Luxe Life Blog

Strip Scribbles: New app for Criss Angel gives fans coded coupon

Posted June 22, 2010 • 5:32 p.m.

Criss Angel on the blue carpet for the Viva Elvis world premiere at Aria in CityCenter on Feb. 19, 2010.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

MGM executives at CityCenter were the first to launch their own interactive iPhone app for the sprawling property with its four hotel complexes, and now Mindfreak magician Criss Angel is leading a similar charge for all the Cirque du Soleil shows on The Strip. The app developed for the Believe star at the Luxor is interactive, so guests and fans logging on can download a coded coupon that can be read at the Luxor box office entitling them to instant prizes. Similar one-click-away apps are in the works for all the Cirque shows.

At the Hard Rock Hotel, the property put the finishing touches to its current $750 million expansion with a cutting-edge Web site HardRockHotel.com. The site features unique navigation, an enhanced calendar and full-screen property images to help visitors experience the Hard Rock before they arrive. There’s one social feed now so the Hard Rock’s media channels all come together allowing guests to connect to the latest happenings in real time and share their own experiences.

Resort casinos including the Palms, The Venetian, Palazzo, Planet Hollywood and the Harrah’s operations also have also set up social networking sites on Twitter and Facebook as part of their marketing strategies.

*Mike Love of The Beach Boys wants to clarify impressions he conveyed that we posted here at Vegas DeLuxe in advance of the group’s poolside concert at The Venetian last week. Discussions we revealed for the possibility of his cousin Brian Wilson writing and recording together set off a media firestorm around the world and -- voila! -- before you knew it, tabloid headlines had them reunited for a tour of 50th anniversary concerts.

Here’s Mike’s full official statement on The Beach Boys’ half-decade milestone: “As The Beach Boys approach the 2011-2012 touring season, which will mark their 50th anniversary as a band, speculation continues to grow among fans and media as to reunion possibilities among all the original surviving members. The Beach Boys continue to tour approximately 150 shows a year in multiple countries. At this time, there are no plans for my cousin Brian to rejoin the tour. He has new solo projects on the horizon, and I wish him love and success. We have had some discussions of writing and possibly recording together, but nothing has been planned. I, as I’m sure he is, am proud and honored that The Beach Boys music has endured these 50 years, but felt the need to clarify that there are no current reunion tour plans.”

*Producer Adam Steck is mulling two or three plans for shows at the Excalibur to take over comedian Louie Anderson’s spot when he departs for Palace Station in early August. Adam admits that nothing is firmed up yet. Adam, who produces Thunder From Down Under, has looked at one America’s Best Dance Crew-styled show, and executive thinking is to stay away from now oversaturated comedy and capitalize on some form of a Dancing With the Stars ratings winner.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

*Leonardo DiCaprio dined at Sushi Samba in the Palazzo with longtime supermodel girlfriend Bar Refaeli and another model. … Actress and musician Juliette Lewis celebrated her birthday with six gal pals at Munch Bar, the newest dining destination at Caesars Palace. Juliette sported blue hair, a black tank top, black pants and a Munch Me hat from the late-night eatery. … Larry Birkhead, father of the late Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, watched Peepshow in Planet Hollywood.

*Rapper Flavor Flav surprised partygoers when he showed up to support longtime friend Doug E. Fresh during his performance at Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve Nightclub in MGM CityCenter’s Crystals. Fresh took fans on an old-school, hip-hop flashback, while Flavor double-fisted his signature Hennessey and Coke.

*Here’s a rundown of all the celebrities who hit up The Light Group properties around town. At The Bank in the Bellagio, singer and The Hills star Ryan Cabrera, for two consecutive nights, and The Offspring danced the night away and even had a dance off judged by adoring female fans. Kimberly Cole, covered in sequins, performed her hit “Smack U” and her new single “Psycho” with two sexy backup dancers. PGA golfer Anthony Kim celebrated his birthday with his girlfriend and friends toasting with champagne. Three Six Mafia surprised with an impromptu performance of their crowd-pleasing hits. At Fix in the Bellagio, Shannon Elizabeth ordered the Bobby Baldwin Burgers and lobster tacos. At Haze in Aria, DJ Pauly D entertained fans and showcased his DJ skills to the crowd, which included Jabbawockeez moving and grooving in unison to the set. At Liquid Pool Lounge at Aria, actor and author Mario Lopez hosted at the pool signing copies of his new book Knockout Fitness. Mario and mother-to-be girlfriend Courtney Mazza enjoyed a private cabana before he went behind the DJ booth and chose a selection of his favorite tunes. Ryan was among the daytime revelers at Liquid. At Union in Aria, Kevin Federline enjoyed dinner. At Yellowtail in Bellagio, Ryan, Kimberly and her backup dancers and Tyronn Lue, formerly of the Orlando Magic, separately enjoyed dinner and cocktails.

*It was a busy trip for NFL legend Warren Moon when he held his Warren Moon Scholarship activities in Las Vegas over the weekend. His welcome reception was at First Food & Bar in the Palazzo with guests including Charles Haley, Ndamukong Suh, Will Demps, Owen Daniels, Russell Westbrook, Robert Horry, Josh Cribbs, Bob Guiney and scholarship winners from the NFL Superstar Sports Dream Bowl Foundation. Warren also checked out Encore Beach Club’s evening pool party and returned two nights later for the after-party charity event at Surrender.

*Angelica Bridges and her stunning cast of Fantasy dancers brightened the new Summer Nights Bubbles party at Rhumbar’s open-air cigar and hookah lounge at The Mirage. They mingled with fans, signed autographs and took photographs with Happy Hour revelers, and then jumped in the DJ booth with resident percussionist DJ Rodney and re-enacted the show’s salsa number by playing the bongos for partygoers.

*Legendary Rob Base was the guest performer at the newly opened Crown Theater and Nightclub in The Rio for its old-school Roller Boogie Night. The crowd roller-skating on the club’s circular dance floor was dressed for the occasion in funky costumes. Roller Boogie takes place each Sunday, with Sugar Hill Gang this Sunday, followed by Soulsonic Force and DJ Kool.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Jeremy Roenick of the San Jose Sharks and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals host a pre-2010 NHL Awards party at Lavo in the Palazzo complete with a red carpet skate-in. … Bruce Fine, Scott Kennedy and Flip Schultz are at Harrah’s Improv through Sunday. … DJ Jazzy Jeff gives away a Playboy Mansion party package for 12 guests at Moon’s Bang Party in the Palms.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

Our own Las Vegas funnyman Jimmy Kimmel goes primetime on ABC tomorrow with Twilight Saga: Eclipse superstars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner in a Total Eclipse of the Heart special. We’ve got the full story and advance photos, plus the cast of Jersey Shore re-enact scenes from Twilight in a comedy segment. It’s also the champions’ dinner from Top Chef Masters when our star chef Rick Moonen is joined by Season 2 winner Marcus Samuelsson for a cooking demo and a special five-course menu at RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay.

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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