STRIP SCRIBBLES
*It was a very late night, in fact 2 a.m., for both Bette Midler and her fans.
The superstar decided to hold a surprise meet and greet with her audience after The Showgirl Must Go On spectacular at the Caesars Palace Colosseum. During the performance she told the audience she would meet any of them that bought her book The Adventures of Baby Divine or her new greatest hits CD Jackpot. At 10 p.m. some 400 enthusiastic fans began lining up and by the time she’d signed everybody’s purchase, posed for photos, said hello it was four hours later! Bette is here with us until July 20 with five shows per night and then takes a hiatus before returning here again on Oct. 9.
*The Summer Surprise Series has got off to a great start at the Pure and LAX nightclubs. At the debut concert in LAX Grammy-award winning hip-hop group Naughty by Nature performed some of their biggest hits.
They held court on the stage with NBA players Marcus Banks of the Miami Heat, Bonzi Wells, former Houston Rockets and Jermaine O’Neal of the Indiana Pacers. Also there were NFL star Marshall Faulk, Los Angeles Angels player Kelvim Escobar and Computer from MTV’s Hollyhood show. For the second surprise concert at sister club Pure in Caesars Palace multi-talented Ray J wowed the crowd. Just after midnight he stepped into the spotlight asking “where are all my sexy ladies at.” The actor, singer-songwriter sang a medley including his chart-topping hits “Sexy Can I,” ‘Wait a Minute,” and “One Wish.”
Once again Hollyhood’s Computer was there to visit along with sports stars Kevin Scott from the Detroit Lions, Willie McGinest of the Cleveland Browns and Colorado Avalanche hockey ace Peter Forsberg. Also at Pure this week were UFC fighter Josh Thompson, Toronto Raptors star Jermaine O’Neal, and co-stars from That 70’s show Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama who persuaded their friend, singer songwriter Blu Cantrell to sing two of her smash hit singles “Breathe” and “Hit ‘Em Up Style”.
*Its been a busy few days for celebrity sightings at the Jet nightclub in the Mirage:
New UFC champion Forrest Griffin has been on a week-long celebration of his victory by unanimous judges’ decision over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and the former reality TV star from Ultimate Fighter had a luscious load of ladies by his side now he’s the real-life champion. The Wild On TV casting call was hosted by former Real World star Trishelle Cannatella and Alison Waite and afterwards Trishelle who used to live in Vegas before heading to Hollywood for a TV career hung out in the VIP section with professional Alpine skater Bode Miller. Two San Diego Charger teammates, Shaun Phillips and Stephen Cooper who have had a weeklong nightlife party at every club in town finally made it to Jet’s VIP section!
*Former Dancing With the Stars contestant and Rio headliner Penn Jillette was in the audience for Bette Midler’s The Showgirl Must Go On at Caesars Palace. After the show he went backstage to say “hi” to the Divine Miss M and invited her to “come see his show.”
*For the next 10 days we’ll have 21 basketball teams in town for the NBA Summer League, so expect to see all your favorite league superstars at restaurants and clubs all over the valley. It all tips off at 1 p.m. this afternoon when the 76ers go up against the Warriors, continues at 3 p.m. with the Hornets vs the Grizzlies, keeps going at 5 p.m. with the Lakers in combat against the Pistons and wraps at 7 p.m. with the Dallas Mavericks playing opposite the LA Clippers. The NBA party to celebrate this July Jamboree is at the Rain nightclub in the Palms starting at 10 p.m. tonight (FRI). The matchups roar through until Sunday of next weekend, and every day at Luxe Life we’ll have the match-listings for you. Tomorrow it’s 1 p.m.: Raptors vs Kings; 3 p.m.: Bobcats vs Clippers; 5 p.m. 76ers vs Nuggets and 7 p.m. Grizzlies vs Bucks. On Sunday it’s 1 p.m.: Bobcats vs Hornets, 3pm Mavericks vs Warriors; 5pm Grizzlies vs Lakers and 7pm Pistons vs Clippers. All games are being played at the Thomas ad Mack Center and there’s very reasonable special pricing for individual games, all games in one day and then every one of the 53 games. My two favorites the Knicks start play Monday and then the Kings on Tuesday with all of the Maloof owner brothers there at courtside. Now it’s time for us to blow the whistle, jump for the tip-off, bounce the ball, make the play and score the three-pointers for all the other weekend highlights around town that we referee affectionately around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:
Friday, July 11:
*Be they the hits of yesteryear or right up to today Kenny Loggins who is appearing for one night at the Hilton has always spanned the generation gap and made it the smart reason behind his long-lasting success
*As current today as he was way back then, ace guitarist Peter Frampton thrills with an intimate concert at the Sandbar up at the Red Rock Resort.
*Commuting comedian Jay Leno says he’s happier sleeping back in his own Hollywood home rather than staying over for his two nights of topical headline current events comedy at The Mirage.
* Even though he’s into his 8th TV season of According to Jim, movie star Jim Belushi is still playing with The Sacred Hearts, the group he first joined for jam sessions when they were just the House of Blues house band. Its where he learned to play harmonica and sing the blues and they are set to jam at the Orleans tonight and tomorrow. Jim “trained” with them after the death of his brother John back in 1982 after Saturday Night Live star Dan Akyroyd implored him to continue their Blues Brothers legacy.
*For a glimpse of a unique bond of love and comedy check out Say Goodnight Gracie the one-man Tony nominated “best play” for the life, laughter and love between George Burns and Gracie Allen up at the Suncoast through Sunday night.
*It’s a polyrhythmic multicultural rock and soul band and the Rusted Root sextet from Pittsburgh combine African, Latin, Native American and Middle Eastern influences to their unique sound poolside at the Hard Rock. … While Ky-Mani Marley is reggae specific at the Sunset Station and Jim Breuer is solo at Ovation in the Green Valley Ranch.
*Provocative porn princess Tera Patrick will be in the flesh with her best assets on show at a Privé party in the Planet Hollywood Resort. … Hip-hop singing star Missy Elliott celebrates her birthday at Tao nightclub in The Venetian and musical artist Robin S best known for her “Show Me Love” hit will host her party at The Bank nightclub in Bellagio.
Saturday, July 12:
*One of the biggest soul groups of all times, Little Anthony & The Imperials, reprise their hunk of hits from the 60’s in a special concert at The Club in the Cannery which has carved itself a wonderful niche with the “goldie-oldies.”
*Even if gas goes to $7 a gallon think of it as a bargain today for the quick 25-minute pedal-to-the-metal drive south on the I-15 for guitarist Boz Scaggs in concert at the Star of the Desert Arena at Terrible’s Casinos on the stateline in Primm.
*Hip-hop trailblazers, The Roots perform tracks from their latest release “Rising Down” at the Joint in the Hard Rock. It’s the 10th album release for the Grammy-award winners who hail from Philadelphia with Amir ?uestlove Thompson on drums, Captain Kirk Douglas on guitar and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter handling vocals.
*The new eco-charity concert series “Bottle Rock It” continues at the Red Rock Resort and tonight features rocker vocalist Perry Farrell from Jane’s Addiction. The wine tasting itself benefits our Springs Preserve.
*Diamond Rio sparkle with their special six-man sound at the Santa Fe Station while Lyfe Jennings and Ray Lavender round out the musical offerings in concert at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.
*The party of the night belongs to sexy Carmen Electra! The star of the upcoming Disaster Movie hosts at the Privé nightclub in the Planet Hollywood Resort.
Sunday, July 13:
*Cookbook authors, chefs Dominique and Cindy Duby unveil their stunning new Wild Sweets chocolate recipes at a two-hour afternoon celebration party with superstar-chef Charlie Trotter in his new Restaurant Charlie at the Palazzo. They will all personalize copies of the book at the special signing.
*Twelve hours of global house music is in store for sun-worshippers and fans of superstar DJ Behrouz when he flies in for the marathon session twisting the turntables at Tao’s beach club in The Venetian, starting at 10 a.m.!
*A six-man vocal band without instruments perform a 75-minute exclusive concert hosted by Clint Holmes at Harrahs with proceeds benefiting the Public Education Foundation of our Clark County School District. Mosaic, just named “Next Great A-Cappella Group” by the CBS-TV’s Early Show performs at 1:30 p.m. in the main Harrah’s showroom.
*Don’t forget the final Spamalot performance at the Wynn as John O’Hurley and the Monty Python musical play “one last knight” before starting a West Coast tour.
*Beauty-queens Justine Pasek (Miss Universe 2002) and Veronica Grabowski (Miss Nevada 2008) will join local real-estate author Paul Murad to host the Live from Vietnam screening party of the Miss Universe 2008 contest at the Newport Lofts downtown. The red carpet begins at 7 p.m.