STRIP SCRIBBLES
*Mindfreak “magician of the decade” Criss Angel returned from a week of pre-production at Cirque du Soleil headquarters in Montreal and went really public with his new romance with Miss Nevada USA 2008, Veronica Grabowski.
This is getting really serious folks; he even took her parents out with them for the night to see The Beatles Love musical by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage. They arrived hand in hand and stayed that way through the show and according to a spywitness “they were quite playful during the show.”
Today (MON) the couple is together in New Orleans for his “hanging” stunt above Bourbon Street on Wed.—and then next weekend they will be in his home-area of Long Island, New York. Criss wants to introduce Veronica to all the other members of his family. Tomorrow (TUES) Luxe Life has the exclusive Scott Doctor photo-coverage of her 500 mph 9 G-force flight with the USAF Thunderbird jets at Nellis Air Force base.
*Gorgeous Priscilla Presley hit the N9ne steakhouse at the Palms with a group of eight people to celebrate her son, Navarone Garibaldi’s 21st birthday.
Afterwards they all went off to see the late-show of The Beatles Love musical. Also there were TV talk show host Regis Philbin and his wife Joy on a visit from New York celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary.
*Priscilla’s fellow Dancing with the Stars competitor, Penn Jilette, our Rio resort casino headliner, meantime, was in Los Angeles.
He admitted that he wore ruffles and sparkling sequins at his cha-cha-cha rehearsal and publicity photo shoot for the new season of shows starting two weeks from tonight!
*The official announcement that Miracle Mile magician Nathan Burton is moving to the Flamingo will be made this morning (MON) by resort casino chief Don Marrandino. Nathan will have four of his beautiful showgirls in tow to debut, for the first time, the new Flamingo costumes.
Luxe Life landed the official photo in advance of today’s press conference. Its part of a new Vegas.com commercial spot and shows Nathan levitating the commercial’s starring actress.
*Congratulations to former Bellagio chef Jeff Henderson who has landed his own Food Network TV reality show. I’m told it will focus on his launch of a private catering and banquet service here in Vegas with “rescued” kids from troubled backgrounds like his own which landed him in jail before “straightening out his life” of crime by becoming a chef. Actor Will Smith is to play Jeff in the movie version of his amazing life-story.
Meantime NBC’s Biggest Loser: Couples reality show will be auditioning sixth season contestants here next weekend looking for engaged or married couples along with parents and children in America’s No. 1 “fat city.”
*Hotel mogul Steve Wynn went with his Blush boutique nightclub partner, Sean Christie to watch one of the final performances of Fashionistas at Krave nightclub in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. Steve has signed the show’s lead dancer, Marceea Moreno to star in his Le Reve water spectacular at the Wynn.
*The 3rd annual Tennis Channel Open gets underway today for seven days at the Darling Tennis Center with such players as Lleyton Hewitt who was last year’s title winner.
Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis will be playing along with Marat Safin, Fernando Gonzalez and two-time defending doubles champions, twins Bob and Mike Bryan. Kids under 12 get to play tomorrow (TUES) and our merry Mayor of Mirth, Oscar Goodman hosts Fabulous Vegas Night on Thurs. with showgirls and impersonator entertainers.
*Five women, rescued from abusive relationships and drug addictions by the Safe Nest organization here, were treated to a free makeover by color king Michael Boychuck in his Amp salon at the Palms. The ladies, all of whom escaped domestic violence were also treated to dinner in the adjoining Bistro Buffet.
The colorist to the stars explained: “Our effort was to help them look a little more put-together and give them confidence as they start job interviews and get their lives back on track.”
*New circus acts from around the world start their new big-top life at the Circus Circus resort casino today (MON).
A troupe—African Acrobats International from Kenya performs amazing human pyramid building. Natalia Kochetkova from Russia shows off her superior balancing skills. Vladamir Saveliev has an unusual and distinctive take on juggling and Vladamir Mlachinkin is the new hand-balancing artist from Russia. On July 1 Swedish rock and roll star Malte Knapp will become the wild man of unicycles and Artem Khomanko will do speed juggling on stilts.
*Repairs are underway to the cracked ceiling at the new Cathouse loungerie in the Luxor and resort. Execs are hoping that they’ll be successfully completed either today (MON) or tomorrow for a fast re-opening. My colleague, nightlife queen Xania Woodman’s guest hosting at Cathouse tonight is postponed due to the work.