Luxe Life Blog

Strip Scribbles: Pamela Anderson to cheer on friend’s L.V.-L.A. challenge

Posted November 13, 2012 • 5:09 p.m.

Pamela Anderson and Jesus Villa.

Photo: TVT

Driving I-15 to L.A. from Las Vegas is bad enough -- heavy trucks, radar police traps and frequent massive traffic tie-ups. Running it would be a next-to-impossible task. Imagine somebody using spring-loaded stilts to hop it to break a Guinness World Record.

That’s the extraordinary challenge former “Zumanity” at New York-New York star Jesus “Half Animal” Villa has set for himself, and he’s been practicing since February.

“My brain and heart tell me I can do it,” he told me. “I’m just hoping my body doesn’t fall apart. I’ve been working out on a really tough schedule: 7 miles three times a week. Weights on stilts. Five miles uphill three times a week. Twenty-one miles of running a week. I have 400 miles under my belt since February.

“Guinness says the new world record is established when I go past 310 miles. I could do it on a regular running track, but going through the desert will make it epic and raise extra money for charity.”

A Franco Dragone camera crew will film the endeavor for a TV documentary. His longtime friend Pamela Anderson will be here on the Strip on Dec. 8 to send him off and then await his arrival in L.A. Magician pal Criss Angel also will appear in the doc.

Jesus predicts that he’ll lose as much as 20 pounds during the run. He’ll wear the innovative running shoes seen in fundraisers for Wounded Warriors and as prosthetics for disabled athletes in the Special Olympics.

Read the full story at HalfAnimal.com. Jesus decided on this challenge after setting two Guinness World Records, one for the most consecutive front flips -- 18 -- on jumping stilts and the longest somersault over a car -- 20 feet 4 inches -- on stilts. He performed the feats in the same day and 11 months after hip-replacement surgery.

Jesus, who is taking hydration and hyperbaric chamber treatments as part of the diet regimen, estimates that he’ll do a little more than 20 miles a day for about 14 days to claim the record. “It is a positive and inspiring message that challenges the boundaries for what is considered impossible. … This is the extreme commitment and a testament of will and dedication,” he summed up.

MOUSTACHERY MONTH: It looks as if November has become a globally recognized month for mustaches and beards: the bigger, the longer and the more unusual, the better. Nobody seems to celebrate it like we do. In fact, one winning contestant at the Team USA National Beard and Moustache competition here was named Jeffrey Moustache.

Stache Bashes continue tonight with efforts to raise awareness of men’s health issues. DJ Well Groomed spins the wheels of steel at Pure in Caesars Palace as the whiskers compete for $5,000 in prizes. There also are events at Moon in the Palms and Silverton Casino Lodge. Women are encouraged to compete, too, by sticking on false beards and mustaches.

3D LIGHTS: For the first time, a 3D element has been added to the 19th annual cactus holiday lighting at Ethel M Chocolates, which starts tonight in Henderson with an opening party featuring Flamingo headliner comedian George Wallace, “America’s Got Talent” winner singer-guitarist Michael Grimm, Zowie Bowie, Lorena Peril of “Fantasy” at the Luxor and the Coronado High and Schofield Middle School choirs.

Free 3D glasses will transform a section of the lights into twinkling and falling snowflakes. Santa Claus has promised to visit tonight’s 3-hour party. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for the annual KLUC Toy Drive and receive a family four pack of tickets.

POKER WINNER: Las Vegas poker pro James Carroll started as the short stack at Monday’s Heartland Poker Tour Final Table being filmed for television at the Palms. The 26-year-old proved his status as a pro working up one hand at a time to earn every chip on the table and win $104,000.

COUNTRY AWARDS: Wednesday marks the start of nominations for the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay in the spring. Nominations close Dec. 7.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

“The Hangover Part III” stars are busy with filming and seeing our Strip shows as their shoot winds down. Comedy actor Ken Jeong attended “The Beatles Love” by Cirque du Soleil at the Mirage. He bowed on the floor to the cast backstage saying he was an avid Beatles fan before taking a tour of the audio rooms.

Heartthrob star Bradley Cooper watched “Love” with his mother, while Mark Foster of Foster the People watched with his dad. While staying at Caesars, Bradley has been a regular at Qua Baths and Spa, Bacchanal Buffet and Rao’s. During one dinner at Rao’s, his group of friends included actor Robert De Niro, here filming “Lost Vegas” with Michael Douglas, and UFC star Randy Couture.

Boxing legend and Las Vegas resident Mike Tyson enjoyed a vegan pizza and vegan meatballs specially made by chef Carla Pellegrino at her new Meatball Spot in Town Square. Mike’s KO punch was the strawberry and coconut gelato after taking photographs with fans.

MLB legend Roger Clemens partied at Marquee Nightclub in the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Monday night dancing with friends to the music of DJ Vice.

The cast of “Fantasy” at the Luxor celebrated the release of their 2013 “Barely Bejeweled” calendar with a party at nearby LAX.

Medium Theresa Caputo went backstage at Imperial Palace after watching Frank Marino’s “Divas,” and they wound up discussing “big hair and long fingernails.” Theresa also dined at chef Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Caesars on Monday.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Blue October plays Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel for two evenings accompanying the screening of the silent film “Barcelona.”

Pro golfers from the PGA, LPGA and Champions tours go head-to-head in the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge at Rio Secco raising funds to benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

Don’t forget about Ethel M’s and the Stache Bashes.

TOMORROW’S TEASE

Who is behind the technical wizardry at Cirque’s “Zarkana” in Aria, and what secrets will he reveal? If you celebrate your 100th anniversary as the best cigar company in the world, you’ve got to have a $50,000 watch to mark the occasion. Plus, Carla Pellegrino makes it to Episode 2 of “Top Chef Seattle,” and Blue Man Group celebrates its new residency at Monte Carlo.

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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