Las Vegas Weekly

July 12, 2010 · 3:22 PM

Strip Scribbles: Tao Group is betting $60 million on Cosmopolitan hotspot

By Robin Leach

Brad Garrett and Montel Williams at McFadden's.

Photo: Jacob Andrzejczak/WireImage

It could wind up being the most expensive nightlife attraction in America, and advance word is that The Tao Group from The Venetian and Palazzo have already committed more than $60 million for their entertainment extravaganza opening New Year’s Eve at The Cosmopolitan alongside MGM’s CityCenter.

Vegas DeLuxe was first to bring you word on the project, and I’m now reliably told that the sprawling three top floors of The Cosmopolitan will feature not only a nightclub and restaurant but also small pools within the rooftop garden walkways. The insider word is “beyond spectacular,” and “nobody will have seen anything else like this anywhere in the world.”

*For the first time since Vegas DeLuxe broke the sad story of the troubled Twitter follower of comedian Brad Garrett, he returns to his Tropicana Comedy Club on Saturday with headlining comedians Rondell Sheridan and Jenn Kober. There have been numerous follow-ups to our story, and my take from everything I’ve read is that the woman who refers to herself as Badd Garrett is far from the parody artist she claims to be.

Turns out that she once pleaded guilty to stalking a police officer with awful, numbing sexual suggestions about him, his wife and their children. She was sentenced to six months. Incredibly, with that arrest and more than 18,000 tweets, she’s still allowed to use Twitter with her questionable behavior.

*Sad to note that the struggling Las Vegas economy mirroring the country’s downturn claimed more victims over the weekend. Giorgio Ristorante, which won Wine Spectator’s 2007 Award of Excellence, shut its doors at Mandalay Place. “We had a nice run with Giorgio, but it’s time to refocus all of our energy and commitment to our Valentino-branded restaurants,” said chef and partner Luciano Pellegrini. “Valentino Santa Monica, Valentino Las Vegas and Valentino Houston are alive and well, and we look forward to serving our guests at each of these three locations.”… Eleven Spa and Hollywood hairstylist Ken Paves’ salon in Town Square announced via email that its doors were closed. … The M Resort’s Red Cup Cafe closes at the end of today but in early October reopens as the third Hash House A Go Go in town.

*The gorgeous girls of MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris have come up with a unique contest that lets the winner fly to Paris to meet their French counterparts. Oh la la! Pick up the official Passport to France at the Crazy Horse box office and then collect stamps from the French-themed business there, including Joel Robuchon’s L’Atelier, Rouge, Xclusiv and Christophe’s Salon. Once you have six stamps, it enters you in a drawing for the vacation; the contest ends Aug. 8.

The winner and a guest receive two round-trip tickets direct from Las Vegas to Paris on XL Airways, two tickets to Crazy Horse Cabaret in Paris, a three-night stay at Pershing Hall Hotel, dinner for two at Fouquet’s on the Champ-Elysees and two tickets for a Bateaux Mouches cruise on the Seine.

*Bellagio has just added the remarkable Flyte Channel to channel 50 on the guest room TV set. Guests can view live airport arrival and departure screens without leaving their room. Flyte shows cities, flight numbers, scheduled and arrival/departure times and gates.

*Congratulations to Australian singer Michael Tierney of Human Nature and his wife Andrea, who welcomed their first child today, Isabel Ellen Tierney. Michael stars with the foursome, including brother Andrew, at Imperial Palace. … Congratulations to The Light Group marketing guru Kalika Moquin, who celebrated her birthday last night and today in a 22-hour marathon party, with nightlife leaders Magin Alfred, Whitney Delrosso and Stephen Torres also celebrating their birthdays. It began last night with dinner for 40 at Yellowtail in Bellagio, followed by champagne at Caramel and dancing at the Bank before crashing in 30 suites and starting up all over again today. Today’s activities: Bare Pool Lounge in The Mirage, followed by a shindig at Jet.

WICKED WHISPERS & RACY RUMORS

What headline rapper in a committed relationship with another singer infuriated a stunning blonde in a nightclub so much so that she stormed off when he offered her money to go to his room. She blasted him for his manners and told him, “I don’t even know who you are!”… Two restaurant partners are sadly going through a marital separation, and the split is proving difficult for both of them while working alongside each other. … Is it also thin ice for one of our headliners here with his marriage following racy rumors?

*Music agents and execs tell me that ticket sales for touring shows have plummeted this summer and that it’s really only the Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Glee tours that are sellouts. As we reported last week, Lilith Fair was moved to the smaller Mandalay Bay Beach venue because of poor ticket sales. Among the stars also scrapping concerts along with Lilith Fair due to poor ticket sales, according to Pollstar, are Jonas Brothers, American Idol, Adam Lambert, Sting and Rihanna, who is at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday.

As bad as the economy is, here in Las Vegas, Cher is still the leader of the pack. Criss Angel and David Copperfield are the two magicians in the Top 10 ticket sales, and Barry Manilow is the only other solo entertainer in rankings reported over the Independence Day holiday. Also in the Top 10: Ka, Love, Jersey Boys and Blue Man Group.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Mindfreak illusionist Criss Angel joined UFC champion Georges St-Pierre at the new Munchbar in Caesars Palace for a late meal. … R&B singer Ashanti dined with main squeeze hip hop star Nelly at First Food & Bar in the Palazzo and also enjoyed a Glowe body scrub and Drift Away massage at Drift Spa in Palms Place. … Matt Sorum and Donovan Leitch Jr. of Camp Freddy and friends dined at Lavo in the Palazzo. Ty Lawson of the Denver Nuggets also was there. Next door at Tao in The Venetian, New York Jets star Darrelle Revis, who turns 25 on Wednesday, celebrated with dinner and clubbing.

*At Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel, Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce partied with DJ Eric D-Lux, while former Bachelor star Andrew Firestone celebrated his birthday in owner Jason Giambi’s VIP booth with wife Ivana Bozilovic after stopping at Pink Taco. Jesse Buss, son of L.A. Lakers owner Jerry Buss, partied in a VIP booth next to the DJ and proudly showed his new NBA championship ring. Tyronn Lue, former Laker and now director of basketball development, was there, too. Last night, boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. was at the Official Penthouse Afterhours Party also attended by Georges St-Pierre at the Hard Rock Hotel. Sports stars at Vanity last night included Patrick Ewing, Calais Campbell (Arizona Cardinals), Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies), Larry Hughes (Charlotte Bobcats), Marcus Banks (Toronto Raptors) and Will Solomon, formerly of the Sacramento Kings.

*Today’s 2010 NBA Summer League games at Cox Pavilion in Thomas & Mack Center: L.A. Lakers vs. New York Knicks, 1 p.m., Sacramento Kings vs. Detroit Pistons, 3 p.m., San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 3:30 p.m., Dallas Mavericks vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 5 p.m., Phoenix Suns vs. NBA D-League 5:30 p.m., Washington Wizards vs. L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m., and Memphis Grizzlies vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Former NBA player Jerome Williams, aka “Junkyard Dog,” hosts and instructs the City of Las Vegas Basketball Boot Camp at Doolittle Center downtown. … Comedian Mike Saccone is the headliner for the next six nights of standup at Riviera Comedy Club.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

Mindfreak magician Criss Angel faces a media blitz for the new Season 6 and A&E Biography special. We’ll also have photo galleries from the opening of Rock & Rita’s with flair bartenders at Circus Circus and behind the scenes of a private photo shoot with Mickey Thomas and Starship.

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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