Las Vegas Weekly

June 24, 2010 · 4:28 PM

Strip Scribbles: Is the dragon returning to Excalibur’s moat?

By Robin Leach

The moat and shuttered Dragon Show at Excalibur on June 23, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Executives have begun planning a major makeover for the moat that surrounds Excalibur, which last weekend celebrated its 20th anniversary. It’s also possible that the dragon that welcomed guests up until nine years ago will be reawakened from mothballs and brought back to fiery life.

Last weekend at the concurrent 20th anniversary of the Tournament of Kings, Excalibur and Luxor President Felix Rappaport told me that there would be upgrades for that arena, too. Now I hear the moat, ornamental rather than defensive, will get a facelift and serve as a new attraction. Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue toured the moat yesterday and even came across the sleeping dragon. He’s about to awaken!

*Today is the first of the four-day Julien’s Auction at Planet Hollywood, with everything from celebrity memorabilia and bizarre possessions going on sale. The auction includes Cher’s fur collection, Elvis Presley’s blue-belt karate certificate and Marilyn Monroe’s dry-cleaning bills.

But it’s the Michael Jackson items going on the auction block tomorrow that are the highlight of the 1,600 lots under the auctioneer’s hammer. Some 250 of them are M.J.-related, including crystal-covered gloves from his Victory Tour and the furniture he commissioned for his London home for the ill-fated This Is It concert run at 02 Arena that ended with his death 12 months ago.

*Lil Elijah J’s single “Let Me Do My Thang” is moving up the sales charts at Amazon.com. Selected from 8,000 children to play Young Simba in Disney’s North American tour of The Lion King and then at Mandalay Bay, he’s now in talks for a debut album and TV show about his amazing story.

*Contributing photographer Erik Kabik was on duty at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel when Huntington Beach, Calif., rockers The Offspring performed. The group, together since 1984, is credited alongside Green Day and Rancid with reviving interest in punk rock. They’re on tour after recording their ninth studio album due out this year.

*Congratulations to the folks at Tao Beach in The Venetian for being rated as the Top Pool Party in Las Vegas by the New York Post. … Congratulations also to our friend Tony Delgado, who teaches Dancing With the Stars contestants when they’re in town, as his Delgado Dance Studio celebrates its fourth anniversary tomorrow.

*Guests of Mandarin Bar at Mandarin Oriental enjoyed An Evening With Rico DeLargo, the Vibe Elevator, who is a master in mixing the melody of his trumpet alongside high-caliber DJs. Rico DeLargo and DJ Oliver Twist entertained guests for the monthly showcase series highlighting artists, photographers and performers.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

A group of radio station contest winners won a private Goo Goo Dolls concert inside the Studio at the Palms yesterday. The intimate setting was a treat for 30 fans who sang along with the band in the studio. … NHL players took in the scene at Lavo in the Palazzo, when Jeremy Roenick and Alex Ovechkin hosted a pre-2010 NHL Awards party Tuesday night, with the crowd including Patrick Kane and his Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers’ Jeff Carter and Scott Hartwell and Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. … Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars performed several songs at Surrender last night, including “Billionaire” by Travis McCoy, who’ll be at Encore Beach Club on Saturday. His group partied until 3 a.m. in a cabana near actor Sean Astin and his friends. … NHL legend Guy “The Flower” Lafleur dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms just tables way from Las Vegas resident Joe Jackson and Patrick Kane in a group of 18. … Upstairs at Moon, the weekly Bang Party attracted Jabbawockeez and Super CR3W partying with DJ Franzen, DJ Jazzy Jeff and college football star Melvin Fowler. At a separate table was Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby and five friends.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Last night it was the NHL Awards, but tonight, The Pearl at the Palms plays host to Erykah Badu. … Across the Palms, Tommy Davidson is welcomed by Cort McCown and Paul Hughes through the weekend at The Playboy Comedy Lounge with April Macie, a finalist on Last Comic Standing. … The Eagles tribute band Desperado performs a free show at Fremont Street Experience through Saturday. … Mr. Freeze presents I Am Hip Hop at Revolution Lounge in The Mirage.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

It’s one year to the sad day that Michael Jackson died, and we’ve got a rundown of the many ways fans will mark the tragedy around the world. M.J.’s personal and professional memorabilia will go on sale at Julien’s Auction at Planet Hollywood. Plus, we’ll have the rundown of what to expect at the Daytime Emmy Awards at the Las Vegas Hilton on Sunday with its star-studded tribute to Dick Clark by Las Vegas entertainers including Cher and Barry Manilow.

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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