Sunday 8-31-08

Tuesday  9-02-08

Norm took the day off

Chef's steak rates No. 1 in magazine

We have a winner in the Las Vegas steakhouse wars.

In fact, we're No. 1 -- and No. 3 in Esquire's September issue that features the 20 Best Steaks in America.

Chef Michael Mina's butter-poached bone-in top loin with truffled-macaroni and cheese at Strip Steak at Mandalay Bay gets top billing and No. 3 went to SW Steakhouse chef Dave Walzog for his barbecue-spice-rubbed skirt steak with charred onions and jalapenos.

Also honored in the top 20: the Hilton's Benihana, for its teppanyaki steak.

Chefs Hubert Keller and Wolfgang Puck also made the list; Keller for his tournedo Rossini at Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and Puck for his Steak Tartare at CUT in Beverly Hills.

Keller operates a Fleur de Lys sister restaurant at Mandalay Bay and Puck recently opened a CUT at Palazzo.

Runnerup honors went to Bill Rodgers' filet mignon au poivre. Rodgers is executive chef at Keens Chop House in New York City. Rankings were given only to the top three.

Ben Jenkins, Mina's executive chef at Strip Steak, said Mina used the butter-poached concept at his San Francisco and Bellagio restaurants before taking it on a larger scale to Strip Steak.

BRITNEY MEETS THE CUBS

Britney Spears met with Siegfried & Roy and their new cubs on Sunday during her weekend stay at The Mirage.

Spears was introduced to the 4-month-old cubs, a golden tiger and a white-striped tiger, at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.

Spears swam with the dolphins during her June visit to The Mirage.

Siegfried and Roy welcomed five new tiger cubs to their exotic habitat about the same time as Spears' previous visit, when she made a visit to Bare, the Mirage's sexy pool venue.

Spears' busy Sunday schedule included a return to Bare, where she was seen in a white bikini; a trip to "Love" with friends and a late-night dinner at Japonais.

On Monday she went to the main pool at The Mirage with her hair stylist Kim Vo.

The Scene And Heard

The late Robert Goulet's mustache is being immortalized. The American Mustache Institute is looking for the first-ever "Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year. The award recognizes the most impactful Mustached American of the past year. The winner will be announced Oct. 25 at 'Stache Bash 2008 at the Lumière Place Casino in St. Louis. The event benefits Challenger Baseball, a league for the disabled.

To submit a candidate: www.AmericanMustacheInstitute.org

Sightings

Actor Vince Vaughn, dining at Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar (Bellagio) late Monday with a stunning brunette. At another table: actor James Woods ... Best-selling romance novelist Jackie Collins, filming segments with the "Jubilee!" showgirls for "The Paul O'Grady Show," a U.K. favorite, on Monday. ... At the Bob Dylan show (Hard Rock Hotel) on Monday: comedians Lewis Black, Bobby Slayton, and NBA great Bill Walton. ... Dance troupe SuperCrew, at CatHouse (Luxor) for Madame Mondays. They were in Las Vegas celebrating their recent win on MTV's hit show "America's Best Dance Crew." At another table: Sugar Hill Gang. ... At "Jersey Boys" (Palazzo) on Monday: "Pushing Daisies" star Kristin Chenoweth. ... At The Pearl (Palms) for the Judas Priest show on Monday: rocker Vinnie Paul, Avril Lavigne's hubby and Sum 41 front man Deryck Whibley, as well as members of Boogie Knights and the Spazmatics. ... Spotted at LAVO (Planet Hollywood) over the weekend: Adrien Brody, Paris Hilton and Benji Madden, Nicky Hilton and David Katzenberg, Wilmer Valderamma, Michelle Rodriguez, Katy Perry, Christina Milian, Amy Sacco, Brett Ratner, Elisha Cuthbert, Marlon Wayans, Tara Reid, Lamar Odom and Deryck Whibley. ... At the opening party of ROK Vegas (New York-New York): chart-topper Katy Perry, performing for a crowd that included her boyfriend Travis McCoy ("Gym Class Heroes"), Shar Jackson, Brittany Snow, Haylie Duff and Nick Zano. ... Holly Madison, David Spade, Paul Oakenfold, Dana White, and Ron Jeremy, at the KISS show at The Pearl (Palms) on Friday. Rumors are flying that Madison and Hugh Hefner are, take your pick, getting married soon or breaking up.

Cheetah Girls have claws out

Sabrina Bryan, a member of the TV hit show "The Cheetah Girls," is making headlines for a catfight.

The rising star, who told R-J entertainment critic Mike Weatherford last December that she was planning a move to Las Vegas, was in the middle of a sake-fueled skirmish with cast member Kiely Williams in a New York nightclub last month.

According to US Magazine, Bryan, 23, and Williams, 22, were with six members of their families at NYC Ruby Foo's when fighting broke out among them.

At one point, Williams yelled, "I'll beat your ass," to a fan who took a photo.

Bryan, who appeared on "Dancing With the Stars" last season, told Weatherford she was setting up a corporation in Las Vegas and added, "Being young and loving the nightlife in Vegas is nice, too."

MEDIA NOTES

KXNT-AM 840 is auditioning for a new talk-show host. Contestants for "Radio Star 4" are to gather at the South Point Hotel and Casino on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the showroom. More than 100 people auditioned last year, with Heather Kydd winning a position on the KXNT afternoon show with Casey Hendrickson, winner of the first-year contest. ...

Veteran sports talk-show host "Papa Joe" Chevalier launches his new nationally syndicated live show on Monday from Binion's Gambling Hall & Casino. The show runs from 3-6 p.m. weekdays on KLAV-AM 1230. For more information: www.papajoetalk.com. An invite-only party is being held from 4-7 p.m., with the public welcome after that. ...

New mom Erika Pope, senior manager of public relations at the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, is leaving after eight years. She eventually plans to do consulting and freelance work.

ORLANDO ROASTED

A humongous yellow ribbon was tied around the New York Friars Club on Tuesday as part of a roast of longtime headliner Tony Orlando.

Orlando was roasted one day after his 24-hour duty as New York host of Jerry Lewis' annual telethon.

Attendees at the black-tie gala included Frankie Valli, Neil Sedaka, Ben E King, Lucie Arnaz, Las Vegas dealmaker Jack Wishna, music mogul Don Kirshner, and Orlando's mother, Ruth Schneider, who lives in Las Vegas,

Orlando's career took off when he walked into Kirshner's New York office strumming his guitar and singing "La Bamba."

"Kid, get your parents on the phone because I'm going to make you a star," Kirshner told Orlando.

The Scene And Heard

Las Vegas tennis hopeful Asia Muhammad is making a fashion statement this week in her bid to open some eyes in the tennis world. A product of Andre Agassi's Las Vegas Academy, the 5-foot-10-inch 17-year-old was knocked out in the first round of the U.S. Open but has reached the third round of the U.S. Open junior tournament. She favors wearing pink on the tennis court and had her pink tennis racquet adorned with two half-carat diamond "A" initials created by local jeweler Michael E. Minden. She told The Washington Post that Agassi and Steffi Graf, her hitting partner on occasion, are "the reason I'm playing tennis."

Sightings

Ryan Ross and Spencer Smith of Panic at the Disco celebrated their birthdays on Tuesday at Blush (Wynn Las Vegas) with lead singer Brendon Urie, surprise guest Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy and others. They started the night at Stack (Mirage) and also partied at Revolution (Mirage). ... Correction: Newly opened nightclub LAVO is at the Palazzo.

Friday 9-05-08

Woods in town for trainer aid

Tiger Woods, still noticeably limping from knee surgery, showed up at his Las Vegas trainer's physical rehabilitation center on Thursday.

Woods has been working closely with longtime Las Vegan Keith Kleven for almost a decade. Their friendship dates back to the early 1990s when Woods was being recruited by UNLV, which narrowly missed landing the California high school sensation.

Woods had season-ending reconstructive surgery on his left knee after winning the U.S. Open in June. Doctors grafted a piece of his right hamstring during the surgery.

He is not expected to return to the PGA tour until next spring, with the Masters firmly in his sights.

Woods announced some good news this week: His wife, Elin, is pregnant with their second child in "late winter," he said on his Web site.

Back in July the world No. 1 player, whose U.S. Open victory was his 14th major, said his left leg was in a full-length cast and he expected to be on crutches for weeks after that.

During his rehabilitation, he has traveled recently to Dubai to check on the golf course he designed, and to New York for business.

PHELPS IN VEGAS

American swimming star Michael Phelps was seen leaving McCarran International Airport late Thursday in one of the Palms' lime-colored Escalades.

Phelps won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, giving him a record career 14 Olympic gold medals and 16 medals overall in Olympic competition. Phelps was later seen moving into the Palms Hardwood suite which features a basketball court.

MAYOR IN HOT SEAT

The roster of roasters continues to grow, with Louie Anderson, David Brenner, Carolyn Goodman, Vinnie Favorito and David Chesnoff lined up to needle Mayor Oscar Goodman at the Plaza on Saturday.

The event, which starts at 2 p.m. in the showroom, benefits The Showbiz Society, which is honoring Goodman for his outstanding contribution and dedication to the entertainment industry in Las Vegas.

The Showbiz Society, formed by local TV personality Tony Sacca, is a non-profit Nevada corporation that encourages, acknowledges and honors entertainers for outstanding service in the entertainment industry, as well as assisting entertainers in time of need.

Brenner said he's bringing a different perspective to the roast.

"A lot of people know the mayor, but I am one of the few who lived in his old neighborhood, West Philly, and went to the same elementary and junior high schools, so I've got some unique dirt on his life, B.M. (Before Mayor) and B.C. (Before Criminals.)"

For ticket information: call 364-8669 or visit the Web site at www.theshowbizsociety. com. The donation is $75 for members of The Showbiz Society and $100 for non-members.

The Scene And Heard

DJ Christopher Lawrence was named America's Best DJ during an awards event at Rouge at the MGM Grand on Tuesday. DJ Qbert was second, Skribble third and Scotty Boy fourth. They were chosen by electronic and dance-music fans from across the country. ... An all-new audio/visual extravaganza will feature soundtracks by Grammy-winning musicians. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be on hand for the 10 a.m. gathering at the "Love" theater. ... Donny Osmond hinted during an interview with Melanie and Michael on KSNE-FM, 106.5 (Sunny) that the Donny and Marie show will be in Las Vegas for a year. They begin their six-month engagement at the Flamingo on Tuesday.

Sightings

TV talk-show host Montel Williams, playing poker Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel.

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