Luxe Life Blog
Strip Scribbles: Poker pro Phil Laak strives to break 78-hour record
Two Guinness World Record attempts are underway today. Poker pro Phil Laak started this morning to play the longest endurance game of poker. He has to beat 78 hours, and anyone can sit down to play against him during that time. Along with his actress girlfriend Jennifer Tilly, most of the poker pros in town are expected to play him between now and Saturday lunchtime at the Bellagio to cheer him on to victory, with ESPN cameras recording the monumental task.
Las Vegas resident Dave “Ginger Wizard” Pearson is regarded as the world’s top exhibition player and world speed pool champion. At 6:30 p.m. today at the Intercontinental Pool Tournament in the Riviera, he’ll attempt to run 10 racks of 15 balls, waiting for the white ball to stop and 8-ball last on two pool tables in less than 8 minutes 51.1 seconds. Most people take 20 minutes to play just one game.
*Gaming revenues at our Las Vegas hotels in Macau are breaking all records. In fact, they doubled last month compared to last May’s astronomical numbers. Wall Street analysts are predicting that it’ll be 100 percent growth year over year by Dec. 31. Two casinos there reported their daily visitor count at 110,000 people waiting to play and shop. Think of that as a weekly number.
The Encore Macau grand opening fireworks illuminate the night sky above Wynn Macau on April 21, 2010.
Little wonder then that one casino there has invested $300 million in the world’s most spectacular theater for a Franco Dragone mega production. He plans to stage something even more incredible than his O at Bellagio and Le Reve at the Wynn. “Think of double what he did at O, and then add the steroids,” I was told. “One scene comes with an underwater motorcycle race!”
*High winds sent one of Lance Burton’s 14-foot lamppost driveway decorations crashing to smithereens at his castle home in Henderson. The Monte Carlo headliner magician contacted Rick’s Restorations that he’d seen recently on Super Pawn. Rick also was contacted by The History Channel to do his own show, and now Lance’s old London lamppost might be on his first show Restorations.
The lights are no longer being made, so Rick had to rebuild and restore it. Filming is set to take place this month. Lance acquired six of the lampposts from the Monte Carlo after Diablo’s took over the space. They line his winding hilltop driveway.
Bruce Buffer at the World Series of Beer Pong.
*UFC ring announcer and poker player Bruce Buffer has entered in an agreement with Luxor for the opening of his Bruce Buffer High Stakes Poker Room. Luxor also will feature a Buffer Zone Retail Shop with his Silver Star line of merchandise located within the LX Logo Shop. Bruce will make appearances this summer to host tournaments and at autograph signings and UFC event weekends.
*Mayor Oscar Goodman made it an official proclamation congratulating Sandy Hackett’s The Rat Pack Show stars Sandy Hackett, Lisa Dawn Miller, David Decosta and Tony Basile on Rat Pack Day. Sandy, son of late veteran comedy king Buddy Hackett, produces the show that plays at the Sahara and also in San Francisco kicking off a world tour.
Mayor Oscar Goodman, Lisa Dawn Miller and Sandy Hackett.
Mayor Oscar Goodman is flanked by the cast of Sandy Hackett's The Rat Pack.
It marks the 50th anniversary of the fearless foursome of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin , Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop, who ruled The Strip in the 1950s. When Oscar read the proclamation, he also recounted his own stories of watching the real members of The Rat Pack perform and seeing Las Vegas grow into the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Sandy Hackett's The Rat Pack Show - from YouTube.com
*After the blockbuster mega premiere weekend to clarify confusion over hours of the new Encore Beach Club and Surrender nightclub at Steve Wynn’s Encore: Surrender is open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and the Beach Club is open Thursday nights, all day and night Fridays through Mondays and closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays daytime.
*I’ve learned that two hotel executives who left one of our casino company’s last year have teamed up and are close to announcing a major acquisition here to run themselves in competition against their previous employer.
The wedding chapel at Badda Bing.
*It’s one of those only in Las Vegas stories! Badda Bing owner Rick Belcastro has given Rev. Monti Rock III the world’s first wedding chapel inside a men’s club! Rick handed over the keys to Monti, who was ordained at the Florida Academy Institute of Religion. The chapel is on the club’s second level and was part of the celebration of Monti’s annual 70th birthday and the second anniversary of the 15,000-square-foot mansion club. Sin City Fantasy Weddings allows couples to create their fantasy ceremony and reception, as well as bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Brian Evans and Tom Arnold.
*Las Vegas crooner Brian Evans welcomed comedian Tom Arnold to his fifth installment of The Maui Celebrity Series in Lahaina. Tom performed to a packed house for more than an hour that included showbiz exec Shep Gordon. Brian next welcomes Snoop Dogg, and Tom has signed on as one of the producers of a reality TV show Brian is creating from the island music and comedy productions.
Shayne Lamas and Nic Richie at Bare Pool Lounge in The Mirage.
STAR SURVEILLANCE
Supermodel Heidi Klum celebrated her birthday last night with singer husband Seal at the late show of Zumanity at New York-New York. The host of Project Runway turns 37 today. … Before leaving town, comedienne Chelsea Handler dined at Sushi Roku in Caesars Palace Forum Shops in a large birthday group. … Motley Crue rocker Vince Neil popped into Iron Chef Kerry Simon’s Simon in Palms Place. … Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears was at Boa Steakhouse in the Forum Shops with six friends. … Hawaiian Tropic founder Ron Rice was at the poolside Ambhar cabana at the Hard Rock Hotel. He posed for photos with Ambhar models, enjoyed the tequila and watched the Ambhar Goddess Model Search bikini contest onstage. … Nic Richie and new wife Shayne Lamas, who married at the Little White Wedding Chapel here last month, partied at Bare Pool Lounge in The Mirage. Jersey Shore stud Ronnie Ortiz-Magro bared his bulging biceps at Bare, and DJ Pauly D partied at Jet.
DJ Pauly D at Jet in The Mirage.
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro at Bare Pool Lounge in The Mirage.
TONIGHT’S TIPS
Comedy king Paul Rodriguez resumes his run through June 20 at Tropicana. He’ll perform an extra show Saturday in Spanish. … Hanging With Mr. Cooper star Mark Curry starts a five-day gig at the Las Vegas Hilton, while tribute band Fan Halen is in concert there, too. … And please don’t forget to support Taste of the Nation at Rain in the Palms.
Brothers Joel and Benji Madden at the Bank in the Bellagio.
TOMORROW’S TEASES
Porn princesses arrive to party at the Palms, and simultaneously but having nothing to do with each other, it’s the 20th anniversary of the Burlesque Hall of Fame downtown, and we peek behind the feathers of the international entertainers. Plus, twins Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte kick off the daylong Bamboozle Roadshow at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.
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.
E-mail
digg
Facebook
