Las Vegas Weekly

August 26, 2010 · 4:03 PM

Strip Scribbles: Fantasia Barrino to perform late-night concert at Rain

By Robin Leach

Fantasia Barrino.

Photo: Courtesy

American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino is celebrating the release of her third album Back to Me, which dropped Tuesday, with an official album release party and performance at Rain in the Palms late tomorrow night/early Saturday morning, as the R&B and singer and actress is scheduled to perform at 1 a.m.

The eight-time Grammy nominee has been in the headlines this month. On Aug. 9, she was hospitalized in North Carolina after overdosing on aspirin and an unknown sleep aid. The Police Department classified the incident as a suicide attempt, and in transcripts released the day before an interview on VH1’s Behind the Music, Fantasia confirmed that the incident was a suicide attempt: “I didn’t care about anything. I just wanted out. At that moment, I wanted out.”

Fantasia’s music mentor Clive Davis is in town for Carlos Santana’s album preview and concert and plans to see protegee Barry Manilow’s show at the Paris tomorrow. Perhaps Barry and he will stop by to see Fantasia?

*The most prestigious event in bodybuilding has been set for Sept. 24 and 25 at The Orleans Arena for the fifth consecutive year. Three-time and current Mr. Olympia and Las Vegan Jay Cutler will again compete to defend his title. Last year after his third win, there was talk of retirement, but he’s decided to take on some of the world’s best bodybuilders again, including Phil Heath, Kai Greene, Dexter Jackson and Branch Warren.

In the simultaneous Ms. Olympia challenge, champion Iris Kyle, Fitness Olympia Adela Garcia and Figure Olympia Nicole Wilkins Lee return to defend their titles. More beautiful women are expected than ever before with the inauguration of the new Bikini Olympia division.

*Pick up the September issue of Vanity Fair as recommended summer reading, and not just because Lady Gaga is the incredible cover story. Inside, there’s a riveting article about the Wall Street whiz accountant who married a Scores adult men’s club pole dancer here in Las Vegas after dinners over 18 months at $1,000 a meal! Diane Passage says she had no knowledge that husband Ken defrauded celebrities including Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino, Warren Beatty, Barbara Walters, Caroline Kennedy and Sony head honcho Howard Stringer.

It’s another Bernie Madoff story on a smaller scale because it’s multimillions swindled instead of billions! It’s amazing that the stars get taken for such a ride. Ken Starr even proudly showed a video of his wife pole dancing to fellow moguls, and it still didn’t set off alarm bells until the feds marched in and found him hiding behind his coats in his bedroom closet. Fortunately, no Las Vegas names have surfaced.

*Despite being barred from casinos around the world because of his psychic poker play, The Amazing Kreskin will appear for two months at Casbah Lounge in the Sahara starting Wednesday. For the first time, he’ll offer a weekly 30-minute gambling seminar to audiences to impart his expertise on how individuals playing poker, blackjack and other card games can increase their advantage and odds. Kreskin, who has broken records at casinos all over the globe, will reveal why he’s banned from casinos and isn’t permitted to play poker anywhere. I’ve worked with the mentalist on many TV shows over the past 20 years, and with $1 million at stake, he’s always won every challenge. Doubtless, he’ll make waves here on The Strip over the next 60 days.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was honored at a private event at the new PBR Rock Bar in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood, making him one of the first to enjoy the new bull riders-themed restaurant and bar. … Rapper Vanilla Ice took the stage for a performance at Pure in Caesars Palace on Tuesday night after arriving with a large entourage, including his DJ, manager and friends, and enjoyed Grey Goose, Jagermeister and Coronas. He performed “Ninja Rap,” “Play That Funky Music,” “Turn It Up” and “Ice Ice Baby.” … DJ ATB and Carrot Top partied at Lavo in the Palazzo on Tuesday night. … Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington stopped in for dessert yesterday at Republic Kitchen & Bar, a restaurant in Henderson in the former location of Fado that opened this week. … After dinner at Union at MGM CityCenter’s Aria, Vanessa and Angela Simmons, the daughters of Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, hosted upstairs at Gold Lounge to introduce their trendy shoe line Pastry Box of Chocolate. Hannah Montana actress Romi Dames, Playboy twin Karissa Shannon and Smallville actor Sam L. Jones III also were at Gold separately. … Jabbawockeez performed at Haze in Aria, and New Orleans rapper Lloyd performed “Girls Around the World,” “Get It Shorty” and “Bed Rock” at Aria, too. After the show when a cake was brought to the stage, the crowd joined Lloyd in singing Happy Birthday to his mom, sister and aunt, who were all in Las Vegas to celebrate their birthdays. … Stephanie Pratt dined at Stack and then partied at Jet in The Mirage, where Holly’s Word co-star Angel Porrino celebrated a girlfriend’s birthday. … And singer Rakim performed four songs while partying at Pure, and rapper Mims who played at Venus Beach Club earlier, caught the show.

TONIGHT’S TIPS:

Sin City bad boy Andrew Dice Clay hosts the Bump ’n’ Grind contest at Tao in The Venetian, as the sexiest ladies compete in the first lap dance challenge with $5,000 in cash and prizes. … The Fantasy Football Super Draft at the Palms gets under way for four days to kick off the football season. Ashton Kutcher hosts Fantasy Football Live, Stacy Keibler hosts the VIP nightclub in Rain, and rap royal Snoop Dogg performs at the official tailgate party. Expect a lot of pro athletes and sexy cheerleaders as only Las Vegas can do it. … Ian Bag and April Macie are at Playboy Comedy Lounge for hosts Cort McCown and Paul Hughes.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

UFC 118 with B.J. Penn, Randy Couture and Kenny Florian among the stars is way on the other side of the country, but we’ll focus on how Las Vegas will watch its hometown fighters and organization, plus an advance look at Restaurant Week, which starts Monday. Reality TV stars Brody Jenner and Bridget Marquardt celebrate here this weekend as The Bachelor’s Jesse Csincsak and The Bachelorette’s Ann Lueders exchange wedding vows at the new boutique resort hotel Rumor, and a lineup that runs the gamut from singer Michael Buble to Fox News anchor Sean Hannity lights up The Strip!

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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