Maui -- and that’s Las Vegas-based crooner Brian Evans, one of the creators of the Maui Celebrity Concert series, pictured.

Brian said about the shows with Cher and her friends: “Cher is an obvious pop culture icon, and having her appear at the series would be a major thrill for an island that has always adored her.” William Shatner, Roseanne Barr and Paul Rodriguez have performed with Brian, and The Venetian headliner David Spade appears April 30. Brian, who commutes between here and Maui, hopes to turn the shows into a reality TV series.

*Five chef masters had the heat turned up on last night’s Top Chef Masters on Bravo. Our Venetian chef David Burke did not advance to the next champions round, but it was Monica Pope who was voted off. New York chef Marcus Samuelsson won the night and moves on. Next week, Rick Moonen of RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay is one of the competing chefs. Susan Feniger of Border Grill in Mandalay Bay won the first show and awaits the next champions round before that contest begins. The renowned chefs had to craft an unforgettable meal for a birthday party thrown by actor Mekhi Phifer and then served grilled cheese sandwiches to the judges.

*Louis Prima Jr. has landed a showcase gig at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip on May 21, and he’s hoping that Steve Wynn will check out the show, as he was such a big fans five years ago. Louis just completed a run in Hollywood with legendary music producer Jerry Heller and the hip agents of William Morris Endeavor rooting for him.

*Comedy magician Nathan Burton celebrated his 500th show today at the Flamingo. He told me his two favorite highlights: the day Michael Jackson brought his children to the show and then having Donny Osmond pop onstage to surprise him. Nathan welcomed magicians Criss Angel, Lance Burton, Penn & Teller and Mac King during the run, which also drew Emmanuel Lewis and Maureen McCormick. Incredibly, he’s still commuting back and forth to Atlantic City for shows there on his dark nights here.

*It’s April 15 -- Tax Day -- so we can all share one another’s pain! And of course the long lines at the Post Office don’t make it any easier. But for today until 8 p.m., you can skip those long lines and drop off your federal tax returns at Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. The U.S. Postal Service has set up a mobile postal station with drive-thru lanes. Taxpayers who mail their federal returns from Shark Reef Aquarium get a free admission voucher good through May 25.

*New contestants on Fox’s latest So You Think You Can Dance are filming here at Planet Hollywood’s theater through Sunday. It will broadcast as Las Vegas Week and will feature the Top 10 selected by guest judges and choreographers also here now.

*Danny Gokey, the third-place finisher in Season 8 of American Idol behind winner Kris Allen and runner-up Adam Lambert, volunteers his time at Three Square food bank here tomorrow. Idol cameras will film him for the Idol Gives Back segments airing next Wednesday.

*Singer Gloria Estefan and her musician husband Emilio Estefan will be honored by the Las Vegas Walk of Stars with its 48th star dedication ceremony on April 29. The ceremony will take place in the new Crown Theater at The Rio, but their star will be placed in the sidewalk in front of Flamingo.

*After 21 years at Warner Bros. Records working with such stars as Madonna, Prince and Rod Stewart, recording executive Ted Joseph has moved to Las Vegas and will be president of the new indie label Odds On Records. Odd On’s roster includes Air Supply and Ultraviolet Sound, whose lead singer, onetime EMI artist Sarah Hudson, is the cousin of actress Kate Hudson. Ted will handle the May 4 launch of Air Supply’s new album Mumbo Jumbo recorded here. Its lead single “Dance With Me” has already jumped into the Adult Contemporary charts.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Our thanks to Darrin Bush of Las Vegas News Bureau for this shot of genius comic book heroes creator Stan Lee, who spoke to National Association of Broadcasters convention attendees yesterday. … Holly Madison and her E! Entertainment cameras filmed a belly dancing party segment at Marrakech last night for the new reality TV series Holly’s World. … Drag racer Melanie Troxel took her racing team to the Stratosphere to ride the Big Shot so they could get a taste of what drivers go through, and in her words, “separate the men from the boys.” Melanie is racing here this weekend and is the only female in NHRA history with wins in the sport’s top two categories: Top Fuel and Funny Car. She also took the owner of In-N-Out Burger, who sponsors her car, to Stratosphere.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Masked magician Jeff McBride is away from his Las Vegas home touring Canada, with shows each night through next Thursday, but that’s not going to stop his magic friends from presenting their monthly Wonderground show. Check out the list of performers at VegasWonderground.com.. … Tickets are on sale for the 2nd Annual Rock and Roll Wine Reggae Pool Party at The M Resort on May 15, with more than 25 wineries serving 50 wines to the music of Michael Black and Peter Goetz. … As we reported this morning, it’s the opening night out of the chute for Gilley’s at Treasure Island. … It’s the first of two nights of previews for the new ultra-hip SkyBar at the Hard Rock Hotel overlooking HRH Beach Club and Rehab. … UFC fighter B.J. Penn will sign copies of his new book Why I Fight at Barnes & Noble in Henderson.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

It’s a major celebration at the Hard Rock as Rehab opens for another summer pool season, and TruTV cameras will be rolling on the sexcitement, including the new Skybar there, plus The Joint celebrates its first anniversary with Them Crooked Vultures. We’ve got the full rundown of the Academy of Country Music party weekend, which concludes with the live awards show Sunday and the Brooks & Dunn Last Roundup TV special Monday, plus the battle for the PBR 2010 World Cup at Thomas & Mack.

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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