Las Vegas Weekly

May 7, 2010 · 3:07 PM

Strip Scribbles: Liberace birthday week begins Sunday

By Robin Leach

Miss Rhode Island USA Alysha Castonguay and Miss New Hampshire USA Christy Dunn admire Liberace's extravagant wardrobe.

Photo: Darren Decker

Celebrated entertainer Liberace will be honored with a weeklong birthday celebration that starts Sunday at The Liberace Foundation and Museum. Mr. Showmanship’s wax figure, on loan from Madame Tussauds at The Venetian, will be on display for photo opportunities. It’s a weeklong affair that begins Mother’s Day and ends on his birthday the following Sunday (May 16) with a cake-cutting and ceremony. Liberace, born May 16, 1919, would’ve been 91.

Vegas DeLuxe will have daily posts next week with the special events. On Sunday, Abigail Varghese, Ali Spuck and Danny Wright will perform in the Cabaret Showroom. Liberace’s movie Leapin’ Lizards also will be shown.

Liberace is recognized as one of the top pianists in the world, along with his flamboyant costumes and spectacular stage shows. Here’s a YouTube video of my 1986 interview with him for my old show Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous:

The Liberace Museum houses his collections of rare and antique pianos, classic cars, sequined costume wardrobes, glittering stage jewelry and other memorabilia. Various Strip entertainers who’ll perform during the week use Liberace’s famous 9-foot mirrored Baldwin grand piano in the Cabaret Showroom.

*It was an exciting Cinco de Mayo here for reality TV star Tila Tequila as she celebrated at LAX in the Luxor. Sporting a new short, platinum blonde hairdo, Tila was decked out for the holiday in a bright red mini dress and heels. At 1 a.m. yesterday, Tila performed two of her new songs, including “I Love My DJ.” One spywitness said she described her new music as hardcore rap and likened it to the sounds of Lil’ Kim.

It’s always a national holiday every weekend here at Vegas DeLuxe, where we love the stars, the events, the parties and the DJs! We deck it out in a hardcore package we refer to affectionately as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

FRIDAY, MAY 7

*New Kids on the Block are still hanging tough at The Pearl in the Palms for two nights, and we’ll have our review Sunday.

*Rapper Sean Paul officially opens Ditch Friday at the Palms, as we reported this morning.

*Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Tops promise a night of soulful classics at The Orleans through Sunday night.

*Randy Jackson’s America’s Best Dance Crew Season 1 champions Jabbawockeez premiere their audio-visual MUS.I.C show at The Hollywood Theater in MGM Grand that runs through May 26. Then later tonight at Tabu Ultra Lounge, expect to see Jabbawockeez fans, including Wayne Brady, Tyrese, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Sean Paul and Matt Leinart walk the red carpet to celebrate the show.

*Flyleaf kicks off the fourth summer pool season of outdoor concerts at the Hard Rock Hotel.

*Where is the gecko hiding? Geico sponsors the Mini MotoSX races at The Orleans Arena.

*Comedy duo Ray Romano and Kevin James have two late nights of standup at The Mirage.

*Thrice, Manchester Orchestra and O’Brother play House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

*Please support the fundraiser Imagine for Juvenile Diabetes Research at Mandalay Bay to turn the dream of finding a cure into a reality.

*Hometown hero and stuntman extraordinaire Carey Hart host top Supercross riders at the Carter Powersports center for the 3rd Annual National Night Out. Carey will lead the stars for photos and autographs.

*The Real Housewives of Orange County star Gretchen Rossi hosts at Jet in The Mirage.

SATURDAY, MAY 8

*Country legend Merle Haggard sings some of his 40 No. 1 hits at Cannery.

*Gabriel Iglesias is at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

*Mel Torme’s son Steve March Torme croons with a velvet voice identical to his father in a jazzy Totally Torme tribute at Suncoast.

*The ultimate ABBA tribute show with Abbacadabra headlines at Las Vegas Hilton for two nights.

PARTY PATROL

Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Kris Jenner, who is the mother of Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, Robert, Kylie and Kendall and stepmother of Brody Jenner, celebrates Mother’s Day weekend with dinner at Eva Longoria Parker’s Beso and then a party upstairs in Eve. … Gorgeous Pussycat Dolls singer and Dancing With the Stars frontrunner Nicole Scherzinger hosts at Pure in Caesars Palace. … The Hills beauty Audrina Patridge celebrates her 25th birthday at Liquid Pool Lounge in Aria. … Taio Cruz performs at LAX. … And Iyaz performs at Haze in Aria.

*Monster’s Energy Supercross Finals are at Sam Boyd Stadium, with the after-party at Jet.

SUNDAY, MAY 9

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone. Our colleague Allison Duck at the Las Vegas Sun has a list of Mother’s Day recommendations.

MONDAY’S TEASES

We’ll have final photo galleries of both the 2010 Vegas Uncork’d star chefs and the 2010 Miss USA Pageant contestants at play, plus a wrap-up of the myriad events from the weekend.

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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