Las Vegas Weekly

August 13, 2010 · 4:28 PM

Strip Scribbles: Commemorating the death of Elvis Presley 33 years later

By Robin Leach

Priscilla and Elvis Presley at their wedding at the Aladdin.

Photo: Las Vegas News Bureau

Elvis Aaron Presley, The King of Rock and Roll and the all-time supreme Las Vegas headliner, is being remembered in a special way Monday at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977, and would be 75 if he were still alive today.

“Madame Tussauds is very excited to recognize Elvis, his Las Vegas history and his many fans,” said Attraction Manager Rosita Chapman. There will be an Elvis display featuring a young Elvis with sideburns and wearing a replica leather outfit. Visitors can line up to have their photo taken with The King, and an Elvis DJ will be featured in front of the attraction from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Elvis tribute artists and those who dress up like him will be admitted free; otherwise, admission is $25 per adult. “Karaoke With the King” will be in the Onstage Room, and a second Elvis is on display in the Viva Vegas Room.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas’ recent debut figures include Chuck Liddell, Snoop Dogg, Kathy Griffin and President Obama and the Oval Office Experience.

*R&B’s Mr. Boombastic, better known as Shaggy, made waves at the Cruzan Campfire Concert Series last night at Palms Pool & Bungalows. “He was off the charts,” our spywitness said. “He opened with ‘Boombastic’ and then kept cranking the heat from that point onward. We didn’t know who was hotter: him, his songs or the temperatures!”

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Shaggy performs at the Palms on Aug. 12, 2010.

*Congratulations to our friends at Lavo in the Palazzo, who celebrate their second anniversary tonight at the Italian restaurant and boutique nightclub -- and on the news that owners Tao Group is opening a Lavo New York City opposite Tao on Manhattan’s East Side.

*Some 300 of the world’s most influential travel professionals party tomorrow at Gold Lounge in MGM CityCenter’s Aria to celebrate the 2010 World’s Best Awards from American Express’s Travel & Leisure magazine. Members of travel organization Virtuosa, here for their four-day convention at the Bellagio, also will attend. For the eighth year, the Bellagio has been recognized among the top hotels in the U.S. and Canada. This year’s poll yielded a record number of votes and also placed the Wynn, Encore and The Venetian in the Top 10. Aria was named a hotel to watch for in the 2011 awards.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Jenny McCarthy and her bunny brethren.

*A few special notes regarding tonight’s Lady Gaga Monster Ball Tour concert at MGM Grand Garden Arena and tomorrow’s party at Palms Pool hosted by Jenny McCarthy. Lady Gaga told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS FM show, “It’s more of a musical and less of a concert. It has a New York theme. It’s a story, and the story is that my friends and I get lost in New York on our way to the Monster Ball.” Her opening act is Semi Precious Weapons, and they are getting payback because they hired Lady Gaga when she was an unknown. If you miss tonight’s sold-out concert, Lady Gaga’s schedule has been re-routed so that before the tour ends, she’ll return March 25.

Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner doesn’t have the monopoly on his annual Midsummer Night’s Dream Party at The Playboy Mansion now that the Palms celebrates is 4th Annual Masquerade Lingerie Bacchanalia party tomorrow with cover girl pinup and actress Jenny hosting Sin City’s gods and goddesses. Costumes or masks are required for admission into the Mount Olympus-themed party. Entourage star Kevin Dillon also will be celebrating his birthday.

In this wanton weekend of wildness, we also have a monster set of other highlights and attractions that will keep you hopping from one hutch to another in what we affectionately refer to around here every week as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

FRIDAY, AUG. 13

*Singer, songwriter and exhibitionist extraordinaire Lady Gaga shows her flair for the theatrical with Semi Precious Weapons at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Bandmates Justin Tranter, Cole Whittle, Dan Crean and Stevy Pyne of SPW host the after-concert party at Studio 54 in MGM Grand.

*Home Shopping Network kicks off three days of Shop, Play & Party at Planet Hollywood with 11 hours of live broadcasts featuring on-air stars and sales personalities.

Photo: Courtesy

Bill Engvall.

*Comedian Tim Allen headlines at The Mirage for the first time, comedian David Spade is at The Venetian through tomorrow, and redneck humorist Bill Engvall is at Treasure Island for one performance.

*Soul singer Al Green is at the Las Vegas Hilton for two nights.

*Rappers Three 6 Mafia, Gorilla Zoe, Ya Boy and Splitbreed raise the roof at Planet Hollywood in the Bud Light 21 Tour celebrating pro surfer Kekoa “Koa Boi” Cazimero riding the big wave.

*Indie metal musicians Coheed and Cambria celebrate The Year of the Black Rainbow and are joined by Porcupine Tree and The Dear Hunter at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel, while up the way, Grammy Award-winning Los Lonely Boys play poolside at the Hard Rock.

*Blue Oyster Cult play Fremont Street Experience downtown through Sunday.

*The sounds of smooth jazz are played by Brian Culbertson at Santa Fe Station, while Yonder Mountain String Band is at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

Photo: XS/Encore

UFC fighters Josh Koscheck and Chuck Liddell at XS Nightclub in the Encore.

PARTY PATROL

UFC bachelor hunks Josh Koscheck, Josh Thomson and Phil Davis throw the ultimate bachelor party for fellow fighter Jon Fitch at Tabu Ultra Lounge in MGM Grand. … Lady Gaga’s very own DJ VH1 is the guest of honor and spins the wheels of steel at Jet in The Mirage.

SATURDAY, AUG. 14

*Jenny McCarthy hosts and Kevin Dillon celebrates his birthday at the 4th Annual Midsummer Night’s Dream at Palms Pool & Bungalows. Also there, Bryan Greenberg and Cameron Calderon of HBO’s How to Make It in America.

*Comedian Bob Saget of Full House fame performs his trademark adult standup at The Orleans for two nights, and who knows if there will be samples of the Dirtiest Joke in the World!

*Rush brings its Time Machine Tour to MGM Grand, with the entire Moving Pictures album to be performed.

*Rob Thomas, leader singer of Matchbox Twenty, performs poolside at Red Rock Resort.

Photo: Getty Images/ACM

Blake Shelton on CBS' The Early Show.

*Country singer Blake Shelton and Uncle Cracker headline the 2nd Annual Coyote Countryfest at The Orleans Arena.

*Lost ’80s Live features, among others, Flock of Seagulls, The Motels and Dramarama with their greatest hits at Mandalay Bay Beach.

*Rocker Ted Nugent is at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, while alternative band Primus is on its first headlining tour in four years and has a midnight show at The Joint.

*Dennis Wise pays tribute to Elvis at Boulder Station.

SUNDAY, AUG. 15

*America’s Next Top Model winner Krista White hosts a meet-and-greet at Parallel in The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.

*MAGIC Men’s Fashion Week kicks off with a fashion show from Heatherette co-creator Trevor Rains at Revolution’s Closet Sundays in The Mirage.

Photo: The Rio

Crown Theater and Nightclub at The Rio.

*DJ Hollywood and DJ Frankie host the throwback 1980s Roller Boogie skating party at Crown Nightclub in The Rio.

For more celebrity coverage, check out the weekend celebrity preview posted this morning.

MONDAY’S TEASES

Our exclusive one-on-one interview with 2010 Miss USA Rima Fakih as she competes against 82 Miss Universe Pageant contestants to win the prestigious crown and title. Plus, we’ll have the full weekend wrap-up with photos and reports from all the stars at play throughout town.

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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