Criss Angel, our hometown Magician of the Decade will risk his life yet again next week.

He will defy death hanging in a double straitjacket over famed Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Wednesday. Thousands of revelers are expected to pack the French district to watch his ESCAPE attempt for freedom. One source inside the magic world told me: “This double straitjacket escape has never ever been attempted before. It is beyond crazy!” Criss, who normally shoots here in Vegas, flies over the weekend to the “Big Easy” for a week of filming new on location Mindfreak A&E episodes. He’s spent this week working in Montreal with Cirque du Soleil technical and creative teams on his new illusions show that starts rehearsals April 15 in a newly designed and configured theater at the Luxor resort casino. The show will open for previews in mid-August with a glittering gala premiere in late September.

(Click here for our interview with him last week when he revealed some of the show’s secrets for the first time).

Meantime Criss’ new girlfriend, Miss Nevada USA, Veronica Grabowski will face her own high-flying adventures this morning (FRI).

She’ll trade her crown for a helmet and kit up in pilot’s suit and oxygen mask to take a 45-minute F-16 Fighting Falcon flight with the US Air Force Thunderbirds team out at our Nellis Air Force base. It’s not a completely new experience for the beauty queen as she is the daughter of an Air Force officer and grew up on Eglin Air Force Base in Florida before moving to Nevada! She has spent three days this week at Nellis preparing for the experience. “Honestly I’m hoping I throw up,” she said.” I’ve asked the pilot not to hold anything back! I’m fully prepared to exit the plane holding the air-sick bag.” The wingtip-to-wingtip planes speed at 500 mph! Colonel Greg Thomas, the lead commander has promised Veronica she will fly upside down and dodge the clouds while in the six-jet formation! Our Scott Doctor will photograph Veronica each step of the way—except the sick part—and we’ll have the exclusive photos for you at Luxe Life early next week! NASCAR fans will also see the Thunderbirds in their dramatic Motor Speedway flyover on Sunday just before the Sprint Cup 400 race.

Rumors and reports are coming out of both New York and Chicago that veteran TV producer Lorne Michaels will bring a live version of his long-running Saturday Night Live NBC hit to a Vegas casino. He reportedly says that he’s in the early stages of negotiations and names such as Martin Short, Jon Lovitz and Julia Sweeny have been tossed around for both the old and new sketch and standup materials including a topical updated news segment. Allegedly he also wants to involve many of the former SNL cast, who have gone onto big-time movie comedy, such as Steve Martin, Chris Rock and Adam Sandler. They would be among the rotating headliners performing stand-up comedy routines.

There was talk many moons ago of something similar being worked into the Second City revue at the Flamingo but difficult star-schedules prevented it getting “off the ground” in the past.

The countdown has begun for the most exciting weekend of motor racing on the annual calendar three-delicious days of NASCAR madness, mayhem and mega-speed mileage.

An incredible invasion of auto-fanatics from across America—maybe as many as 150,000—are in town with 2000 international journalists and TV crews for the penultimate pit party with such race greats as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and fighting-feuding Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart, It should be the 7th straight sell-out for the 11th annual UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 Nextel Cup race on Sunday: 267 laps for 400 miles, with a purse of $6,459,779! The Sams Town 300 Busch Series 200-lap race over 300 miles is on Saturday, with the winning purse standing at over $1.6 million

Our local race heroes, Vegas hometown speedsters Kurt Busch, 29, and 22-year-old brother Kyle will once again be battling at speeds heading towards 200mph in an attempt to get a checkered flag victory out at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Another Vegas driver, Patrick Carpentier will be competing in the pack. For the past three years NASCAR has been held the 2nd weekend of March but officials moved it forward to take away a “dead weekend” after last week’s rain-sodden, much delayed race in Fontana, California.

Here are the key facts for the two races in which just 17 drivers will do double-duty racing in both: A total of 43 cars will race on Saturday with last year’s winner Jeff Burton still holding the race record of 135.118 mph and Kevin Harvick hitting 181.11 mph for the qualifying record. It will be broadcast live on ESPN.

Jimmie Johnson has won the last three Sunday Sprint Cup races although the 1998 race record of 146.530 mph set by Mark Martin still stands. The qualifying record was last year by Kasey Kahane at 184.856 mph. It will be broadcast on Fox network TV starting at 12:30 p.m. with the flag going down at exactly 1:46 p.m. Speedway general manager Chris Powell told me that speeds should be faster this year as it’s the 2nd year of the new higher banked track and the surface has now worn in although he admits next year will be even faster!

As in the past three years I’ll “chopper” out there to handle the emcee duties on the pre-race show with my friends, the Blue Man Group from The Venetian, and both the Red Bull helicopter stunt show and skydive team jumps.

The National Anthem will be sung by Mandalay Bay’s Mamma Mia star Carol Linnae Johnson. Having introduced the 43 cars and drivers and their pole positions —and we’re not talking a sin-city strip joint pole, folks—we’ll have the USAF Thunderbirds flyover and then I turn the order “gentlemen start your engines” over to the national FOX telecast. Fasten your seatbelts and come on out you motorheads!

The weather forecast is for “near perfect conditions” with sunny skies and mild temperatures. Luxe Life will have the full photo-report right here on Monday. With 145,000 fans set to attend, it will still be the largest single-day sports event crowd on the annual Nevada calendar.

Here for Luxe Life readers is the racing rundown for you to keep as your guide to the weekend activities:

Friday, Feb. 29 (Gates open at 9 a.m.)

5:30 a.m. - NSCS registration opens.
6 a.m. - NSCS garage opens.
8 a.m. - NNS garage and registration opens.
8:30 a.m. - Track services meeting.
9:30 a.m. - NNS rookie and spotter meetings, drawing for qualifying order.
10:30-11:50 a.m. - NNS practice.
11 a.m. - NSCS rookie and spotter meetings, drawing for qualifying order.
11:30 a.m. - NSCS Hot Pass in effect.
Noon-1:30 p.m. - NSCS practice.
1:45-3:30 p.m. - NNS final practice.
3:10 p.m. - NSCS Hot Pass in effect.
3:40 p.m. - NSCS qualifying (two laps, all positions).
5-9 p.m. - Kurt Busch and show-car display—Palms Hotel & Casino
6 p.m. - NSCS and NNS garages and registration closes.
7 p.m. - Jamie McMurray—TI Hotel & Casino,
8.30 p.m. - Kenny Wallace and Mike Bliss autograph signing at hard Rock Hotel.
9 p.m. - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones perform at the Pearl in the Palms when Kurt Busch teams rock and racing

Saturday, March 1 (Gates open at 8 a.m.)

6 a.m. - NNS garage and registration opens.
7:30 a.m. - Track services meeting.
8:30 a.m. - NSCS garage and registration opens.
9:05 a.m. - NNS qualifying (all positions).
10 a.m. - NSCS Hot Pass in effect.
10:30-11:15 a.m. - NSCS practice.
11:15-11:45 a.m. - TV exhibition run—Blue Man Group will perform in the Neon Garage.
11:30 a.m. - NNS driver and crew chief meeting with the media
11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m. - NSCS final practice.
1 p.m. - NNS driver introductions.
1:30 p.m. - NASCAR Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 (200 laps, 300 miles).
2:30 p.m. - NNS registration closes.
3 p.m. - NSCS garage and registration closes.
5:30-8 p.m. - Richard Petty Driving Experience rides.

Sunday, March 2 (Gates open at 7 a.m.)

7:30 a.m. - NSCS garage and registration opens.
8:30-10:30 a.m. - Speedway Children’s Charities Track Walk.
9:30 a.m. - Track services meeting.
10.- 10:30am Kurt Busch signs autographs at souvenir hauler—Blue Man Group will perform in the Neon Garage.
11:30 a.m. - NSCS driver and crew chief meeting
12:30 p.m. - NSCS Hot Pass in effect
1 p.m. - NSCS driver introductions—Blue Man Group will present a 15-minute show on the pre race stage prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series UAW-Dodge 400.
1:30 p.m. - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series UAW-Dodge 400 (267 laps, 400 miles).
2:30 p.m. - NSCS registration closes.
5:30 p.m. - 600 Racing events.

Incidentally, to kick off the NASCAR 2008 season Bikini Bay boutique in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood has a large selection of licensed NASCAR swimwear.

The bikini separates are designed for mixing and matching so shopper-fans can choose from their favorite drivers in a wide variety of colors and styles.

For the first time the world-renowned Crazy Horse Paris topless revue—where Pamela Anderson performed just two-weeks ago—will conduct a talent search to find three gorgeous American dancers to star in the French capital.

The auditions will get underway on Monday with burlesque queen Dita Von Teesewinding up the four-day audition process with the announcement of the three winners at Tabu in the MGM Grand next Thursday night.

Dita, who danced at both the Paris and Vegas Crazy Horse showrooms will meet the 12 finalists and work with Crazy Horse, managing director Andree Deissenberg to trim it down to the three winners. Said Andree: To be a Crazy Horse dancer is a much sought-after position both in France and in America. To perform a Crazy Horse routine, the dancer must have formal dance training, a certain body type and a natural sophistication. Crazy Horse dancers are distinctive and are recognized worldwide. We are looking for girls with a certain ‘je ne sais quoi,’ with a certain sparkle and lots of personality. The girls we cast in our troupe are natural and beautiful, and only the exceptional will make the cut.” Crazy Horse choreographer Molly Molloy and show manager Rita Casablanca will be the other members of the judging panel.

Since its inception in 1951 in Paris, Crazy Horse has been a cultural phenomenon and attracted hundreds of top Hollywood celebrities when visiting Europe. With the success of the Crazy Horse in Paris, the creators eventually decided to open a second show in June 2001 in our entertainment capital of the world. Open-call casting takes place on Monday, and by Thursday 12 finalists will be selected and invited on to the MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse cabaret stage for the remaining audition process. All candidates will perform a freestyle piece as well as a choreographed piece prepared by the panel of Crazy Horse Paris judges. After the Tabu celebration, the winners will be flown to France where they will receive formal training for two months before joining the Paris dance troupe.

Dancers are required to attend the auditions with their resumes and must fit the following criteria to be considered: height between 5’4” and 5’8”; between the ages of 21 to 30 years old; natural physical beauty and an uplifting personality; formal dance training and a valid I.D. to obtain a passport. The open casting call will take place on Monday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Dick Foster Productions studio here. Dancers can telephone (702) 334-4518 for additional information.

I’ve been told that over 50 Vegas dancers and showgirls have already signed up for the auditions and other prospective candidates are flying themselves in from as far away as New York and Chicago for the first ever opportunity of being in the Paris show.

Luxe Life will join Dita next week as she makes the final decision! Incidentally tonight (FRI) the Vegas Crazy Horse showgirls will be on display in all their sexy beauty at Pure nightclub in Caesars Palace to celebrate with a special party.

It was a makeover to remember forever. Charlene Petersen was partying at Hard Rock’s Body English nightclub Indulge Fridays party—and won more than $8,000 in Smashbox cosmetics.

The regular weekly Indulge party is the ultimate Girls Night Out and for the San Diego girl it went even one step further. Charlene also got a complimentary makeover in the salon next morning from makeup-artist Patrick Tumey so she was in perfect dazzling style for her wedding that afternoon!

She honeymooned afterwards at the Smashtime party back in Body English with E! Entertainment TV stars Ben Lyons, DJ Clinton Sparks, Sal Masakela, Catt Sadler.

Trey Songz performed his hit single “Can’t Hardly Wait” for the crowd, which included New Jersey Nets player R.J. Jefferson and Channing Frye of the Portland Trailblazers.

At the Sunday School party in Body English rapper Slick Rick sang his signature single “La Di Da Di” for Dallas Cowboys stars Anthony Fasano, Marion Barber, Keith Davis, Miles Austin and Evan Oglesby. Also there Alex Smith of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, O.J. Atogwe of the St. Louis Rams, John Doolmyan and Shavo from rock band System of a Down, rapper Ja Rule and Matt Sorum of both Velvet Revolver and Guns N’ Roses.

*Despite reports to the contrary pop-princess Ashley Simpson and long-time boyfriend, Pete Wentz did not get engaged while they were here in Vegas last weekend.

However, Ashlee is now wearing a “promise ring” on her left hand fourth finger from him. Pete gave it to her while she was at the Pure and LAX nightclubs hosting parties to
celebrate her new April single release. She’s telling friends the ring celebrates a promise—and not an engagement because he hasn’t officially asked her manager dad, Joe for her “hand” yet!!!!

*They broke out the bubbly last night (THURS) at starchef Mario Batali’s B&B restaurant in the Venetian to celebrate the mother ship Babbo in Manhattan being named No. 1 in the USA.

Readers of the Zagat gourmet guide crowned Mario’s restaurant in the top-slot of the new America’s Top Italian Restaurants for 2008. The menu here at The Venetian outpost is more-or-less identical to Babbo in Greenwich Village.

*For the third time in a week NFL superstar Ben Roethlisberger was at the Playboy Club in the Palms resort-casino, arriving with five friends and a body guard. He walked straight to his reserved blackjack table where he stayed for two hours, playing $2000 up to $8,000 per hand, joking, flirting with the Bunnies, smoking cigars and sipping his Red Bull and Vodka while hitting 21. Earlier the group had dined on chef Barry Dakake’s calamari, rock shrimp, sashimi and oysters at the N9NE Steakhouse with Red Bull and Vodka the drink of choice.

*Legendary singer, Tony Bennett and his wife Susan were at Bette Midler’s new show The Showgirl Must Go On at Caesars Palace.

Britney Spears’ ex-hubby Kevin Federline, who has custody of their young children will take a parenting break to celebrate his 30th
birthday at Pure nightclub in Caesars Palace on March 21.

Bare pool lounge at The Mirage makes an early splash this year setting a March 13 opening date.

Cedric The Entertainer was so impressed with their show that he hung out with the cast of Stomp Out Loud after their performance at Planet Hollywood resort casino.

*Eccentric and edgy comic magician the Amazing Johnathan starts his new run of shows in a new Strip location as of tomorrow (SATURDAY)—taking over the space of the vacating Fashionistas, which ends its run there tonight (FRI). (Producer-porn director, John Stagliano has literally pulled the plug on his sexy-show preferring to invest his finances in his adult-movie company’s expansion on the Internet.)

The bizarre-humored illusionist has “vanished” from his Sahara home to “reappear” at the Harmon Theater in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile.

That now makes a total of three magic-men under the same roof. However Nathan Burton will leave that lineup soon when he jumps to the Flamingo leaving just AJ and Steve Wyrick in the same building!. AJ toured worldwide for 25-years before settling on a permanent showroom in Vegas—and he’s become one of our most successful headliners, selling more than half-a-million tickets since 2001. He’s a two-time winner of
the International Magic Award for Best Comedy Magician. Johnathan performs 9 p.m. nightly except Wednesdays and Thursdays, and because of his adult themes and language you have to be over 18.

Now its time for us to pull a rabbit out of our hat with the highlights of this high-speed magical weekend in what we refer to affectionately around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, Feb. 29
*Yes its leap year so jump to join Grammy Award winner Pat Monahan of Train with his amazing acoustic show to accompany the Rock ‘n’ Roll Wine Amplified tasting in Studio 54 at MGM Grand.

Twenty wineries will serve up 50 different wines in the unique setting while Pat sings tracks from his new album Last of Seven.

*It’s a first as the gorgeous girls from MGM’s Crazy Horse Paris adult revue host the evening at the Pure nightclub. I’m praying that they will spontaneously grab eight chairs and do their amazing party-trick routine to prove just why daring dancers are so delicious and delectable.

*Comedy is king this race weekend and Bill Engvall performs his sidesplitting stand-up Blue Collar routine twice tonight in his debut at the Treasure Island resort.
Two of TV’s top comedy stars; good friends Ray Romano and Kevin James team up for two nights of laughs at The Mirage.

George Lopez is one heck of a funny man and his show is laced with
South of the Border humor—he entertains tonight and tomorrow at the Hilton.

Jim Labriola presents his Night of 1,000 Guidos up at the Suncoast through Sunday. Finally Dave Attel plays Captain Miserable in his wacky comedy outrage at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

*Country singer Kenny Wayne Shepherd has a huge NASCAR fan following so
after the races he’ll entertain nightly at The Orleans through Sunday evening. Down on Fremont Street the free Race Jam concerts brighten the scene tonight and tomorrow.

*For superior sounds of “ smooth jazz” Wayman Tisdale serves up a “quiet storm” at the Santa Fe Station.

Marcia Ball makes us smile at Boulder Station, handsome actor-singer Rick Springfield does two nights of back-to-back shows at Ovation in the Green Valley Ranch and the
Kingston Trio step back in time at the South Point for three nights of yesteryear concerts.

*A memorial jam to the late Crazy Girl’s transgender Riviera show host, Jahna Steele will be held at the EString Lounge with Lon Bronson’s all-star band providing the musical backup for all the former Crazy Girl showgirls song and dance tributes.

*Reality TV stars Brody Jenner and Frankie Delgado join forces to host a night of revelry at the LAX nightclub inside the Luxor.

Football champion Michael Strahan hosts the appropriately titled Football Champions party at Tao nightclub in The Venetian.

At the Indulge party in the Body English nightclub at the Hard Rock Lot 9 clothing boutique will give away more than $10,000 in merchandise Ladies entering the club before 12 a.m. also get to drink free champagne all night.

Saturday, March 1
*Tickets go on sale this morning for the Jay-Z and Mary J Blige Heart of the City 25-city tour pulling into MGM’s Grand Garden Arena on
April 19.

The couple has sold over 70-million combined albums with 12 Grammy wins together. It’s the first time in over 15-years that a male/female African American co-headliner concert tour has been promoted. You can bet Jay Z and Mary will be celebrating after the show at his 40/40 club in The Palazzo.

*Veteran Kenny Rankin headlines at Santa Fe Station, Atomic Punks rock out at the Boulder Station and Every time I Die and The Bled team for metal-music at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay.

*Its Night 2 for the boisterous boys of reality TV: Brody Jenner and Frankie Delgado host their party at Pure nightclub in Caesars Palace tonight.

*Downtown at the Fremont Street Experience, Blake Shelton joins the Race Jam while Bubbapalooza and Ned promise a totally unique and different kind of show with their antics in The Joint at the Hard Rock

Sunday, March 2
*There’s only one event worth noting today and its the NASCAR UAW-Dodge 400 race of 267 laps, which will start right on the stroke of 1:46 p.m.!

It’s preceded by a Red Bull Airplane stunt show for four minutes—right after the US Air Force Thunderbirds flyover and the Freightliner Race Truck that will carry the American Flag on a circle during the National Anthem. You should make the trek out to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for all the action and white-knuckle excitement—but if not
you can watch it all on the Fox TV network.

The incredible story of the Jackson’s family plan to have their own headliner show on the Strip. … We’ll also have the full photo-report from the NASCAR races and winners’ circle. … Plus a late-night chat with Bette Midler at the RAO’s Italian restaurant in Caesars Palace. … Movie superstar Robert DeNiro arrives for the opening of his new Ago Italian restaurant at the Hard Rock hotel and casino. … And a host of top tennis stars kickoff their Vegas tournament. … Then on Tuesday our sneak-peek advance photo-tour with Palms hotel tycoon George Maloof, as we turn-the-key on Jessica Simpson, Paul Stanley and Hulk Hogan’s platinum penthouses in his new Palms Place condo-tel he opens on Wednesday.

Get ready for our brand-new multi-media website with daily 24/7 breaking news updates for all the luxury lifestyle secrets of Vegas, plus all the latest celebrity happenings. Later this month we’ll reveal all the exciting details of the March launch. Our weekly Luxe Life wrap-up is heard on the ABC radio network to 300 stations around the world.

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!

Film-star Kevin Spacey will screen the world-premiere of his Vegas gambling movie 21 right here in Sin City on March 12—and co-stars Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess will be on hand for the glittering event.

Next night—March 13—the four-stars will receive a special ShoWest Ensemble Award on the closing night of the largest annual motion picture industry convention.

The action adventure flick 21 is inspired by the true story of a group of brilliant MIT students who “counted cards” with a mathematically created code to “beat the system” and take our casinos for millions. The students also used an intricate system of signals to beat the casinos “big time”. Kevin, who also co-produced the film, plays the unorthodox math professor who teaches the students while Fishburne plays the casino’s security chief. The true story was portrayed in Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich—and Kevin bought the movie rights. He also convinced several of our Vegas casino properties to allow filming to take place here. The film that features several Vegas locations will open nationwide on March 28.

The ShoWest convention runs from March 10- March 13 at Bally’s and Paris resort hotels drawing over 5,000 movie distributors from over 50 countries. However the 21 movie will be premiered at Planet Hollywood’s Resort with a glittering after-party at its new Prive nightclub.

A slew of Hollywood stars will trek over to Vegas this year for ShoWest including Warner Bros. “Big Picture ‘08” presentation with Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci and director George Lucas.

Steve and Anne will show advance clips of their new Get Smart movie being released on June 20.

Emile, who stars this May in Speed Racer will pick up an award for Male Star of Tomorrow at the closing night ceremony after Kevin Spacey’s cast have received their Ensemble Award.

New Caesars Palace headliner Bette Midler, during ShoWest will linkup with actress Helen Hunt making her directing debut with Then She Found Me to be released April 25. Bette stars as a local TV talk show host and apparent birth mother of Hunt’s character who seeks her out after the death of her adopted mother and the separation from her husband played by Matthew Broderick. Helen will be presented with her Breakthrough Director of the Year award at the ShoWest opening day luncheon on March 11—and expect Bette to be right there for the ceremony and then Helen will turn tables to see Bette starring in The ShowGirl Must Go On spectacular at Caesars Palace later.

A warm welcome to one of Vegas’ newest residents: Bette Midler’s look-alike daughter, Sophie.

The 21-year-old sociology major spent a semester in China for her East Asian studies and plans to return there as a teacher after her graduation. “I just sort of want to take a year to do something that I’m not going to do as a career and just sort of have some good life experience, enjoy myself, get to know China a little better,” she told talk show host Oprah Winfrey. She also revealed she plans to spend time in Vegas while her mom performs and lives here for the next two years. “It will be great to live in a new city, a new town. See what Vegas is all about. See what the fantastic city has to offer, so I’m excited, definitely,” Sophie said.

Meantime Bette, a former Honolulu native is in the thick of a sad and complicated lawsuit on Kuai. Back in March 2006 the Ka Loko Reservoir Dam broke killing seven people and causing millions of dollars in damages. Bette is one of the property owners who sustained damages and the difficult lawsuit against the State of Hawaii, the dam’s builders and operators of the dam has finally been set for trial one year from now—February 2009.

Tomorrow evening (FRI) Bette will meet some of our Vegas media-members at an after-show supper in the Rao’s restaurant at Caesars Palace and we’ll have the photo-report of that late-night chat right here at Luxe Life on Monday.