Las Vegas Weekly

April 21, 2010 · 3:54 PM

Strip Scribbles: Rick Moonen competes tonight on Top Chef Masters

By Robin Leach

Rick Moonen.

Photo: MGM Mirage

Celebrity chef Rick Moonen of RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay makes his debut return appearance tonight on Bravo’s Season 2 of Top Chef Masters, and we’ll be with him for the 7 p.m. viewing party he’s hosting. Rick won’t reveal anything about the challenges or his fate, so you’ll have to check my live Twitter report at the end of the hour.

Meantime, star chef Susan Feniger of Border Grill in Mandalay Bay also is competing in Top Chef Masters and won the first episode two weeks ago. Susan is raising funds for the Scleroderma Research Foundation while appearing on Top Chef. Her college roommate started the charity but passed away from the disease several years ago.

“It is a truly devastating disease, and I am committed to finding a cure. I have raised to date $15,000 on Top Chef,” Susan said. Next up, she’s hosting a Cool Comedy fundraiser at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in L.A. with Ray Romano, Craig Ferguson, B.J. Novak, Bill Bellamy, Dana Delany, Sarah Silverman and Bob Saget.

*Hotel tycoon Steve Wynn invited Garth Brooks to his Sun Valley, Idaho, home, and now the country music legend will be featured in the Sun Valley Summer Symphony benefit concert Aug. 1. An orchestra official said: “Steve Wynn has been very supportive, and we are putting this show together with Garth. It is a collaborative effort, and it will be a unique experience. The symphony and he are now in the process of creating the show.”

*NBA defensive great Gary Payton hosted the 2010 NBA Championships kickoff at Lagasse’s Stadium in the Palazzo. Gary started the event with a Q&A about the playoffs, which teams to watch, his philanthropic efforts and why he calls Las Vegas home. Afterward, he and his friends relaxed in a skybox, complete with plush pillows and a large flat-screen TV, while watching a few games. Gary happily posed for photographs, signed autographs and talked with fans.

*Matt Donnelly’s improv comedy show Executive Monkeys debuts Sunday at The Lounge in the Palms and features comics from Las Vegas, L.A., New York City and Chicago who perform a two-act, 70-minute show. The first set incorporates audience participation, and the second act features a comedic tarot reading of a guest celebrity/Strip personality with improvised sketches based from the reading. Adam Savage of The Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters is the first guest, and Matt, Michael Hartnett, Sarah Lowe, Colin Trahan, Paul Mattingly, Rebeka Johnson, James Festante and Eric Jeffers are the improvisers. The show is free, but drink tickets may be purchased to guarantee a seat.

*Las Vegas’ own Theory of Flight kicked off yesterday’s release of their album Within Reach with a bang. AOL Music is featuring a Listening Party with a free stream of the full album through Sunday, and the five-piece band heads to New York City today for TV appearances in support of their video “Set the Night on Fire” and a performance at Sullivan Hall.

*Country singer and American Idol Season 8 third-place finisher Danny Gokey volunteered at our Three Square food bank in support of the annual Idol Gives Back, which airs tonight on Fox. Danny partnered with a volunteer group at UNLV, sorting donated food and packing pantry boxes to give to the 296 faith-based and nonprofit agencies served by Three Square.

*European dance sensation Cascada played hostess at Pure in Caesars Palace over the weekend and performed for club patrons. Dressed in a black and tan fringed dress and black boots, Cascada, aka Natalie Horler, sang her hits “Evacuate the Dance Floor” and “Everytime We Touch.” After her performance, Natalie hung out in the VIP section and sipped Belvedere cocktails with friends while listening to DJ Marshall Barnes spin for the night.

*Singer, actress and Broadway legend Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Aladdin and Mulan) watched Jersey Boys in the Palazzo. Lea went backstage to meet and congratulate the cast on their performance and posed for a photograph with, from left, Deven May, Jeff Leibow, Rick Faugno and Peter Saide.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Actor Matthew McConaughey and country superstar Kenny Chesney partied at Ghostbar in the Palms in a party of six. … Singer and producer Ray J enjoyed the warm weather with five friends at Palms Pool & Bungalows. The R&B artist also dined at N9NE Steakhouse in a group of 18. Oscar winner Adrien Brody dined at N9NE with his parents, and Gary Payton dined at N9NE with his wife and a friend. … Playboy Playmates Kelly Carrington and Jayde Nicole and actor Victor Rasuk and three friends were spotted at Nove Italiano’s new dayclub High Society. DJ Adam 12 spun his beats on the turntables, and Victor returned that night for dinner. … Upstairs in Moon, rapper Tone Loc enjoyed the scene from a VIP table with three friends and treated the crowd to a 20-minute set.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Supernatural Santana returns to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel with more of Carlos Santana’s resident concerts through May 2. In celebration of Earth Day and in the spirit of his environmental and humanitarian efforts, Carlos has partnered with local nonprofit Project Sole for fans to recycle their gently used shoes to aid 300 million children who are barefoot. … Comedian Andrew Dice Clay starts a five-day run at the Las Vegas Hilton. … And the Bruce Springsteen tribute band The Rising also plays the Hilton.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

We’ll have the first photos of Holly Madison’s housewarming party and our chat and photo session with country music stars Sugarland before they kick off their nationwide summer tour in Primm this weekend.

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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