IF YOU’VE GOT a hankering for Asian food this week, you should stop by TAO Asian Bistro (Venetian) where TAO corporate chef Sam Hazan well be spending the week. Hazan, who regularly splits his time between the TAO outlets in New York City and Las Vegas, is the creator of the TAO menu and should ensure top notch fare leaves the kitchen this week.

Last Monday, SCORES Los Angeles was the title sponsor on Dodgers Radio for Major League Baseball’s opening day. As part of the efforts to help launch the new SCORES LA, the SCORES Bod Squad and other members of the Scores team were out at Dodger Stadium taking photos, giving away hats and shirts, and getting the word out; Scores is coming to LA!

Speaking of SCORES, back in Las Vegas, the club played host to the U.S. Stunt Motorcycle Riding National Finals on Saturday and Sunday. The 2-day outdoor event filled the back parking lot with over 1500 spectators each day, many coming from across country to participate or support their favorite stunt riders.

We wanted to congratulate ENVY Steakhouse chef de cuisine, Aaron Losch, who was married over the weekend to his longtime girlfriend Jamie. Congratulations chef!

Every Sunday during the month of April, guests that visit Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill will receive a $10 gift card when they donate blood at United Blood Services. To receive a Z’Tejas gift card, participants must make an appointment to donate at United Blood Services’ main location on 6930 West Charleston. For additional information, please call (702) 638-0610 or visit www.ztejas.com.

World famous hypnotist Marshall Sylver is coming to the showroom at Harrah's Hotel & Casino for a very rare, one-night-only appearance on Thursday, April 19th at 10P. Tickets for this rare show are going uper-fast, but don't worry, you know we have we you covered! We have several tickets for VIP seating in the Harrah's Showroom for the hypnotist that has appeared on David Letterman and Howard Stern, please email us here with the subject heading 'Hypnotize Me'.

Last week up-and-coming fashion designer Patricia Samaniego from Las Vegas won the Express Your Style Design Competition in New York City. Designers participating in the competition were asked to create an outfit for a night about town in their own style that best exemplifies the essence of Bacardi Limon. “Winning the competition and having this opportunity will allow me to live in the real world of fashion and pursue my passion,” Samaniego said. “I am thrilled to be recognized and supported for the work I love.”

Rumor has Fashion Show mall eatery, Café Ba Ba Reeba doing away with their massive outdoor patio and instead using that space for a new, up-coming concept. No word on what it might be just yet … 

If it has to be the last season of the Sopranos, at least it’s going to be a good one! Last week we learned that Tony Soprano prefers Ketel One Vodka, and this week’s lesson was that Phil Leotardo holds some serious animosity towards Ellis Island officials and is going to take out his frustrations on some guys in Jersey wearing track suits. As we move towards the final Sopranos ever, we heard over a wiretap that the last episode will include some scenes filmed in Las Vegas.

Mark your calendars for Friday, April 27th when local DJ Carlos Sanchez hosts the CD Launch Party, for his newest recording being releases on Swank Records, at the Downtown Cocktail Room. We got a special preview copy of Sanchez’ CD and we can’t get his remixed, luxurious deep house groves out of our head. It’s also a perfect opportunity to check out the brand new downtown watering hole, the Downtown Cocktail Room, which is owned and managed by former Risque Nightclub honcho Michael Cornthwaite.

We wanted to send out heartfelt birthday wishes to Tryst Nightclub operations manager Brian Affronti. The young up-and-comer continues to play a pivotal operations role in the hugely successful Wynn Las Vegas nightclub and we wish him another fantastic and successful year.

After a busy Sunday night at Light Nightclub, Brian Klimaski, the well-connected Light Group VIP Services maestro, stopped at a black jack table to wind down and relax. After a few hands he surveyed the rest of the players at the table and was blown away to see the legendary Mel Brooks sitting at first base. “An hour later,” Klimaski reprised, “I was up but the money didn’t matter in the least, I mean c’mon, Mel f$ck’n Brooks!”

NBC entertainment reporter, Alicia Jacobs, celebrated her birthday at Chef Steve Martorano's ultra-delicious Café Martorano on Saturday night with her cousin, and jeweler to the stars, Stu Berger (a.k.a Stu the Jew) and his gorgeous wife Jodi. The dinner continued well into the night with dancing, singing and more dancing. The drink of choice, Ketel One Vodka of course!

A congratulation to Body English’s Greg Costello and his lovely wife Tamara who just had a bouncing baby girl, Bella. Both mother and daughter are doing well, as is Costello who is moonlighting as the team leader of ‘Air Tight’, according to B.U.B.A. pitchman Jeffrey Beacher, “the best dressed team in the league!”

Preview shows be damned! The opening of the Palms Resort’s brand new concert venue, Pearl, takes place this Saturday night when sultry songstress Gwen Steffani takes the stage. We’re going, so stay tuned for a review of the venue in next week’s Eye.

TAO Nightclub has a pretty serious double-header on slate for this week. First, on Wednesday, April 18th, adult film superstar Tera Patrick will host TAO’s Sutra to premiere her new lingerie line ‘Mistress Couture’. Then the next night (04/19), Victoria’s Secret is hosting their “What Is Sexy” party at TAO Nightclub with rumors of the Victoria’s Secret supermodels Heidi Klum, Karolina Kurkova, May Andersen, Ana Beatriz, Marissa Miller and Jessica White all showing up for the event.

Ben & Jerry’s will be holding their “29th Annual Free Cone Day” at the Galleria Mall to benefit the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum this Tuesday (4/17) from noon until 8pm. All small cones will be free with no purchase obligation necessary, but patrons are encouraged to make a donation.

The MGM Grand has announced a July opening for the third tower of their joint-MGM Residences project, making it the first condo/hotel project to actually reach completion. It’s a pretty huge sign considering the majority of the other mixed use facilities have yet to even break ground.

No derrieres are more famous in Las Vegas than the seven statuesque ‘Crazy Girls’ who lent their backsides to sculptor Michael Conine for the famous bronze butts statue at the Riviera. Not everyone has been a fan of the 1,540 pound statue, as the National Organization of Women once protested against the piece of … art, however, on May 13th the bronzed behinds will celebrate their anniversary.

Word out of the Rio camp has the venerable Voodoo Lounge about to undertake a slight tweak in branding and menu offerings. While not giving up its Cajun roots, rumors have Voodoo Steak offering diners a renewed focus on thick, juicy cuts of red meat.

It seems as though South Beach scenesters, The Opium Group, have had a change of plans with which of their venues will be transplanted to Sin City and the Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino. Gone are plans to bring Mansion Nightclub to the property, instead Miami mogul Roman Jones is looking to bring Prive into the former Curve Nightclub space, while Opium Lounge will be the company’s second addition to the property. Don’t think that their plans end there however, as rumors are swirling regarding a potential Opium Pool Club that would bring South Beach to Vegas sunbathers in time for the 2008 heat wave.

Rumors have PURE Management Group close to naming its first member of the LAX Nightclub team. At the very least, negotiations are taking place with a very esteemed and respected local name. Stay tuned …