“Saved by the wrecking ball” boasted the headline in the Las Vegas Weekly, touting “news” that Victor Drai’s subterranean after-hours haven Drai’s, housed at the Barbary Coast, would keep its doors open for at least two more years. The funny thing is no one had reported Drai’s was closing.

The internationally televised Vegas Grand Prix will cap an action-packed, three-day festival of speed and entertainment featuring the season-opening race in the Champ Car World Series, a historic Grand Prix race held April 6-8 on and around Fremont Street. The weekend will incorporate major rock concerts, a championship boxing match, celebrity poker tournament, Easter Sunrise Service and an impressive Easter egg hunt. Tickets will go on sales for this first Vegas Grand Prix on Dec. 11, and are available at www.vegasgrandprix.com or by calling (877) 795-RACE (7223).

Happy Birthday to wine educator extraordinaire Jamie Smith; we still love ya’ baby.

Wednesday night, the Cast of Celine PLAYed at Studio 54 while club-goers cheered them on, totally mesmerized by the dancers’ moves. After its performance, the cast hung out in the VIP section and danced to the beats of DJ P until the early-morning hours.

Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza is hosting its fourth annual Toys for Tots program until Dec. 16. Sammy’s will be collecting new, unwrapped toys at both of its locations: 6500 W Sahara Ave and 4300 E Sunset Rd. Each customer who brings in a toy donation will receive a free giant Messy Sundae.

Congratulations to nightlife czars Jason Strauss and Noah Tepperberg of Tao Nightclub (Las Vegas) and Marquee Nightclub (New York City) fame. The pair was just named to Paper Magazine’s Nightlife Hall of Fame at an award show in NYC that featured a performance by Fergie, and was hosted by gossip journalist Michael Musto. “A tremendous honor,” noted Strauss when reached for comment.

Speaking of Strauss, Tepperberg and the beast that is Tao Nightclub, we got a really quick sneak-peek at the construction zone that is quickly being transformed into a Bali-esque paradise on the roof of the nightclub. Just wait, this place will rock and you will be impressed. Look for this project, which will connect to Tao’s Nightclub via a pair of stairwells, to be ready to launch in the spring. More news to follow …

More than 250 Harrah’s customers from around the country participated in a $1 million prize drawing on Sunday hosted at The Forum Shops at Caesar’s. Las Vegas Comedian of the Year Rita Rudner, along with television personality and host of the Price is Right Live at Bally’s Las Vegas Todd Newton, led the drawing and gave one very lucky customer an early holiday gift – $1 million – as part of Harrah’s “In the Bag” promotion.

Tabu hosted some of the top Billboard Music Awards dance performers and choreographers on its Super Slide Sunday, with the Las Vegas Rock Steady Crew battling it out with their break dance moves. With the crowd chanting his name, break dancing legend Mr. Wiggles danced in a continuous motion with the rhythm of the music keeping the party alive all night.

SCORES Sky Lounge continues to gather up followers, as a large contingent from the N9NE Group made it the place to party on Saturday night when they were done over at The Palms. Also, kudos to promoter John Lewis, who organized a fantastic Shirley of Hollywood lingerie show to a packed house over the weekend.

Toys ‘R’ Us has named the Blue Man Group Percussion Tubes as one of it’s “Fabulous 15” best new toys of 2006, and therefore perfectly suited for the young Blue Man on your holiday wish list. The Percussion Tube is one of two Blue Man Group musical instruments launched this year, the other being the popular Keyboard Experience. Both musical toys feature proximity sensor technology, interchangeable instrument sounds, and iPod or MP3 compatibility.

JET Nightclub has two interesting events taking place on the same night, next Monday, Dec. 11.  The flat-chested are already talking about the Boobs or Bust promotion that will give away breast implants to the lucky lady who collects the most “Boob Bucks” – by any means necessary, of course. In the House Room that night will be the birthday celebration for Las Vegas’ Queen of House, Zee Zandi. The promotion asks all to turn-out in their best 80s workout gear to celebrate with Zandi, as well as DJ Rap and Justin Bueltel, who are also celebrating their birthdays that evening. Dropping house beats on the party will be DJ Rap, Sean Miller and DJ Shift.

This week’s sign that the apocalypse may just be around the corner, longtime Las Vegas performer and ventriloquist Ron Lucas will be making a guest appearance on an episode of the FX hit series “Nip/Tuck.” On Tuesday, Dec. 5 Lucas will play, get this, a ventriloquist whose puppet believes a full facelift for Lucas is crucial to their success as a performing team. As if you needed a reason to tune in ...

Are we being invaded by Hollywood’s power-playing, raven-haired beauties, or what? Two weekends ago it was City of Angels nightlife queen Amanda Demme holding secret meetings with some of the city’s biggest nightlife operators in her Caesar’s Palace suite. This week it was power publicist Jessica Meisels holding court at The Palms; no word on where her fingerprints are going next. Love ya’, ladies, and they say blondes have more fun.

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