Las Vegas Weekly

June 4, 2010 · 4:08 PM

Strip Scribbles: Phil Laak on track to break 78-hour record at Bellagio

By Robin Leach

Phil Laak at the Bellagio.

Photo: Anne Laymond

Pro poker player Phil Laak hit the 48-hour mark at noon today and was up about $1,000. He says he has a second wind and welcomed back to his table poker pros James Mitchell and Survivor: China alumnus Jean-Robert Bellande to keep him company -- and awake. Girlfriend Jennifer Tilly also is at the Bellagio in support. Phil has sold two of his trademark hoodies for $500 each to raise funds for Camp Sunshine for children with serious illnesses.

Phil will hit the 72-hour mark tomorrow at noon in his attempt to win the Guinness World Record for the longest endurance game of poker and would pass the 78-hour record early tomorrow evening. You can watch his record attempt at UnabomberPoker.com/blog and follow his tweets at Twitter.com/RealPhilLaak. We reported Phil’s progress yesterday in Strip Scribbles.

ROMANTIC RUMBLINGS

It could turn out to be the biggest pop-culture romance of the year if it blossoms from a new and close friendship into a full-blown love match. But I have it on the best authority that one prominent and beautiful, newly single Hollywood headliner is smitten with one of our eligible nightclub operators. No, you’re not seeing double, as last weekend, the two were inseparable. I’m reliably told that she’s returning again this weekend from Tinseltown and that this might be the weekend that clinches it. … Incidentally, just as we predicted here at Vegas DeLuxe yesterday morning, Peepshow star Holly Madison met up with Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden last night at the Hard Rock Hotel. They were together for more than an hour sharing food and drinks at Pink Taco and then went to The Joint to watch the bands playing in the Bamboozle Road Show.

*Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco took over several cabanas at Tao Beach in The Venetian yesterday while filming his upcoming reality TV show Ochocinco’s Ultimate Catch. The Dancing With the Stars contestant was spotted doing pushups in between takes for the pool scenes. … And last night at sister hotspot Lavo in the Palazzo, Ramona Singer of The Real Housewives of New York City enjoyed dinner with a girlfriend.

*The St. Baldrick’s Climb for Five team with hometown hero Patrick McCarrick and teammates Jon Koot and Damian Hernandez made it to the top of the world. Spirits soared when they reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania after the five-leg trek over five days to remind everybody that 1 in 5 children diagnosed with cancer will not survive. At the top to recognize all those who shaved their heads here for St. Baldrick’s Day, the three heroes shaved their heads, too. Climb for Five was created in honor of the five St. Baldrick’s 2010 child ambassadors.

*Tabu Ultra Lounge will join with XRadio.biz to launch Las Vegas’ newest industry night -- X Level Mondays -- on Monday. The X Level beautiful model servers will turn Tabu into their runway Mondays showcasing the latest Karma PCT Clothing. Simultaneously, judges will search the crowd to find a gorgeous girl to be the new face of Karma PCT in an ad campaign. Finalists will be selected each week, with the winner announced June 28.

*Superstar Cher’s May box office receipts at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace were No. 2 in the world -- and were only beaten by the $7.4 million from four U.S. and Australian venues in the James Taylor and Carole King Troubadour Reunion Tour, currently on the road in North America. Cher’s May grosses were $4.9 million, adding to her two-year gross of $70,637,459 with 493,656 tickets sold. You have to marvel at the staying power of the 64-year-old legend!

Now it’s time for us to check all the numbers, run down the rankings and ponder who will be the box office heroes this weekend on and off the Strip in a regular tally tape we refer to affectionately around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

FRIDAY, JUNE 4

*The legendary trio of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, who are in The Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame, celebrate their 51st year of rock and roll at The Joint.

*Korn picks apart The Pearl in the Palms.

*Mix and stir as Gin Blossoms play poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel.

*His guitar work and vocals are legendary, and Lenny Kravitz will let love rule at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

*Bone Thugs N Harmony will enjoy “Tha Crossroads” when they play House of Blues in Mandalay Bay to promote their new album World’s Enemy.

*The summer of the 1970s is revived at Fremont Street Experience with ’70s glam rockers Sweet in a free concert, and more than 200 pre-1972 classic cars will stretch over five blocks, with the Devonshires performing ’70s hits.

*Late-night talk show host Craig Ferguson, with his Scottish burr and occasional kilt, brings his standup to The Venetian for two nights.

*Who better than Imperial Palace headliners Human Nature to entertain and then refresh themselves at the Passport 2010 Down Under wine and beer tasting poolside at The M Resort.

*Tickets go on sale today for Shakira on Oct. 16 at Mandalay Bay.

SATURDAY, JUNE 5

*30 Rock star Tracy Morgan brings his Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning comedy from Saturday Night Live to his show at The Joint.

*For more than 25 years, Goo Goo Dolls have turned out their rock anthem hits, including “Iris,” “Slide” and “Better Days,” and they prove that they always have “Something for the Rest of Us” at The Pearl.

*From classic ballads to the blues, there’s no mistaking the smoky voice of Boz Skaggs, who croons at Mandalay Bay Beach.

*The king of insults comedian Don Rickles is at The Orleans for two nights with his savage, razor-like wit. Popular Las Vegas act Shades of Sinatra open.

*For a blues rock party on the rocks, it’s Fabulous Thunderbirds poolside at Red Rock Resort.

*You’re guaranteed explosions and front-row fireworks when War breaks out at the Cannery.

*Tickets go on sale today for the July 16 LeAnn Rimes show at the new Crown Theater at The Rio, and it’s country music’s rowdiest summer party with Toby Keith and Trace Adkins with their American Ride Tour at The Pearl on July 31.

PARTY PATROL

Singer-songwriter Daniel Merriweather hosts and performs at Lavo in the Palazzo.

SUNDAY, JUNE 6

*Rapper 50 Cent proves his Black Magic on his new Invitation Tour. Call it the softer side of 50 at The Pearl.

*Carey Hart introduces Amber Pacific and Runner Runner at his Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel.

*UFC fighters Forrest Griffin, Tyson Griffin and Gray Maynard lead the Red Rock Harley Davidson and the High Rollers Motorcycle Club for their eighth annual Poker Run to support cancer patients at The Caring Place. The ride starts at 10 a.m. at Red Rock Harley Davidson with more than 700 motorcycles and riders participating before winding up for a four-hour party at The Orleans.

PARTY PATROL

Singer Macy Gray will be joined by Brittny and Lisa Gastineau to celebrate the new Tres Glam jewelry line at Lavo. … And it’s the weekend that the after-dark summer swimming soiree resumes at XS in Steve Wynn’s Encore. Yes, the bronzed beauties and buff bodies will party and swim through the night into the early hours.

MONDAY’S TEASES

We’ll have the full wrap-up of all the weekend events in the town and check into the possible blossoming romance for Paris Hilton right here in Las Vegas.

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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