Luxe Life Blog
Strip Scribbles: Criss & Holly romance picks up steam with her more natural look
Holly Madison and Criss Angel.
Photo: Pure Management Group
*Sticking to her promise, The Girls Next Door beauty Holly Madison commuted back into the arms of magician Criss Angel yet again this week. The hot celebrity couple returned to their usual VIP table just off the dance floor at LAX at the Luxor and were promptly joined by fellow Luxor headliner Carrot Top. The trio mingled with fans, posed for photos and sipped on Montecristo Rum and Coke cocktails past the midnight hour. Holly set off headlines this week when she was asked about her new “softer, almost-no-makeup look.” The former live-in-love of Playboy king Hugh Hefner said that she gave up the heavy makeup look she had at the Playboy Mansion in favor of the more natural look Criss prefers. “Anyway, Criss and I kiss so much there’s, no lipstick ever left on,” she laughed.
Ricky Hatton at Pure.
*There will be more English accents in town than usual this weekend. More than 5,000 fans of their national boxing hero, two-time IBF and IBO light welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, have arrived to watch him do battle tomorrow night against Brooklyn’s favorite son, Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi. Ricky enters the ring with 31 knockouts in his record of 44 winning fights and only one loss to Oscar de la Hoya earlier this year here on the Strip. (Oscar’s Golden Boy Promotions is producing this fight, by the way!) Paulie is a killer, too, with a 25-win and only one loss record! On the line is The Hitman’s junior IBA welterweight world title and Paulie’s junior IBF welterweight world championship belt. Win or lose, The Hitman hosts his official after-fight party at the legendary Studio 54 nightclub at MGM, and Paulie’s after-fight bash is at the new Rok club at New York-New York.
Danny Gans.
*If not the end of an era but certainly the turning of a page in our history books. It’s time to say au revoir to two entertainers and say “welcome home” to a third -- all in the same weekend. For entertainer Danny Gans and his incredible impersonations, he turns in his dressing room key at The Mirage after a near 10-year run, and he’ll get a brief break and a chance to add some new highlights before he reopens at Steve Wynn’s new theater at his Wynn and Encore towers in early spring. Magician Jeff McBride ends his run of Magic at the Edge at Palace Station and takes off on a European and Japanese tour before returning to a new Strip location in the spring. Meantime, singer-impressionist Gordie Brown gets ready to move into his own showroom at the Golden Nugget downtown. Tickets go on sale today for his performances on a multi-year headliner contract that begins Feb. 5. Gordie wraps his gig as opening act for Celine Dion’s world tour at the end of January.
Frank Marino, as Joan Rivers.
*It was an all-out glitz and glamour birthday party for the Queen of the Strip, Riviera headliner Frank Marino, sometimes better known as the best Joan Rivers female impersonator in the business. He celebrated in a Trump Tower penthouse with Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Chris and Marley from Zowie Bowie, Hooter’s headline mentalist Gerry McCambridge and Tina Turner impersonator Larry Edwards. In all, about 100 friends traveled in from Paris, Rio and New York for the festivities that were taped for his new show Frank, My Way to be shown on the Vegas Entertainment Network site. Check out the birthday cake built as a set of Louis Vuitton luggage!
*The Holiday season officially arrives in the valley this weekend when our Merry Mayor of Mirth, Oscar Goodman, continues tradition and cuts the red ribbon and turns on the 3 million lights for the opening of the 17th season of Opportunity Village’s “Magical Forest.” It is the most spectacular display anywhere west of the Mississippi! The official tree lighting ceremony is at 6 p.m. tomorrow with Harrah’s magician Mac King, Las Vegas tenor Mark Giovi and musician actress Kailey Swanson on hand. Our beloved local charity features new attractions this year that the mayor will also unveil, including the Penta Building Group’s Storytime Cabin, where all number of Strip headline entertainers -- including yours truly -- have read The Night Before Christmas on video to run around the clock! The Magical Forest began in 1992 and has become a holiday tradition in the community and Opportunity Village’s largest annual fundraiser, raising more than $1 million. The event attracts more than 150,000 people each holiday season and has earned it a place as one of HGTV’s annual “Top Holiday Destinations.” Each visitor to the park will receive a $5 Shell gas card for showing up between now and Dec. 18, and there are senior discounts for those over 55. Money raised from the Magical Forest goes directly to the programs and services provided to men and women with intellectual disabilities to offer employment, training, advocacy and social recreation.
Now it’s time for us to turn on the lights and open up all the other goodie gifts around town this weekend in what we refer to affectionately around here as the Royal Robin Rundown:
Friday, Nov. 21
Usher at Pure.
*Smooth, suave and sophisticated R&B king Usher brings those silky sounds “for the ladies only” to The Pearl at the Palms. Can’t believe he was only 14 when he first sang back in 1994 that “Think of You” hit. The music sensation has gone on to rack up a string of hits and best-selling albums, including the 2004 collaboration “Yeah” with Ludacris and Lil John. His latest release earlier this year is Here I Stand, in which he sings about his own domestic happiness of being a married dad! After the success of his multi-platinum Confessions, 30-year-old Usher took a hiatus and married girlfriend Tameka Foster last year. They have a baby son, Usher Raymond V.
*Even though The Comedy Festival is in full force at Caesars Palace, biting comedy host Bill Maher marches to the beat of his own drum with three nights of standup solo shows at The Orleans through Sunday night. Jay Leno has his own two nights of comedy at The Mirage, and comedian David Alan Grier, star of Chocolate News, hosts his official after-party at Blush in the Wynn following his Comedy Festival show.
The Association.
*Time to turn back the clock to yesteryear: I just don’t know how long the six-man group The Association, has been around, but it seems like forever -- and, yes, their hair has now turned gray! Yet they still sound great and are going strong, and you’ll prove that for yourself up at the Suncoast through Sunday night. Then down at the South Point, you’ll find country veteran Roy Clark and his twang guitar still turning out those country hits, while Delbert McClinton is at the Boulder Station showroom and Badfinger makes the noise at the Four Queens Canyon Club downtown.
Kim Kardashian, shown celebrating her birthday at LAX, will be at the Palms this weekend.
*Gorgeous reality star and currently the cover girl model of our sister Vegas magazine, Kim Kardashian hosts a penthouse party at George Maloof’s new Palms Place. We’ll have a full photo report and exclusive interview early next week about her New Year’s Eve plans here on the Strip!
*Party patrol: In addition to his Danity Kane girls, Puff Diddy also discovered five guys on his MTV series Making of the Band. Brian Andrews, Mike McCluney, Robert Curry, Willie Taylor and Qwanell Mosley made up Day 26, and all of them will be at Jet in The Mirage to perform songs from their self-titled album Day 26. … Taking a night off from marital duties with superstar Mariah Carey, new husband Nick Cannon will be guest DJ to spin the music for dancing at Pure in Caesars Palace. … The gorgeous girls from the adult topless revue Crazy Horse Paris host a party at Tabu in MGM.
Having his cake and eating it, too, is a celebratory Louie Anderson.
*Please support my friend heavyweight comic Louie Anderson when he hosts out at Vox wine lounge with a benefit for the Foundation of Nevada’s Blind Children.
Saturday, Nov. 22
* After answering a newspaper ad to form the Backstreet Boys, the boyband sold 75 million albums with 13 Top 40 hits and more than a half-billion dollars from concert tours! The Boys have resurfaced with a new tour promoting their latest album Unbreakable. After a successful international tour, they returned home stateside and wind up at The Pearl at the Palms.
*REO Speedwagon has produced 17 albums since its 1971 debut, and you simply can’t fight the feeling anymore. Their newest CD is the first in more than a decade and, providing you can find your own way home, head out to the new Aliante casino in North Las Vegas for their concert.
*With 12 gold albums and nine platinum albums to his credit, Dwight Yoakam is a bona fide country music superstar. His songs about busted romances and ruined dreams will make up an unforgettable performance down the I-15 to the stateline border at the Star of the Desert Arena.
*Are the Bacon bothers the new Blues Brothers? Actor Kevin Bacon joins brother Michael on guitars for a unique, up close, intimate concert at the Canyon Club inside the Four Queens downtown.
*Saxophonist Eugene Grove goes by the stage name of Euge Groove. He started playing classical sax at age 10 but switched to jazz in college. He’s released five albums since his 2000 debut, and he’ll play the Railhead showroom at Boulder Station.
*There’s a triple-header at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space at the Hard Rock, with Days of the New and guests Sponge and Rubber Side Down, and yet another at the House of Blues with Matisyahu, Flobots and Chester French.
*DJ AM, real name Adam Goldstein, continues his amazing medical recovery from a plane crash escape and returns to wheels-of-steel duty at Pure in Caesars Palace.
*Party patrol: Vegas regular Pauly Shore will play host to fellow comics Bill Maher, Tracy Morgan, Mike Epps, Andrew Dice Clay, among others, at the Comedy Festival after-party at Tao nightclub in The Venetian. … Playboy Playmates Kara Monaco (2006 Playmate of the Year) and Janine Habeck (Playmate of the Year 2005, Germany) host an after-fight party at Tabu Ultra Lounge in MGM. … Superstar singer Rod Stewart’s son Sean, who was treated on the Dr. Drew-hosted Celeb Rehab on VH1, hosts a party at Prive in Planet Hollywood -- so close to all those temptations that put him in rehab the first time around!
*Don’t forget that the Opportunity Village “Magical Forest” opens tonight through New Year’s Eve. It’s the most spectacular place to visit to celebrate the holiday season.
*For the high-speed thrill of high-octane, the Maxxis Endurocross Finals are roaring at The Orleans Arena.
Sunday, Nov. 23
*Congratulations to our friends at the Playboy Club in the Palms as they celebrate its second anniversary with a “2 Years Old” party featuring playmates Tiffany Selby and Kayla Collins.
*Four rock acts for the price of one at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay, with In Flames headlining and special guests All That Remains, Gojira and 36 Crazyfists. How long does it take them to dream up these names? …. Ben Kenney from Incubus and the Heavy Young Heathens perform at the Beatles Revolution ultra lounge in The Mirage, and KRS-One is the guest of honor at the Hard Rock’s Body English nightclub.
Monday’s tease
Lance Bass
Hours before the Dancing With the Stars final showdown war, Vegas DeLuxe has an exclusive photo session and interview with Lance Bass, who will battle Brooke Burke and Super Bowl champion Warren Sapp. We’ll also have the wrap-up of the Comedy Festival stars and the party rundown after the Ricky Hatton fight.
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