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Saturday 8-16-08 |
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40/40 Club buzz may mean a sale
Those
persistent rumors that hounded Jay-Z's 40/40 Club at The
Palazzo since it opened New Year's Eve may finally have come to
fruition.
Page Six, the
New York Post's gossip column, reported on Thursday that the
hip-hop mogul may be selling half of the sports-themed club to
the landlord, Las Vegas Sands Corp., the parent company of The
Palazzo and The Venetian.
Jay-Z would
get $44 million in the deal that reportedly would turn 40/40
into a megasports book operation and give The Sands the right to
open 40/40 clubs in London and across Europe.
A 40/40
representative said the club would have no comment.
The Scene And
Heard
Comedy legend
Jerry Lewis is sharing more details about his being
detained at McCarran International Airport July 25, after a
security guard found a .22-caliber gun in his luggage. It was a
gift given to him at last year's Muscular Dystrophy telethon at
South Point, he told Entertainment Tonight. Lewis said he hadn't
traveled since receiving the gun. He was cited by the
Metropolitan Police Department for having a working firearm. ...
KVBC-TV,
Channel 3 reporter Hetty Chang, back from the Beijing
Olympic Games, witnessed an eerie experience. A city of 17.4
million turned into a ghost town on Aug. 8, during the opening
ceremonies. "The streets were practically empty," she said in
her blog about the Olympic experience. Restaurants and stores
closed and taxi drivers parked their cabs. Everyone wanted to
watch the once-in-a-lifetime experience, she said. Redevelopment
was so massive that the hotel she stayed in on the east side of
the city was difficult to spot and "not a single one of our taxi
drivers knew how to find it." ...
Chef Marco
Porceddu e-mailed me to say that he sold Bella Luna
restaurant on West Sahara about two years ago to focus on a
thriving restaurant consulting career, which includes concepts
with Pinnacle Gaming, another on Sunset Boulevard, and another
in St. Louis. For the past year, Porceddu has been the food and
wine editor at KVVU-TV, Channel 5. ...
Robert
Reynolds,
manager of The Killers, informs me that the rock group is
not yet ready to announce the name of its third CD, but it won't
be "Do Or Die," the title which has been mentioned in several
publications.
Sightings
Ja Rule,
showing up for two surprise appearances on the Strip late
Thursday. He made his first appearance at LAX (Luxor), then in
the wee hours at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, during the
hip-hop DJ battle. Earlier, he was seen dining at The Country
Club (Wynn). ... Chris Daughtry, wearing a cream
colored-wool cap while dining at T-Bones (Red Rock Resort) on
Thursday with friends. |
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Sunday 8-17-08 |
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Wedding upsets Daddy Geldof
Irish rocker
Sir Bob Geldof is reportedly furious over the surprise
wedding of his 19-year-old daughter in Las Vegas.
Peaches
Geldof,
who has been making headlines for years for what a London
newspaper called "her penchant for skinny rockers in tight
trousers," was to face the music during a weekend meeting with
her father.
The teen wild
child/socialite ran off to Las Vegas and married American
musician Max Drummey, 23, of the group Chester French
on Aug. 5 after a whirlwind romance.
They were
married in the Little White Chapel, where Britney Spears
shocked the world with her 55-hour marriage to childhood friend
Jason Alexander.
Bob Geldof,
who was knighted at age 34 for his charity work, including
organizing Live Aid and Live 8, was also married in Las Vegas.
Geldof, who
reached music stardom with the Boomtown Rats, married
Paula Yates on Aug. 31, 1986, after a 10-year relationship.
Simon LeBon of Duran Duran was Geldof's best man.
They had
three daughters: Fifi Trixibelle, now 25; Peaches
Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa; and Pixie,
17.
Yates, a TV
personality, left Geldof in 1995 for INXS singer
Michael Hutchence after interviewing him in her "Big
Breakfast Boudoir" TV show.
Two years
later, Hutchence was found hanged in a hotel room in Sydney.
Yates struggled with his death and was found dead at her home in
London in 2000, at age 41, of an accidental heroin overdose.
The Scene And
Heard
The owners
and rider of equestrian star Brentina are looking for
answers after an Olympic showing in which she received the
lowest score of her career, according to a report out of
Beijing. The 17-year-old Hanoverian mare scored only 63 percent
in dressage. Owned by former Las Vegans Parry and
Peggy Thomas, who now live in Hailey, Idaho, Brentina was
"fitter and sounder than ever," according to rider Debbie
McDonald, who has performed with the former Olympic medalist
for 13 years.
U.S.
team veterinarian Dr. Rick Mitchell said pre-Olympic
tests proved that the mare was sound. "There was never any
question during that time or now about any aspect of her
soundness."
Sightings
Leonardo
DiCaprio,
sampling much of the menu at Brand (Monte Carlo) on Friday with
friends. ... Legendary director George Lucas, who opened
"Clone Wars" in theaters this weekend, at Penn & Teller's
show (Rio) on Friday. ... Joan Jett and the Blackhearts,
dining at Bootlegger Bistro on Thursday night. Also there:
Carrot Top. ... Audrina Patridge of "The Hills,"
having cocktails with friends at Mist (Treasure Island) on
Friday. ... Kim Kardashian, with her mother, Kris
Jenner, filming a segment on the bocce court at Rao's
(Caesars Palace) for their TV reality show "Keeping Up with the
Kardashians" outside Rao's (Caesars Palace) on Saturday. They
joined Khloe and Kourtney at Pure (Caesars Palace)
on Friday. ... Mike Tyson, at Drai's After House Hours
(Bill's Gamblin' Hall) on Friday. ... Bridget Marquardt
of "The Girls Next Door," at Tao Las Vegas (The Venetian) with
friends on Friday. Also in the club: rapper Ja Rule. ...
Jamie Kennedy, hosting the evening at Privé (Planet
Hollywood Resort) on Friday. ... Actress Megan Good, most
recently of "The Love Guru" movie at The Bank (Bellagio) on
Friday. |
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Monday
8-18-08 |
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Norm took the day off
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Tuesday
8-19-08 |
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Norm is taking
Tuesdays off
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Wednesday
8-20-08 |
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TV journalist fired after ad reported
TNV-TV, Channel 13, reporter, Jeff Gradney has been fired after
he and his girlfriend were accused of soliciting male partners on the
Internet.
Gradney, who joined the ABC affiliate three years ago, was dismissed
Monday, after a disgruntled employee sent management and staffers a
Craigslist ad, a source said, that appeared to show the reporter having
sex with his girlfriend. The ad read: "hot, intensely passionate couple
looking for a cool guy to play with."
Jim Prather,
vice president and general manager of the Journal Broadcast Group
station, confirmed Gradney was let go but declined further comment,
saying it was a personnel matter.
The firing is the latest incident to batter the ABC affiliate's image.
Last month, the station fired longtime on-air personality Ron Futrell
after he was cited for a hit-and-run car crash.
Three and a half years ago, KTNV was embarrassed by a racial incident
after a weekend weather anchor was fired for referring to Martin Luther
King Jr. as "Martin Luther Coon."
Rob Blair
made the comment the day before Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Blair was
fired by Prather the next day after African-American staffers raised the
possibility of a walkout.
STEUART FIRED AT KVVU
Holly Steuart
is out at KVVU-TV, Channel 5, after four years as vice president and
general manager.
She was informed on Thursday, sources said.
Jen Harken,
spokeswoman for Meredith Corporation, confirmed Steuart's departure but
said she could not comment on personnel matters.
LUCK OF THE IRISH
Bartender John O'Donnell called it "a pretty good experience for
a little Irish boy from Dublin."
 Instead
of bartending at N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms on Monday, O'Donnell, 39,
was driving the third car in Bill Clinton's motorcade on its way
to a birthday dinner for the former president. Clinton turned 62 on
Tuesday.
O'Donnell landed the volunteer position after his boss, N9NE Group owner
Michael Morton, introduced him to some Clinton staffers last
winter at the steakhouse.
O'Donnell, a Las Vegas resident since 1996, was driving a black Tahoe
that accompanied Clinton from Atlantic Aviation to the Cox Pavilion,
where he delivered an energy speech.
After the speech, Clinton was driven to the MGM Grand, where he had a
birthday celebration dinner at Craftsteak with Cher, Sen.
Harry Reid and billionaire T. Boone Pickens.
Before Clinton departed on a private plane, he took a photograph with
O'Donnell and told him, "I love Ireland. It's my second home."
The Scene And
Heard
Anita Nelving
is leaving Cirque du Soleil as director of public relations for Cirque's
resident shows in Las Vegas to become managing director of CineVegas.
She will assume the new position on Sept. 2. ...
The Scintas,
who have been headliners in Las Vegas since 2000, are shooting a sitcom
pilot around town.
Sightings
NFL legend Deion Sanders, with friends at Lance Burton's
magic show Monday at the Monte Carlo. ... New York City Mayor Michael
Bloomberg, dining Tuesday at The Country Club at Wynn Las Vegas. ...
Actor Danny Glover, dining Monday with Planet Hollywood's
Robert Earl at Strip House in Planet Hollywood Resort. ... Hugh
Hefner's girlfriend, Holly Madison, made a visit Monday night
to the CatHouse ultralounge at Luxor. ... Members of the New Kids on
the Block, filming their music video for their new single "Single"
on Monday at Jet, in The Mirage. The song features Las Vegas R&B star
Ne-Yo. ... Star Wars creator George Lucas and his son, racing
indoors at Pole Position Raceway over the weekend. They were spotted
watching the Olympics TV coverage at Hawaiian Tropic Zone at Planet
Hollywood Resort on Saturday. ... At Tao Beach, in The Venetian, on
Monday: Kevin Federline with his brother and friends, enjoying
Jack Daniels and Patron tequila. ... Members of Daughtry,
partying Sunday at Revolution, in The Mirage. ... At SushiSamba, in the
Palazzo, over the weekend: Bravo's "Top Chef" runner-up Marcel
Vigneron and Venetian headliner Wayne Brady. At Sugarcane,
Sushi Samba's boutique nightclub: Brady and the cast of E!'s "Sunset
Tan." |
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Thursday
8-21-08 |
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Caesars security detains Semel
 Wild-child
heiress Courtenay Semel is in trouble after whacking a Caesars
Palace security guard during an argument after losing her cell phone,
sources said.
Semel, whose father, Terry Semel, is a former CEO and chairman of
Yahoo!, was partying earlier Tuesday with Kourtney Kardashian,
who had co-hosted a BestofVegas.com launch party with Nicky Hilton.
The incident occurred after 3 a.m., after Semel left Pure Nightclub at
Caesars Palace with friends. She returned after the club closed and
complained to a security guard that she had lost her cell phone.
Semel, who has been romantically linked to Lindsay Lohan and
reality TV star Tila Tequila, was cited for battery after
slapping the guard on the back of the head, according to a source.
She was detained by Caesars Palace security and given an early October
court date.
Semel, 28, appeared in E!'s reality TV series "Filthy Rich: Cattle
Drive" in 2006 with Kardashian and a roster of super-rich kids. Semel
and Lohan dated late last year before the "Mean Girls" star developed a
relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson.
The Scene And
Heard
 Legendary
baritone Robert Goulet will be posthumously inducted into the
Nevada/Artist Hall of Fame on Sept. 18 at UNLV's Artemus Ham Concert
Hall. Other honorees will be entertainer Clint Holmes,
architect-developer Tony Marnell, Nevada Dance Theatre co-founder
Vassili Sulich and the rock group The Killers. Goulet, a
Grammy, Tony and Emmy award winner as well as a Las Vegas headliner,
died in October of pulmonary fibrosis.
Sightings
Supermodel/actress Elle Macpherson and her family, taking their
seats as the lights darkened Wednesay at the 7 p.m. performance of "Mystère"
(Treasure Island) ... Rap/R&B singer Ciara, dining at Gallagher's
Steakhouse on Tuesday evening with a party that included her manager
Johnny Wright, prior to attending "Zumanity." ...At Pure (Caesars
Palace) on Tuesday: Rapper Flo Rida, giving a surprise
performance. Also there: Hilton. Earlier, Hilton co-hosted the
BestofVegas.com launch at SushiSamba (Palazzo) with Kardashian, and "Beacher's
Madhouse" producer Jeff Beacher, who joined Hilton and Semel's
parties during the night. Also at the BestofVegas.com launch: Miss USA
2007 Rachel Smith and NBA All-Star Baron Davis. |
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Friday
8-22-08 |
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Blog ID'd wrong Nevada governor
If true, it would be the perfect setting for divorce haggling.
 A
blog called VoteGibbonsOut on Thursday reported that Gov. Jim Gibbons
and his estranged wife, Dawn, were seen at the Bucket of
Blood Saloon in Virginia City about two weeks ago.
We
found the blog site's mascot adorable: a cartoon figure in the shape of
Nevada, complete with an eye patch.
However, a quick telephone call to the Bucket of Blood revealed that
someone got his wires crossed: Yes, a governor and first lady were
there, according to a BOB bartender, but it was former Gov. Kenny
Guinn and first lady Dema.
My
spies, on the other hand, tell me Gibbons and the first lady haven't
seen each other in six months.
They have a hearing coming up in early September.
The Scene And
Heard
Following up on the dismissal Monday of KTNV-TV, Channel 13, reporter
Jeff Gradney after a sex ad appeared in craigslist.com: Talk-show
callers are noting the original ad was apparently changed from Gradney
and his girlfriend seeking a "cool guy to play with" to a preference for
a female. ... Former KTNV sports and morning anchor Ron Futrell,
who was let go after a hit-and-run accident last month, filled in on the
news breaks a week ago at KXNT-AM 840 and did such a good job that he
will be filling in all next week for afternoon drive news, according to
program director Jack Landreth. ... As great jobs go, Chris
Hammond's is right up there. He's founder and president of Rock 'n
Roll Wine LLC, a wine event marketing company. Plus, he makes his own
vino. But his father, Tom Hammond, has him beat six ways to
Sunday. As the lead announcer for NBC's track and field coverage at the
Beijing Olympic Games, he's called the double-gold performance of
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who broke world records in the 100
and 200 meters. The senior Hammond also is NBC's voice of Notre Dame
football and the network's host of the Kentucky Derby. ... The 22nd
Black and White Party, the main fundraiser for Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN),
 is
Saturday at the Palms pool, starting at 8 p.m. For more information:
www.AFANLV.org or call 382-2326.
May I Recommend...
Six Las Vegas-area movie theaters are among 400 around the country
participating in the third season of "The Metropolitan Opera: Live in
HD." Soprano Renee Fleming stars in fully staged performances of
scenes from Verdi's "La Traviata" (Act II), Massenet's "Manon" (Act III)
and the final scene from Richard Strauss' "Capriccio." Tickets go on
sale today for the series, which begins with a Sept. 22 opening night
gala. For more information: www.FathomEvents.com.
Sightings
Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce, hiding behind sunglasses and a
big hat while playing blackjack at $500 a hand in the high roller salon
at Wynn Las Vegas on Tuesday and Wednesday. ... At LAX (Luxor) on
Wednesday: British boxing champion Ricky Hatton, having champagne
with show producer Jeff Beacher. Also in the house: Antoine
Walker of the Memphis Grizzlies, with friends.
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Pre Order Vegas
Confidential: Sinsational Celebrity Tales
Norm Clarke's newest book, Vegas Confidential: Sinsational Celebrity
Tales ($12.95, Stephens Press, February 2008), dishes up a feast
from Sin City's Ace Insider on celeb's club hopping, spending sprees,
outrageous behavior, feuds and meltdowns, and the best (and worst)
tippers. Discounted pre-orders are $9.95 and include free shipping.
Pre-order your copy now! |
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