Luxe Life Blog
Strip Scribbles: Penn & Teller’s AIDS Walk donor match totals $61,300
Singer Jake Walden took part in AFAN's AIDS Walk Las Vegas.
Photo: Brian Steffy
Magicians Penn & Teller served as grand marshals for the 19th Annual AIDS Walk, and as hosts of their own challenge team, they agreed to match every dollar the group raised for the event. In all, Penn & Teller chipped in about $61,300 to match the team’s pledges, for a total of $122,600. More than 8,000 people participated in Aid for AIDS Nevada’s largest fundraiser of the year, which totaled $401,000 for the walk.
AFAN's AIDS Walk Las Vegas on April 19.
Other teams were led by our favorite Fantasy Girls dancers from their topless show at the Luxor, along with the casts of Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Jubilee!, Le Reve and Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular. Comedy magician Mac King and Lance Burton’s juggler Michael Goudeau also supported the AFAN event with impromptu performances!
*I must clear up some minor confusion about the newest set of dates we told you about yesterday for Cher at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace. Originally, she contracted for some 200 shows over a three-year period, which started last May. Now with the new dates, picking up from Elton John’s departure tonight, the 62-year-old superstar will squeeze them all in by the end of this year, so her final show here will be Dec. 20, fulfilling the contract but ahead of the scheduled 2010 finale.
Boris Becker and Donald Trump at the Peepshow premiere in Planet Hollywood.
*Heading into the third day today and starting play at noon, former world tennis champion Boris Becker is still in the tournament! Boris is in 43rd place out of the remaining 62 players in the World Poker Tournament at the Bellagio. Also alive is Phil Ivey, one of the top professional poker players in the world. He’s in seventh place going into today’s rounds. We’ll keep you posted as to their progress -- and fight for the $3 million payoff purse!
Gene Simmons and Criss Angel.
Luxor President Felix Rappaport, Luxor Senior VP Jean George, Gene Simmons, Radical Comics Publishers Barry and Alan Levine and Radical Publishing's Jesse Berger at Believe.
*Tongue-wagging Gene Simmons of KISS was at Criss Angel’s Believe at the Luxor in a group that included Luxor President Felix Rappaport, Luxor Senior VP Jean George, Radical Comics Publishers Barry Levine and Alan Levine, Radical Publishing’s Jesse Berger and Senior VP of MGM Mirage Marketing Joe Fertitta. They all took part in Criss’s magic act “Premonition,” which now starts the show.
*This has become the week where temperatures shot up to the 90s and air conditioning was turned on throughout town. So it’s only natural and perfect timing that Pure opens its tops-optional pool Venus for the summer season today at Caesars Palace! The pool club has plush cabanas, oversized lounges, its own bar with flat-screen TVs and a staff that serves up snacks, frozen towels, cooling face spritzers and body massages. Ladies can relax when they doff their tops, as the chic Romanesque club is fully surrounded by lush greenery.
Jason Strauss.
*Twelve handsome, well-dressed men make up the Vegas Dozen tonight in the annual Nevada Cancer Institute fundraiser salute to our hometown heroes. Being honored at Saks Fifth Avenue tonight and welcomed by stunning and glamorous mistress of ceremonies Phyllis Maguire are our fearless leader Michael T. Carr, president of Greenspun Media Group, plus our good friends David Kirvin, partner of Kirvin Doak Communications; George Maloof, president of the Palms; David Robins, managing partner and corporate chef of Wolfgang Puck’s Fine Dining; Michael Severino, general manager of event marketing of Southern Wine and Spirits; Kerry Simon, chef and owner of Simon restaurant in Palms Place; and Jason Strauss, managing partner of Tao Group. Also honored will be Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events; Bill Hornbuckle, president of Mandalay Bay; Lon Kruger, head coach of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels; chef Gustav Mauler, president of Gustav International; and author and public speaker Jack Sheehan.
*Singer, songwriter and producer Kevin Rudolf wowed at the Miss USA 2009 Pageant and when he san his hit “Let It Rock” to hundreds of screaming fans inside Rok Vegas in New York-New York. After the mini-show, he took over an elevated VIP booth with a special lady, and in between snuggling, he rocked out with his band mates.
British singer Estelle at Prive.
*Prive was the place to be with a special 1 a.m. performance by Estelle. The crooner used the DJ booth as her stage to sing her hit song “American Boy.” After the song, recorded with Kanye West and which thrilled the throng of fans, she enjoyed a vodka drink chatting with her friends until 2 a.m.
Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn at CUT in the Palazzo for Jason's 38th birthday.
Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn at CUT in the Palazzo for Jason's 38th birthday.
Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn share a kiss at CUT in the Palazzo for Jason's 38th birthday.
Star surveillance
Former New York Giants defensive back Jason Sehorn celebrated his 38th birthday with actress wife Angie Harmon, who treated him to a Las Vegas vacation. They had dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s CUT in the Palazzo, where he was presented with a birthday cake created by executive pastry chef Melissa Zahnter. … Venetian headliner Wayne Brady held court at a VIP table with friends at XS in the Encore. … Actor Laurence Fishburne dined with a friend at Yellowtail in Bellagio enjoying a vast selection of executive chef Akira Back’s sushi, sashimi and rolls. … Health and fitness expert Suzanne Somers and her husband Alan Hamel ordered the della casa salad and asparagus risotto at Rao’s in Caesars Palace, while across the restaurant, actor Gary Oldman and five friends enjoyed the fritto misto, seafood salad, shrimp cocktail, baked clams, meatballs, lemon chicken and gnocchi Bolognese. … Actor comedian Kenan Thompson of Saturday Night Live watched the new, ultra-hot Peepshow at Planet Hollywood. … British billionaire Sir Richard Branson flew in on his Virgin Atlantic airline for a friend’s wedding at Lake Las Vegas.
Tonight’s tips
One of the poker world’s sexiest stars, Lacey Jones, celebrates her 30th birthday at Lavo. … Rap rules the roost at Rok Vegas when Xzibit hosts and performs. … Award-winning entertainers Earl Turner and Lani Misalucha start their new run with their show Vices at the Shimmer Theater in the Hilton. … Playboy playmate Jesse Preston hosts a lingerie party at The Rio’s Voodoo Lounge. … And Revolution lounge at The Mirage has a $3,000 Stash Clothing giveaway.
Terry Fator at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Tomorrow’s teases
An extraordinary story of how the restaurants at the Palms collect their leftover cooking oils to propel one of our tourist and commuter buses throughout town to help save the environment. … It’s the 19th Annual Epicurean Festival at the Flamingo, and we’ve got the entire rundown of chefs and restaurants serving up the delicacies. … Plus a party roundup of the stars on the Strip includes Kevin James, Terry Fator and even rehabbed reality star Mary Carey!
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
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