STRIP SCRIBBLES
*George Clooney and former Palms cocktail server Sarah Larson were a hot twosome for almost 12 months, and even fans were disappointed when he pulled his usual routine of “ending the relationship.”
Most people felt sorry for the gorgeous girl who had worked for the N9ne Group restaurants and clubs at George Maloof’s casino resort. Now she’s bounced back on a dinner date with British actor Jason Statham of Bank Job car chase fame. No word if there’ll be more dream dates but they looked comfortable and at ease with each other over dinner at Iron Chef Kerry Simon’s new Palms Place restaurant.
*Within minutes of sitting down to play poker in Don Cheadle’s celebrity tournament to raise funds to help the displaced in the ethnic cleansing warfare raging in Darfur in the Sudan, NBA star Charles Barkley lost his money, and was out! (See yesterday’s Luxe Life for our lead story). Don along with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck took a mid-day break at the Ante Up For Africa suite set up in McFadden’s Irish Saloon at the Rio casino hotel.
At first count well over $500,000 was raised for Don Cheadle’s “Ante Up for Africa” celebrity poker tournament. Later today (THURS) we’ll know the final exact amount. Meantime enjoy the photos of all the celebrities at play.
Charles took a triple Grey Goose vodka and cranberry cocktail to get over the sudden loss upset and chatted with Mekhi Phifer and Jason Alexander. Luxe Life will have the full photo report of the stars at play when we return on Tuesday.
*Model beauty Patti Boyd who was married to both George Harrison and Eric Clapton dined at Cathouse enjoying chef Kerry Simon’s Oysters Rockefeller and the short ribs. The lovely and radiant English femme fatale photographer was attending The Beatles Fest for a signing of her new book Wonderful Tonight about her life with the two-mega music stars. George dedicated “Something” and “What Is Life” to her while Eric wrote “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight” for her.
*Congratulations to former Golden Nugget owners Tim Poster and Tom Breitling. The Vegas partners became mega-millionaires from their business deals involving Internet travel and downtown gaming. Obviously Steve Wynn thinks they are strategic development experts because as he gets ready to open his new Encore tower at Wynn right after the upcoming Christmas-New Years holidays he’s hired them as senior veeps! Steve says he’s added the dynamic duo to his senior leadership team to both “improve opportunities for success at current existing venues and enhance the pursuit of new ones.”
*You know I love to give you an advance heads-up for something you really shouldn’t miss out on. Well keep the Aug. 30-31 weekend clear because all eight-award winning James Beard chefs at The Venetian and The Palazzo are teaming up with the 30 other eateries there to share gourmet greatness and culinary creativity in a Carnivale of Cuisine. Mario Batali, Thomas Keller, Charlie Trotter, and best buddies Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse are already plotting the food surprises for the first annual event.
*Star Surveillance: Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick continued his 21st birthday celebration with dinner at the mod-Mex cuisine themed Dos Caminos restaurant at The Palazzo, and even chewed on a cigar at the end of the meal of hot salsa habanero and the Veracruz fish dish. He and his parents sipped Perrier Jouet champagne and devoured yet another birthday cake. Also at Dos Caminos Titanic star Bill Zane ordering up the same fish but with shrimp quesadillas and Asado tacos, and still sticking just to water! … For the first ever King of Clubs event at the Blush boutique nightclub in the Wynn actor Jason Statham, Planet Hollywood Hotel head honcho Robert Earl were there along with record producer Irv Gotti. … Movie comedy star Adam Sandler snagged a VIP cabana at the Palms Pool & Bungalows to enjoy some swim and sun time.
*The killer Komodo dragon has made itself right at home in the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef exhibit since taking up residence days ago.
Our photos were snapped on the first day of Killer Kate, whoops Killer Ken’s exploration. There’s no way we’re going to get close enough to learn if the Indonesian reptile that can kill somebody in seconds is a boy or a girl.
*The two week-long World Poker Tour got underway at the Bellagio yesterday (WED), and when it comes down to the WPT main event next Friday (July 11) the entry fee will be $15,000, but players will get three times as many starting chips than at previous events to generate a large prize pool and also kick up the action. The high-stakes poker tournaments air on the Game Show Network for cable TV. During the two week battle in the Bellagio there will be seven-no-limit hold’em tournaments in the race to the Cup.
Now its time to turn over our cards and show the winning hand of all the “double-ace” events highlighting the holiday weekend which gets under way tonight (THURS). One things for certain’ this “river” isn’t running dry and we’ve called the bluff and named it the Royal Robin Rundown:
Thursday, July 3:
*The world premiere of Don McLean’s “American Pie” Viva Vision light and sound show will be open free to the public at 9 p.m. on the Fremont Street Experience complete with an honor guard from the Nellis Air Force Base performing the National Anthem. The “American Pie” rock ballad became a generation’s anthem back in 1971 and the hit single is still one of the longest songs ever to hit the No. 1 spot. At 8:36 p.m. the mini-movie and visual fireworks and patriotic images will be shown nightly until midnight through Saturday. Tomorrow (FRI) there’ll also be a giant July 4th barbeque party there.
*The Grateful Dead’s rhythm guitarist co-vocalist, Bob Weir now has a lineup known as RatDog. He draws upon 30 years of music industry experience for his concerts of Dead music and material from Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry. The southern rock and jam band Gov’t Mule is the opening act in the rather rare Hard Rock Hotel concert. … Don’t forget Morris Day and The Time play the Flamingo with their unique sounds through Saturday night.
*Tao nightclub at The Venetian gets the holiday weekend started with Dancing With the Stars fancy-footwork beauty Shannon Elizabeth hosting one party and Chris Clouse performing at a second one.
*The “Rock the Roof—Battle of the Bands” continues at Diablo’s in the Monte Carlo with host Moose-o-Libre and a $10,000 prize at stake while sister party palace, the Bare pool lounge at the Mirage features John Pasquelotto and Loni Mickelson as guest lifeguards.
*It’s a triple threat of rancid rock and roll with special guests The Aquabats and Urchin opening for the appropriately named Rancid rockers at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.
*For something completely different and a lot more genteel head to the Springs Preserve for a unique lecture about the Early History of Las Vegas complete with the city’s first nude showgirl, Lisa Medford, an early showgirl, Betty Bunch, local historian Dr. Mike Green and El Rancho writer George Stamos. They will share the untold stories of our Valley’s early days.
Friday, July 4:
*Famed Hollywood celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson starts a four-day visit to Vegas when she spins Sunset Sessions at the Tao pool-deck club at The Venetian from 10 a.m. through sunset.
And normally actress galpal Lindsay Lohan is never far from her side so maybe we’ll see the tied-together twosome here for the holiday weekend after Lindsay has celebrated her birthday in Hollywood that Samantha will commute to and from Vegas for. Samantha will also DJ on Tuesday at the second of George Maloof’s “duck hunting” parties at the new Palms Place pool.
*Its a unique double-header with comedy king Damon Wayans joking up “lots of laughter” with three nights of shows at the Orleans and then late night, Philippines singing sensation Imelda Papin will perform her hits for Asian fans there.
*America’s most talented ventriloquist impressionist Terry Fator unpacks his dolls for three nights of shows at the Hilton.
While Lorrie Morgan sings her sweet country stylings at the South Point and the Las Vegas Tenors execute their “popera” with special guest Clint Holmes up at the Suncoast.
*Music fans can choose between the fireworks show and Vertical Horizon lying or standing straight at the Mandalay Bay Beach or Grammy-winning British reggae group Steel Pulse at the Hard Rock or 80’s glam metal parody band Steel Panther, who were previously known as Metal Skool now performing at Ovation lounge in the Green Valley Ranch.
*Comedy fans can choose between the standup eccentricity and unexpected humor of UFC color commentator Joe Rogan at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay or the “Pimpin’ Pimpin’ Tour” of hot comedy star Katt Williams, who’s appearing in the new First Sunday movie with Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan. Tickets were in such demand at The Pearl in the Palms that he’s added a second show for Saturday night (July 5).
*Now for the party roundup: Famed fashion designer Christian Audigier celebrates the star-studded opening of his new nightclub in Treasure Island, taking the place of Tangerine, and he’s promised a coterie of his celebrity friends on hand. … Playboy cover model Tiffany Holliday will host Torrid nightclub’s “Red White and Boobs” festivities in the Hawaiian Tropic Zone at Planet Hollywood Resort’s Miracle Mile. Dr.Pancholi of Cosmetic Surgery of Las Vegas will offer a free breast augmentation as a beauty contest first prize! Playboy model DJ Roxanne Dawn will also judge the ladies hoping to enhance their tape-measure numbers! … Indulge and Theory of Flight will make the music for three nights of parties at Diablo’s in Monte Carlo’s casino resort. … Reality TV hosts Trishelle Cannatella and Alison Waite will host parties at the Bare pool and the Jet nightclub in The Mirage searching for a new host of the Wild On TV series. … Dozens of cheerleaders will host their reunion celebration at The Bank nightclub in the Bellagio. … Ring-girl Arianny Celeste hosts the UFC pre-fight party at MGM’s Studio 54 and special guests Three 6 Mafia and fighter Zab Judah are the expected VIPs. … Sirius satellite Radio throws its America’s Next Best DJ contest as part of the Ditch Friday pool party at the Palms to kick off the Red, White and You three-day extravaganza.
Saturday, July 5:
*Paris Hilton will be front-row center, or in the wings, for boyfriend Benji Madden’s Good Charlotte rock concert poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel. He’ll play guitar and share vocals with brother Joel and they’ll feature tracks from their newest hit album Good Morning Revival including “Misery” and “March On.”
*Rival blonde-haired bombshell Pamela Anderson will celebrate her birthday at the LAX nightclub in the Luxor resort with DJ Casanova accompanying the former Baywatch babe’s dance floor fun.
*The American Idol’s 2008 live tour lands at the Thomas & Mack Center with songs by six of the self-described “pop-tarts” and four of the guys including the dueling David’s who were just together on Barbara Walters The View.
*Our beloved country music queen Reba McIntyre pumps up the volume down at the Star of the Desert Arena in the Primm Valley casino resorts so forget gas costs and hit the pedal to the metal for the 25 minute drive down I-15 to the stateline.
*It’s a huge UFC fight frenzy for fans of the Octagon fury when champion Quentin “Rampage” Jackson defends his title against Forrest Griffin at the Mandalay Bay events center and afterwards UFC head honcho Dana White will host the official after party at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. Win or lose Forrest Griffin has promised to host his own post-fight celebration at Jet nightclub in The Mirage. Meantime it’s a fully packed day for Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell when the UFC superstar makes two stops at the Wildfire Casinos this afternoon out on Boulder Highway and the Green Valley Parkway followed by his after-fight party at Studio 54 in MGM
Actress Jaimie Pressley’s fiancé Eric Cubeechee will join forces with DJ Echo to twist the turntables to ensure electrifying beats for the bash titled “One Night Stand.” … Regular fight fans can enjoy the “No Excuses” rematch between Ricardo Torres and Kendall Holt being presented by Planet Hollywood Resort.
*There’s three great choices for music lovers: famed guitarist Slash premieres “Bottle Rock It” as the new weekly poolside series at the Red Rock Resort.
The legendary rocker brings his Blues Ball Band into headline with a wine-tasting charity option that has all proceeds benefiting the Springs Preserve. Joining Slash will be Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, and Led Zeppelin drummer Jason Bonham. … For a flashback to yesteryear Davy Jones of The Monkees will stir old memories with the group’s hit songs of the 60’s and 70’s. … Two 80’s bands take the stage at the Sunset Station amphitheater with the original lineups from Great White and Warrant. Great White earned double-platinum status for the album Twice Shy and they reunited last January for its 25th anniversary. Warrant is a glam metal band reuniting for the first time in 14 years.
*International motorcycle stars will compete in off-road racings most unique event Endurocross featuring current champion David Knight at the Orleans Arena.
Sunday, July 6:
*Long-time Vegas local singer, entertainer and TV personality Tony Sacca has created a unique “history with humor” show to tell the story in song of the history of Las Vegas. Vegas—The Show is a musical and comedic multi-media journey of Vegas from 1930 to the present day including a look into the future of the year 2050. Comedy impressionist Tom Wallek is the show-guide with singers and dancers Laurie Caceros, Amanda Kaiser and Nellie Norris with Tony and the Michael T Orchestra. The special showing starts 4 p.m. at the downtown Plaza Hotel and casino showroom.
Monday, July 7:
*It’s the final round of Jet nightclub’s “Blondeshell Awards,” and one winner will emerge from the three-week long beauty contest to win the custom pink Corvette and drive away from The Mirage.
*Ever felt you too could be a rockstar and live out your ultimate dreams and fantasies. You’re going to get that chance at the “Almost Famous Ultimate Rock Star Tournament” being held at Mist in Treasure Island. Show your skills and sing along with the digital band as contestants compete to gain rockstar notoriety in head-to-head battles.