STRIP SCRIBBLES
*Today should see the final pieces of over 400 glass rock sheets installed over the old Monte Carlo façade that was damaged in the fire a week ago. Executives hope they can re-open at the end of this coming week or early next week, but no specific date is yet set. Meantime, show-biz colleagues of headliner magician Lance Burton have rallied with him to keep employee morale high. Carrot Top and Louie Anderson also entertained the employees working around the clock on the re-opening.
*It was part schooling and part fun! Sensational teen pop-princes, the Jonas Brothers, took time off from their pop-rock show at Planet Hollywood resort to visit the Titanic artifacts exhibition at the Tropicana as part of their on-the road tutoring program!
*For the 2nd consecutive night, baseball legend Barry Bonds was at Tryst nightclub in the Wynn, while nearby at the Blush ultra lounge rap group Wu Tang Clan were joined by Toronto Blue Jays star, Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas, new free-agent Scott Rolen (formerly of the St. Louis Cardinals) and the wrestler known as “The Undertaker.”
*Numerous wrestling and boxing stars trekked to Mandalay Bay to watch former pro-WWE giant Brock Lesnar make his UFC debut, and for the first minute and twenty seconds it looked as if he would topple tough-man Frank Mir. However, ten-seconds later Brock folded, but despite the Round One loss he plans to continue onwards with the UFC, and the Octagon experts predict he will windup one day a heavyweight champion there, too! Tomorrow we’ll have a roundup of all the UFC parties around town after their bloody battles.
*Side-by-side Howard Stern sidekicks, Artie Lange and producer Gary Dell’Abate, better known as Baba Booey, flew out from New York on the same flight and wound-up together in Jet nightclub at The Mirage after their respective shows in separate parts of town.
Artie had his standup comedy at Mandalay Bay, and Gary hosted the Penthouse Pets at their new VIP Membership opening of the 46,000 square foot Penthouse Club—the largest in the world.
He’s seen here with Penthouse Pets Nevaeh (May ‘06), Prinzzess (Oct ‘04), Bella Starr (Dec ‘05) Cassia Riley (Pet of the Year runner-up ‘06) Lux Kassidy (Oct ‘07) and Jennifer Emerson (Mar ‘06).
The elite VIP membership, valued at more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for corporate, offers 24-hour hassle-free entrance through a discreet door that’s triggered by a small sticker concealed on your wallet. The membership includes a free bottle every visit!
Showman Jeff Beacher threw the Jet bash which included actress model April Scott celebrating the release of her sizzling new calendar there with fiancé/manager Julian Hart.
Both Artie and Gary, who also hosted at Blush in the Wynn, were routed back to the East Coast via Phoenix, but they had no chance to stay there for the Big Game because they had to be in studio on the air this morning at 5 a.m. with Howard!
“No way was he going to let us come in late,” Gary told me.
*Several restaurants around town are quietly whispering that Jan. revenues are down 15 percent but they’re not blaming lower convention attendance or the economy. They’re saying Vegas has opened too many new restaurants in recent weeks and there’s been no simultaneous up-tick in visitors!
*If Asian chicken and spareribs with Chinatown mustard turned up as the Super Bowl snack favorite, blame it on Tao’s chief chef Sam Hazen from The Venetian.
He went on NBC’s Today Show in advance of the game showing fans how to make the easy top-taste treat!