Las Vegas Weekly

March 23, 2010 · 4:23 PM

Strip Scribbles: Birthday parties for sexy CIA agent, Reno 911 star

By Robin Leach

Yvonne Strahovski at Tabu Ultra Lounge in the MGM Grand on March 21, 2010.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Yvonne Strahovski, the blonde bombshell and sexy CIA agent on NBC’s Chuck, hosted an arresting night of intrigue and allure at Tabu Ultra Lounge in MGM Grand while celebrating boyfriend Timothy Loden’s birthday. It was just one of the hotspots they hit during their mini vacation.

Before Tabu, the couple and their friends spent the day poolside in one of the lavish cabanas at Wet Republic. Yvonne wore a simple and elegant black sundress and kept on her Top Gun-style Ray Ban aviators. They also dined at Fiamma Trattoria, and then for the Tabu party left the music to DJ Loczi while Yvonne happily posed for photos with fans.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Cedric Yarbrough, Nicky Hilton and David Katzenberg at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel on March 20, 2010.

Also spotted in a separate cabana at Wet Republic was Cedric Yarbrough, who plays Dep. S. Jones on Comedy Central’s Reno 911. Cedric also was celebrating a birthday -- his 37th -- with friends and family. Cast member Carlos Alazraqui (Dep. James Garcia) joined Cedric for the poolside festivities.

*Road & Track, one of the nation’s longest-running and most trusted automotive magazines, has partnered with Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch on a roster of motorsports events for 2010. The driving competitions, autocross challenges, new car road tests and vehicle showcases all take place at Spring Mountain's cutting-edge racing facility less than an hour from The Strip in Pahrump. The 220-acre facility also will house a teen driving school and fantasy camps.

“Both staffs have plenty in common when it comes to our obsession with anything automotive,” said Matt DeLorenzo, Road & Track editor in chief. “Not only do we thrive on challenging courses that push the boundaries of today’s new cars, we thrive on motorsports events that bring people of all ages and backgrounds together -- to drive better, to compete together and to experience thrills behind the wheel. The sunny desert track at Spring Mountain is the perfect venue.”

Motorsports Ranch also houses Ron Fellows Corvette Driving School operations, a Lotus Performance Driving School and a Private Motorsports Country Club with an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse, track viewing tower, pool and fitness center.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Justin Bieber performs at the Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas Strip on Oct. 24, 2009.

*Teen pop prince Justin Bieber, who heads to Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts this summer, was given his first car on his 16th birthday from mentor, manager and R&B star Usher. Justin celebrated his birthday with friends at a party in L.A., and Usher turned up in the new Range Rover and handed over the keys to Justin.

*Pre-sale of Paramore concert tour tickets begins today, but they aren’t headed to Las Vegas for the Honda Civic-sponsored 31-city hike with Tegan & Sarah that begins July 23 in Raleigh, N.C. However, if you want to see them in addition to their upcoming show at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel on May 16 with Relient K and Fun, they will play four cities fairly close to Las Vegas: Phoenix on Sept. 15, San Jose on Sept. 17, San Diego on Sept. 18 and Anaheim on Sept. 19. Additionally, one fan will win a Honda Civic Coupe. The vehicle designed and autographed by Paramore will be showcased at each Honda Civic Tour stop.

Photo: TVT

Paul Bartolotta, Daniel Boulud and Elaine Wynn.

*Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud from the Wynn is set to open his first Bar Boulud in London’s Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel with a full bistro menu and French wine selection. The new restaurant is designed by design guru Adam Tihany, who designed the Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter.

Photo: Brian Steffy/Blush

Brian Urlacher, second from right, with friends at Blush in the Wynn.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

*Comedy star David Spade played golf at Steve Wynn’s course -- the only hotel casino one on the Strip -- and found Chicago Bears star Brian Urlacher also on the greens. Brian had breakfast and lunch at The Country Club overlooking the 18th waterfall hole. For the second time in a month, Brian partied at Blush in the Wynn.

Photo: X Burlesque

Recycled Percussion are flanked by the girls of X Burlesque.

*Power performers Recycled Percussion put X Burlesque at the Flamingo on their must-see list. The group who placed third on NBC’s America’s Got Talent this past season has been touring the country after their America’s Got Talent Live run at Planet Hollywood. The guys revealed hopes to announce a Las Vegas residency soon. From left in the photo: Shakeera, Megan, Meeka, Olga, Ryan, Todd, Justin, Jim, Tara, Jenny and Smithy.

*Chris Snee of the New York Giants partied with eight friends at Ghostbar in the Palms. … Downstairs at N9NE Steakhouse were retired basketball player Gary Payton and his wife, and with a separate group, Jonathan Ogden, retired offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, enjoying chef Barry Dakake’s taste treats before they attended Martin Lawrence’s standup act at The Pearl.

*New R&B singer Melisa Young, aka Kid Sister, performed a mini-concert at LAX in the Luxor that won her many new fans. … After their show at The Joint for The World’s Largest Pool Party, Chris Gaylor, Nick Wheeler and Tyson Ritter of The All-American Rejects continued the party with a visit to Haze at MGM’s CityCenter’s Aria, where Brittany Snow and boyfriend Ryan Rottman celebrated his 26th birthday at a nearby VIP table. Before Haze, Ryan and Brittany dined at Union with good friends Lance Bass, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Comedy actor Chris Tucker from the Rush Hour hits has been a standup comic for more than 20 years, and for one night only, he teams up onstage at the Flamingo with headliner George Wallace, now in his sixth year there. … The human beat box, aka Doug E. Fresh, performs his hip-hop classics at Pure in Caesars Palace. … Former escape artist Anthony Griffith, who is now appearing in the film Apostles of Comedy, got out of the handcuffs and straightjacket and turned comedian. The Emmy winner from Our Father headlines at Harrah’s Improv with Erin Foley and Lachlan Patterson through Sunday. … Don’t forget the local stars scooping free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream until 8 p.m., as mentioned in today’s Counter Intelligence, in exchange for donations to three local charities.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

Reality TV rules! It’s the premiere of The CW’s Fly Girls with the Virgin America flight crews who jet in and out of Las Vegas, and The Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch star Capt. Keith Colburn teams up with star chef Andre Rochat at Alize in the Palms for a unique meal extravaganza. Plus, our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue flies a Maverick Helicopter high above Las Vegas and the nearby tourist sightseeing spots of Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam for a spectacular and eye-popping photo gallery.

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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