Las Vegas Weekly

August 24, 2010 · 3:32 PM

Strip Scribbles: Evan Lysacek considers himself ‘a local’ now

By Robin Leach

Dancing With the Stars Season 10 competitor Evan Lysacek.

Photo: Craig Sjodin/ABC TV

Olympic and world figure skating champion Evan Lysacek discussed his house in Las Vegas last night with Mr. Vegas DeLuxe Robin Leach backstage at the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant at Mandalay Bay.

“I live here. I’m a local now,” said Lysacek, a judge in this year’s pageant who reportedly also retains his home in L.A. Lysacek, the reigning world champion, upset Evgeni Plushenko at the Winter Olympics in Calgary in February for the gold medal and was the runner-up this past Season 10 (he was robbed!) on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.

Check back right here at Vegas DeLuxe tomorrow when pageant coverage at Mandalay Bay Events Center is wrapped up.

Photo: Von Loyrangsy / Cashman Photography

John Travolta backstage with the cast of Cirque du Soleil's O at the Bellagio.

*Actor John Travolta had Saturday night fever at O in the Bellagio, as six friends and he attended the Cirque du Soleil spectacular at the Bellagio. After watching the show, Travolta went backstage to congratulate the cast on its amazing performance and posed for photographs and chatted with cast members.

*Rain Andreani’s Las Vegas-based Rain Cosmetics hosted a poolside party at Liquid Pool Lounge at Aria on Sunday to benefit Aid for AIDS of Nevada. The fundraiser was hosted by 2010 Miss USA contestants in support of the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. HIV/AIDS awareness is the official cause of each reigning Miss Universe. That evening, the Miss USA girls joined former Miss USA and Miss Universe titleholders and 2010 Miss USA runner-up Morgan Woolard at The Bank in the Bellagio for Rain Cosmetics’ True Beauty Rocks the Universe.

Photo: Felix Eduardo

Miss USA contestants at Liquid Pool Lounge in Aria on Aug. 22, 2010.

Photo: Felix Eduardo

Miss USA contestants at Liquid Pool Lounge in Aria on Aug. 22, 2010.

*XXX-rated screen stars Jenna Haze, Teagan Presley and Lisa Ann host the Exotic Dancer Awards after-party at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel tonight. The 13th Annual Gentlemen’s Club Expo’s award presentation is earlier at The Mirage, where the large sex convention is being held, with comic Ralphie May expected as the host.

*Rock & Rita’s Flair for the Cure raised $6,000 for American Cancer Society after joining forces with American Cancer Society’s Young Professionals Against Cancer and the world’s top flair bartenders at the new Circus Circus dining and entertainment venue. The red carpet included Lorena Peril and the cast of Fantasy, Thunder From Down Under, Recycled Percussion, New York-New York spokesman Vinny and Mrs. Nevada USA Susie Monahan, who emceed the event.

*The 5-acre Fright Dome at Circus Circus is hiring more than 250 positions for the Halloween season. Interviews take place 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Sept. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19 at Adventuredome, and applicants must bring a valid government-issued ID, Social Security card and be ages 18 or older. For more information, go to FrightDome.com.

*All that fuss over the weekend about the new vegan delights at Steve Wynn’s casino resorts was old news to Vegas DeLuxe readers. One entertainment writer headlined it breaking news even though it was after Senior Editor John Katsilometes wrote about trying the taste treats on his summer-long vegan experiment and after we first wrote about it here at Vegas DeLuxe. Every fine dining and casual restaurant at Wynn and Encore now offers vegan menu items, the first resorts on The Strip with such extensive offerings. Incidentally, the same breaking news headline was topped across a photograph of Miss USA Rima Fakih in her national costume one week after we posted photos and video of Miss USA designing the outfit.

*Is it possible that once-upon-a-time sadly-looked-down-upon British food is going to be a new trend? A new Brit pub restaurant is beginning to grab attention with favorable reviews about updated spins on old, funny-named favorites from my hometown. Los Angeles Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila has given 2 1/2 stars right out the box to the newly opened Waterloo & City Brit in Culver City, Calif., raving about many of the menu items! It’s a right royal turn-up for the books, as we’d say back home, after years of taking withering comments about the tragic state of U.K. grub.

*Tickets are on sale for National Finals Rodeo headliners appearing at the Golden Nugget downtown Dec. 2-11: Clay Walker, Ronnie Milsap, John Michael Montgomery and Clint Black.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Asher Roth performs live at Pure.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Rapper Asher Roth of “I Love College” fame partied at Tao in The Venetian on Saturday night with friends at a VIP table and enjoyed Grey Goose and Ciroc Red Bulls while listening to the sounds of DJ Vice. He was at Tao Beach the next day and wrapped up his weekend at Lavo in the Palazzo. Antoine Wright also partied at Lavo and shared Patron shots with Vice. … Rascal Flatts filmed a music video at the Palms yesterday for their new song “Why Wait” from their upcoming album Nothing Like This, which drops Nov. 16. Wayne Newton, David Arquette, Carrot Top and brothers Joe and Gavin Maloof reportedly make cameos in the video.

Photo: Edison Graff

Rascal Flatts at the Palms.

Photo: Edison Graff

Rascal Flatts with Joe Maloof and Gavin Maloof at the Palms.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Rap royal Vanilla Ice is still hip-hop heating up the nightclub circuit and raises the temperature at Pure in Caesars Palace. … Comedians Ricky LaPorte, Marc Price and Dylan Mandlsohn headline at The Improv at Harrah’s through Sunday. … The Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction is at Fremont Street Experience downtown through Saturday. … And tattoo titan Mario Barth hosts Inked Out at King Ink in The Mirage.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

All the stars turn out to play -- and sing -- with Carlos Santana and record mogul Clive Davis to launch Carlos’ new album Guitar Classics. Plus, remembering DJ AM one year after his death, Miss Universe Jimena Navarrete on Day 1 of her new reign and an update on our hometown’s new Lingerie Football League team.

Vegas DeLuxe Editor Don Chareunsy contributed to this report.

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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