In the finest of Vegas traditions, a new hotel is about to enter the high-stakes realm of casino competition, and the whole town is seeing orange over it! Yes, the first ever Hooters Casino Hotel celebrates its grand opening today, kicking off a long Super Bowl weekend of fun-filled sexy celebrity-hosted events.

This morning, our Mayor of Mirth and Merriment Oscar Goodman presented Hooters honchos Ed Droste and Neil Kiefer -- along with the 2006 Hooters Calendar girls -- the official key to the city (below). Tonight, NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino, who owns the Casino's Fine Food and Spirits restaurant, and TV personality Brooke Burke will welcome VIPs to a private grand opening, entered by way of -- yes! -- an orange arrivals carpet lined by 40 of Hooters' hottest. After an orange fireworks display at 9 PM, the doors will open to the public! (we'll bring you pix of everything we can show -- plus details of the hooters girl party pit! -- tomorrow) But that's only the beginning: Friday evening, KISS king Gene Simmons will join internet pinup Cindy Margolis, KC Royals pitcher Kyle Snyder and the Calendar Girls for a celebrity blackjack tournament. Saturday, there's a provacative pool party and pig roast and later I've been invited to introduce all 40 of the Calendar Girls, who will return monthly for various parties and events. Maybe the future ex-Mrs. Leach is in the lineup?

That's in addition to the more than 200 beautiful Hooters girls employed as dealers, bartenders and cocktail servers all day every day. They are such prized employees they've been given their own private cardiovascular spa with fitness guru Tony Little (of the famous infomercials) in charge of their program! Sunday, of course, the orange-clad calendar girls host Super Bowl activites (and signing autographs) from 1 PM onwards.

The Hooters Casino tops an incredible success story which began in 1983 as an impulsive idea between six friends in Clearwater, Florida. Today, the company claims 375 locations, a frozen food franchise, an airline, and now, the biggest HOOT yet!  Each of the former San Remo hotel's 696 guest rooms have been "Hooterized" with cedar wood, hightop cocktail tables, bar stools and a Florida feel. It's the only place anywhere you can get their world-famous chicken wings delivered right to your room! The main 30,000 sq.ft casino -- which was completely demolished except for two giant chandeliers -- now features 15 miles of the cedar to keep the Florida casual theme throughout.  On an advance tour, my favorite part was the '13' martini bar, which features   a new 8-piece band (4 piece rhythm section, 2 horns and both male and female vocalists) that plays 4 hours each night, after which a DJ takes over until dawn! Senior Marketing VP Richard Langlois vows the casino venture will provide a comfortable neighborly Florida resort atmosphere with nonstop zany fun and excitement. Sounds like a perfect addition to Vegas!

Hooters doesn't see itself in direct competition with any other casino, but at least one is certainly giving them a run for their randy money this weekend. Across town, Palms president George Maloof is opening his new luxury high-roller gaming salon and lounge The Mint this weekend, as part of his resort's $600-million Fantasy Tower expansion. Says George: "The Mint offers a truly unique gaming experience -- new and different for our guests. It's accessible through our private VIP valet and the Fantasy suites."

Speaking of accessibility, those at the Mint's opening will be able to mingle with gorgeous Jenny McCarthy (former Playmate and current hostess of E!-TV's 'Party At The Palms,' below) and another 30 sexy tarty and tittilating Trashy Girls, (right) the entertainment arm of West Hollywood's infamous Trashy Lingerie boutique. Simultaneously, sports legends John Elway, Roger Clemens and Dan Marino (hmm, wasn't he just at...?) will lead a group of Hall of Fame athletes from the NBA, the NHL and MLB to host a charity poker tournament with professional players Jennifer Harman and Chris Moneymaker. Josh Duhamel and James Lesure from 'Las Vegas' (the TV series), Kate Walsh from 'Grey's Anatomy,' Alison Janney and Richard Schiff of 'The West Wing' will also compete.

The Palms now is the only hotel in the world with its own suite-set indoor basketball court, and the first ever recording studio within a hotel-casino (state of the art, too!), among other exciting elements. This Spring, they will open the first new Playboy Club in 25 years as well as a $40-million makeover (rebuild, actually) of the pool and deck lounge, complete with private movie-star secluded bungalows. Don't even get us started again on the fantasy suites...

I always love to boost our artists and their galleries on the first Friday of each month, but tomorrow (Fri. Feb. 3), there's something extra special. Stop by the First Friday booth while walking or shuttle-busing the downtown area, and my good friend, artist and gallery owner Jerry Misko, will give you a free "I Love First Friday" t-shirt. Tomorrow also marks the 3rd anniversary of Jerry's DUST gallery, and he deserves your support as the first brave soul to venture downtown and jump start the Arts District...

Read previous columns from Robin Leach at: journals.aol.com/robinsvegas/LuxeLifeVegas