Luxe Life Blog

Strip Scribbles: Michael Boychuck named Las Vegas Colorist of the Decade

Posted January 29, 2010 • 2:31 p.m.

Doug Reinhardt, Paris Hilton, Michael Boychuck and Vince Neil at Ago in the Hard Rock Hotel.

Photo: TVT

Colorist to the stars Michael Boychuck has been named Las Vegas Colorist of the Decade by leading hair care company Schwarzkopf. The Las Vegas salon owner moved here 10 years ago and is nationally recognized for his work with Paris Hilton, his client for 15 years. Michael first ran Prive at the Bellagio and then Canyon Ranch Salon in The Venetian. He opened Amp with George Maloof at the Palms in 2001. His Color salon at Caesars Palace opened last year, and his newest salon Primp in Palms Place opened last May.

Michael was named one of the Top 50 Hairstylists in the book by Rick Morton, and Color was named Top Las Vegas Salon by Nightlife Network. Michael’s clients have included Nicky Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Eva Longoria Parker, Lindsay Lohan, Kirsten Dunst and Fergie. Paris used Twitter this week to rave about Michael’s work prepping her for a Marilyn Monroe-esque TV commercial shoot for her new fragrance. Schwarzkopf is regarded as the world leader in hair care products and is 111 years old.

Congrats to my good friend Michael on this fabulous achievement!

*Yesterday’s rumors about Harrah’s buying BASE theatrical production company have been quickly and emphatically denied. The Web site Report on Vegas said the deal was set for February.

*What’s Your Excuse?” was launched last year by our Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority as a companion campaign to “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas.” Yesterday, the first ad in the second series was launched, and we have a sneak peek here on YouTube. “What’s Your Excuse?” was created in response to research that said consumers were longing to travel but were hesitant to leave the office for extended vacations. The message LVCVA is sending is that it’s OK to take a long weekend to blow off some steam in Las Vegas, and we’ll even provide the excuse! In this first spot, “Jolly Roger” emphasizes our world-class shows and entertainment.

*Our contributing photographer Scott Harrison spent an evening with Henry Hill and Dennis Griffin, author of The Battle for Las Vegas. They launched their book with a reading at the Clark County Library last night and spilled some secrets of how Las Vegas was founded but eventually wrested from the Mob.

*Comedy impressionist Frank Caliendo has added a fifth night and will have new show times in his weekly lineup at the Monte Carlo. Starting Valentine’s Day, Frank will now perform Sundays and Mondays at 7:30 p.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. Frank mixes high-energy comedy with fast-paced, dead-on impressions of celebrities including Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, John Madden, former Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, Dr. Phil and more.

*Last night, in conjunction with the DVD release of Universal’s Funny People, Harrah’s Improv ended its hunt to find the funniest person in the country. Three finalists took the Improv stage: Alysia Wood, Jason Marcus and Carlie & Doni. A panel of judges named Alysia the winner, and she won the opportunity to perform at the Improv in a six-night paid run later this year.

Star surveillance

Rapper Lil Jon dined at Lavo in the Palazzo before heading upstairs to the boutique nightclub and drank Patron Silver out of his bling, bling bottle. At a separate VIP table, Nick Carter and friends celebrated his 30th birthday with cocktails and danced to the sounds of DJ Crooked. MLB player Jason Giambi and friends sipping on Dom Perignon at Lavo. … Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. partied with friends at a VIP table at Tryst in the Wynn last night. Seattle Seahawks standout safety Jordan Babineaux also was at the hotspot. … Miss America Pageant and TV host Mario Lopez shot segments for tomorrow night’s broadcast in The Extra Lounge at Planet Hollywood. … Reality TV star Bridget Marquardt, who swapped The Girls Next Door for Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches, is at the Palms preparing for Sunday’s crowning of Miss Playboy Club of the Year and Miss February winners.

Now it’s time for us to primp and pose to strut our stuff with a winning package of all the weekend Las Vegas attractions that we refer to affectionately around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, Jan. 29

*The new Casablanca Events Center with 1,100 seats is ready to open at Eastside Cannery, and the concert series kicks off tonight with Grammy winner LeAnn Rimes.

*It’s fight night at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel with Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins when they present the world light heavyweight championship between Spain’s Gabriel Campillo and Las Vegas resident Beibut Shumenov. The bout will be broadcast on Fox Sports.

*The pop star who taught the world to do the twist, Chubby Checker, will still twist the night away at Silverton Casino Lodge. … Scottish songstress Sheena Easton sings for two nights at Suncoast. … And Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart make their sweet sounds at the Hilton for two nights.

*Brent Muscat of L.A. Guns, Todd Kerns of Age of Electric and Rob Cournoyer of Raging Slab team up with Michael Ellis to form Sin City Sinners and rock Smokin’ Aces in The Venetian tonight and next Friday. … Beggars & Thieves steal the show at Vince Neil’s Dr. Feelgoods Rock Bar & Grill.

*Handsome hunk Fedde Le Grand performs tracks from his new album Outpost at Haze in Aria at CityCenter. … The new reality TV series B Girl, following the lives of five Miss USA Pageant winners including our Miss Nevada, will be unveiled with a party at Dal Toro in the Palazzo. Celebrities set to attend include Theory of Flight, Stefani Schaeffer, Kari Ann Peniche, Erika Frasier and Monique St. Pierre.

*Jeff McBride, the magician of a million masks, hosts a weekend of Mysterium through Sunday night.

Saturday, Jan. 30

*It’s the big night of the 89th Annual Miss America Pageant telecast from Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts.

*“Sugar” Shane Mosley takes on Andre Berto in a welterweight bout at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Shane has won seven of his last eight fights, and Andre is undefeated.

*Veteran comedy king Norm Crosby is the first headliner at the new Las Vegas Rocks Cafe Showroom that entertainer and broadcaster Tony Sacca has opened downtown on Fremont Street. Singer John Garafalo opens the show.

*Air Supply is at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

*Known for his piano tributes to Liberace, Wes Winters goes solo for his debut of Las Vegas Saturday Night at Suncoast. Don’t be confused, but incidentally, it also plays Sunday night.

*Making her North American debut, Utada plays the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay, with DJ Mike Rizzo kicking off the show. …. Open Wings & Broken Strings is the title of three acoustic performances by Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer, Ed Kowalczyk of Live and Art Alexakis of Everclear at The Venetian. … Blandini is the return rock group set at Dr. Feelgoods.

*Timbaland hosts and performs at Haze.

*Wilmer Valderrama celebrates his 30th birthday at Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve.

*Sexy siren Nicole Eggert is about to get whipped into shape on Celebrity Fit Club, so she’s having a blowout bash at Tabu Ultra Lounge in MGM Grand.

*Actress Lindsay Price will host the bubbly grand opening of Laguna Champagne Bar in the Palazzo featuring champagne shooters, champagne cocktails and glasses of Dom Perignon and Moet Chandon. You can be certain that I’m not missing this effervescent evening after the Miss America Pageant. … Nove Italiano chef Geno Bernardo believes that behind every great kitchen is an adventure, and he throws open his for a unique noon cooking class at the Palms, with his grandma’s boneless stuffed chicken and homemade sausages.

Sunday, Jan. 31

Even though the spotlight will shine on Bette Midler’s final performance of The Showgirl Must Go On in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, there are other events to consider:

*Beloved Las Vegas entertainers impressionist Rich Little and comedian Louie Anderson head up a lineup of dog lovers including Lance Burton, George Wallace, Bobby Slayton, Sammy Shore, Frankie Scinta and Vinnie Favorito for the Funny Bones Comedy Jam fundraiser in the Palms to assist three nonprofit dog rescue organizations in the valley.

*Bridget Marquardt will crown Miss Playboy Club of the Year at the Palms. Competing in the model search are 2009 winners Destiny Moniz (January), Meghan Beck (February), Kasey Unroe (March), Victoria Moore (April), Gemma Farrell (May), Amber Nicole (June), Harmony Moniz (July), Heidi Wheeler (August), Jessica Lynn Hinton (September), Daycita Long (October), Brittany Cal-Williamson (November) and Raven Armenta (December). Bridget also will select the Miss Playboy Club winner for February. The busty beauties will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance for a Playboy pictorial and will be featured in The Playboy Club 2011 calendar.

*Carey Hart is presenting Bowling for Soup with guests Just Surrender and One Pin Short at his Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel. … A Fire Inside promotes its new album Crash Love at the House of Blues.

Weekend teases

Moments after the 2010 Miss America is crowned at Planet Hollywood tomorrow night, we’ll post the results, followed by first photos and then our exclusive first video interview with the young woman who has the title for the next 365 days. On Sunday and Monday, we’ll post the fabulous photo galleries from the pageant. On Monday, we’ll have full coverage of all the other weekend events, including Bette Midler’s final show celebration at The Colosseum.

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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