Canadian songbird Celine Dion headlined and broke box-office records during five amazing years at Caesars Palace and now she’s coming home to the Strip again!

Just three months ago in February she began a yearlong world tour, which is also setting records attracting giant crowds. In fact her recent two nights in Sydney, Australia has just been certified as the top live grossing event in the world by Billboard!

I’ve gotten the first rumblings on my gossip grapevine that she will return to Caesars Palace sometime at the end of 2009 or early 2010. The talks about a specific date and length of the new engagement run have just begun! Not if, but when it all comes together, it fulfils a vow that husband manager, Rene Angelil made to me at her then final Caesars performance.

Click here for our extraordinary Luxe Life coverage of Celine’s final night of her Caesars run and our candid chat with Rene.

Here’s what I wrote that weekend: ‘But even before leaving the theater at 1:20 a.m. yesterday (SUN) Rene promised me: “We will be back. She will perform again in Vegas. We’re definitely going to take off for a year after the upcoming world tour. I’ve made the promise to her we’ll try for a new baby. And then we’ll return to Vegas to perform again. Yes, maybe 2009 or 2010!” Caesars Palace president, Gary Selesner commented: “We will always keep an empty room ready for her to return whenever she wishes. They are always welcome here, they are an important part of our family now and will be forever.”

The new plan now firming up is that she will finish her current “Taking Chances” world tour as planned on Jan. 30 in Florida and then she’ll take a year-long rest between her homes in Lake Las Vegas, Florida and Montreal and maybe hopefully have a new baby to fulfill one last remaining dream. She’s just celebrated her 40th birthday and so her biological clock is ticking just a little faster these days. This week after a brief break following her April 13 Malaysian concert in Kuala Lumpur she starts up again in England with two-back-to-back concerts on Saturday and Sunday in Manchester.

I’m told the talks with Rene are underway as Caesars and its partner AEG/ Concerts West want to have it all in place when Sir Elton John ends his run and as Bette Midler gets closer to the end of hers. Luxe Life will continue to keep a close watch on this developing story for her exact return date and new engagement run details.

They are remaining the best of friends and each other’s top supporters, but for now the romance between Mindfreak magician Criss Angel and his Miss Nevada beauty queen, Veronica Grabowski has moved onto single status. Blame it on the now grueling 15 hours a day of rehearsals for his new Believe magic show at the Luxor for Cirque du Soleil. Blame it on the new tough workout regimen and food diet Criss has undertaken to get in the best physical condition of his life to tackle the two nightly exhausting shows starting early September.

Reports of Criss and Veronica showing up separately at weekend hotspots around town hit my inbox and got me curious.

On Sunday Criss turned up at MGM’s new Wet Republic pool party, took over a bungalow for tanning on a chaise lounge before joining Wilmer Valderamma and Lil John in their private cabanas.

They decided to pal up later and hit the Bellagio’s The Bank nightclub where they shared a couple of bottles of Patron tequila! Meantime Veronica was spotted out with her gal pals at Privé in Planet Hollywood.

Last night Criss and I wound up having a long chat at the Luxor when he confirmed the sad separation and told me that the disciplines and duties at this early stage of the new magic spectacular would just make it too difficult for their ongoing match to continue.

Criss is now sporting a “branded scarification” of his Criss Angel Believe show logo on his right shoulder. He decided on the “cut” by a surgeon over a regular tattoo, as it would be totally permanent. He told me: “As we get into the show now with rehearsals it is so extraordinary and exciting to see something that has never been tried before anywhere in the world take shape, grow and come together.

“Even I am in awe. Even the team is thunderstruck. This is the most incredible partnership you can imagine between the geniuses at Cirque and our magic team. You will not believe what you will see, but you will believe! Vegas will never be the same again after this because nothing like this has ever been created or attempted before for Vegas.”

Luxe Life is sworn to secrecy not to reveal more at the moment, but as we get closer to the September openings we’ll trickle out a few more behind-the-scenes secrets and surprises.

The first gala opening took place New Years Eve and was an immediate success. All went well with the new bordello-inspired CatHouse loungerie and Kerry Simon restaurant at the Luxor for a few weeks, until ceiling cracks appeared and officials decided to shut it down and make full repairs to the slipped floor.

It is now time to officially celebrate a second gala opening, which will take place this Friday. The red carpet celebration will include Dancing with the Stars heroine Stacy Keibler along with numerous other celebrities including Michelle Rodriguez and the Ollie Girls. I’m wondering if this time around actress Mischa Barton, who missed at the last minute back in December because of an alcohol driving infraction, might come in for the second time around! Watch for the official announcements later today (WED).

Hometown NASCAR pit reporter Jamie Little achieved what was considered impossible, she won the 32nd annual Toyota pro-celebrity race in Long Beach, California.

Even though her win was just .324 seconds over NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Mike Skinner she walloped Dancing with the Stars host Drew Lachey who placed 7th, Wilmer Valderamma in 11th position, former NFL great Eric Dickerson placed 13th and TV sports show host John Salley came in 17th.

“What a rush,” screamed Jamie.” It was hard work but it feels fantastic.” Jamie, who lives in my golf community neighborhood, is also an investor in the new indoor-speed kart Pole Position Raceway, opposite the Palms.

She also races there whenever she isn’t on her ESPN microphone at races across country.

Her win will air this coming Saturday on the Speed TV Network. The former 1996 Green Valley high school graduate has been ESPN’s on camera pit reporter since 1998 and she’s reported from the Indianapolis 500, the World Supercross and the NASCAR Nextel Cup races. Congratulations neighbor!

Two masters of the extraordinary have teamed up for a Vegas first.

Steve Dacri, “2008 International Close-Up Magician of the Year” has joined with master chef Roland Levi to pull off the impossible trick. Starting Saturday, May 17 in the elegant new upscale Six Tables restaurant in Summerlin just 30 foodies will tuck into a tantalizing six-course gourmet meal. Belgium born chef Levi includes champagne and port wine to enjoy what follows that can only be described as the world’s “finest sleight of hand” for the $300-per-person check.

Regis Philben said, “Steve’s are the fastest hands in the world.” The late Johnny Carson, a magic aficionado once said: “Steve’s the best magician I’ve ever seen” and Merv Griffin added once: “Steve makes me so angry because I just can’t see how it happens right under my nose.”

Steve, who has also won the Merlin (the equivalent of an Oscar in the magic world) himself told Luxe Life: “This is the rarest form of magic because its in your face, under your nose and you still can’t figure it out just inches away. This is magic like most people have never seen it performed. I’ve performed close-up many times for other magicians at the Magic Castle in Hollywood and with this unique approach we can recreate that experience right here in Vegas. We call it impossible magic because I defy anybody to possibly see how it’s done. Couple that with incredible food and it’s a magical evening from start to finish.”

Six Tables is so called because that’s all there are in the restaurant making for a 30-person maximum. Chef Levi decides the menu after he’s shopped fresh farm produce each day and since it opened a few weeks ago the highly exclusive gourmet headquarters has been winning raves from the waiting-list crowd. It’s the fifth restaurant in a unique chain of East Coast exclusives. Meals are served on fine china and crystal glassware. Roland, and his wife, Gail were, for two years, the private-personal chefs of the rich and famous Ms. Brooke Astor at her Manhattan mansion and they have served everybody from the late Princess Diana, several American presidents, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Chrysler auto chief Lee Iacocca. You can go to Sixtables.com for more magical information.

When it comes to celebrities its been a busy few days at the Light Group’s nightclubs: The Bank in the Bellagio and Jet in The Mirage. In addition to Criss Angel and Wilmer Valderamma, who we told you about above, gorgeous hometown Playboy centerfold Playmate Destiny Davis partied with her friends at The Bank including Los Angeles Angels pitcher Kelvin Escobar.

Next door in The Mirage at Jet Andy Roddick and James Blake were among the tennis pros celebrating the bachelor bash for tennis ace Mardy Fish.

He is set to marry gorgeous knockout blonde model, Stacey Gardner. She turns up weekly with Howie Mandel holding the briefcases on NBC’s hit game show Deal or No Deal. Andy himself just got engaged to Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker and kept things on “good behavior” throughout the night.

Old school rap-star Tone Loc put on a surprise performance of his rapper classics at Jet after dining next door at the club’s Stack restaurant.

*Palms hotel tycoon, George Maloof has already got pop-stars Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, along with her fiancé Pete Wentz, to attend the official May 31 exclusive grand opening of his new condo-tower, Palms Place Hotel & Spa. Pete, himself, will play celebrity guest D.J. and starchef Kerry Simon will unveil his new menu and restaurant, Simon at Palms Place. More celebrity names are being added daily.

*Sexy “X” girl Brittany Palmer who co-stars with boyfriend Nathan Burton in his Flamingo afternoon magic show and then strips down to her skivvies for the late night topless cabaret revue there has been chosen as host of the second annual Vegas open!

*Its probably the world’s best cognac tasting. Our starchef friend Andre Rochat has put together a unique “flight” of two different cognacs and two different armagnacs for just $125. But it’s his collection of over 200 after-dinner drinks in his Spirits and Cigar Lounge downtown that is prized, and so rare, not ever found outside private collectors. Andre will pour you an 1848 Hardy Reserve Vintage, a 1900 Lheraud Vintage and he even has a 1914 Hardy Reserve. The shot of 1918 Armagnac by itself is $155. He’ll give you a sheet of historical facts to take with you from each vintage year you select. I didn’t know until he told me that one cognac is named “the year of the lady,” 1914, when the First World War begun because women were the only ones left to tend the vineyards!

*Luxe Life reported this week that rapper Lil John had asked The Venetian’s Tao nightclub partner, Jason Strauss, to keep his special Patron tequila bottle and glasses in a safe place for whenever he visits. Now we’ve obtained a photo of the diamond-encrusted magnum of Patron with matching silver drinking cups.

The silver glasses are branded with Lil Jon’s name, along with each of his entourage friend’s individual names. The Patron bottle and the silver glasses will remain safely locked up at the Tao Asian-themed eatery and will be waiting for Lil Jon whenever he parties at the Tao nightclub.

*From the Surveillance File: Avril Lavigne held a pre-concert celebration at the new Privé nightspot in Planet Hollywood Resort. She arrived with her band and dancers ordered Grey Goose vodka drinks and danced on the banquettes. It was her second visit to the hotspot, which she helped to open over New Years Eve. Also there rapper Too Short celebrating his birthday and hip hop star Pitbull performed three “throw the money around” songs. … Punk princess Avril then went onto Tabú Ultra Lounge in MGM Grand for the Rok Box original rock and mash-up party. She and her girlfriends stuck to Grey Goose and OJ, again danced on the Tabú tabletops until ending the night at 3 a.m. Also partying there was Dennis Haskins, known as Mr. Belding from the popular classic sitcom Saved by the Bell. … Fantastic Four actor Ian Gruffud and Matthew Rhys from TV’s Brothers & Sisters were surprise visitors to the Hard Rock Hotel’s Smashtime party and they recovered next day by sunning at the new resort pool with 15 friends watching the Rolling Stone magazine photographers working with music legends Eddie Van Halen and BB King.

*As charities battle shrinking donations we have to raise an extra effort so please book the 6th annual Speedway Children’s Charities Golf Tournament out at Lake Las Vegas coming up on June 2. You can get all the information you need from our friends at Pole Position Raceway here opposite The Palms.

*TV hostess Teresa Strasser, and co-host of the Adam Corolla radio show, will marry at The Venetian on June 25 and he’s expected to join the champagne celebration. Congratulations!

Our friends at the Las Vegas Weekly magazine reveal the winners, and losers, of the 7th annual Readers Choice and we think somebody very close will be celebrating with extra champagne at the Privé party in Planet Hollywood Resort. … Famed DJ Steve Aoki spins a live set at LAX in the Luxor resort

It’s a double bonus two-day edition to tide you through the giant entertainment extravaganza weekend. We take a look at all the stars incoming for the red-carpet gala opening of The Jersey Boys at The Palazzo and all the superchefs grilling gourmet taste treats at the excellent Epicurean Affair.

Get ready for our brand-new multi-media Web site with daily 24/7 of Vegas plus all the latest celebrity happenings. This week we should finalize the graphics and mechanics and reveal all the exciting details of the early May 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!