Luxe Life Blog
Strip Scribbles: Criss Angel wants Mexican ticket scam to vanish
Sandra Gonzalez and Criss Angel at the "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour" red carpet at Mandalay Bay on Dec. 3, 2011.
Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/HarrisonPhotos.com
“Mindfreak” magician Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil officials have issued warnings to South of the Border fans not to purchase tickets for falsely advertised shows. Criss told me: “We are permanently based at the Luxor here in Las Vegas performing ‘Believe’ five nights a week. We are not performing in any other cities internationally or even in the U.S.
“Recent announcements about the show performing in Mexico are totally inaccurate. Potential ticket buyers, sponsors or anybody else is forewarned to not engage in any way with this falsely advertised production. There are Web sites charging up to $200 a ticket for high-end seats at non-existent concerts on the Yucatan and in Chihuahua in March.
“It’s a scam -- please tell everybody not to lose their money over this. We were unaware until our fans started asking how long we would be in Mexico. Fortunately, Mexican media have now picked up the story to expose the scam.”
COUNTER INTELLIGENCE
Hot off the grill! TV hotshot Michael Eisner has created a sitcom for ABC based on the life of chef partners Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill in Mandalay Bay. I don’t know when it will air, as Susan will only say, “We’re in the middle of that wild ride.” Meantime, her new 200-recipe, 75-photo cookbook “Street” based on her L.A. restaurant will be published in August by Random House.
Chef Stephanie Izard, the first and only woman to win Bravo’s “Top Chef” (Season 4), joined Rick Moonen of RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay for a five-course Surf & Turf dinner Monday night to benefit two local food charities. Stephanie, who owns “America’s Best New Restaurant” Girl & the Goat in Chicago, also signed copies of her new cookbook “Girl in the Kitchen.”
2012 CES UNDERWAY: It’s all about the corporate chieftains and business biggies at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show: Qualcomm’s head honcho Dr. Paul Jacobs kicked it off Monday, and Bill Gates’ Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivered the keynote address at the Venetian on Monday night -- reportedly his last CES. Today, it’s Mercedes Benz Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche and Intel CEO Paul Otellini. ESPN demonstrated 3D live programming with coverage of the BCS championship game Monday night at the LVH.
Ryan Seacrest interviews Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at CES on Jan. 9, 2012.
LL Cool J at CES on Jan. 10, 2012.
Tom Hanks, Will Smith and Justin Timberlake are rumored to be attending this week, in addition to Justin Bieber, Ludacris, LL Cool J, Kelly Clarkson and the list Vegas DeLuxe posted over the weekend. Captain Morgan is unveiling its first mobile social game, “Captain’s Conquest,” that transforms your city into the open seas. Captain Henry Morgan hosted a BCS viewing party at Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo, and the game is being previewed at CES ahead of a March release. Harrah’s headliner comedian-magician Mac King is kicking off his “eBook Magic in a Minute Mysteries” for Kindle, NOOK and Smashwords.
TIESTO’S DEBUT: DJ and producer Tiesto began his residency at XS in Steve Wynn’s Encore, and it was at capacity hours before his scheduled start. Tiesto played until the break of dawn, and fellow DJs Deadmau5 and Brad Roulier of Manufactured Superstars were among the partygoers. Tiesto returns Wednesday for the CES launch of his 10-episode Believe Entertainment Group, behind-the-scenes digital documentary “In the Booth” debuting Jan. 17.
DJ Tiesto at XS on Jan. 7, 2012.
MOB MYTHS: Hollywood author, screenwriter and producer Nicholas Pileggi hosts a film for the downtown Mob Museum’s exhibit on how the Mob is portrayed in pop culture. The film, part of an exhibit titled “The Myth of the Mob,” features an interview with Nicholas (“Casino,” “Wiseguy,” “Goodfellas”). The museum opens to the public Feb. 14.
FINAL PHOTOS: It was a bittersweet day for Miss Nevada USA Sarah Chapman and Miss Nevada Teen USA Ashley Brown when they went to Georgina Vaughan Photography Studios for their final photo shoot in crown and sash -- now 24 days before their state reigns end. Georgina, a former Miss Nevada, shot four looks, one of which will make the cover of the program when 40 hopefuls compete Jan. 29 at the Palms. Georgina began her career as a beauty queen but wound up a fashion photographer a year after her reign ended as Miss Nevada USA 2009. Since then, she has been commissioned to shoot Miss Universe contestants, USA titleholders and “Glee” star Max Adler.
Sarah Chapman and Ashley Brown.
MGM’S NEW VIDEO WALL: MGM Grand wants its guests to see its name and avatar on the big screen. In time for CES, MGM has launched an interactive video wall, the first in a Las Vegas hotel. It’s located behind the front desk in the lobby and made up of three 16-screen sections each measuring 16 x 9 feet, totaling nearly 100 million pixels. The center screen streams a live Twitter feed for any guest, on or off property, who uses @MGMVideoWall.
LOOKING FOR LADY DEMON: KISS legend Gene Simmons finally married his longtime girlfriend Shannon Tweed, so now KISS Monster Mini Golf is looking for its own Lady Demon who will debut the custom-designed $10,000 Gene Simmons “Lady Demon” black leather wedding dress on the black carpet at the grand opening March 15. The venue is looking for sinners, saints and rockers of Las Vegas at an open casting call Friday at the Hard Rock Hotel. You can reserve a time slot at kiss@monsterminigolf.com. The Top 10 finalists will be featured on KISS Online and Monster Mini Golf social media giving fans the opportunity to vote from Jan. 15-23. The Top Six compete in the Lady Demon finale during the Kiss Off band tribute at Body English in the Hard Rock on Jan. 29.
MILITARY’S FREE TICKET: Flamingo comedy headliner George Wallace says he will give a free ticket to his show throughout 2012 to all active U.S. military members with a military ID as his way to say thanks for the support and dedication they have given the country.
STAR SURVEILLANCE
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian used her Twitter account to say she was taking a spontaneous trip, and she wound up here. First, she had lunch with “Dancing With the Stars” pro dancer Cheryl Burke at Sushi Samba at the Palazzo and then partied later at Marquee in the Cosmopolitan. Actress Teri Polo, in town to judge the 2012 Miss America Pageant at Planet Hollywood, dined at Strip House in Planet Hollywood. “Boardwalk Empire” actor Steve Buscemi watched the Beatles’ “Love” at the Mirage. Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, tennis great Monica Seles and singer Brian McKnight watched Celine Dion’s show at Caesars Palace. ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons was at Gypsy Den for First Friday. DJ Hollywood celebrated his birthday at RPM Nightclub in the Tropicana, and revelers included his fiance Ashley O’Brien, Brian Epling (DJ Truelove) and Chastity Soules of VH1’s Season 3 of “Tough Love.”. Rapper Dr. Dre dined at Executive Chef Kim Canteenwalla’s Society Cafe in the Encore.
TONIGHT’S TIPS
The first Miss America preliminary competition is at Theater for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood, and Scott Record, Jeff Capri and Sammy Obeid headline at Harrah’s Improv through Sunday.
TOMORROW’S TEASE
Coverage of Miss America preliminary competition, plus a sit-down with the seven judges, including Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner, who discuss what they’re looking for in the new winner.
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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