Las Vegas Weekly

January 5, 2010 · 3:31 PM

Strip Scribbles: Nicolas Cage’s Las Vegas home on market for $5 million

By Robin Leach

Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes see the light.

A 14,300-square-foot mansion in Spanish Hills here, which is the former home of actor Nicolas Cage, is on the market for $4.95 million. The estate was purchased for investment and resale purposes by the screen star who had invested in many real estate properties in the Southwest over the years and was listed for sale in August 2008 at an asking price of $9.95 million.

Last year, Nicolas became the target of an IRS investigation over taxes, which led to him putting many of the houses up for sale. His home here is in a guard-gated luxury community with other celebrities and VIPs, including Motley Crue singer Vince Neil.

*Now when you go for drinks or dinner at a bar or restaurant in The Venetian or Palazzo, you can literally take the gaming table with you. The new Pocket Casino is only available on the Strip at the two Sheldon Adelson properties. It allows guests the ability to play blackjack, video poker, slots and Xtra Odds Baccarat while roaming bars, lounges, restaurants, the sports book and other designated areas -- away from the casino floor. The system was tested so successfully in The Venetian Race and Sports Book and Emeril Lagasse’s Stadium sports bar in the Palazzo that hotel President and COO Robert Goldstein ordered it to be rolled out at the properties.

Robert added, “Our customers will have the unique opportunity to put cutting-edge technology to work in a way that will bring their overall gaming experience to a whole new level. Pocket Casino gaming is the perfect way to enjoy the excitement of a casino without missing the fun your friends are having at the bar, lounge or in one of our amazing restaurants. It’s a multitasker’s dream come true.”

*Celebrity chef Steve Martorano, who holds court at The Rio with his Martorano Italian restaurant, has been tapped to open a branch in the Hard Rock Hotel in Florida, and it will be a full dining restaurant complete with table games. I’ll take the penne ala vodka and $100 on blackjack!

*Mirage headliner Terry Fator was the entertainment industry’s Voice for Road safety over the holidays. He unveiled the campaign “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk -- Do You?” for Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes Against Drunk Driving, or RADD, that since 1986 has been advocating designated drivers, seatbelts and responsible behavior. Las Vegas video producer Mike Levy shot the HD commercials produced and directed here by Ron Schaeffer.

*Chinese restaurateurs from around the world gather tonight at The Venetian for the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants Awards. Chefs Lee Anne Wong of Bravo’s Top Chef and PBS Master Chef Martin Yan are just two of the experts attending the event organized by Chinese Restaurant News. After amazing demonstrations of noodle pulling and fruit carving, the awards will be announced recognizing the 100 best Chinese restaurants in America. Chinese food has become a $20 billion industry in the U.S. with more than 45,000 restaurants across the nation -- that’s more than McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s combined!

*Since 1976, legendary congo drummer and Las Vegas resident King Errisson has played on Neil Diamond’s world tours, and they’re off again this year for yet another. King, who Neil calls “the best percussionist in the world,” has just released his 16th instrumental CD Conga Serenade, his first since 2003. King has backed everybody from Barbra Streisand to Diana Ross to Michael Jackson to James Brown. Several fellow Neil Diamond band members contributed to the album.

Wicked whispers & racy rumors

The so-called resort fee that has been attached to online bookings of Las Vegas resorts is under attack by Harrah’s. Guests of Caesars Palace, Paris, Bally’s, The Rio, Imperial Palace and Harrah’s Las Vegas can remain confident that the competitive rates booked on the Internet are an accurate reflection of the actual room cost per night (plus room tax), with no surprise fees tacked on. The no resort fee was instituted today, so guests can use the savings for shopping, dining or room upgrades. … Which nightclub group looks set to get a permanent license for one of its troubled Las Vegas operations this Thursday? … A casino gaming Web site is reporting that Palms hotel tycoon George Maloof has offered million$ for a Lady Gaga residency at his resort. … Which Strip headliner is about to announce an amazing donation to Las Vegas schoolchildren?

Star surveillance

The Coasters lead singer Curley Clover dropped by Imperial Palace to watch Human Nature. … Pro skateboarder Jake Brown and musician Scott Russo partied at Moon in the Palms until 3 a.m. … Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino and UFC President Dana White dined with six friends at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms, where four days earlier, they’d been seen playing blackjack together at The Playboy Club. … Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. took one of the new Vanity nightclub’s 50 VIP booths in the Hard Rock Hotel to watch guest DJ Bob Sinclar’s set that included the hit “World Hold On.” … Las Vegas crooner Brian Evans, who is in Maui producing the Hard Rock Celebrity Series there, met up with Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger and rocker Alice Cooper at manager Shep Gordon’s party at the Marriott in Wailea. Shep is a regular Las Vegas visitor involved with several restaurants on and off the Strip. Brian performs with Roseanne Barr at the Jan. 15 series.

Tonight’s tips

Comedian Don McMillan once worked on the AT&T team that designed the world’s first 32-bit processor. It won him a six-year Silicon Valley career as a computer chip designer. But he chucked it all for comedy after winning the 16th Annual San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy Competition. Don is at Harrah’s Improv with Mike Black.

Tomorrow’s teases

More than 110,000 conventioneers head into Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show and concurrent Adult Entertainment Expo. Celebrities will be promoting products, and we’ll have the rundown of all the new gadgets and tech wonders. Will America’s first 3-D TV network be announced during tomorrow’s opening day? Will Apple announce its new iTablet or wait to see the competition’s debut rollouts tomorrow?

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.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

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