Reigning Miss USA, Rachel Smith and Planet Hollywood president Mike Mecca welcomed the 51-new contestants of the Miss USA pageant to the Strip last night (THURS)—and Luxe Life has the first photos.

All eyes were on 22-year-old Veronica Grabowski who is representing Nevada in the show to be broadcast on April 11 on NBC-TV. For the next 15 days all the beauty-queens are “under lockdown” at the Planet Hollywood Resort with chaperones and security guards.

“That includes me,” laughed Veronica. “Even though I live in Henderson I am not allowed out.” Mindfreak magician Criss Angel is currently dating Veronica and she added: “For the two weeks of the pageant we can’t even see each other for a dinner-date! So we’re relying on our cell phones and text messages!” The first time they’ll see each other again is on the night of the pageant telecast when he’ll be in the star-studded audience.

Also joining in the first-night ceremonies was Miss USA/Miss Univers chief, Paula Shugart who used to work with me when we produced Star Search—and she told me that both she and Miss USA owner, Donald Trump are thrilled to be in Vegas for the show. “We’re a pageant that’s all about glamour and beauty—and this year’s group of girls are simply stunning. We’ve never had so many tall ladies in competition. There’s many a future TV and movie star in this lineup.” This is the first year for Miss USA in Vegas although its sister pageant Miss Universe was here in both 1991 and 1996—also at the Planet Hollywood Performing Arts Theater when it was the former Aladdin casino.

After their Strip-front welcoming ceremony where Mike Mecca presented each contestant with a white rose the beauty-queens went up to the new Koi restaurant in the resort—and like all healthy girls tucked into the sushi and sashimi Asian food buffet!

Luxe Life will have more photos and stories each day next week and leading up to the pageant.

Moviegoers are expected to propel Kevin Spacey’s new 21 film into the weekend’s Top 5 box-office hits—and as a result Vegas, the Strip and many of our casino-resorts will be on screens coast-to-coast. Kevin produced the movie with co-stars Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess—and all spent six-weeks filming scenes here while headquartered at the Planet Hollywood Resort at center Strip.

Many of the scenes were shot in owner Robert Earl’s casino and he threw them their world premiere party.

Kevin told me that he’d originally acquired the movie rights to the MIT students Breaking the Bank book back in 2002 and it took five-long years of love and labor to finally bring it to the screen. It tells the story of a group of MIT students in real life led by Jeff Ma who in just one of their many Vegas weekend visits actually won $900,000! Jeff has a cameo role as a blackjack dealer in the film!

Spacey thanked Planet Hollywood and its chairman, Robert Earl for helping make the Vegas filming possible. The hotel honcho created a new Club 21—built just for the one night premiere—the ballrooms of the hotel. Over a mock blackjack table there Kevin said “None of us had time to play blackjack while we were filming.

I failed basic math, so I could never count cards like these guys featured in the film. But I will tell you, I once—and once only—turned $500 into a $35,000 win! Blackjack is my game!” I asked him why he was so passionate about the film, “It’s a mind movie—no shoot-outs, no really bad language, no car chases. Its’ all up here in the brain and it’s the workings of the mind tied to gambling and believing you can break the bank in Vegas that got me to the point where I just had to make it.”

Co-star, glamorous actress, Kate Bosworth said: Being an actor is as risky as playing blackjack. Here one day and gone the next. Math was also my worst subject in school so it was ironic to play this part of an expert counter. We had a sort of blackjack boot camp going on before
the filming started so we’d all get it. We spent all night out gambling and bonding. My uncle taught me how to play it when I was growing up so blackjack is my game. I tried to play it safe but at times I just had to do all or nothing. There were times when I was going down and down and down but when you come to Vegas you know you’ll win some and lose some.”

Actor Laurence Fishburne, who plays the casino security chief in 21 who captures the card-counters and puts an end to their money making says: “I don’t gamble. I don’t do any of that life is quite risky enough as it is.”

After a three-month stay—steps from the Strip—at George Maloof’s Palms Resort casino, pop prince Michael Jackson mysteriously upped and left. Assistants were left to go there days later to pack up all his belongings in boxes and ship them out. Everybody assumed he’d simply and suddenly left town. However the music superstar turned up with his children yesterday at the Planet Hollywood restaurant inside the The Forum Shops at Caesars—personally arranged by Planet Hollywood Resort and restaurant owner, Robert Earl—so he’s still here somewhere for now! Click here for Wednesday’s report on the other members of the troubled Jackson family.

No sooner than comedy magician Amazing Jonathan moves into his new Harmon Theater at the Krave Nightclub in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile, and now the owners have decided to sell. There’s a $6.2 million pricetag on the property—but AJ is safe with his 12-month contract for the space! I’m presuming that the Lucky Cheng’s Drag Cabaret restaurant that also headquartered there are safe too.

The sale comes in the midst of a whole flurry of Vegas nightclub headlines and news. Krave, with its upscale bar, and dance scene has one of the largest dance floors on the Strip, able to hold 1500 party-going patrons. AJ’s Harmon Theater seats an additional 450 audience members. The nightclub has played host to such stars as Sir Elton John, Drew Barrymore and supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Located directly across the Strip from MGM’s ongoing construction of the massive up-market City Center project, the Krave nightclub and Harmon Theater is on prime property at center Strip. For those real estate readers amongst us I’ve been told reliably that the neighboring Asia restaurant nightclub is also for sale—but priced somewhat lower! Asia is the property, owned by a New York nightlife entrepreneur that the Jackson Brothers have been negotiating with for a new show there. It’s currently open as a nightclub Friday and Saturdays at 10 p.m. and available for corporate events but contrary to rumors it is not closing.

Playboy king Hugh Hefner should be here tonight (FRI) rather than his three-day birthday celebration next weekend at the Palms: that’s because his Girls Next Door Kendra, Holly and Bridget are throwing the world’s largest bachelorette party in the Rain nightclub there.

TV cameras will roll on the entire affair for showing on E! Network cable channel. Hundreds of girls and women celebrating their last days of single-status freedom will let their hair down for the way-out “girls gone wild’ celebration.

While Bridget Marquardt was getting ready for the blast she stopped in at Social House in the TI for vegetable tempura and merlot wine while listening to the sounds of DJ Javier Alba.

She promised that the party would be the biggest pre-wedding party anybody had ever experienced. Next weekend Hef does come to town for the Friday start of Dave Navarro’s new “Music is the Currency” nights in the Rain Club, and then his own Moon nightclub birthday bash on Saturday followed by Playmate Sara Underwood and her cover-girl centerfold friends throwing a pajama clad “Big Sleepover” on the Sunday night. Now that’s a wild way to celebrate your 82nd birthday in style—and only Hef could get away with it and perform up to snuff!

*Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has filmed lots of scenes for her new series of Keeping up with the Kardashians here in Vegas—and when she flew off to Detroit it looked as if she took one of our star chefs with her!

The Playboy seductress and Beverly Hills bombshell was camped out at Michael Mina’s new Bourbon Steak restaurant inside the new MGM casino in Detroit. She didn’t even fret about the outside blizzard conditions. She hit Michael’s restaurant, danced away in the V lounge nightclub where she even spun a few records with DJs Mike Anthony and Tom T, and relaxed in her luxurious penthouse—all of which will be added to the Vegas “keeping-up” clips.

*I had a hunch it would make a movie. Just three-days after our extraordinary story of Michael Grasso selling his Vegas “life” (home, cellphone and model room-mate) it’s going to be turned into a movie—click here for our Monday story.

Producers at Blush boutique nightclub in the Wynn told me they have signed him to a deal for the movie rights to “the auction for his life!” Just as I said “better than any script a Hollywood writer could conjure up.” Meantime the E-Bay auction runs through the weekend.

*Congratulations to my good friend, Michael Boychuck for making the cover and center spread of the new CP Quarterly magazine—and for those who want to know, that’s his hair-stylist Mercedes posing as the model beauty in the nine-photo layout of his new Color salon.

In addition to all imaginable hair-care and beauty salon treatments clients get served teas, tonics and champagne. I don’t know about these things but am told that the Vanity Room with its three thrones offers new meaning as the only place in the world to offer Vegas themed Brazilian bikini waxes and crystal body art for the “Vegas Strip” the “Hearts of Diamonds” and “Yield” designs!

*Chef Marcel Vigneron who just quit the Company bistro at the Luxor now plans to travel America to cook in kitchens with other chefs he knows and admires. First stop is Soho in New York where he’ll be cooking alongside his Top Chef winner friend, Hung Huynh previously with Guy Savoy in Caesars Palace. They have an April 3 food & wine event and then Marcel will be back here April 6th as a featured guest for the grand opening of Border’s in Town Square to promote the Top Chef cookbook which features his two winning recipes from the A&E cable TV show. Meantime Company reopened last night (THURS) with its new and moiré approachable menu.

*Two new reality TV shows are in production; one chronicling all the fun and games of the Hard Rock Hotel’s sexy sizzling Rehab Pool parties and the second show documents the new Puff smoke-club opening in three-weeks time. The stunning model girls of Puff are popping up at clubs all over town to announce the new hookah lounge where smoking is encouraged.

*Tickets go on sale this weekend for a number of new concerts: first-up today (FRI) you can purchase tickets for Tim McGraw’s June 21 show at Mandalay Bay; then tomorrow (SAT) you can slam the credit card for R&B superstar Alicia Keyes’ MGM Grand concert on May 9 and the run of Dane Cook comedy shows at the Caesars Palace Coliseum, May 23-25.

*Two stars from the Strip’s most critically-acclaimed show, Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular, will each sing the national anthem at the two exhibition games at Cashman Field featuring the 2007 National League Central Division Champions, the Chicago Cubs and the Seattle Mariners. Anthony Crivello, who shares the role of “The Phantom” in Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular, will sing at tonight’s 7:15 p.m. game and Kristen Hertzenberg, who shares the role of “Christine,” will sing the anthem at tomorrow’s noon game.

*Award winning group, Danity Kane—formed by Sean “Diddy” Combs for his Making the Band MTV reality show celebrate their new No. 1 debut of their second album Welcome to the Dollhouse with a party tonight (FRI) at The Bank nightclub in the Bellagio. All five girls—Shannon Bex, Aundrea Fimbres, Aubrey O’Day, Dawn Richard and D. Woods—will be partying up a storm. Over at the Pussycat Dolls Lounge inside Pure brunette beauty Audrina Patridge from the MTV reality hit The Hills will host the Vegas Dolls near the midnight hour but don’t expect her to “doll up as a desirable dame” in the naughty knickers and barely there lingerie uniforms.

Even though her nude photos appeared on the internet last week she’s going to keep her clothes on but now its time for us to pull up our socks and hi-kick to sound the siren alarm for all the other weekend highlights that we refer to affectionately around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Fri. March 28:

*My favorite singers and musical group, Earth Wind & Fire are back in town for a special Red Rock resort concert that will celebrate the release of former Golden Nugget wonder-boy owner Tom Breitling’s new book Double or Nothing—the story of how he and best friend Tim Poster made their second $100-million by age 35. Concertgoers get a free copy of the book and a portion of the proceeds benefits Andre Agassi’s Charitable Foundation.

*Comedienne Wanda Sykes takes a break from Comedy Central chores to perform her standup comedy routine for two nights at Planet Hollywood Resort.

*Over 20,000 jumping, flipping, shouting, tumbling cheerleaders arrive for three-days of the National Championship and Jamz Cheerleading contest at the Orleans Arena.

*”Tie a Yellow Ribbon” round the old oak tree and then go welcome Tony Orlando to the South Point through Sunday night.

*You have a wide range of music choices with Collective Soul with their first ever unplugged performance at the Mandalay Bay theater plus singer pianist Jimmy Hopper at the Suncoast and punkers Bad Religion showcasing their 14th album New Maps of Hell for two nights at the House of Blues.

*Singing ventriloquist Terry Fator has all his “dolls” mouthing away in three nights of shows at the Las Vegas Hilton.

*Famed foot-wear designer to the stars, Donald J. Pliner hosts two fashion shows at his shoe boutique in the Caesars Palace Forum Shops for the Lady VIPs of our town with the proceeds being donated to the Public Education Foundation for teachers and students.

Sat. March 29:
*My neighbor and good pal, Mötley Crüe rocker Vince Neil sings solo in a special concert out at the Sunset Station and former Miss USA now-model TV star Shanna Moakler celebrates her 33rd birthday with a bash at the new Privé nightclub in Planet Hollywood Resort. Will on-again off-again hubby Travis Barker be around?

*Much more music choices with multi-platinum artist Joss Stone who hit superstardom with her debut Soul Sessions album—she’s on stage at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. The classic Led Zeppelin songs will be transformed into musical masterpieces by our 50-piece Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra complete with rock section in a unique Planet Hollywood Resort concert. The big band sound of the 90’s is revived with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at the Green Valley Ranch. Jonathan Butler is grooving at the Santa Fe Station and even with gas prices as high as they are its worth the drive south on the I-15 to catch Kenny Loggins at the Star of the Desert Arena at Buffalo Bills on the state line border.

*As part of her new spring tour, sassy comedienne Margaret Cho opens her mouth to speak her mind at The Pearl at Palms.

*For the 13th consecutive year the Extreme Thing sports and music festival roars into Desert Breeze Skate Park with professional wrestling by Adrenaline Unleashed, world class BMX dirt jump competition with pro-rider Ricardo Laguna and bands Pennywise, Escape the Fate, Nonpoint and Streetlight Manifesto.

*Don’t forget the Elite Eight play today and tomorrow as March Madness winds down to just one winner. Also please support the Opportunity Village “sock hop” fundraiser by Best Buddies at the Stomp Out Loud theater on the mezzanine of Planet Hollywood Resort with all 51 Miss USA contestants.

Sun. March 30:
*One of the most unique parties ever thrown at the Palms is the “Hair Wars” battle of our town’s top beauty salons—and the hair-pulling event will make it a night to remember at the Playboy Club.

*My Chemical Romance with guests Billy Talent and Drive By have two nights of shows at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.

*Justice, Diplo and Fancy make up the triple threat of rock music at the House of Blues.

We meet the Miss USA contestants face to face, wrap up the weekend events with all the stars at play in our paradise and see if sexy starlet Audrina Patridge changes her mind and strips down to her Skivvies at the Pussycat Dolls show.

Get ready for our brand-new multi-media website with daily 24/7 breaking news updates for all the DeLuxe lifestyle secrets of Vegas. We’re close to completing final designs this month and almost ready to reveal the exciting details of the 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!

Over 50 gorgeous girls arrive in Vegas today (THURS) for the battle of “lipstick, hair and mascara” as they go through all 15-days of the preliminary competitions leading up to the April 11 live telecast of Miss USA 2008.

Tonight at the host hotel, Planet Hollywood Resort there will be a 7 p.m. “welcome celebration” right on the Strip before the pageant contestants enjoy a dinner party at the new Koi restaurant there.

Also incoming will be stars Donny & Marie Osmond who will host the NBC broadcast. Although it’s the third time they’ve hosted a pageant together it’s the first time since 2000 that they’ve actually hosted a primetime TV special together (Their eight-day run at MGM Grand in July is already completely sold out and in September they start a long term resident headliner stay at the Flamingo). “Watching the pageant was an anticipated yearly event when Donny and I were growing up,” said Marie. “We are honored to be a part of this U.S. tradition and to hopefully make Miss USA a memorable night for millions of new viewers.”

Rachel Smith, Miss USA 2007, also arrives tonight and she will crown her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast of the 57th Miss USA.

It was last March 23, 2007 at the Kodak Theater on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, that a dream came true for 21-year-old Rachel when she was presented with the winning tiara and sash. She said: “It’s pretty amazing to be able to live one of your dreams.” The bi-racial Panama-born Tennessee native who previously held the title of Miss Tennessee Teen USA back in 2002, traveled to South Africa where she volunteered at Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls.

Hard on the heels of her $80 million divorce award by a British High Court judge against her former husband, Beatle Paul McCartney, Heather Mills—who appeared on Dancing with the Stars—also arrives as one of the celebrity judges. She’s in the British headlines this morning for saying she won’t be able to live on and raise their daughter on such a “small amount!” Heather says she wants to hire a new accounting firm to prove he’s worth twice as much as was revealed in court so she can get her award doubled! Hopefully she’ll explain that to me if we meet up during the days ahead.

For me it will also be a reunion with old friend, real-estate developer Donald Trump who owns the Miss USA pageant. He’s bringing in daughter Ivanka and son, Donald Jr. for the festivities because coincidentally he will formally open his brand new golden Trump Tower condo-tel on the Strip next Monday. I get the advance tour this afternoon so we can bring that to you before the grand opening ceremony.

The glamour-girls—including our very own Miss Nevada, Veronica Grabowski who is dating Mindfreak magician, Criss Angel have a full slate of social activities in addition to their pageant sessions and rehearsals. Two of the highlights include a dinner next Wednesday at Maggiano’s Little Italy in the Fashion Show opposite the Wynn and a “Sock Hop” in Planet Hollywood Resort’s new Privé nightclub on Saturday night, this weekend. The 51 contestants and Rachel will pair up with 52 people with intellectual disabilities from our favorite charity Opportunity Village for the Sock Hop organized by the new Best Buddies Vegas outpost founded by Anthony Shriver. The Maggiano’s dinner will also feature Miss Teen USA reigning queen Hilary Cruz for the motivational clothing and products line Once Upon a Dream with founder and creator, Supermodels Unlimited spokes girl, Andrea Forte.

Luxe Life’s ace lens man Scott Doctor will be joining me for our daily coverage and we’ll chronicle all right here so click back each day for the latest news and photos.

It’s a story about our newest Caesars Palace headliner that will touch your heart—even though she hoped to keep it a secret. Pop-legend Cher, who has ruled the music scene for 40 years, arrives here April 7 to start a month-long rehearsal schedule for her May 6 opening. She bought five-acres of land for an orphanage in Kenya and has pledged $3,500 a month for the upkeep of the 360 children there! She’s been quietly supporting the original orphanage for the past three years ever since she saw a TV show about the work of founders Robert and Eleanor Wood—and even has Clint Eastwood helping her efforts.

They rented the land for the school but on this past Christmas Day were given notice of eviction. They quickly found new land just five miles away and Cher without hesitation purchased it for them and committed the ongoing support for the children of which 80 percent battle the HIV virus. Said Robert: “Without a big money donor like Cher we wouldn’t be able to survive. The school makes a radical difference in the children’s lives and without Cher’s support we would barely have got it off the ground in the first place. Thanks to her we have been able to give them two full meals a day and a much improved life.”

Meantime Cher and Hollywood costume designer Bob Mackie have been getting her gowns ready for the Caesars Palace show. He has been zipping her in and out of his dresses since the 1971 Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.

Known as the “sultan of sequins” and “raja of rhinestones” the 68-year-old designer says he’s finalizing 12 stage-outfits for her. “She wants the whole works and people love that about her,” he said. This weekend he is being honored with the inaugural Fashion Arts Charlie Award at the combined 30th anniversary gala of the Hollywood Arts Council and 22nd annual Charlie Awards at the Jim Henson Studios—actress Mitzi Gaynor, another long time client, will present him with the trophy. Mackie has won nine Emmys and been nominated for three Oscars during his TV and movie costume career.

He revealed: “There’s going to be some incredible new gowns that people are going to love and they will be as spectacular as the show itself. We’re going to mix in some updated nostalgia looks that she’s worn before because she’s doing some of those same songs. But when she comes out on stage dragged up beyond belief everybody will be talking about it.” Bob, who will be at Cher’s premiere, also does stage outfits for her Caesars colleague Sir Elton John—they first met at a Cher TV special back in the 70’s. “It’s all going to be a great big dazzling party for Vegas,” he summed up.