Las Vegas Weekly

August 18, 2010 · 6:01 PM

Strip Scribbles: Criss Angel to wear ‘cement shoes’ on tonight’s Mindfreak

By Robin Leach

Criss Angel's Las Vegas mountaintop mansion Serenity.

Photo: AWPI/Richard Brian

Mindfreak magician Criss Angel calls it “an homage to Harry Houdini’s most dangerous escape.” The Cirque du Soleil Believe features his “cement shoes” escape on tonight’s episode of his hit A&E series Mindfreak.

For the escape, Criss was tied and shackled in more than 100 feet of chains secured by more than 20 locks and then lowered 90 feet from the side of the London Bridge into the cold, murky waters of Lake Havasu in Arizona. More than 12,000 spectators watched the seemingly impossible escape, particularly more so when Criss had his feet embedded in a barrel of cement before being dropped. Yes, he made it out safely and hosts a screening at Liquidity Bar in the Luxor after his two sold-out shows.

If you missed the amazing reception Criss received on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live early this morning, here it is on YouTube. Meantime, Criss performs on NBC’s America’s Got Talent tonight.

*Music legend Barry Manilow’s nonprofit Manilow Music Project is putting musical instruments into the hands of Clark County School District middle and high school students with a big donation this fall. Starting today, fans who bring a new or gently used musical instrument to the Paris Theater box office receive a voucher for the performance date of their choice.

MMP is part of The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope and was formed in response to the needs of public schools and their depleted music programs. MMP also is funded by the Manilow Paris Platinum Experience Tickets, which includes a front-row seat, a pre-show champagne reception, a meet-and-greet and photograph with Barry and an autographed show program. Tickets for performances through Jan. 16 are available at Vegas.com.

*There’s lots of buzz around downtown Las Vegas about civil liberties and street performing, and the ACLU is now involved with protecting the rights of street performers to perform in public as part of First Amendment rights. Some of Jeff McBride’s Wonderground magic show magic students, including Tim Wise, have taken action to demonstrate with their magic on the streets.

Now Jeff is bringing England’s top street busker Mario Morris to be a guest teacher at his Focus on Street Magic class from Oct. 8-10. Jeff is in Mexico this weekend performing at the Imagine Leon magic festival in Guanajuato as a warm-up to his first starring Magic Convention from Oct. 15-17 in Mexico City.

*In other Las Vegas magic news, Paul Vigil, one of the finest sleight-of-hand close-up artists, has been added to the entertainers lineup at Mario Barth’s King Ink in The Mirage.

*For a second consecutive night, legendary blues guitarist B.B. King played to a sold-out crowd at his B.B. King’s Blues Club in The Mirage, and it drew Mirage President Scott Sibella as a special guest. Contributing photographer Erik Kabik, who shot this new gallery, noted: “We can’t forget the other star of the show and B.B.’s first love -- Lucille, the famous guitar herself!”

*The Mirage is set to host a special date in the third episode of ABC’s Bachelor Pad. The episode is about a group date with an intimate party at the adult-themed Bare Pool Lounge and dinner in one of The Mirage’s luxurious villas.

*Twelve new luxury brands led by Sir Paul McCartney’s designer daughter Stella McCartney will open by year’s end at MGM CityCenter’s Crystals. They include flagship stores for Prada and Gucci and boutiques for Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, Emilio Pucci and Harry Winston.

*The Wet Republic party people at MGM Grand have planned the biggest pool parties over Labor Day weekend featuring Sean "P.Diddy" Combs and will.i.am. of The Black Eyed Peas, plus a line-up of the world’s hottest DJs. P.Diddy hosts Sept. 4 and will.i.am the next day. The deejays are AfroJack, Funkagenda, Boris, Serge Devant, Bad Boy Bill, Chuckie, Sharam, Robbie Rivera, Laidback Luke and Fedde Le Grand.

*A Yamaha YZF-R1 is being unveiled at the Palms tonight. The Yamaha Motor Corp. and the Palms are introducing a collaboration titled “Life in the Fast Lane” for the introduction of a one-of-a-kind Yamaha YZF-R1 superbike motorcycle customized to reflect the energy and cutting-edge experience of the Palms.

*The PBR World Finals are set for Oct. 20-23, with the championship awards Oct. 24 at the Thomas & Mack Center. It is estimated that 116,000 fans will travel to Las Vegas for the PBR World Finals, with 87 percent attending from out of town and occupying 39,825 room nights with an economic impact of nearly $35 million. Vegas DeLuxe will have coverage of all the advance news, and then all the events once PBR begins.

*Our contributing videographer Richard Corey was a 4-hour guest at Howard Stern’s Sirius XM studios in New York when he sat in with his Florida State University daughter on one of the radio shows talking about sports stars and their Las Vegas playgrounds. He’s bringing back the video, which we’ll have here at Vegas DeLuxe later.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Stephanie Pratt of MTV’s The Hills watched Jersey Boys at the Palazzo and after the show went backstage with a friend to meet the cast and pose for a photograph. Stephanie raved on Twitter (@stephaniepratt) that “Jersey Boys was amazing -- I also got to meet the cast!!! And I asked them 100 questions!!!” … James Preston of ABC’s new vampire series The Gates suited up for the 855-foot SkyJump leap from the Stratosphere. … Seattle Seahawks broadcaster and former NFL quarterback Warren Moon dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms with five friends and enjoyed Fiji Water. Victor Rasuk of HBO’s How to Make It in America returned to N9NE a second consecutive night for dinner and enjoyed Fiji Water. Al Harrington of the Denver Nuggets dined in the private dining room. … MMA fighter Urijah Faber had lunch at Palms Pool & Bungalows. … Poker legend Phil Hellmuth dined at Social House in CityCenter with a group that included fellow poker pro Layne Flack. … Actor Steven Weber dined at Strip House in Planet Hollywood. … And skateboard legend Tony Hawk, in town for MAGIC Fashion Week, was at SkyBar in the Hard Rock Hotel for the Relax party after checking into a HRH Tower spa villa.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

It’s another packed night of MAGIC parties! Karina Smirnoff, Jayde Nicole, Brandi Cyrus, Codi Caraco and Julia Ross are expected on the red carpet for Primp Clothing’s Primp at Project party celebrating its Spring 2011 collection and the launch of Primp Korea at Mix Lounge at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. Jabbawockeez performs for MAGIC leaders and tastemakers at Haze in Aria showcasing Karmaloop Crooks and Castles street wear. It also marks tomorrow night’s return to The Hollywood Theater at MGM Grand for the dance crew through next Wednesday. Billionaire Mafia continues its parties with Gucci Mane, Juelz Santana and Lloyd Banks at Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve in Crystals. And the Snitch fashion party is at Ghostbar in the Palms.

Music legends Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp perform a sold-out concert at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace. … Classic Venezuelan musician Oscar D’Leon performs salsa music on bass guitar at Crown Nightclub in The Rio. … After The Nation’s International Flair Bartending Competition at Rock & Rita’s in Circus Circus, the bartenders will auction their skills to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. … The World Extreme Cagefighting showdown between bantamweight champions Dominick Cruz and Joseph Benavidez is at The Pearl in the Palms. The Ultimate Fighter heavyweight champion Roy “Big Country” Nelson hosts the WEC after-party at Rockhouse at Center Strip. … And it’s Led Zepagain in the Bringing Back the Music series at the Las Vegas Hilton.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

We’ll post contributing photographer Erik Kabik’s photo gallery from Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp’s concert. Plus, our latest coverage of the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant, a report and photo gallery from the Takers red carpet and a preview of Saturday’s AFAN Black & White Party.

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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