STRIP SCRIBBLES
*Handsome actor Taye Diggs, who stars in Private Practice, had no worries about the Playboy bunny beauties when he took his wife and their friends to the Playboy Club.
The American post-grunge band from Kansas City, Puddle of Mudd, also partied in the Palms hotel rooftop hot-spot.
*Hard to believe it’s exactly 44-years ago on Thanksgiving Day that I arrived in New York from London as a young immigrant. I have so much to be thankful for and am so grateful and happy to live in this wonderful country. I’d worked as a reporter for the Daily Mail in England, but until I landed my first job here on NY’s Daily News, I had to sell kids-shoes for three-weeks in a 5th Avenue department store for the Christmas holiday season. From journalism to television, it’s all been an incredible run and I’ve met so many wonderful people. One of my first interviews for a rock music book I wrote was by a young unknown lady called Oprah Winfrey who also did the weather at a Baltimore TV station! I’m thrilled for her well-deserved extraordinary success since then—even more so last week when she selected my very good friend, Ken Follett’s 973-page book Pillars of the Earth (first written in 1989 and still selling 100,000 copies a year) as her latest book club pick.
Ken was my neighbor for many years when we lived on the tiny Jumby Bay Island near Antigua in the Caribbean—and I prize the entire collection of his novels that he autographed for me on Thanksgiving nine-years ago! He says Pillars of the Earth is the favorite of all his books. It is a historical masterpiece of English love in the 12th Century. His newest book, World without End was published just last month. Ken and I both began as journalists in Britain and we both went onto different exciting careers. So when I say sincerely, “Happy Thanksgiving” while carving the turkey, know that I am really grateful and thankful for everything I love about my now real-home in America, right here in Vegas! Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
*Two key dates for you over the Thanksgiving weekend. First, Friday is the opening of Francois Payard’s new Patisserie and Bistro at Caesars Palace right alongside RAO’s. The world famous pastry chef and chocolatier starts with 6:30 a.m. breakfasts daily and remains open through dinner with a four-course all-dessert tasting menu.
In the retail area of the bistro, fans can buy his amazing chocolates, candies and pastries. Francois, a third-generation French pastry chef, was at two Michelin three-star restaurants in Paris before moving to NY to join celebrity chef Daniel Boulud where he was named “Pastry Chef of the Year.” He opened his own Patisserie in 1997 in Manhattan and has won numerous awards of excellence including being named one of the top pastry chefs in the world. You have never seen or tasted chocolate until you’ve tasted the miracles of this master!
While you are in Caesars Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, go say hello to my pal, pop artist supreme Peter Max in his newly re-modeled gallery in the Forum Shops. He will unveil a new Statue of Liberty acrylic portrait on canvas that he’s created for this new exhibition of 40 additional works being added to the 150 originals there. Any Luxe Life reader who buys a painting will have an added treat when Peter will not only autograph the back of it, but will also sketch out a special drawing for you alongside it—now that’s a total original and you’ll be the only one in the world to have it!
*Now for the remainder of our personal highlight picks throughout the Thanksgiving holiday in what we refer affectionately to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:
Tonight, Nov 21:
*One of our favorite Luxe Life lady-lensers, Denise Truscello is saluted with a party at Caramel in the Bellagio when EXPOSE showcases her camera-ace photography and portraits.
Thanksgiving -Nov 22:
Crusty comedy star George Carlin brings his rants and raves to The Orleans through Sunday night. His incisive observations on life are a spot-on delight to make everybody start thinking properly.
Fri - Nov 23:
*He’s the silky sultan of smooth and the reigning king of cool: Tony Bennett proves he’s still a superstar even in his 70’s at the Hilton.
*I used to pal around with Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits in Manchester as we ended our teenage years and became 20-year-olds, and we’re both still rocking. Our paths cross yet again tonight and tomorrow when he plays the Star of the Desert on the border line with California down the I-15 to Primm!
*With more than 1,000 songs recorded to date, Juan Gabriel, who began his career back in 1971, is a beloved Mexican singer and songwriter. As one of the living legends of the mariachi ballads, he’s going to have fans in emotional tears at MGM Grand.
*After a series of local lounge acoustic appearances, former Soundgarden and Audio Slave lead singer Chris Cornell has built up a tremendous following to “Carry On” that warrants his first solo stage appearance at the Pearl in the Palms.
*“Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda… Played That Part” is Patti Lupone’s charming new one woman show. The fabulous New York actress-singer brings a delightful evening of Manhattan cabaret to the Suncoast through Sunday night.
*Another British band, Travis, that twice won British album of the year out of five of their CD’s, will play their hit “Closer” from the Boy with No Name album at the Hard Rock with special guests, Maximo Park.
*It’s the myspace.com music tour with strange rockers Hellogoodbye—complete with their zombies, aliens, vampires and dinosaurs in tow—and Say Anything which sums up what you can do on that internet site! They “Save the Day” with an early show at the House of Blues.
*I still remember the sweet sounds and sweaters of The Lettermen, and they prove young as can be all over again at the Southpoint.
*Sexy swimsuit and cover-model Joanna Krupa hosts her 2008 topless calendar release party at JET in the Mirage. The Polish beauty was named “Sexiest Swimsuit Model in the World” in the July 2005 Playboy, and she’s been called “one of the world’s top 10 supermodels.”
Sat – Nov 24:
*The heavy metal act that Ozzy Osbourne has perfected over 30-years as the lead of Black Sabbath before becoming a reality TV star comes to Vegas for the first time in over four-years. He will team “In This Moment” with former White Zombie lead singer, Rob Zombie at the Joint in the Hard Rock.
*Taking a cue from the sports book spread, Down is up at the House of Blues to promote their new “Over the Under” album.
*The fix must be in because it’s a case of the price is right because tickets for The Fixx at the Green Valley Ranch are FREE!
*Nice to take a break from music and get some unusually unique comedy served up by deadpan standup comic Jim Gaffigan and his high-pitched female voices at The Palms. He’s racked up over 25 gigs on the Conan O’Brien late show and now appears on the TBS series My Boys.
*For something completely different check out the Kruse International Classic and Antique Car auction at the Southpoint today and tomorrow.
Sun- Nov 25:
*Classic John Fogerty lands at the Hard Rock for his Revival Tour to promote the new Revival album.
*Two shaking sizzling bombshells will “cuchi cuchi” their way into town to wake us from the turkey slumbers and excesses: International superstar Charo is at the Rampart Casino with her humor, unbelievable accent and her incredible skills with the flamenco guitar that she learned from master Andres Segovia.
Then, bootyful busty brunette Kim Kardashian who shows it all off as the new December Playboy cover girl hosts “Sunday After Dark” at the Playboy Club in the Palms. The LA fashionista also stars as the sultry sex-goddess on E! TV’s Keeping Up With the Kardashians.