LuxeLife has the first photos from the new The Beauty of Magic show, starring Pamela Anderson and Hans Klok. The show opens tonight for two local previews before Saturday night’s gala world premiere.
All photos are courtesy of Tomas Muscionico.
Six overnight news items from internet blogs are shaking Vegas this morning:
#1: Actress Lindsay Lohan’s rehab-stay may well cost her all the sponsors for her 21st birthday party originally set for July 2 at PURE nightclub in Caesars Palace- including the hotel and nightclub itself, according to Gatecrasher. 
There’s even gossip here in Vegas that she’ll have to payback part of PURE’s deposit against the reported $250,000 she was to be paid for 3-days of partying here with dinners at Social Houjse, poolside parties at the Venus topless hideout and the big nightclub bash itself. Gatecrasher claims that Lindsay faces potential lossses of $100’s of $1,000’s with probable losses from PURE, Social House and Caesars Palace because of our strictly enforced drinking rules.
#2: Paris Hilton’s best friend, Kim Kardashian, 
who used to be linked to MTV’s Nick Cannon, apparently started a hot and heavy romance here in Vegas at the weekend with Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star Reggie Bush. They met at TAO and have been inseparable ever since according to the spies of TMZ. They were caught on tape kissing, cuddling and making out without a care inm the world!
#3: TV’s Tracy Morgan of the 30-Rock show is the center of another drinking controversy. In 2005 he was arrested for DUI in California and again this past February. He was fined $1000 , had his license lifted for 6-months and was required to wear an ankle bracelet that actually monitors his skin for alcohol levels. The New York Post Page Six gossip column is reporting that eyewitnesses stated that while partying hearty at Rumjungle in Mandalay Bay last weekend he ripped his shirt off and drank directly from a bottle of vodka after downing shots of the alcohol. Morgan’s rep. claims he was only drinking Red Bull but if the actor’s ankle bracelet tests positive he would be required to wear the device for another three months and possibly find himself in jail for 30-days.
Hollywood is reeling from a never-ending series of revelations about the alcohol-fueled out of control bar and nightclub party habits of the stars who have become regular players in Vegas clubs too. The escalating incidents have seen several of them arrested and sent to jail and rehab clinics. Newly out of rehab Britney Spears reportedly became violently ill over the weekend in yet another drinking incident at the Mondrian hotel and was reportedly ” completely out of it” and had to be carried home by bodyguards. Paris Hilton’s upcoming jail stay has also threatened her guest-of-honor attendance at the planned June 25 grand gala premiere of the new season of Beacher’s Madhouse shows at the Hard Rock.
#4: Wall Street investment bankers confirmed this morning that Vegas is to get yet another new hotel. The Australian company, PBL, is to open Crown Las Vegas in a joint venture t odevelop, build, and operate a Crown hotel and casino here. PBL has partnered with IDM Properties, a property developer, and York Capital Management, a private investment fund. While development and design plans have not been finalized, nor any site or location details revealed, Crown Las Vegas will apparently target the top end of the increasingly crowded luxury market.
#5: Wall Street sources also advised this morning that Microsoft has created the first commercially available surface computer. One of the target markets for this device is the hotel/casino industry, but the computer will also have applications in restaurants and retail. Harrah’s Las Vegas properties are quietly testing the devices for use as a virtual concierge service and our giant IGT slot-machine manufacturer has reached a distribution and development agreement with Microsoft for Surface for the device fitting into the company’s server-based gaming platform.
#6: Las Vegas Sands, the parent company of both the Venetian and the upcoming Palazzo has won a $5 billion credit facility—consisting of a $3 billion term loan, a $600 million delayed draw I term loan, a $400 million delayed draw II term loan facility, and a $1 billion revolver.
Pamela Anderson’s childhood dream of being a Vegas showgirl comes true tonight when she and European magician Hans Klok kick off their brand new Beauty of Magic show with two nights of local previews.
Pamela is right off the plane from the Cannes Film Festival and a Sultan’s party in London and all ready to disappear, float and fly high on the stage of the newly-named Planet Hollywood Resort’s Performing Arts Theater. The red-carpet premiere will be on Saturday.
Before she left for Europe, she and Hans had been busy with photo-shoots in Los Angeles and rehearsals here in Vegas, but she still found time to hit TRYST nightclub at the WYNN before jetting to the South of France where she narrowly missed former husband, Kid Rock at one Film Festival soiree!!
Meantime, Hans proved his extraordinary “fastest magician in the world” skills at a fashion show to promote the new Xenergy drink, which is now the official beverage of the UFC.
Hans made the models and the new drink and logo magically appear on the runway of Fashion Show Mall with Bruce Buffer, main ring announcer of UFC handling the MC duties, and the new Xenergy girls modeling the Metro Park clothing line.
Fighters Joe Stevenson and Heath Herring of Season three’s Ultimate Fighter were also on hand with Season one’s Alex Karalexis. Their totally new and unique stage spectacular will combine Hans’ incredible illusions from his sold-out European tour with brand new magic created just for Vegas, with Pamela’s electrifying skills and a cast of sexy dancers.
“I love magic! I love doing things out of the ordinary and of course I’m always up for an adventure, as this will definitely be one” said the former “Baywatch” star. “I knew that one day my dream of being a Vegas showgirl would come true.”
Hans commented: “Pamela Anderson is the kind of international superstar that transcends entertainment. Audiences are going to be amazed when they see what she can do in our show.”
Tonight the new showbiz couple debut at 7pm and 10pm, and tomorrow at 8pm with Pamela mysteriously appearing from out of a super-thin pinup poster of herself in a sexy pink swimsuit that literally comes to life!
Tonight’s the night when the world’s most extravagant culinary showcase proves my firm belief that Vegas is not only home to some of world’s most renowned chefs and fine restaurants, but in fact we out-rank out-cook and out-smart any other dining destination on earth.
More than 100 of our top chefs, restaurants and ultra lounges will all meet poolside at the Flamingo’s 15-acre tropical oasis for the 2nd consecutive year for the 17th annual Epicurean Affair.
“This event represents the best of the best in dining in Las Vegas,” said Flamingo President Don Marrandino. “It is the premier culinary gathering and we are pleased to provide the perfect location for what is sure to be the party of the year.”
Guests will savor samplings from a diverse lineup of restaurants while strolling through a range of unique environments. Roving entertainment and DJs will add to the exciting atmosphere inside and around the Flamingo pools.
“We enjoy a remarkable and growing array of dining options in Las Vegas and continue to be on the cutting edge when it comes to hospitality,” said sponsor Nevada Restaurant Association President Van Heffner. “This annual extravaganza celebrates the remarkable diversity within the food and beverage service industry that we enjoy here in Southern Nevada. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere and great entertainment, you just can’t beat it.”
Among the many notables featured in the 17th annual Epicurean Affair are first-time participants Guy Savoy, Viaggio Italian Cuisine, Cafe Martorano and Social House. They join an extensive list of first-class Dukes of Dining including: Alize, Aquaknox, Aureole, Border Grill, Bouchon, Bradley Ogden, Charlie Palmer Steak, Craftsteak, David Burke, Emeril Lagasse, Fleur de Lys, Joel Robuchon’s L’Atelier, Mesa Grill, Roy Yamaguchi and Wolfgang Puck.
It all starts at 7pm with proceeds benefiting the educational programs of the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association and the Nevada Restaurant Association.
New UFC Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, fresh from his victory over Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell wore his newly earned championship title belt to party at JET nightclub in the Mirage.
With an entourage of friends in tow, Rampage heard that “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, recent boxing title winner over Oscar de la Hoya, was also in the house, and they both wanted to meet each other. Rampage went to Floyd’s table while DJ Crooked played the song “The Champ is Here.”
The two champions gave powerhouse hugs and partied together through the night. Also in JET was comedian David Spade after his regular dinner in the adjoining Stack restaurant.
Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom’s new Pirates of the Caribbean: Worlds End movie is already a bona-fide summer blockbuster, and now you can get up close to both at the Madame Tussauds wax exhibit in The Venetian. Our photographer Scott Doctor got these new photos of the unveiling of the new Orlando Bloom figure.
Orlando says that rather than doing another movie he wants to return to the London stage for a spell first.
… To help raise funds and awareness for organ donations, magician Lance Burton performed at the downtown Henderson amphitheater and raised $10,000 for the 2nd Chance Foundation
… Former Supreme Mary Wilson, who has bought a new 4,000 square foot home here, admits the mortgage payments are cheaper than the rent she paid on her former Manhattan studio apartment
… Actor Chris Tucker and record mogul Babyface became fast friends after meeting at Tiger Jam, and they joined film director/producer Michael bay and Kevin Watanabe for sushi, sashimi and sake at Sushi Roku in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, but then they really made up a party with Bad Boys 2 actress Gabrielle Union, DJ Erick Morillo and Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals for a night of dining and dancing at the outrageous and unique South Philly Italian cuisine Cafe Martorano in the Rio with tattooed owner Steve Martorano handling both the DJ and the cooking chores! Babyface also hit the dance floor at JET with a bevy of beauties
… Eyewitnesses said more than $15,000 in cash was tossed onto the dance floor at Body English in the Hard Rock by rappers Too Short, Lil John and sports star Shawn Merriman of the San Diego Chargers
… Leonardo DiCaprio’s best pal, actor Lukas Haas dined at FIX in the Bellagio for a second consecutive visit
… Famous artist Leroy Neiman visited the Centaur Art Galleries in the Fashion Show Mall to see how his works were selling and to sign some of the paintings for appreciative customers.
TONIGHTS TIP: In addition to the Epicurean extravaganza at the Flamingo, please go to the grand opening of my good friend photographer Denise Truscello’s limited engagement showing of her works in the Venetian Boutique at the end of the Colonnade near the casino. Her award winning shots have been seen everywhere from Rolling Stone to Newsweek and often here in Luxe Life. Her stirring and intimate images of Paris are breathtaking and romantic!
TOMORROW’S TEASE: Rocker Dave Navarro will celebrate his 40th birthday over the weekend and we’ve got all the details of a special dedication he’ll make to the Hard Rock’s musical memorabilia collection, plus amazing-looking 60-year-old Suzanne Somers is in town to pass on her health secrets. Then over the weekend click back to Luxe Life for our full exclusive interview with Mindfreak magician Criss Angel about the amazing stunt he’ll attempt in Times Square starting 4:30am Pacific Time on Monday morning. He knows that for the third time this year he’s ready to stare down into the jaws of death if the Houdini escape goes wrong!
When visiting Vegas, be sure to see Las Vegas Magazine in your hotel suite featuring a print edition of Vegas Luxe Life, and an incredible directory of attractions, shows and restaurants.
VEGAS—THE ONLY PLACE TO PLAY!
Welcome to a special edition of Luxe Life dedicated to big-bucks billionaires and a platinum pop prince as we discover how to make your net worth grow by $2.5 billion in less than a day just by saying you’d like to buy a building or two! Plus, how to earn over $5-million for showing up at a birthday party! It’s a fabulous Fort Knox break-the-bank inside look at how the rich get even richer!
Our candid one-on-one chat with megabucks builder turned TV star and best-selling author, Donald Trump. He came to Vegas for the topping-off ceremony of his first $600-million, 64-story 1,282 condo-hotel tower at Trump International Hotel & Towers just off the Strip opposite Fashion Show Mall. Now, the project’s interior will be finished so owners can move in after final completion early next year.
Construction began in November 2005 with some 800 construction workers on a 24-hour a day schedule building one floor every six days since March 2006.
“We’ve sold $1.3 billion worth of apartments and the building is three months ahead of schedule and slightly under budget, so I’m a very happy man” he said. “And I’m only just beginning with Vegas. I’m already negotiating on another big part of the community.” The Donald explained that his signature 24-carat gold-tinted glass rising up 645 feet makes it the tallest residential building in Nevada.
“It’s been an amazing investment,” he continued. “I had so much fun with Tower One that last month we announced sales for a 2nd Tower and we’ve already sold over 500 units for that. With the new people who own the Plaza Hotel building in Manhattan, that I once owned, now building a five billion dollar Plaza Hotel here behind me I have to say that I’m right in the middle of the hottest corner of the world. The buyers of my apartments really love that because it just adds to the opulent Trump lifestyle they imagined.”
I’ve known Donald as a good buddy since even before his first marriage to former Czech ski-champion Ivana. I reminded him that I’d once described him as single-handedly re-carving the Manhattan skyline with all his buildings and asked if he was planning to do the same in Vegas. He chuckled saying: “This first building of mine has already had a huge impact on the Vegas skyline and driving down the Strip, as you know you have been my friend for years, you see it right smack in the middle. We are doing another one and it is the tallest building in Las Vegas. I am building all over the world, in 30 cities, and yet I wish I’d come here sooner, but nothing has been hotter than New York in the past and you can only do so much. Manhattan has seen staggering real-estate increases. What was once $1-million is now as high as $20-million in some cases! I did wait but coming here three years ago proved my timing was right again, and this spectacular building has proved a huge success.
“I have been the biggest developer in New York, but Vegas is a special place and I have special friends here so there is a lot more to come. That I promise! Vegas is a great city, with great people. Steve Wynn and MGM chief Terri Lanni have done amazing jobs. We have great friendships and I saw Steve while I stayed at his property. Maybe we could do a casino together in a joint venture? Kirk Kerkorian is an incredible guy. So many amazing minds and so many fantastic people. I am going to be a very big part of Las Vegas. It’s been a 20 year fascination. There is no place like Las Vegas and it is the fastest growing city, it is a progressive city. I would say that no city has done a better job with the growing in terms of controlling it and making it work. It is far ahead of Atlantic City where I have been for so long. Atlantic City has done nicely, but they have been extremely progressive in Vegas. You’ve done an incredible job, and that’s why I am now here. The luxury market is in a little bit of a downward moment, but Vegas will continue to do great.”
Donald, who has also authored five #1 best-sellers about success, was introduced to the VIP’s at the ceremony by Apprentice winner Stefanie Schaeffer who will work in both Donald’s New York and Las Vegas buildings as his direct apprentice.
She won when she was flown into Vegas unknowingly and given two hours to do a presentation for the marketing of Tower Two and was judged by Donald and Donald Jr as “the best.”
She told me: “I’m looking forward to working in Vegas, there’s so much more we can do here. The Trumps, Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Mr. Trump, are very pleased I’m on board and so enthusiastic. I already love Vegas.”
She pointed out that the Trump Towers will have a luxury spa and salon, and free-form pools with cabanas on a 36,000 square foot recreation deck, plus a signature fine-dining restaurant.
Among the guests was Mayor Oscar Goodman who told the story of their first ever meeting in Manhattan, “It was the first night after his debut with The Apprentice so he couldn’t stop talking about his show and the giant ratings. My episode of CSI had just aired so I couldn’t stop talking about that. I don’t think either one of us was listening to the other, and my wife, Carolyn said we were just two ships passing in the night, but we became good friends and I’m thrilled he’s now here. He is a big shot—and I say that in the kindest of ways.”
Trump admits he’s wondering what to do about his on-going TV series. He said: “Television is seductive, but I am a very busy builder and TV takes too much time. NBC wants to renew it, after all it was once the No. 1 show and we’ve done it for six seasons. I’m deciding if I want to do it again or go with another network and another show.”
For now the Donald has the tallest building on Vegas’ new growing skyscraper skyline—but Steve Wynn’s new Encore Tower will eclipse it by another 10 feet in late 2008, with Venetian owner Sheldon Adelson’s new condo tower behind his currently under construction Palazzo predicted to beat both of them. However, the new Plaza Hotel from NYC to be built where the existing New Frontier currently stands may go as high as 680 feet tall. As my friend Norm Clarke said, “Call this a phallic war where the competition is ‘mine’s-bigger-than-yours.’”
But as Donald summed up: “Remember how tall I’ve built them in New York City and there’s no way I’m not going to have the best.”
The mostly elusive and somewhat mysterious Kirk Kerkorian is one of America’s very richest men—and as the largest individual shareholder of MGM Mirage he’s now trying to buy the Bellagio Hotel and the City Center project that’s currently under construction at center-strip!
The 89 year old billionaire owns 56% of the parent company, and the day he notified Wall Street of his intentions MGM’s share price went into the stratosphere increasing in value by some 27%, and jumping from $18 billion to almost $23 billion; which meant that his personal shares increased by $2.6 billion!!!!
My investment banking sources are convinced he will get his wish and windup owning the two tiffany properties.
The shares of MGM, which began at around $62 before he spoke, are now being projected to reach very close to $100 in any future corporate restructuring which they believe is behind Kerkorian’s power-play.
“It may change the entire way Wall Street looks at Vegas,” I was told. “Kerkorian’s move unlocks significant value and could lead to an eventual takeout of the company. He wins big on both sides of the deal—and MGM will still be associated with the key Vegas properties by getting a management contract to operate both businesses.”
The bankers say it will also enable MGM to move more rapidly in developing its recent acquisition of the 78 vacant acres around Circus Circus, which now might also become the next Strip property to be imploded and replaced!
One gaming analyst said, “There’s no question that Kerkorian wants the company’s positioning changed so it’s worth much more in the future than today, even if it means selling it to somebody else or taking it private just like Harrah’s is doing.”
Pop-prince Michael Jackson reportedly picked up the biggest payday check in music history when he hopped over to London from his Vegas home for a personal appearance at which he didn’t even have to sing!
British tabloids claim he made almost $10 million just to show at the 25th birthday party of Prince Azim, the son of the Sultan of Brunei. His 200 guests were also said to include our new Mistress of Magic, Pamela Anderson who opens tomorrow in the new Beauty of Magic show with Hans Klok at the new Planet Hollywood.
Since the Prince is the son of the world’s richest man, the lavish expenditures didn’t make any dents in the family fortunes (when I visited Brunei for my old Lifestyles TV show, the Sultan was earning $12 million an hour 24/7 from pumping his liquid gas resources into ever-waiting ships!!).
Over $12 million was spent on this two day opulent bash itself with partygoers provided with hot-air balloon rides, spa treatments, shooting, golfing and hovercraft rides. In addition to the birthday cake the prince flew in massive amounts of champagne, caviar, foie gras, Scottish Salmon, filets of beef and enough oysters for 200 large platters, plus $20,000 of exotic fruits!
Guests including Don Johnson, Jerry Hall, designer Roberto Cavallo, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Faye Dunaway were all given birthday bags worth over $20,000 containing diamond jewelry, i-Pods and expensive beauty products.
Michael got the Prince to hire his friend, Dionne Warwick for another $500,000 to sing at the festivities. However, the sneaky British tabloids said that 48 year old Jackson became ill from all the lavish food and drinks—actually, “so plastered that he had to be assisted back to his private cottage where he became sick.”
One onlooker said: “He was as white as a sheet, just a shadow of his former self.” There’s no way to check the truth of that story, but the headlines were pretty blatant about the Prince being disappointed at Michael’s sickness, and that instead of eating the catered feasts the King of Pop sent out for traditional British fish and chips! At the same time the British newspapers “revealed” that Michael had been negotiating for a three year $100-million contract for a proposed Vegas show, but talks had allegedly broken down over the fee being too high and twice as much as Celine Dion’s deal at Caesars Palace. Again, I find that story a little hard to believe! But you can read it all for yourself and draw your own conclusions by clicking both of these direct links and seeing the photos of Michael with Prince Azim.
Meantime, today and tomorrow the largest auction of Michael Jackson and his family’s memorabilia is going on sale in 1,100 lots at the Hard Rock Hotel. This is the auction that Michael tried to block, but wound up settling the court action by winning the return of 20 really prized personal items. The other items, seized to satisfy a business bankruptcy, include the $30 million purchase contract for the Neverland ranch, the trademark military red coat with gold braid, and hidden among numerous documents a telegram from Marlon Brando to Michael.
Henry Vaccaro originally owned the memorabilia and sold it to Florida’s Universal Express Company for $5 million dollars. Now the Guernsey auction house believes it will sell for maybe as much as four times that amount with Lloyds of London insuring them for $100 million.
Although Michael was invited to attend it is highly doubtful he will show up because he’s still highly emotional after being told by his lawyers he simply had no legal right to the items. Bids from around the world are expected on both www.liveauctioneers.com and eBay’s auction site.