Luxe Life Blog

Strip Scribbles: Jarrett and Raja of ‘AGT’ headed to the Strip?

Posted December 3, 2012 • 5:37 p.m.

Jarrett and Raja.

Photo: Courtesy

Even though they’ve been eliminated twice now by viewer voting on “America’s Got Talent,” Las Vegas magicians Jarrett and Raja are on cloud nine. They’ve performed all over the world and have been lauded by Siegfried & Roy and Penn & Teller. Their dream, though, has always been to perform on the Strip, and thanks to boosts from “AGT” judge Howard Stern and host Howie Mandel, it looks as if it’s about to come true.

The deal for a Strip run will be announced when they return here from the 44-city “AGT” tour. I’m reliably told that their agent is juggling two offers for a hotel-casino residency on the Strip. The duo, piano genius Raja and master magician Jarrett, wrapped a two-year Singapore run pre-“AGT.”

SHANIA’S SUCCESS: From the New York Times to America OnLine and the Huffington Post, Shania Twain’s “Still the One” that opened at the Colosseum in Caesars Palace on Saturday is receiving praise. Those three even linked to our Vegas DeLuxe coverage and interviews. Her first run has sold out, and the first 2013 dates are selling briskly.

Now she’s added 12 shows from May 14 to June 1, and those tickets go on sale Dec. 14. On Tuesday, I’ll have a yarn about a magnum of wine she opened before going onstage and the $50,000 she raised for charity 30 minutes post-show.

AMERICA’S CHOICE: Today, we get a first glimpse of the 53 contestants taking part in the 2013 Miss America Pageant on Jan. 12 on ABC from Planet Hollywood. The organization is bringing back the popular “America’s Choice” voting where one contestant chosen by fans goes to the finals. Vote for your favorite contestant’s video at MissAmerica.org or at the “video contest” tab on Facebook. UNLV student Randi Sundquist is Miss Nevada, and we always vote for the hometown girl.

CHEFS GALORE: Expect an invasion of star chefs all here celebrating different events. Mario Batali kicks it off as chief judge of the Venetian’s Culinary Clash on Friday. Then Francois Payard continues Dec. 10 with the fifth anniversary of his Payard Patisserie at Caesars, and neighbor and original Las Vegas celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck celebrates the 20th anniversary of Spago in the Forum Shops on Dec. 11.

On Dec. 13, Thomas Keller returns to open his Bouchon Bakery at the Venetian. Luciano Pellegrino rules over his annual white-truffle dinner Dec. 14. Gordon Ramsay is here for the same-week opening of his Gastro Pub at Caesars and his burger bar at Planet Hollywood on Dec. 22.

BEYONCE & BRANDY: It’s only one singer, yet well armed with a fine cognac! Congratulations to our friends at Southern Wine & Spirits, who have been awarded the distribution rights for Jay-Z’s new cognac D’usse. I’m guessing its name is a clever takeoff of deuce? It will be flowing all over town in time for New Year’s Eve, especially because I’m reliably told that Beyonce will be performing at a private, high-roller show Dec. 31.

‘MYSTERE’ AT 9,000: Congratulations to cast and crew of Cirque du Soleil’s “Mystere” at Treasure Island on their 9,000th performance. Hotel execs presented two original cast members, Brian Dewhurst and Bruce Rickerd, who has not missed a single performance since opening night, with a cake. “Mystere” recently added two acts and nearly 20 performers to the long-running show.

Incidentally, Cirque Week is underway through Saturday with fans getting an exclusive look inside the world of the French Canadian company that dominates our Strip. It’s the one week of the year the curtains are pulled back and the doors unlocked at “Love,” “Zumanity,” “O,” “Believe,” “Ka” and its newest production, “Zarkana.” The 3D film “Cirque du Soleil: World’s Away” premieres tonight at Town Square and plays again Friday.

BEACHER VS. BECKHAM: Nightclub comedy kingpin Jeff Beacher has gone to under-war with soccer stud David Beckham over his underwear ads. Jeff, who plans to return his Madhouse party here next year -- I’ve rumored it to be at MGM -- has poutingly posed in his tighty whiteys for large, provocative billboards to promote his Hollywood hotspot location. Then he placed them right alongside the athlete’s posters. Now the two are jockey-ing for attention, and both are larger than life.

BAGATELLE BRUNCHES: The new Bagatelle Club alongside the Tropicana launched its champagne brunch parties over the weekend. On Saturday, champagne brunch brought in a sell-out crowd for Stan Courtois and Lucent Dossier. Natty Rico even played from the champagne swing. Sunday was Snow Bunny Brunch with the club turned into a winter wonderland with staff in sexy ski-slope attire. This Sunday’s brunch is Santa’s Helpers.

STAR SURVEILLANCE:

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler took his son and friends to dinner at Stack in the Mirage before watching “Love” for the fourth time. Backstage, he lingered with the cast before heading to 1 OAK, where Kendrick Lamar performed after dining at Stack. Also at “Love”: Season 11 “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips and his girlfriend for the first time.

Dining at Akira Back’s Yellowtail in the Bellagio in separate groups: singers Sia and Jason Derulo. Sia went onto the Bank, where “The Bachelor” hunk Sean Lowe was partying.

Coco Austin was spotted at Haze in Aria filming for “Ice Loves Coco.” Her debut as Bo Peep in “Peepshow” is tonight. Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison of “Pawn Stars” partied at nearby Gold Lounge.

NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski was served an engraved champagne bottle at Surrender in Steve Wynn’s Encore. Also at Surrender: MLB free agent Johnny Damon.

NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin partied at Marquee in the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to the sounds of Cedric Gervais.

Tropicana headliner magician Murray Sawchuck and his “Fantasy” at the Luxor dancer wife Chloe Crawford were backstage with Alice Cooper at the Pearl at the Palms on Friday. Murray hosts the musical “Alice’s Christmas Pudding” for the charity Solid Rock Foundation on Saturday in Phoenix with Johnny Depp, L.A. Guns, Orianthi and Don Felder. Palace Station headliner Louie Anderson and Anthony Padilla joined Murray and Chloe to perform in “Comedy After Dark” for Toys for Tots at LVH.

Returning for a second time to satisfy her pizza craving, Holly Madison, who is seven months pregnant, boyfriend Pasquale Rotella and her former “Peepshow” cast mate Josh Strickland dined at Carla Pellegrino’s Meatball Spot in Town Square. Also at Meatball Spot: Britney Spears’ father Jamie Spears.

Funnyman Peter Francis Dante (“Grandma’s Boy”) partied with friends in GhostBar at the Palms.

Comedian actor Rob Riggle was at the bar of Bryan Forgione’s Society Cafe in the Encore.

And Olympic gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas dined at Hash House a Go Go.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Alonzo Bodden and Mal Hall headline at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club through Sunday.

Michael Pace headlines at Sin City Comedy Club in Planet Hollywood for six nights.

And hometown DJ 3Lau spins at Marquee.

TOMORROW’S TEASE

Reigning Miss Universe Leila Lopes and 89 gorgeous girls competing in the 61st Miss Universe Pageant arrive on the Strip to start filming, fittings and rehearsals for Donald Trump’s telecast. Plus, Coco’s first night in “Peepshow” and the Las Vegas Sin’s mini-camp for tryouts.

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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