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Luxe Life Blog • Archive for February 2010
Jimmie Johnson wins Shelby American NASCAR race in Las Vegas
El Cajon, Calif., hometown hero Jimmie Johnson won his fourth Shelby American NASCAR Sprint Cup series race in Las Vegas in six years at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this afternoon. After 267 laps, it was Jimmie who crossed the finish line first, passing rival Jeff Gordon, who led most of the race. Along with the victory, we have to believe that Jimmie being congratulated by reality TV star Kim Kardashian also was a highlight. Check out the full NASCAR race ... Read more...
Photos: Mariah Carey performs at The Colosseum, joins Ciara at Haze
Superstar singer Mariah Carey performed the final show of her The Angels Advocate Tour at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace last night. After the concert, Mariah went to Haze in MGM CityCenter’s Aria to join her singer friend Ciara, who performed several of her hits for the partygoers in the new nightclub. Contributing photographer Erik Kabik shot Mariah’s concert for Vegas DeLuxe and then booked it over to Aria for the party. Robin Leach has been a journalist for more ... Read more...
Photos: NASCAR Day 2 includes Sam’s Town 300 and meet-and-greets
The NASCAR Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was yesterday’s main attraction of NASCAR weekend in Las Vegas. Contributing photographer Erik Kabik was onsite before the race and photographed driver Danica Patrick, Luxor headliner Carrot Top and Danica’s interview with Jerry Punch of ESPN. Carrot Top served as crew manager for driver Mike Wallace, and Erik also photographed the Carroll Shelby GT pace car and Mike Bliss’s #36 Kim Kardashian Sephora perfume car. The Sam’s ... Read more...
NASCAR reporter’s notebook includes rundown of Big Race Sunday
It’s absolutely split-second timing for tomorrow’s Big Race countdown. At 9.30 a.m., the gates open for fans. At 11 a.m. as Fox goes live on air, our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman is introduced and watches the U.S. Air Force Enlistment Ceremony. Imperial Palace headliners Human Nature will perform at 11:07 a.m., and the Red Bull Air Force Skydivers will land between Turns 1 and 4. At 11:28 a.m., racecar legend Carroll Shelby and reality TV star Kim Kardashian ... Read more...
Six $1 million donors announced as Smith Center tops off
The topping-off ceremony at Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday brought it one step closer to readying the curtain in Symphony Park. The final piece of Reynolds Hall, a staggering 50 tons of steel, was raised to complete the Carillon Bell Tower, taking it to its highest point of 170 feet. As a symbol of good luck, the steel structure went upward with a pine tree that will eventually have a permanent home in the gardens there. “The ... Read more...
Photos: Day 1 of NASCAR at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
It was the first time that Danica Patrick was on the Las Vegas track in advance of today’s Sam’s Town 300 race. Kurt Busch made it absolutely clear that he wants to take brother Kyle’s win from last year. Both brothers who are our hometown heroes will once again duke it out at speeds approaching 200 mph tomorrow. Kurt won the pole position late yesterday just edging out Jeff Gordon, who drove at 188.646 mph. Kurt made a lap at ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Chef Charlie Trotter weds in the Maldives
Big congratulations to Palazzo star chef Charlie Trotter, who married his longtime love public relations executive Rochelle Smith today at the luxurious One & Only resort in the Maldives. They were kind enough to send me this iPhone photo from the middle of the Indian Ocean. Amazing that the iPhone works there but not at CityCenter! *After last night’s grand opening premiere of Frank Marino’s Divas Las Vegas at Imperial Palace, hometown entertainer Frank Marino received his second star on ... Read more...
Celebrities play major role in Keep Memory Alive fundraiser
It’s an all-star turnout with a $15 million goal for the huge gala Keep Memory Alive tomorrow night at the Bellagio. Top chefs Thomas Keller and Wolfgang Puck will be serving up a four-course gourmet meal for 1,000 guests who will all be served Dom Perignon and extraordinary vintage wines. New Paris headliner Barry Manilow will perform for the star-studded crowd that will include hometown heroes Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, Peepshow beauty Holly Madison, TV hostess Leeza Gibbons, beloved ... Read more...
Partying with Kim Kardashian, LiLo, JWoww, Kelis and Ciara
Even with all the excitement of NASCAR weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, there still remain several celebrity party events in town, and multiple beauties will battle one another for bragging rights to the best weekend nightclub party. That doesn’t even include superstar singer Mariah Carey, who brings her Angels Advocate Tour to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, or the Fly Girls premiering their new reality TV series. The showdowns begin tonight when R&B singer-songwriter Kelis performs at the new ... Read more...
Photos: Danica Patrick takes to the wheel in NASCAR race
All eyes will be on racecar driver Danica Patrick in tomorrow’s Sam’s Town race out at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It’s the last chance for several months that NASCAR fans will be seeing her because she’s returning to her goal of winning the Indianapolis 500. Her debut with NASCAR at the Daytona International Speedway wound up in a wreck, but last weekend, she jumped up four slots just three laps behind Las Vegas winner Kyle Busch at Auto Club Speedway ... Read more...
Holly Madison works on Peepshow and Holly’s World
Platinum blonde beauty Holly Madison had time for one final free evening of playtime last night before she tackles an incredibly busy weekend and new work schedule. Today and over the weekend, Holly will wrap two weeks of intense rehearsals for the entire Peepshow cast as they reopen the saucy and sexy burlesque revue at Planet Hollywood on Monday night. Now that former Spice Girl Mel B and pop singer Aubrey O’Day have left, Holly returns as the solo star ... Read more...
Photos: Jason Alexander’s Donny Clay is laughs from start to finish
Writing about Jason Alexander’s new show The Donny Clay Experience at Planet Hollywood’s Peepshow theater is as difficult as the Seinfeld star has in “selling it.” All I can tell you is that it’s a laugh-a-minute riot — and that you get to see him naked! (Well, at least in a flesh-colored body suit that accentuates the positives and the negatives!) Here are the problems I have at the keyboard: *What do I call it? It’s billed as a one-man ... Read more...
Exclusive: It’s over! Magician Dirk Arthur ends six-year Tropicana run
Illusionist Dirk Arthur this afternoon confirmed rumors that Vegas DeLuxe had reported two weeks ago that after a successful six-year run on the Strip, he is bringing his current engagement at the Tropicana to a close. Dirk and his Xtreme Magic show will celebrate the final show on March 12. He told us this afternoon: “I couldn’t have imagined six years later we would be leaving the Tropicana. It has been a tremendous run and a very lucrative engagement for ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Keep Memory Alive a celebrity-laden affair
Star chefs Thomas Keller, Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse, tennis champions Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, legendary CBS golf guru Peter Kostis and hair care king Paul Mitchell are among the notables participating in Saturday’s Keep Memory Alive gala and auction at the Bellagio. The event also includes a private luncheon consultation with architect Frank Gehry and the introduction of the Mercedes SLS gull-winged speed machine, the rarest car in the U.S. Only 200 will be manufactured, with three consigned ... Read more...
Photos: NASCAR weekend starts on the Strip tonight
It was 13 years ago that Richie Clyne had a “Dream in the Desert” and it came true, and this weekend marks the 13th year for NASCAR in Las Vegas. The four-day frenzy gets underway tonight on the Strip when some 70 18-wheel haulers parade from just past Mandalay Bay and head north to end at the Sahara. Once upon a time, it was legendary racers such as Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader, Ernie Irvan, Jimmy Spencer, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, ... Read more...
Criss Angel’s new $100,000 bike is made from human skeleton
A new $100,000 motorcycle made from human skeleton will be delivered to Mindfreak magician Criss Angel this weekend at his Cirque du Soleil show Believe at the Luxor. The folks at Big Bear Choppers made the custom super bike from bones dipped in stainless steel for the frame. A Georgia foundry cast the purchased bones that had been discarded after medical purposes. Kevin and Mona Alsop from Big Bear Lake in California manufactured the machine and were featured on last ... Read more...
Photos: NASCAR comes to town for four fast and furious days
Our annual NASCAR love affair gets underway today as we start four days of high-speed activities. Racecar driver appearances are scheduled throughout town, and the haulers parade is on the Strip at 6 tonight. It culminates Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with The Big Race after The Mirage headliner Terry Fator has sung the national anthem. Human Nature, the Smokey Robinson-discovered Australian group who perform all the Motown hits in their show at Imperial Palace, will entertain during the ... Read more...
Photos: Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis at Aria
Incredibly, there are 120 costume changes for the Viva Elvis cast in just the first 20 minutes of the new Cirque du Soleil show at MGM CityCenter’s Aria. Even more extraordinary is that the shortest time between one of the changes is 44 seconds! In all, the cast has 385 looks in the show using 4,000 pieces in 93 minutes. Little wonder the wardrobe people say that the cast is as choreographed backstage as they are onstage. They change wherever ... Read more...
Counter Intelligence Photos: Chefs Steve Martorano and Kuldeep Singh
Hot off the grill! When you’re still going strong after three years, it’s time to celebrate in style, and that’s exactly what celebrity owner chef Steve Martorano is doing now through March 5 at his Zagat Guide top-rated Cafe Martorano in The Rio. In honor of the third anniversary, Martorano’s is offering a three-course Tastes of South Philly for $33. “I can hardly believe that my namesake restaurant has been open at The Rio for three years, giving our loyal ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: A plate chef Barry Dakake won’t likely ever throw away
Proud executive chef Barry Dakake of N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms posed with his newest souvenir being added to his extraordinary collection of memorabilia from celebrity customers. President Obama signed the special N9NE insignia plate at the fundraising dinner held in George Maloof’s home in Spanish Trail that Barry catered. Barry also provided menu items for former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore on Monday. “This plate signed by President Obama becomes my most treasured yet,” Barry ... Read more...
The night Garth Brooks’ audience wouldn’t leave the theater
Sometimes you get gossip as immediate breaking news, sometimes you get it late night for early morning use, and sometimes you get it early enough to spend the day checking it out. Once in a rare while do you get a gem, a prized nugget, as it were, that hasn’t slipped out in nearly two weeks. That’s the timeline behind this tasty tidbit too delicious to toss even if it’s from 12 days ago. This is how I received it ... Read more...
Photos: Playboy comics off to a roaring start in the Palms Lounge
Now that major headline-name comedians have learned that Playboy Comedy has its own dedicated cabaret lounge at the Palms, they are lining up to play here, and producers and hosts Cort McCown and Paul Hughes have already booked it out with big comedy names through summer. Playboy Comedy has taken over Matt Goss’s former The Gossy Lounge, and even though it only began its run this past weekend with headliner Nick Di Paolo, it was instantly hailed a success, guaranteeing ... Read more...
Photos: It’s an all-star turnout for PokerStars.net at The Venetian
Celebrities are generous when it comes time to combine a little playtime with charity fundraising, and they turned out in full force to play the PokerStars.net tournament in The Venetian’s Poker Room to raise funds and awareness for our Three Square food bank. When the final play ended and the poker royalty and the stars had all been KO’d, T-Pain entertained the winner and also-rans with a performance at Tao in The Venetian. Card-carrying celebrities Tony Hawk, Christian Slater, Brad ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Bon Jovi offers fans online preview performances
Bon Jovi will be on the road for The Circle Tour for much of the next two years, and the band gave fans a taste of what to expect — they’re here at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 6 — with a free, live Web cast of the first three songs of their North American tour launch from Seattle’s Key Arena. Log on to UStream.TV/BonJovi for a preview of what to expect at appearances in 135 shows in ... Read more...
Former Las Vegas star debuts in Phantom sequel in London
In theater circles, they speak in hushed tones about “The Curse of The Phantom.” Despite The Phantom of the Opera being the world’s most successful musical seen by more than 100 million worldwide, it has been wrought with problems ever since its debut in September 1986. Now the highly anticipated $15 million-plus London sequel Love Never Dies is battling a plague of Phantom problems, as well. Former Las Vegas Phantom star soprano Sierra Boggess was supposed to open the new ... Read more...
Priscilla Presley admits nerves and tears over Viva Elvis
Priscilla Presley has candidly admitted that she’s had fears and nerves about opening Viva Elvis with Cirque du Soleil in a down economy. She’s also confessed to shedding tears over the intimate home videos she shared with the production to show to audiences. I talked with Priscilla about her nearly four-year involvement with the spectacular that made the journey from its creative inception to the world premiere at the Elvis Presley Theater in MGM CityCenter’s Aria last Friday night. She ... Read more...
Anti-scalping effort for Garth Brooks concerts results in six arrests
The crackdown by country superstar Garth Brooks and hotel tycoon Steve Wynn against ticket scalpers has intensified, and now six suspects have been arrested by our Metro Police Department and will be prosecuted for two felonies and violating Clark County ordinances for ticket scalping. Garth and Steve have implemented additional policies and procedures to ensure that his $125 seats are not resold for more than face value. As tickets are released this Saturday for the next series of his shows ... Read more...
Photos: Clinton and Gore together again (sort of) in Las Vegas
Their travel itineraries nearly coincided, and it looked as if the political team of President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore were back together again. They came close, appearing in Las Vegas on the same day, less than four days after President Obama had appeared here, too. That has to be one for the Las Vegas record books! For late-night comics Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel and David Letterman, it could have been a field day, with punch lines echoing ... Read more...
Guy Laliberte plans more Cirque; Viva Elvis director steps down
Two major surprises set entertainment insiders abuzz at the opening gala of Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis at MGM CityCenter’s Aria on Friday night: Cirque founder Guy Laliberte told me to expect an announcement shortly about the next project for Las Vegas and that he’s willing to bring one more to town after that. Viva Elvis writer and director Vincent Paterson told theater critic Mike Weatherford that he was retiring after opening night after admitting to me just six hours ... Read more...
Paris Hilton: ‘I can’t wait for our future together. It will be amazing’
As we reported yesterday here at Vegas DeLuxe, Paris Hilton’s marriage plans for later this year firmed up a little more over the weekend when boyfriend Doug Reinhardt told me “the engagement will still come as a surprise in the very near future.” That prompted an ecstatic Paris to coo: “We’re so excited about this. I can’t wait for our future together. It will be amazing.” On their last visit to Las Vegas, Paris said she wasn’t ruling out a ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Haylie Duff celebrates her 25th birthday at Vanity
Singer-actress Haylie Duff celebrated her 25th birthday with friends at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel over the weekend. The starlet, who is the older sister of singer-actress Hilary Duff, jumped in the DJ booth with Clinton Sparks and took a spin on the turntables. Haylie sipped on vodka and Patron drinks and didn’t call it quits until 3 a.m. Hard Rock photographer Cody Boor snapped these photos of the birthday beauty. UFC fighter and new dad to twins Tito ... Read more...
Photos: Eva Longoria Parker says award is ‘heady accomplishment’
Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria Parker was far more excited about being presented with a prestigious award for her outstanding entrepreneurial success than talking about the fact that her hit ABC series has been renewed for three more years. “This is a big deal. It’s a heady accomplishment. It was time,” she told me at the party in her Beso restaurant and Eve the Nightclub on Saturday night. She was celebrating Eva Longoria Parker Day, as well, with her proud ... Read more...
Major changes are underway at Criss Angel’s Believe
It appears that significant and major changes are underway at Criss Angel’s Cirque du Soleil show Believe at the Luxor, as we have previously reported. Late Saturday, I tweeted the news that the dancers were told at show time that as of this week, they would be appearing in only the revenge sequence “Homage” dedicated to all the rabbits that have perished in magic tricks through the years. The dancers also were told that in mid-April, some seven major new ... Read more...
Bill Clinton discusses Our Common Humanity at Colosseum tonight
It’s highly doubtful that there’ll be any flamboyant flash and fishnet costumes the likes of which Cher could only wear. Don’t expect Bette Midler’s Caesars Salad dancers to pick up a night’s work and strut their stuff now that the show has ended. And it’s way too early to expect Celine Dion’s upcoming 31-member orchestra to come in for a one-night gig to play her hits. This will be a plain stage with a podium and microphone. After all, this ... Read more...
Photos: An American Saturday night with Brad Paisley at Mandalay Bay
By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor Based on his American Saturday Night Tour stop at Mandalay Bay Events Center on — when else? — Saturday night, singer-songwriter Brad Douglas Paisley is one of the funniest and most likable, intelligent and creative artists in country music today. He’s also one of country’s most award-winning in the past decade, having multiple Grammy, American Music, Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association awards under his belt. All this, and he can write ... Read more...
YouTube Videos: Viva Elvis blue carpet arrivals @Aria
By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor Videographer and loyal Vegas DeLuxe reader Richard Corey was on the blue carpet for the world premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis at Aria in CityCenter on Friday night, and here are his videos posted on YouTube to add to our Viva Elvis coverage posted yesterday — yes, the blue carpet photo gallery has 133 photos(!) — that includes links to a review and a column by esteemed colleagues Joe Brown and John ... Read more...
Exclusive Photos: Is marriage in near future for Paris & Doug?
For the first time, Paris Hilton has admitted that she and boyfriend Doug Reinhardt have discussed marriage, and he says the engagement ring will come soon! Celebrating her 29th birthday and their own relationship of a year, the couple partied until early this morning at Tao in The Venetian. Hundreds of fans had earlier swarmed the stairs and escalators leading from the casino up to Tao. In the years I’ve been visiting The Venetian since it opened, I have never ... Read more...
Photo Galleries & Video: Elvis Presley is in the Viva Elvis building
By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor Posted Feb. 20, 2010, at 4:55 a.m.; updated Feb. 20, 2010, at 4 p.m. Mr. Vegas DeLuxe Robin Leach and videographer Trent Ogle were on the 90-foot blue carpet (in a nod to the Elvis Presley hit “Blue Suede Shoes”) for the world premiere of Viva Elvis, Cirque du Soleil’s seventh spectacular on the Strip, last night at MGM CityCenter’s Aria. Check back to Vegas DeLuxe for coverage of the blue carpet, opening night ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Ozzy Osbourne, Nelly, MMA stars, Sharon Stone and more
It’s been an especially busy past few days for our contributing photographers here in Las Vegas. Scott Harrison and videographer Richard Corey were at Borders in Town Square yesterday for rocker Ozzy Osborne’s book signing for I Am Ozzy. Ozzy also made a stop at his favorite lunch spot, Society Cafe in the Encore, while in town and is expected at tonight’s Viva Elvis world premiere at MGM CityCenter’s Aria. *Rap superstar Nelly played host at Tao’s Worship Thursdays in ... Read more...
Weekend highlights include Paris, Perez, Viva Elvis, Brad Paisley
Here’s the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN: Hilton hot mouth Perez starts a Twitter frenzy at the Palazzo, while Hilton beauty Paris celebrates her birthday next door at The Venetian. Technically, Perez Hilton isn’t a Hilton despite the fact that he’s known worldwide for the name. The Hollywood celebrity blogger is really Mario Lavandiari, and he’s helped power Twitter among celebrities. His Twitter activity grabbed global headlines when he got into a public spat with Believe star Criss Angel, who objected to ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: Obama arrives in Las Vegas, speaks at Aria this morning
Our colleague Las Vegas Sun political guru Jon Ralston sent an email this morning with the following headline: “Ralston Flash — Maloof: Obama ‘truly loves the city.’ ” Jon’s column reports that those words come from Palms mogul George Maloof shortly after he hosted a Democratic National Committee fundraiser with President Obama as the guest of honor. George said Obama stayed for about two hours and gave one-on-one attention to the 40 guests who came to his house and paid ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: MAGIC highlights include Tommy Lee, $37,000 handbag
The King Baby store opened in the Wynn last night as part of MAGIC’s week of fashion festivities. Owner Mitchell Binder brought in his good pal Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee for the opening of his first standalone, and now flagship, retail store. Comic Andrew Dice Clay also turned up with his new bride Valerie Vasquez, and photographer Denise Truscello captured all the action. Tommy took over house night at Blush in the Wynn to host the King Baby grand ... Read more...
Las Vegas is well represented in 2010 James Beard nominations
The just-announced 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards’ list of restaurant and chef awards semifinalists includes many star chefs who have made a mark in Las Vegas’ world-class fine dining scene and includes major local recognition for Shawn McClain’s Sage at Aria and Restaurant Charlie in the Palazzo. In the Outstanding Restaurateur category, the nominees include Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Chicago. Richard owns the Eiffel Tower restaurant at the Paris. For Outstanding Chef, there’s Tom Colicchio, Craft, NYC, who ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: The Joint is named Best New Major Concert Venue
Pollstar Magazine named The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel as the Best New Major Concert Venue at the Pollstar Awards in the Nokia Theater L.A. Live in L.A. last night. The $60 million Joint opened in April and featured The Killers and Paul McCartney its opening weekend. “We are so pleased to see that all of the thought and effort we put into the design of the venue has come to fruition,” Hard Rock Hotel Vice President of Entertainment ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Viva Elvis world premiere rocks Aria tomorrow
Tomorrow night’s world premiere of Viva Elvis, Cirque du Soleil’s newest Strip production, will be the year’s most glittering and glamorous showbiz spectacle. A massive marketing machine rolls into high gear today to ensure global coverage of the extraordinary event. Vegas DeLuxe is proud and privileged to post the newest Viva Elvis photos in this morning’s photo gallery to add to our previous coverage and photos. Our December four-part Viva Elvis series included interviews with Priscilla Presley and Cirque founder ... Read more...
Christian Audigier preps first L.V. store, vows ‘no name, no logo’
He’s one of the most revered fashion designers in town for the MAGIC convention, and his designs have been stamped on everything from shirts to jackets to jeans to boots. Now he’s going to make the ultimate fashion statement here this week with the revelation that he’s here to launch a no name, no logo and no brand line. One of the flashiest men on the planet is going flash free! No photos of the line selling from $32 to ... Read more...
Tiger Woods returns to the spotlight on Friday
From my Twitter account beginning about noon today: Huge breaking news! Tiger Woods breaks his silence with Friday 11 a.m. news conference at PGA headquarters in Florida. More later. His agent says he will apologize for his behavior and discuss his past activities and plans for his future. Tiger’s plan is to speak to a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates without answering any reporters’ questions. However, a press pool will attend. His agent says: “Tiger feels as ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: New Hollywood couple Audrina Patridge & Ryan Cabrera
New love mates Audrina Patridge and Ryan Cabrera have become Hollywood’s newest kissing duo, and on their first visit to Las Vegas yesterday as a new-two-you couple, they didn’t care who knew about it! They’ve been spotted on three serious dates in L.A., but this was their first runaway to Sin City. First stop for The Hills reality TV star and the pop singer was lunch at Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. The flirty fashionistas ... Read more...
Super Bowl Photo Galleries: Miss America, The Who, Reggie Bush, more
It’s just a little more than two weeks ago that Caressa Cameron was crowned 2010 Miss America at Planet Hollywood here — it’s difficult to believe it was such a short time ago! For Las Vegas photographer Tom Donoghue, it’s been just as busy a whirlwind as Miss America’s schedule, as they both flew to Miami for Super Bowl XLIV and the annual chefs charity fundraiser Taste of the NFL. Last night, Fredericksburg, Va., native Caressa was on Fox TV ... Read more...
Celine Dion’s docu-movie opening today is a global, eight-day wonder
International superstar Celine Dion is the first to admit that she doesn’t lead a normal life, but she wanted to let her fans have a glimpse of her off-stage hours to show them that her family and she try to be as normal as possible. Originally, the video footage shot on her most recent Taking Chances world tour was just for their private collection. But Celine agreed to let husband and manager Rene Angelil release it as a docu-movie, Celine: ... Read more...
Tommy Lee adds to the star power of MAGIC Fashion Week
Tattooed Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee will add to the star power of MAGIC Fashion Week here in Las Vegas when he helps open the King Baby flagship store at Steve Wynn’s hotel tonight. The cocktail reception starts in store at 8 p.m., followed by an after-party at Blush in the Wynn, where Tommy has promised to drum and deejay alongside DJ Alero with a “mix of dirty electro house music” from 10 p.m. onward. Tommy’s just completed a Canadian ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Black Satin’s Booty Parlor shakes things up at the Wynn
There’s no disguising it. There, right in the open, it lies ready to spring into action. Gleaming and glistening in hot pink flesh colors, just an on switch away from the throbbing, pulsating joys it promises. It comes with 12 hot-pink authentic Swarovski crystals to give the handle added sparkle. The pink feathery accessory easily clips off to be used in tickle tandem with the experience. I’m looking at the $300 Minx lying, waiting in a gorgeous gift box and ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: MAGIC draws celebs, fashionistas, 70,000 to town
Forget the models of Milan or the catwalks of Paris! This week right here in Las Vegas, it’s MAGIC, one of the biggest annual global events for fashionistas. Some 70,000 people, including designers, manufacturers and celebrities with their own lines, have invaded the Strip as the extraordinary event celebrates its 77th year today. It’s all about cutting-edge designers and trend-setting styles for the fall. As one of the three largest annual Las Vegas conventions, MAGIC has been growing every year. ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Samoa wins first USA Sevens Rugby tournament in L.V.
Sixteen rugby teams battled it out in 44 matches in the inaugural USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament in Las Vegas. For years, the global event has been drawing worldwide fans to San Diego, and our Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority finally wrested it away to our turf for the next several years. The games between the rugged players were held at Sam Boyd Stadium, and contributing photographer Glenn Pinkerton of the Las Vegas News Bureau was in the scrum ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles Exclusives: More Strip show movements are afoot
From our department of Wicked Whispers & Racy Rumors: All of the following is true and on the heels of our Las Vegas Pussycat Dolls exclusive yesterday morning. Most of the names have been omitted to protect those involved — and at the same time to provide you with the best guessing game in town! 1) Is a game of magician’s musical chairs in the offing? I’m reliably told that one illusionist has been asked to walk from his Strip ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: Partying w/Amanda Beard, Housewives, Jamie Jungers
Vegas DeLuxe’s weekend wrap-up of the Las Vegas party scene has included Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush, Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and others the past few days. This morning, we add Olympic gold medalist Amanda Beard, The Real Housewives of Orange County and the infamous Jamie Jungers to our, ahem, (lack of clothing) coverage. Amanda Beard @Lagasse’s Stadium Olympic gold medalist swimmer and model Amanda Beard hosted a Winter Olympics opening ceremony viewing party at ... Read more...
$1.5 million Heads-Up showdown on NBC pits 64 top poker pros
Poker’s most prestigious heads-up tournament will return to Las Vegas in a massive TV production for the sixth annual championship on March 4 for three days of play to be broadcast over six April and May shows on NBC. Heads-Up will feature 64 of the best poker players in the world at the Caesars Palace Poker Tournament Room competing in its distinctive, bracket-style, head-to-head format for $1.5 million in combined prize money. Already scheduled to appear in this year’s event ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Neal Boyd brings down the Las Vegas Hilton house
You normally don’t think of opera as being a big draw with Las Vegas audiences who tend to prefer country or rock, but, surprisingly, when America’s Got Talent has its power behind a fairly unknown singer, the outpouring and crowd support becomes just as phenomenal as Garth Brooks and Mick Jagger. And that was the case when Neal E. Boyd, the winner of NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2008, showcased a night of opera, songs, comedy and impressions at the ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: What’s next for Hef after divorce and Shannon twins?
People are still trying to figure out what plans Hugh Hefner has now that he’s kicked twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon out of The Playboy Mansion and agreed to divorce longtime wife Kimberly Conrad. The twins were part of a three-pack residency with Crystal Harris, and Hef introduced them when he visited The Playboy Club at the Palms last year. He told me then that Crystal was his main girlfriend. Now those in the know are asking if the divorce ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: The Strip celebrates the Year of the Tiger
Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of the Tiger at our hotel casino properties kicked off all weekend long. Our first set of photos was captured by contributing photographer Glenn Pinkerton from the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority and IS Photography/ImagesofVegas.com, and we’ll add photos as this week’s celebrations continue. At the neighboring Venetian and Palazzo resorts, an authentic decorated dragon led the traditional Lion Dance through the casinos as guests and players watched in amazement. The lion, ... Read more...
Exclusive Photo Gallery: Andrew Dice Clay weds Valerie Vasquez in L.V.
There was no sign of his trademark leather motorcycle jacket when shock comic Andrew Dice Clay exchanged vows with makeup artist Valerie Vasquez last night. He wore a smart tuxedo with red bowtie, and she wore a stunning white floor-length gown with peek-out tiger stripes when they became Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Silverstein. In fact, there were no four-letter-word tirades from the foul-mouthed comedian — only loud, emphatic “I do’s” — and a plea to the rabbi to hurry up ... Read more...
Exclusive & Photo Gallery: Pussycat Dolls are leaving Pure for Paris
The multi-year run of the long-legged, fishnet- and bustier-clad and booty-shaking beauties affectionately known as the Las Vegas Pussycat Dolls will come to an end at hotspot Pure in Caesars Palace at the end of this month. It’s stunning and surprising nightclub news for Las Vegas. The glamour girls who have entertained everybody from Paris Hilton to Kim Kardashian in their sexy, seductive lineup are calling it quits in their lounge at Caesars Palace. However, the Pussycat Dolls brand will ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: Sugar Factory opens with The Situation, Kendra and Mel B
With a double reunion of Peepshow stars Mel B and Holly Madison and The Girls Next Door stars Holly and Kendra Wilkinson, with hubby Hank Baskett, plus an appearance by Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, star of Jersey Shore, the grand opening of the second Las Vegas Sugar Factory, this one in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile, caused a fan frenzy. It’s an amazing, overnight rock superstar phenomenon for The Situation because some fans waited seven hours at what became the most ... Read more...
Hitched! Andrew Dice Clay weds in Las Vegas on Valentine’s Day
Foul-mouthed comedian Andrew Dice Clay hid his four-letter-word frenzy he normally dishes in favor of a simple “I do” at a surprise and secret Valentine’s Day wedding here in Las Vegas. This evening, the controversial comic, who is still banned on MTV, married his makeup artist girlfriend Valerie Vasquez on the first anniversary of their first date. We’ll have exclusive wedding photos here at Vegas DeLuxe and on my Twitter account a little later. It was a simple candlelit evening ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt play hosts at Pure
The Hills stars and husband and wife Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag hosted the pre-Valentine’s Day festivities at Pure in Caesars Palace last night, and our contributing photographers Erik Kabik and Scott Harrison, Chris Weeks of WireImage and videographer Richard Corey were all on red carpet duty. Erik told Vegas DeLuxe: “They shared kisses for the cameras, and Spencer announced to the media when they arrived, ‘We are here for you, so we will make sure you get what you ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Queen of Hearts Ball w/Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush
Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Kim Kardashian, escorted by her Super Bowl XLIV champion New Orleans Saints running back boyfriend Reggie Bush, hosted the Queen of Hearts Ball at Lavo in the Palazzo last night, and the sexy soiree was still going strong early this morning. Our spywitness reports: Kim and Reggie arrived on the red carpet looking as stunning as ever. The lovebirds were color coordinated, with Kim in a beautiful white Yves Saint Laurent dress and gray ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett host at Eve
After a romantic rendezvous at star chef Martin Heirling’s Silk Road in Vdara, reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson and her husband Hank Baskett of the Indianapolis Colts hosted a pre-Valentine’s Day party at Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve The Nightclub above her Beso steakhouse in Crystals last night and into this early morning. Contributing photographer Isaac Brekken was at Eve to capture the lovebirds. Our spywitness reported: Kendra looked great! She wore vintage couture shoes and a Roberto Cavalli dress. The ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Kendra and Hank’s romantic stop at Silk Road
New parents Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett celebrated the night before Valentine’s Day at star chef Martin Heirling’s Silk Road in Vdara before hosting a party last night at Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve The Nightclub in MGM CityCenter’s Crystals. Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik told Vegas DeLuxe: “I spotted Hank Baskett and The Girls Next Door star Kendra Wilkinson at the new restaurant Silk Road in Vdara before they went onto Eve The Nightclub in Crystals. The couple were happily ... Read more...
Reality TV stars’ rivalry continues Super Bowl XLIV battle
This weekend, love is in the air — and love is everywhere! Except for perhaps the rivalry between two reality TV stars continuing the battle of Super Bowl XLIV when the New Orleans Saints conquered the Indianapolis Colts. That’s because Kim Kardashian is dating Saints running back Reggie Bush, and Kendra Wilkinson is married to Colts wide receiver Hank Baskett. Who was it who said, “Love can become war?” Was it the same person who said, “All is fair in ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: S.I. wraps at Vanity and Tao, with Bar Refaeli, Maroon 5
Shortly after the noon hour today, the chartered Air Trans jet carrying its precious cargo of 18 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition supermodels lifted off from McCarran Airport for the return flight to New York. It marked the end of an extraordinary three days of festivities in Las Vegas as the provocative, pin-up, pictorial pages of the 2010 edition came to life right here when the magnificent models made a sexy splash all over town. Their visit culminated with two back-to-back ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Holly Madison returning to Las Vegas from Mexico
Peepshow blonde bombshell Holly Madison emailed me yesterday after she wrapped her 2011 calendar shoot at the El Dorado Royale resort on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. She told me everything went well and that the locations used were unique and spectacular. “The toughest part will be narrowing it down to just 12. We need 300 months in the year for all the great photos,” she joked. Holly says she will post photos of her south of the border sojourn ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Eleven Spa celebrates anniversary and kicks off Magic
The luxurious Eleven Spa and Ken Paves Salon in Town Square celebrated its first anniversary last night with a stylish event tied to next week’s Magic fashion events here in Las Vegas. Hollywood makeup artist and hairstylist to the stars Ken Paves prepped the models for the Diane von Furstenberg fashion show at the spa owned by Nicole Oden. Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik was there for our photo gallery, which features actress Bridgetta Tomarchio of Californication and designer and ... Read more...
Celine Dion ticket sales start an incredible buying frenzy
Tickets went on sale this morning 13 months in advance for Celine Dion’s new run of shows in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and the response was “extremely strong.” “We are very, very, very happy with the demand. It’s definitely exceeded expectations,” an AEG/Concerts West executive monitoring sales told me from the box office. “We are extremely pleased because ticket sales are extremely strong. Opening night basically sold out within the first few minutes. Celine and Rene (Angelil), through their ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Angelica Bridges sizzles in salute to Valentine’s Day
A simple question: Who better than sizzling sexy singer dancer Angelica Bridges of Fantasy at the Luxor to light up your life this Valentine’s Day weekend? She is all about the look of love in red! Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue shot this special love day tribute with the former Baywatch beauty. It’s easy to see why Angelica’s sexy Fantasy show is the perfect way to raise the temperature this weekend with its racy routines of hot and spicy passion ... Read more...
Part 2: Jason Alexander on the risks and rewards of Donny Clay
Actor Jason Alexander says of his one-man showcase The Donny Clay Experience, about the world’s fourth-best motivational speaker, “It’s me, the girls, the audience, anybody. All I can tell you is nudity will happen. One way or another, there is going to be nakedness on that stage.” Donny Clay’s second performance is tonight in the Peepshow Theater at Planet Hollywood and has a one-month run through March 14, although it could be extended. Here is Part 2 of our chat ... Read more...
After a few stops, Andrew Dice Clay settles in at the Hilton
He has one of the funniest mouths in comedy, and also one of the filthiest, with his four-letter-word-laced tirades against society’s stupidities. He’s one of the only comedians who dare say what others only think. Now the outrageous Andrew Dice Clay is set to call Las Vegas home with a long-run residency at the Las Vegas Hilton. Dice came here during the recession’s bleakest moments and hit box office success at the Steve Wyrick Theater in Planet Hollywood that closed. ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: S.I. swimsuit models at The Mirage, Paris
Just as we promised, here is our continuing coverage of the Las Vegas visit by the supermodels of the 2010 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Once again, our contributing photographer Scott Harrison and loyal Vegas DeLuxe reader and videographer Richard Corey were on duty for appearances at The Mirage and Paris. Irina Shayk, Anne V and Sonia Dara signed autographs and magazines and posed for photographs with fans in The Mirage’s lobby from noon to 2 p.m. today, while Dominique Piek, ... Read more...
Counter Intelligence: Rick Moonen’s top-notch Tuesdays and Top Chef
Celebrity chef Rick Moonen has launched a $65 gourmet tasting night at his RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay that might well be the best original deal in the Southwest. It’s certainly the best five-course food in town for the unbelievably reasonable price. Rick wanted to launch a fine dining concept in the upstairs private portion of his two-story eatery where he and genius executive chef Adam Sobel decided what they wanted to shop for at market, cook and prepare and ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Celebrities lining up for Viva Elvis premiere
Excitement is growing for the premiere of the newest Cirque du Soleil production Viva Elvis one week from tomorrow. The blue carpet world premiere on Feb. 19 will be led by Priscilla Presley, Cirque founder Guy Laliberte, Armand Thomas (director of creation, Viva Elvis), Vincent Paterson (writer and director, Viva Elvis) and choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo of Nappytabs featured on So You Think You Can Dance. Although rumors still circulate that Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie Presley will be attending ... Read more...
Jason Alexander as Donny Clay: ‘All I can tell you is nudity will happen’
Award-winning actor Jason Alexander, widely known as George Costanza in the hit comedy Seinfeld for nine years, knows that he’d never book convention gigs or sell out cabarets with a George Costanza standup routine. He also admits that he can’t do high-flying aerial acrobatics with little people or dance on water cannons a la Cirque du Soleil. But he will encourage nudity! So faced with a predicament of how to keep busy between TV assignments, Jason out of necessity created ... Read more...
Terry Fator to cut ribbon to open entrepreneur and tech expo
An entrepreneur is an individual who takes his or her own idea and sees it through to success after overcoming odds and naysayers along the route. If ever that definition applied meaningfully, it has to for Terry Fator’s 25-year battle to become an “overnight” success. Terry has told me in previous interviews that he never ever gave up believing that one day he’d hit superstardom, and the dream came true when he was the $1 million winner on America’s Got ... Read more...
Celine Dion’s first 54 shows a lighter schedule than previous run
Celine Dion’s fan club members have already started “briskly buying” pre-sale tickets of her initial 54 concerts set to start March 15 of next year, and Vegas DeLuxe has learned that it’s a much lighter schedule for the Canadian superstar than her previous run in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Celine will initially take every Monday and Thursday off, but after the debut run, Friday nights will be added as another free day in her schedule of four shows a ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: S.I. swimsuit models party at Jet
They were still partying, celebrating and dancing as Day 1 of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit supermodels’ visit to Las Vegas ticked over the midnight hour into Day 2. Our contributing photographer Scott Harrison and loyal Vegas DeLuxe reader and videographer Richard Corey were on red carpet duty at Jet in The Mirage for the lineup of bikini beauties. The models had a fun time taking turns on the mic in the DJ booth. Adam Levine and his band Maroon 5 ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Platinum Modeling Agency responds to report of hijinx
My story yesterday about certain model agency shenanigans set off a number of calls regarding two modeling agencies not following industry standards in sending models off to the Mideast on go-go dancing and escort gigs. To clarify the situation, which is well known to legitimate model agencies in Las Vegas, the hijinx apply to two so-called model agencies and not top ones in town such as Best, Platinum and AWG. Platinum President Laura Diane told me: “We are well aware ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: S.I. swimsuit models at Margaritaville
Our photo gallery coverage of the 2010 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition beauties’ three-day visit to Las Vegas continues. Sonia Dara, Cintia Dicker and Julie Ordon spent three hours today at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in the Flamingo signing copies of Sports Illustrated and autographs and posing for photos with fans. Once again, contributing photographer Scott Harrison was with the trio of temptresses. We’ll have photo coverage from another group of models’ visit to the Garden of the Gods pool at Caesars ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: George W. Bush tours Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Former President George W. Bush toured our downtown Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health yesterday afternoon and received a personal tour of the medical facilities and construction site of the soon-to-be completed Life Activity Center from Larry Ruvo, a longtime friend of the Bush family. He also greeted more than a dozen volunteers. “I am honored to have been invited here to witness the progress of this impressive project,” Bush said. “I tip my hat to the people ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Caesars Palace to Celine Dion: ‘Welcome Home, Celine’
To welcome superstar Celine Dion back to Caesars Palace, a new marquee announcement went up at the resort casino on the Strip this morning announcing her new three-year residency starting in March of next year. There’s no name yet for the show at The Colosseum, but tickets go on sale this Friday for the first set of performances starting March 15, 2011, and continuing through August 2011. Contributing photographer Erik Kabik shot these photos for our small gallery. Robin Leach ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Mayor welcomes S.I. swimsuit models to Las Vegas
The rain has stopped, the snow has ended, and the sun is shining on the 17 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition supermodels as they started their three-day Las Vegas visit this morning. Mayor Oscar Goodman — lucky guy — issued the official welcome to our city and the Strip, and our contributing photographer Scott Harrison — another lucky guy — was onsite for the greeting at The Mirage volcano. The girls are now dividing up into selected groups for visits to ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: Trishelle Cannatella wins Trash Talk and WSOP seat
Celebrity poker players joined the pros for the first Trash Talk Championship of the World at the Hard Rock Hotel fundraiser for Sharon Osbourne’s Colon Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The Real World Las Vegas star Trishelle Cannatella proved her title of “Resident Hot Girl” and won the first-place prize money, a 20-pound crystal trophy and an invitational seat at the upcoming World Series of Poker. Trishelle turned right around and donated a large portion of ... Read more...
Day 1: Sports Illustrated swimsuit models arrive in Las Vegas
It was at 2 a.m. early today when the charter Air Trans jet touched down safely in Las Vegas with its precious cargo of 17 international supermodels led by new Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition cover girl and bikini beauty Brooklyn Decker. Despite the late night/early morning arrival, the swimsuit sensations are up already preparing for the 10 a.m. official welcome by Mayor Oscar Goodman at the volcano of The Mirage where they are staying. The 2010 swimsuit models are cover ... Read more...
Celine Dion reveals details of Caesars Palace return to Oprah Winfrey
Superstar Celine Dion has made it official this morning that she’s coming back to Caesars Palace in a new $100 million deal for 70 music concerts a year for three years starting March 15, 2011. It confirms months of our Vegas DeLuxe stories about her return, including the most recent story posted last Friday. Tickets should go on sale this Friday for the first set of shows. Dates for the follow-up shows have not yet been released, and Celine and ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Cameras roll as Holly Madison shoots 2011 calendar
With Peepshow resuming its new look rehearsals on Monday, headline star Holly Madison had just this week to squeeze in the photo shoot of her 2011 calendar. The platinum blonde beauty texted me from Cozumel, Mexico, to report that it was the perfect location for the photography sessions. “It’s such a stunning and beautiful place,” Holly said. “It’s perfect for the photo shoots.” Holly also has reality TV show cameras trailing her there for part of the upcoming new E! ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Miss America meets the stars at Super Bowl XLIV
As we reported yesterday, 22-year-old Fredericksburg, Va., resident Caressa Cameron became the belle of The Bowl. Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue, who was with the new Miss America throughout her Super Bowl XLIV and Taste of the NFL duties in Miami, returned to Las Vegas late last night. Here’s his first quick edit upon his return of more than 5,000 photographs shot in Florida that has been added to our photo gallery posted yesterday, and we’ll post more of Tom’s photos ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Super Bowl XLIV MVP ceremony with Drew Brees
Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue attended the Super Bowl XLIV MVP ceremony yesterday in the NFL Media Center before flying back to Las Vegas. Now that he’s home again, Tom has started the massive editing of his weekend photo shoots with new Miss America Caressa Cameron at Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and the annual charity event Taste of the NFL. We’ll post those photos as we receive them, but, meantime, we wanted to share the excitement when New Orleans ... Read more...
Teen star Charice takes Italy by storm — and meets her match
Every time teen singing sensation Charice has performed in Las Vegas, the reaction has been sensational. Record producer David Foster, who has led entertainment for Andre Agassi’s foundation fundraisers and his own concert charity here, has always included Charice in the events and predicted that she’ll achieve stardom. Talk show hosts Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres have featured Charice on their programs, but as of yet, she has no major breakout hit or record release, although she has been recording ... Read more...
Brooklyn Decker leads Sports Illustrated charge to L.V.
As predicted by Vegas DeLuxe last week, supermodel Brooklyn Decker, who is married to tennis champion Andy Roddick, was announced last night by David Letterman as the new 2010 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition cover girl. Now the gorgeous models will party tonight at Provocateur nightclub in New York as the best-selling magazine goes on sale today and photos appears on SI.com/Swimsuit. Also featured among the pages of body-painted and bikini-clad beauties is a Chuck Liddell pictorial. Our UFC champion, who ... Read more...
Miss America’s hectic first week includes Super Bowl XLIV, stars
“My feet are still off the ground,” laughed new Miss America Caressa Cameron from Super Bowl XLIV activities in Miami when I spoke to her over the weekend. “It’s not a blur because I’m jotting down notes every spare moment for a diary, but it sure is flying by.” The 22-year-old beauty said she still couldn’t believe that it’s only been one week since she was in Las Vegas and crowned 2010 Miss America at Planet Hollywood. Caressa told me: ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Despite recent split, Zowie Bowie go on double date
When we first reported the news of their split, there was shock and surprise. Nobody guessed that Zowie Bowie singers Chris Phillips and Marley Taylor were ending their relationship after nine-plus years. At first, the stunning revelation was painful for them, but now not only have they patched up their differences, they’ve also managed to remain friends outside work. In fact, the friendship is so strong that they went out on a double date over the weekend before their show ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Vince Neil celebrates 49th birthday at Simon, Feelgood’s
Hometown rock superstar Vince Neil made it through seven nights of bone-chilling temperatures on his Canadian tour with Motley Crue and then hopped a jet from Montreal to return home to Las Vegas on Saturday night for his 49th birthday weekend celebration. “It was 31 degrees below when we played Regina, Saskatchewan,” Vince told me at celebrity chef Kerry Simon’s restaurant over the weekend. “The arena was still a total sell-out with standing room only. I don’t know how they ... Read more...
Paul McCartney to lead stars at Feb. 19 premiere of Viva Elvis
Plans are well underway for the star-studded VIP celebration for Viva Elvis’ premiere in 11 days — Friday, Feb. 19 — and I’m reliably told that Cirque du Soleil is expecting Paul McCartney and members of The Beatles Love family at The Mirage to attend. Cirque officials also are hoping for Ringo Starr with Barbara Bach, Yoko Ono with Sean Lennon and George Harrison’s widow Olivia. All of them are fans of Elvis’ music, and both John Lennon and George ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: 7 parties w/Holly, Randy, Tito, Naya, Jayde, Vanessa, Rachelle
It wasn’t just a party to end all parties on Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter last night after the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV victory over the Indianapolis Colts, as Las Vegas held its own with no less than seven smash celebrations on the Strip, and we have coverage of all of them. Vanessa Rousso @Tao Poker player Vanessa Rousso, who ranks among the Top 5 women in poker history in all-time winnings, celebrated her 27th birthday ... Read more...
Is Neil Diamond joining Cher and Celine Dion at Caesars Palace?
Superstar singer Celine Dion finally confirmed over the weekend what we have reported here for several weeks — months, really — that she’s returning to Caesars Palace. And now we also have news of another superstar likely joining The Colosseum lineup! Reliable sources also told me over the weekend that there are solid rumors growing that one of America’s most successful singer-songwriters — Neil Diamond! — is joining Cher and Celine to complete the Roman Empire’s resort-casino hat trick. The ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Holly Madison’s Holly Bowl Super Bowl party @Lavo
Who better than platinum pinup and reality TV star Holly Madison to be the biggest cheerleader in Las Vegas for today’s Super Bowl XLIV showdown between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts? Last night and into early this morning, Holly hosted The Big Game pre-festivities at Lavo in the Palazzo. Contributing photographer Scott Harrison and photographer Denise Truscello were on the scene when Holly arrived sporting a No. 18 Peyton Manning jersey, Colts hat and striped knee socks, ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Andre Agassi’s drum line students perform with Santana
Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana was greeted on Thursday by the student drum line during his visit to Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy here, and his tour was conducted by the tennis superstar and our hometown hero himself with wife tennis legend Steffi Graf accompanying them. Carlos was so moved by their rousing performance three days ago that last night, he invited them to star with him onstage at his resident headliner concert in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: 2010 Miss America Caressa Cameron at Super Bowl XLIV
One week ago, she was crowned 2010 Miss America at our Theater for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood. On her one-week anniversary of winning the title and crown, Caressa Cameron of Fredericksburg, Va., will celebrate with appearances at Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue, whose son Marine Sgt. Edward Donoghue is on a brief leave from serving in Iraq to escort Miss America, is alongside the 22-year-old as she meets and charms the likes of, ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Jayde Nicole all-in for birthday bash at Eve
Jayde Nicole’s birthday at Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve was still rocking early this morning above Eva’s Beso in Crystals at MGM’s CityCenter. The 2008 Playboy Playmate of the Year turned poker-playing princess brought a posse of pretty pals with her for the celebration. Jayde is already set to play in this year’s World Series of Poker at The Rio kicking off this spring and early summer. We’ll have that full story at Vegas DeLuxe on Monday. Jayde has appeared on ... Read more...
Two state beauty pageant titles in two years for Julianna Erdesz
Green-eyed 25-year-old beauty Julianna Erdesz was the 2009 Miss Nevada in last year’s Miss America Pageant, but she didn’t win the title. Now too old for another shot at Miss America, she decided to enter the Miss Nevada USA Pageant — and won. That now means this May, Julianna will represent the Silver State yet again, but this time around in Donald Trump’s Miss USA Pageant broadcast from Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts on May 16 on NBC. ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Happy Birthday to hometown rocker Vince Neil
Happy Birthday and best wishes to our hometown rocker and Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil. My good pal takes time off from the current Canadian tour long enough this weekend to be home here to celebrate his birthday. First up, a bash for fans and friends tomorrow night at his Dr. Feelgood’s Rock Bar & Grill. He’ll perform with his own Vince Neil Band at his party, which also will feature entertainment by Dinner Music for the Gods. The party ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Celine Dion talks w/Oprah about Caesars return, film
Just 48 hours ago, after recording a new version of USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” to benefit Haiti, Celine Dion flew from L.A. to Chicago for an intimate, hourlong sit-down with talk show titan Oprah Winfrey. And reportedly for the first time, Celine confirmed an exact date for her return to The Colosseum in Caesars Palace just as we have reported for many months. Husband and manager Rene Angelil had previously told Vegas DeLuxe that they would return ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Mayor models swimwear(!) at Wynn luncheon
It was an enthusiastic, yet sedate arrival for The Nanny star Fran Drescher on the red carpet, but our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman really made a splash with his entrance at the start of The Jewish Federation of Las Vegas’ charity fashion show wearing not much more than a pair of Vilebrequin swim trunks, a hoodie and a towel! For a 70-year-old chief executive, Oscar looks ready to take on President Obama in the latest furor involving the ... Read more...
Veteran MMA fighters laugh off over-the-hill label for UFC 109
Fans have waited more than a decade for what promises to be a clash of legendary veterans, and I’m not talking about the Super Bowl in Miami on Sunday. Las Vegas has its very own super battle with the UFC 109: Relentless showdown at Mandalay Bay tomorrow night. Don’t dare imply that veteran fighters and Hall of Fame stars Randy Couture and Mark Coleman are over the hill in their mid 40s to grapple. “The Natural” and “The Hammer,” respectively, ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Laura Croft celebrates birthday with BFF Holly Madison @Tao
Playboy Playmate Laura Croft, who will appear alongside best friend Holly Madison on E!’s upcoming new reality TV series Holly’s World, celebrated her birthday at Tao’s Worship party last night and early this morning in The Venetian. Laura, who turned 27 just a few days ago, arrived with Holly and an entourage of other friends for the red carpet, followed by dinner at Tao. They dined on favorites including lobster won tons, satay bass and sushi, along with celebration champagne. ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Carlos Santana visits Andre Agassi Prep Academy
Music legend and Hard Rock Hotel resident headliner Carlos Santana launched his partnership with the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education today by joining the tennis superstar and our hometown hero for a tour of the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy. Carlos is encouraging donations through text messaging during his performances of Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits at The Joint this month. From now until Feb. 21, concertgoers can donate to the foundation in increments of $5 via text ... Read more...
Cirque du Soleil’s Cirque du SoBald supports children’s cancer benefit
Cast members of the Cirque du Soleil shows on the Strip are joining with crew and staffers for an extraordinary charitable undertaking to benefit Las Vegas children battling cancer. They are renaming themselves Cirque du SoBald to raise $100,000 for the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases here in our valley. Cirque’s employees, family and friends for the past two years have been the top fundraising team for the annual St. Baldrick’s Day charity event, where volunteers raise funds ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Rumors of Celine Dion concert return still rumbling
Rumblings are intensifying that Caesars Palace executives and AEG concert producers are readying a Celine Dion announcement next week. I’m told but can’t confirm anywhere officially that next Wednesday, we’ll be given news that Ticketmaster will begin selling advance tickets for Celine’s return to The Colosseum on the Strip. I’m still told that the Web site accidentally flashed a March 25, 2011, start date for her new concert run. *The mechanical bull that had been victorious in battles waged by ... Read more...
Go-go dancer turned adult actress confesses to affair with Tiger Woods
A Las Vegas nightclub go-go dancer who became an adult film actress two years ago has finally confessed to a more than yearlong relationship with golfer Tiger Woods while he was married. She has now claimed for the first time that they were partying together as recently as one month before his Thanksgiving night car crash. Yesterday, 32-year-old porn princess Joslyn James appeared with newly hired lawyer Gloria Allred in L.A. seeking to stop a Canadian company from distributing her ... Read more...
L.V. producer of China concert caught up in Lady Gaga, BEP ruckus
A Las Vegas producer has found himself in the center of a pop star storm as he prepares for a global peace concert in China that he’s presenting in less than 75 days. Rick Garson, a colorful character on the local TV and concert circuit, got into the mess when he said at a Beijing press conference that he’d committed Lady Gaga and The Black Eyed Peas to headline there on Earth Day on April 17. A Chinese music Web ... Read more...
Las Vegas hotspots hit jackpot in Nightclub & Bar Awards
It was nearly a clean sweep for Las Vegas nightclubs, as they walked away the really big winners of the 2010 Nightclub & Bar Awards announced yesterday. Our Las Vegas palaces of pleasure grabbed seven of the Top 10 spots and 11 of the Top 15! Nightclub czar Victor Drai and his managing partners Jesse and Cy Waits won two awards for their XS in Steve Wynn’s Encore as New Club of the Year and Mega Club of the Year. ... Read more...
Sports Illustrated‘s swimsuit edition cover model for 2010 is …
Supermodel Brooklyn Decker, who is the wife of tennis superstar Andy Roddick, is set to arrive in Las Vegas next Wednesday, and she is being heavily tipped to be the cover girl of the new Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition being unveiled here next Tuesday. The following 2010 Sports Illustrated models will reportedly make the trek to Las Vegas next week: Brooklyn, Anne V., Bar Refaeli, Christine Teigen, Cintia Dicker, Damaris Lewis, Dominique Piek, Esti Ginsburg, Genevieve Morton, Hilary Rhoda, Irina ... Read more...
Are there more Miss America Pageants in Las Vegas’ future?
The 2010 Miss America Pageant ratings on TLC saw a strong increase of 1 million viewers for the live telecast from the Theater for Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood. The pageant, which crowned Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron as the new Miss America on Saturday, beat last year’s major network ratings for archrival Miss USA Pageant that arrives here for its May 16 telecast. As a result, Miss America Pageant bosses have exclusively confirmed to Vegas DeLuxe that they now want ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Which actress is wearing only body paint in S.I.?
The identity of this year’s cover girl bikini model on the eagerly awaited Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition will be kept top secret until next Tuesday’s unveiling, followed by three days of festivities here in Las Vegas kicking off next Wednesday. However, it won’t be a repeat of last year’s beauty Bar Refaeli. The Israeli supermodel is already on the cover of this year’s Sports Illustrated calendar, which went on sale this week. The ex-girlfriend of megastar Leonardo DiCaprio appears on ... Read more...
Carlos Santana resumes Joint residency, partners with Andre Agassi
Grammy Award-winning music legend Carlos Santana is becoming more and more involved with our Las Vegas community with his residency headliner appearances at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. The guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is teaming up with sports legend and philanthropist Andre Agassi. Carlos will tour Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy tomorrow morning after his performances of Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits resumes tonight at the Hard Rock. Andre will give Carlos ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Historical Chinese photo exhibit opens at Crystals
The photography exhibit that opened yesterday in CityCenter’s retail palace Crystals captures 30 years of diplomatic history between the United States and China. Photographer Denise Truscello was at the welcoming ceremony when MGM Mirage Chief Marketing Officer Bill Hornbuckle greeted Madame Li Xiaolin and students from Beijing and welcomed them to the MGM’s 70-acre metropolis that opened in December. The historical Chinese photo retrospective titled Looking Back After 30 Years is displayed chronologically in a four-part, 80-panel display, and it ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Heather Graham fulfills Cirque dream on her birthday
Actress Heather Graham, from the blockbuster comedy The Hangover filmed here in Las Vegas, overcame her fear of heights to fulfill a longtime dream to fly with the acrobats and aerialists of Cirque du Soleil. It was a surprise birthday gift from her boyfriend, film director Yaniv Raz, that only the artists of Cirque du Soleil could pull off. Yaniv first put together a secretly planned overnight trip here for her weekend birthday celebration. The couple stayed in an exclusive ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Stephanie Pratt shows off her Jersey Shore moves
Following in the footsteps of another MTV reality TV show, Stephanie Pratt of The Hills displayed her Jersey Shore fist-pumping dance moves when she hosted a party at Pure in Caesars Palace that was still jumping early this morning. Stephanie, recently seen in an unattractive police mug shot after being arrested in a DUI in Hollywood last October, was the picture of perfection in a blue-sequined, one-shoulder dress by Brian Lichtenberg, Steve Madden black suede pumps and Lia Sophia jewelry. ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Holly Madison defeats Carrot Top on the slopes
When people around the world think of Las Vegas, they conjure up images of pinup beauties stretched out under the sun in the briefest of bikinis alongside lavish and luxurious swimming pools. It’s difficult for them to believe that just a few miles up in Lee Canyon, there’s a fully operating ski resort, and that was the scene yesterday of a showdown between good friends and fellow Strip headliners Holly Madison of Peepshow in Planet Hollywood and zany props comic ... Read more...
Maroon 5 and models to unveil swimsuit edition in Las Vegas
The gorgeous supermodels of the eagerly awaited Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition are headed here to unveil the lush, tropical layouts next week on Wednesday, and rockers Maroon 5 will perform for them at the Hard Rock Hotel. The glamour girls also will visit celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s Stadium sportsbook and grill in the Palazzo. These are just two highlights of the extraordinary schedule of more than a dozen public and private events here for the sassy, sexy swimsuit sensations organized ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Bette Midler returns here this summer (in theaters)
The Divine Miss M may well have ended her two-year run at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace on Sunday night, but she’ll be back in Las Vegas in the wink of an eye. Bette Midler is the voice of Kitty Galore in Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore coming in July. The film is a sequel to 2001’s Cats & Dogs, but this time it’s in 3-D. It stars Roger Moore, Chris O’Donnell and Jack McBrayer and features ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Carmen Electra and Rob Patterson visit CityCenter
Sexy Playboy cover girl, TV reality star and burlesque dancer Carmen Electra toured the attractions of MGM’s CityCenter while on a weekend visit to play hostess at friend Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve nightclub in CityCenter’s Crystals. Carmen, with her fiance Rob Patterson, the former guitarist for Korn who now plays with Otep, decided that all-out pampering was a necessity at Vdara. She selected the two-hour Organic Spa Ritual, followed by a manicure and pedicure in the Vdara health and beauty ... Read more...
Cirque’s spectacular Ka celebrates 5th anniversary @MGM Grand
More than 1 million people have seen the extraordinary Ka by Cirque du Soleil as it celebrates its fifth anniversary at MGM Grand this week. It was five years ago tomorrow that Cirque’s fourth and most unique show on the Strip premiered. It was said to be the most expensive production ever mounted in the history of theater, with a still never officially confirmed $170 million price tag. Subsequent Cirque shows The Beatles Love at The Mirage, Criss Angel’s Believe ... Read more...
TLC’s 2010 Miss America Pageant grabs the crown as cable’s top show
The 2010 Miss America Pageant broadcast on Saturday from Las Vegas gave the crown to the 89th annual pageant and TLC as the No. 1 telecast of the night against all advertising-supported cable shows excluding movies. The official ratings were released at 9:30 a.m. The telecast from the Theater for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood attracted 4.5 million viewers, making it the highest delivery of any Miss America telecast on cable ever in all key demographics. Miss America even ... Read more...
2010 Miss America from humble beginnings and hand-me-down clothes
She woke up in a blur yesterday morning from the previous evening’s festivities when she was crowned the 2010 Miss America. By afternoon, she had said her final farewells to her parents to start her new 20,000 mile-a-month marathon schedule for the next 12 months. By midnight last night, she’d landed in New York City. This morning, 22-year-old Caressa Cameron began her Manhattan media blitz. The ordinary little girl from Fredericksburg, Va., plucked from obscurity first appeared with Regis Philbin ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: Birthday parties w/Wilmer, Nicole Eggert, Kirsten Dunst
It was a long Las Vegas weekend of birthday parties for visiting Hollywood stars. First up was Wilmer Valderrama of That ’70s Show fame, who is starring in the film adaptation of CHiPs, celebrating his 30th at longtime friend Eva Longoria Parker’s nightclub Eve in Crystals at CityCenter. Wilmer’s group of 15 party people surprised him with custom birthday T-shirts beforehand over dinner at Eva’s steakhouse Beso. The party enjoyed a family-style feast of the Desperate Housewives star’s guacamole, brick ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Love, Pink and Eminem at the Grammys
Las Vegas scored well at last night’s 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in L.A. with Pink’s knockout fashion and performance. The pop star, who is married to stuntman and Wasted Space and Hart & Huntington owner Carey Hart, hung suspended over the audience when she performed “Glitter in the Air” like a Cirque du Soleil acrobat in a large white sheet. She appeared in a white hooded robe, and then stripped to reveal a sheer nude body suit with glitter and ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Bridget Marquardt names Playboy Club winners
Twelve bountiful beauties were in fierce and curvy competition last night in The Playboy Club at the Palms for the crowning of Miss Playboy Club of the Year. Former The Girls Next Door blonde bombshell Bridget Marquardt flew in to make the final decision and announcement. Bridget, who now hosts Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches on The Travel Channel, first introduced the 2009 monthly winners and finalists: Destiny Moniz, January; Meghan Beck, February; Kasey Unroe, March; Victoria Moore, April; Gemma Farrell, May; ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Lindsay Price pops the cork at Laguna Champagne Bar
How could I pass it up? Palazzo food and beverage executives have opened the ultimate in decadence with the Laguna Champagne Bar on the casino floor. Every vintage of the finest Dom Perignon and Moet & Chandon bubblies are available. Actress Lindsay Price, the star of Lipstick Jungle who played a similar Susan Sarandon-type character on ABC’s Witches of Eastwick, was on hand Saturday night to uncork the champagne to officially declare the effervescent edifice open. I have to say ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Bette Midler’s farewell includes Gladys, Marie & Celine
International recording superstar Celine Dion returned to “her stage” at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace last night for the final concert of Bette Midler’s two-year-run of The Showgirl Must Go On, and Marie Osmond and Gladys Knight also made surprise appearances. Celine was present via video, and it seems to confirm our Vegas DeLuxe stories that the Canadian songbird is returning to Las Vegas. Barbara Brander of Zeropower even went so far as to advise me that Ticketmaster would start ... Read more...
‘Kimchi Chronicles’ chef Marja Vongerichten still ISO her father
“A missing piece of my life’s jigsaw puzzle.” That’s how PBS chef Marja Dominique Vongerichten describes the incredible story of her search ...
National Atomic Testing Museum unveils Area 51 exhibit
It was once one of the most secret places in America, so secret that the U.S. government denied it even existed. Maps were altered so that its ...
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