Las Vegas Weekly

May 28, 2010 · 4:04 PM

Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas: Parties, concerts and events galore

By Robin Leach

Cheryl Burke and Chad Ochocino on Dancing With the Stars during semifinals week.

Photo: Adam Larkey/ABC TV

It’s a double birthday celebration for two two-time Dancing With the Stars champions, and totally by coincidence. Season 10 charmer Cheryl Burke, who may or may not be in a sensational bling-beautified romance with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, celebrates at Tao Beach in The Venetian this afternoon. If Chad turns up, then we know the romance is on!

Then tonight, Season 10 short-timer Mark Ballas celebrates his birthday at Tao, and it’s highly likely that best pal and rock band mate Derek Hough might return home after winning Tuesday night’s Season 10 win with Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, Derek’s second title.

*Poker players from all over the world kick off the 41st Annual World Series of Poker today at The Rio, but they might be interested in hopping over to the Titanic: An Exhibition at the Luxor to learn more about the history of card playing. An incredibly well preserved pack of American steamboat playing cards found in 1993 among the personal effects of the early 1900s passengers is on display. Luxor is home to one of the largest RMS Titanic artifact collections in the world.

Now it’s time for us to turn over our winning hand. No flops here as the Strip headliners, parties and events all come up aces for this fantastic Memorial Day weekend. It’s shuffle up and deal with the cards we call the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

FRIDAY, MAY 28

*Superstar entertainer Barry Manilow makes the music you love to sing as he resumes his concerts at the Paris.

*Jazz masters Gerald Albright, Jeff Golub and Kirk Whalum play the Railhead at Boulder Station.

*Ronnie Milsap plays piano and sings for his supper at East Side Cannery.

*Angels and Airwaves and Say Anything rip the roof off The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel.

*For the fourth consecutive year, Rusted Root plays at the Hard Rock Hotel pool.

*Air Supply, music veterans for more than 30 years, starts a three-night run at The Orleans.

*Legendary George Clinton, the grandfather of funk, and Parliament Funkadelic put their toes in the sand at Red Rock Resort.

*Ralphie May brings laughter to South Point Showroom.

*Country star Janie Fricke says “Don’t Worry About Me Baby” at Sunset Station.

PARTY PATROL

Jersey Shore hunk Ronnie Magro hosts at Jet in The Mirage. … Ten of the world’s best deejays spin at Wet Republic in MGM Grand. … Playboy Playmates Kelly Carrington and Sara Jean Underwood host their Bunny Bash at Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve in Crystals. … And Fight magazine and Hit Man Clothing host at Blush in the Wynn.

SATURDAY, MAY 29

*Quinton Jackson battles Rashad Evans in UFC 114 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

*Comedienne Chelsea Handler brings her Bang Bang Tour to The Colosseum in Caesars Palace.

*NAS and Damian “Junior Gong” Marley have something in the air with their “distant relatives” at The Joint.

*The Zero-Gravity flights resume at McCarran. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who debuted the flights, says it’s equal to what he did in space and is an exciting adventure.

*Huey Lewis & the News entertain outdoors at Sun Village plaza in The M Resort.

*Barenaked Ladies bring their musical humor to entertain the swimsuit beauties at Mandalay Bay Beach.

*It’s time for villains and heroes as Star Wars bursts in concert at The Orleans Arena, a multimedia event with footage and music from all six scores.

*Pop art icon Peter Max hosts a gallery exhibit of his new works, including a 6-foot tall Lady Liberty canvas, at his gallery in Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

*Lewis Black brings his standup of wry sarcasm for two nights at The Mirage.

*Flight of the Concords makes the music at Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts, and there’ll be surprise guests, too.

*Loverboy is lovin’ every minute of it at Red Rock Resort.

*Hometown music superstar Smokey Robinson plays Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

*Blue Man Group will entertain fans throughout the Las Vegas 51s game against the Tacoma Rainiers and perform the national anthem at Cashman Field.

*Musician and theater performer Craig Meyer brings his tribute and impressions of Sir Elton John to the Suncoast for two nights.

*Disco queen Gloria Gaynor still says she will survive as she kicks off the 102 days Summer of the 70s music festival downtown at Fremont Street Experience.

PARTY PATROL

Hometown soul sensation Ne-Yo performs and hosts at the new Surrender nightclub in the Encore. … Interim UFC heavyweight champion Shane Carwin hosts the UFC 114 viewing party at Emeril Lagasse’s Stadium in the Palazzo and then hosts at Blush. … Hip-hop superstar Snoop Dogg performs at Venus Pool Club in Caesars Palace and LAX in the Luxor. … Shaggy performs at Pure in Caesars Palace. … Eva Longoria Parker hosts a 28th birthday party for her San Antonio Spurs hubby Tony Parker at Eve. MMA fighters Jon Fitch and Mike Swick host the UFC after-fight party at the new Crown nightclub in The Rio.

SUNDAY, MAY 30

*Comedian Russell Peters brings his standup zaniness to The Joint with his Green Card Tour.

*Pitbull barks up a storm at Mandalay Bay Beach.

*Gilby Clarke is Carey Hart’s star guest at his Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel.

*A double-header with Las Vegas-based The Cab OK Go at Red Rock Resort.

*The Temptations Review with Dennis Edwards brings those Motown sounds to Silverton Casino Lodge.

PARTY PATROL

Rap star Fabolous hosts and performs at Jet. … Benny Benassi and Boys Noize play and party at Liquid Pool Lounge in Aria. … Shaggy performs at Venus Pool Club. … The Crystal Method hosts and performs at Blush. … Bad Boy Bill hosts and performs at The Bank Nightclub in the Bellagio. … DJ Vice guests spins at the Voyeur Party in Lavo at the Palazzo. … DJ Erik Morillo spins at Tao. … Sex and the City hunk Gilles Marini hosts the launch of the world’s first and only champagne served on ice, Moet Ice Imperial, at Azure Pool in Palazzo. … Jonathan Peters spins at Haze in Aria. LMFAO performs at the new Surrender nightclub in Encore. … NBA superstar Rony Seikaly hosts and spins at Tao Beach. … Jersey Shore folks host a casting call party at Bare Pool Lounge in The Mirage. … Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray performs at the 2010 Frederick’s of Hollywood Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel model search contest, where one lucky finalist gets $10,000 and a return trip to the finals.

MONDAY, MAY 31

Ten of the world’s best deejays wrap their four-day music fest at Wet Republic.

TUESDAY’S TEASES

We’ll have the full photo features and reports of all the fun of the parties, concerts and weekend events, plus opening day at Encore Beach Club and Surrender.

Our Las Vegas Weekly colleague Allison Duck also compiled a thorough Memorial Day weekend listing for your reading and reference pleasure.

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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