STRIP SCRIBBLES
*Our condolences to John Thompson, Jr., son of my friends, Vegas magicians Johnny and Pam Thompson, who passed away here after a long battle with debilitating brain cancer. He was only 41 and the memorial service will be held in Las Vegas: date, time, and place to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Nathan Adelson Hospice, 4141 Swenson Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119. Dad Johnny was on Criss Angel’s Mindfreak TV series as a consulting magician.
*Elite Traveler magazine has released its ranking of the worlds top 101 resort suites, and Vegas has just one in the top 10 most expensive suites in America. The world’s most expensive suite is a $52,000 a night royal penthouse in Geneva and America’s priciest is the $30,000 a night Ty Warner penthouse at the Four Seasons in Manhattan. Our contribution to the prestigious listing is the Chairman’s Suite at The Palazzo alongside The Venetian, which is a mere $20,000 a night! Hilton headliner Barry Manilow was one of the celebrity readers who took part in the survey for the magazine published by my longtime friend and regular Vegas visitor, Carl Ruderman.
*Perky princess of pulchritude Pamela Anderson has finally cleared up the mystery of her “living together again” with first ex-husband, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, and father of her two children.
In advance of her new 8-week-long new E! TV reality series Girl on the Loose, starting next weekend (Aug. 3) she says they are under the same roof in his Malibu home, but not together and it’s only because she’s waiting for her own home construction work to wrap. Then she moves out! “The dream would be that all of us could really be together, but we’re better off as friends.”
* Star Surveillance: Dallas Mavericks basketball star, Juwan Howard, part of the former Michigan Wolverines “Fab Five” dined at Nobu inside the Hard Rock Hotel and after her smash performance inside The Joint, bubbly Colbie Caillat hung out there at Carey Hart’s new rock club, Wasted Space. … Screen-star movie actor Denzel Washington held court on Blush Boutique Nightclub’s open-air patio at the Wynn enjoying the cooler-than-usual summer night with Grey Goose and cranberry cocktails. Also at Blush was Utah Jazz basketball player Deron Williams. … Our local hometown pop-idol Ryan Ross, founder with close friend Spencer Smith of Panic! At The Disco was at the Playboy Club in the Palms with three female friends.
He wore a top hat with a feather and ordered up Ketel One and Sprite and left his VIP table to play a little blackjack before the group left to continue their night at the ghostbar! … Real World San Francisco alumnus Puck took a step back “into the 90s” with DJ Flip’s decade-ago themed party at Jet nightclub in The Mirage.
*Statuesque brunette beauty Sarah Larson who was a cocktail server at the N9ne Group properties of Moon and the Playboy Club just a year ago has now become a top-flight high-in-demand fashion model. The near yearlong romantic relationship she enjoyed with movie superstar George Clooney helped propel her to future stardom. But she’s got that “It” factor, the mysterious quotient of stunning looks, captivating eyes, sensuous smile, cooling charm and curious charisma. Vegas finally pays homage tonight (FRI) and to recognize her win as one of People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful she hosts her own celebration party at the Tao nightclub in The Venetian.
This weekend is actually one of the largest invasions of ‘ beautiful people’ on the Vegas calendar so its now time to shine our spotlight on all of them as they enter our kingdom of calculated components of fighting, laughing, rocking and partying which we’ve wrapped up neatly in what we refer to affectionately around here as the high in-demand ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:
Friday, July 25:
*It’s a full-blown comedy weekend with all the headliners competing for laughs: latenight king Jay Leno is at The Mirage for two nights; delightful British superstar eccentric Eddie Izzard will be Stripped or cross-dressed at least part way for his two nights at the Pearl in the Palms; television’s favorite comedy actor David Spade from six years on Just Shoot Me has a two night run at the Planet Hollywood Resort, pale-faced standup comic Jim Gaffigan brings his acting and writing abilities into play on simple everyday subjects to win laughs at Mandalay Bay for one night only while Chris Bliss is at SouthPoint for three nights through Sunday.
*For those hot disco sounds that never tire Kool and the Gang blast away for three nights at the Orleans while Tom and Dick of The Smothers Brothers bring their comedy about brotherhood and folk songs from yesteryear on their acoustic guitar and string bass to the Suncoast also through Sunday night. Now just who did Mom always like best? It’s the 50th year they’ve performed together as the longest-lived comedy team in history.
*The sounds of ol’ blighty resume the always-ongoing British invasion with the ska revival English Beat, new wave The Fixx and alternative rockers The Alarm rocking the colonies at Sunset Station. Sixty Eight Guns would get me to look in the “Mirror in the Bathroom.” … While the Alkaline Trio with special guests American Steel and The Fashion raise the roof at the House of Blues and alternative rockers Coheed and Cambria return to the Hard Rock Hotel with their progressive sounds after opening there for Linkin Park back in March. Their latest album is a real mouthful Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Vol 2: Now World for Tomorrow.
*Rounding up the party patrol we have returning Beverly Hills 90210 star Shannon Elizabeth at Privé nightclub in the Planet Hollywood Resort. … Actress Ashley Scott of Maxim’s Hot 100 fame celebrating a birthday with her celebrity friends at Christian Audigier’s new TI club. … Primetime Nip/Tuck drama dame AnnaLynn McCord who is the newcomer in the upcoming 90210 series celebrates her 21st birthday at Pure nightclub in Caesars Palace. … Members of the cast of Real World Hollywood bring tinseltown triumph to their party at Jet nightclub in The Mirage. … Studio 54 has its servers dressed as Santa at MGM when it hosts a private “Christmas in July” event to benefit Ronald McDonald House. … And as noted above gorgeous Vegas model Sarah Larson, named by People magazine as one of the 100 most beautiful, will be the host at Tao nightclub in The Venetian.
*Tickets go on sale today (FRI) for Mexican Independence Day weekend with Latin superstars Enrique Iglesias and Aventura performing in concert at Mandalay Bay on Sept. 13.
Saturday, July 26:
*The boxing battle of welterweights in search of the world title is on with Miguel Cotto vs Antonio Margarita exchanging fisticuffs in Vegas hero, Bob Arum’s Top Rank promotion at MGM Grand. Both men enter the ring with 26 KO’s apiece but Miguel from Puerto Rico is 32-0 and Antonio from Tijuana is 36-5.
*Competing for sports fan attention will be the World Championship Muay Thai battles at the Hilton. Ten fights are listed on the program including the femme fatales Christine Toledo battling Ruth Ashdown with bare fists and bare feet- what no high heeled stilettos for that catfight?
*Country fans have the “biggest and baddest” with both superstar Toby Keith (his movie Beer for my Horses opens Aug. 6) and the Montgomery Gentry duo at Mandalay Bay. They then add to it with country’s newest talents Carter’s Chord, Mica Roberts and Trailer Choir.
*Former but forever The Beatle, Ringo Starr drums his All-Starr band into the Star of the Desert Arena down on the stateline border so pedal to the metal and roar down memory lane- sorry the I-15 south!
*Jazz trumpeter and Grammy Award-nominee Chris Botti brings those oasis sounds of “when I fall in love” to the desert with smooth silk at the Green Valley Ranch. … 4th Season of American Idol star runner-up Bo Bice is “The Real Thing” as he shakes his long hair and “Sees the Light” sings the sound of country rock out at the Santa Fe Station. … Freddie Jackson charms with his R&B soul sounds at the Sunset Station. … Former Fugees founder Wyclef Jean who has racked up seven solo album hits with his mix of reggae, Haitian hip-hop and the Caribbean beat performs poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel. …the ABBA tribute band, Arrival from Sweden will duplicate those Mamma Mia! sing-along hits at the Club in the Cannery. … And if hard rock is your cuppa tea then there’s a Bullet For My Valentine (not very romantic?) with Bleeding Through and Cancer Bats at the House of Blues for a triple-header of heavy!
*For the party patrol there’s actress beauty Taryn Manning at Privé nightclub in the Planet Hollywood Resort.
*Proof that Luxe Life looks out for everybody, including doll collectors! The best friends collectibles show is at the Flamingo for two days and maybe even Marie will pop in with his porcelains?
Sunday, July 27:
*Another wild night with my friend Dennis Haskins from Saved by the Bell as he runs down the Sunday School honor roll at Body English after all the sizzling sexy stuff that goes on in the sun at Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel.
The cameras keep rolling for that new reality TV series. … Both the Wet Republic pools at MGM and Bare adult pool at The Mirage throw daylong backyard BBQ parties