Vegas Popular

Regular readers will remember that LUXE LIFE first reported a Luxor name change in mid-January when executives were mulling over the idea of simply calling the resort, The Pyramid. The Pyramid is a good, architecturally descriptive name and now the name-that-casino buzz is expanding. Rumors are circulating that the same executives are again deciding on a new name for the casino and have added 'Shapes' to the list of new names.

I spent the drive home from watching the Stardust implosion coughing and sticky, covered with a coating of 16-year-old concrete, literally Stardust dust. I met Vegas phenom photographer Scott Doctor on the roof of one of the Circus Circus parking garages for the absolute best views of the implosion.

For the first time in his magic career, 'Mindfreak' star Criss Angel was forced to halt a dangerous Houdini-styled escape. Medical and safety officials stopped him from being lowered, while manacled with handcuffs, metal chains and foot restraints, into the shark and stingray filled seawater aquarium tank at the Silverton late Saturday night.

Just 24 hours earlier, while rehearsing the stunt without being lowered all the way to the bottom, he almost failed to break free. Safety divers rushed to assist and Criss wound up severely cutting his back on the rocks in the tank. It was a rush to the surface for air while simultaneously avoiding the sharks and stingrays!

Palms president George Maloof beats all the competition today by opening his resort hotel's three-acre $30-million pool, officially kicking off an all new season of hot summer days and nights. The sexy adult playground will launch its Friday "take the day off" Ditch party as of May 18. N9NE Steakhouse chef Barry Dakake is promising a new menu for the new season. The Palms is also home to the world's only Playboy Club -- at least until a sister salon opens in Macau -- and 'Heroes' hunk Milo Ventimiglia (seen below) was enjoying himself with the bunnies and at the blackjack tables when he visited!

Also Pop-ular in Vegas Right Now:
- LUXE LIFE: Pittsburgh Penguins Moving to Las Vegas
- LUXE LIFE: Christina Aguilera Helps Open Pussycat Dolls Casino
- AOL Vegas: The Hoff in Vegas

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It was the premiere, provocative parade of platinum pulchritude. The positive power of the Pussycat Dolls was proven when preening pop princess Christina Aguilera, along with the LA Pussycats, partied, purred and promenaded at PURE in Caesars Palace until dawn this morning. A tempting tease of thigh, a saucy sampling of stockings, a barrage of bras and a glimpse of garters all came together in a festival of flesh for the grand opening of the new Pussycat Dolls Casino outside the jam-packed nightclub.

Comedian Roseanne Barr has made good on her promise to play Vegas and she's landed a six-week run in Rita Rudner's old theater at New York-New York. And Roseanne, who is never known to shy away from controversy, promises it will be "in your face humor" and warns that teens younger than 17 must be accompanied by adults!

Her first extended Vegas run since a series of concerts at the Riviera is titled "All You Can Eat Comedy" and will start March 15 and run through April 30. Tickets went on sale early this evening when her limited engagement was announced.

Roseanne told LUXE LIFE during her most recent visit here for the Comedy Festival that she was determined to find a Vegas nightspot for her comedy. "I want to be in Vegas. I need to be in Vegas," she told me at the time. She said she was in talks with several resort hotels and now the negotiations have paid off with the New York New York run. It's believed she will be welcomed to stay at the theater until it's converted into a planned nightclub. "This is in your face comedy and an all you can stand laugh fest," said Roseanne.

She has just finished hosting Nick at Nite's third season of "Funniest Mom in America." And the six-part reality series, will premiere while she's headlining in Vegas on Tuesday, April 3. The show follows the journey of moms across the country as they compete for the title of "Funniest Mom in America." Several of the semi-finalists will make guest appearances on stage during Roseanne's show at New York-New York. She was recently seen on HBO's top-rated comedy special "Blonde and Bitchin" and her Rockin' with Roseanna Calling All Kids DVD with 12 children's songs went nationwide last year.

"I can't wait to get settled into Vegas," she said. "I love the city."

Also Pop-ular in Vegas Right Now:
- LUXE LIFE: Michael Jackson Talks Vegas
- LUXE LIFE: Paula Abdul Sets Record Straight
- AOL Vegas: The Hoff in Vegas

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Last minute negotiations are ongoing in a dramatic 48-hour countdown that might make Vegas history with official news of a NBA team getting approval for a move to our desert kingdom.

NBA Commissioner David Stern arrived in Vegas last night and has plans today to meet with Mayor Oscar Goodman. One of the items on that agenda is the strong possibility of the Memphis Grizzlies being sold to a Vegas investor group.

The pieces of the puzzle are slowly being put together. This morning at 9AM, the board of directors of our Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will meet here and announce that the FIBA Basketball Championship will also be held in Vegas before year end. The NBA All-Star dance team will actually attend the board of directors meeting, signaling the excitement of basketball for Vegas.

In addition, the 2006 final visitor count to our resort-casino hotel city will be announced and I am told the numbers break all previous records!

By late tomorrow morning, Mayor Goodman should know that his hard work the past year in seeking a NBA team will have finally been met with success. Numerous NBA executives who arrived here yesterday have been sworn to secrecy about the possible announcement. You can expect the monumental news confirmed in 48 hours, with all the details being announced prior to or during Sunday's All-Star Game.

This is the 56th annual All-Star event, but the first ever held in a city that doesn't have a basketball franchise team. I'm reliably told that Gregg Anthony, a former UNLV Running Rebel is already lining up former NBA players and other investors for the new Vegas team.

Related Pop-ular Stories:
- Luxe Life: All-Star Weekend: The Hottest Parties Before the Big Game

A hotel fire caused evacuation at Harrah's Hotel and Casino on The Strip in Las Vegas Sunday night. Initial reports indicate that the fire began in a maid's cart on the sixth floor which triggered the sprinklers and caused the evacuation. As of 11:30PM PST, guests on the fifth and sixth floors are still unable to return to their rooms due to water damage and lingering smoke.

Harrah's was retro-fitted with new alarms and sprinklers after the deadly 1980 fire at the old MGM Grand (now Bally's) that killed 84 people.

There are no injuries reported.

Barry Manilow has been filling the Las Vegas Hilton showroom since his "Music and Passion" show debuted in February of 2005. But apparently the Hilton wants to make sure that everybody knows where to find the pop superstar, hence the unveiling of the largest hand painted mural in Las Vegas. The 128' X 56'10" image of the man behind "Mandy" is now on display on the property's main tower.

It took five days to prepare and paint the mural, which towers over the city like a Copacabana colossus. And the company who created the mural promised that "just like Barry, it will have staying power-the elements can't affect it." Fans can sleep safe in the knowledge that Barry will not be felled by wind, rain, or pelting from disgruntled heavy metal fans. South Park viewers may already be counting the days until uber-Barry squares off against the Mecha-Streisand in a titanic battle for dominance on the Easy Listening charts.



Also Pop-ular in Vegas Right Now:
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- Luxe Life: Pussycat Dolls Casino Opens
- Dry Heat: Celebrity-Spotting in Vegas
- Luxe Life: Vegas Gets Sexier with Return of X Girls
- Dry Heat: Old School Vegas
- Luxe Life: Adventures of Sin City Britney

Sexy girls wearing next to nothing or sweaty strongmen chasing a tiny ball while clad in helmets and tight padded pants; take your pick. Since I'm a fan of British, nonstop action soccer, and don't particularly care for Kevin Federline's new insurance commercial shown during last night's Super Bowl, I vote for the luscious ladies.

For the first time in Vegas history, a choreographed Pussycat Dolls casino has opened at Caesars Palace and more eyeballs were on the girls than the big game.


Luxe Life was there for the weekend debut with Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin (above, center) casting a careful eye over her eight stunning fishnet stockinged, caged go-go dancers, the beautiful blue-sailor-hot-shorts knockout blackjack and roulette dealers, the Pussycat Dolls clothing and lingerie sales assistants and the uniquely uniformed cocktail servers. The crowd was so large that Caesars president Gary Selesner ordered the pleasure-pit opened an hour earlier than planned! "Definitely unique and mighty impressive," he shouted to me, while Robin told me: "Wow! This is incredible. The turnout, the reaction is way more than anybody expected. Now from our soft-opening we'll fine tune everything and work out the kinks and be absolutely perfect for our grand-VIP opening on March 3."


Luxe Life has learned that pop-queen Christina Aguilera will probably dress up as a Doll that night to perform the opening ceremonies after her Mandalay Bay concert. You can't miss the Pussycat Dolls casino because of all the excitement, but as a public service here are the exact directions: look for the PURE nightclub, Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill and Sir Elton John's retail store and there right in the middle of the action is the POW of the Pussycats!

Incidentally, not all the stars of sports flew to Miami for the super Bowl. New York Yankee Derek Jeter dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms alongside UFC commentator Joe Rogan and, at a separate table, 'Sopranos' actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler. Then Jeter hit the Playboy Club for pre-dawn blackjack fun with Pittsburgh Steelers' Clark Hagan. Both guys returned for a second consecutive night and then on night three, Derek got 10 pals together for a blowout bash at TAO in the Venetian. But, by day four, he was back at the Playboy Club for the big-game, ordering pizza from Nove to go with his champagne. Then he went to the high-limit blackjack tables and got so involved for several hours he even had burgers and sandwiches delivered right to the table!


Also taking in the game at Playboy was Suge Knight and Clark Hagan one more time. Downstairs in Nove was baseball great Roger Clemens. Over at PURE, Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, UFC fighters George St. Pierre and Keith Jardine, joined by comedian Damon Wyans (seen below), who also hit TAO the next night with another 10-strong group! (Can't these guys ever have just a quiet dinner a deux?) Tennessee Titans wide receiver Drew Bennett held court at Wolfgang Puck's Bar & Grill in MGM Grand.


BRITNEY'S SECRET WEAPON RETURNS HOME
Hometown hero and soul-star Ne-Yo is one very very busy overnight sensation. But now he is coming home to play. The 25-year-old R&B singer, who is also a major hit songwriter for other chart-topping singers including Beyonce, was last back in the hood where he grew up, the day after the December Billboard awards, but that was to catch up on some home-cooking and inspire the kids in the school he once attended. Ne-Yo, real name Shaffer Chimere Smith and raised in Vegas, will be home again February 16, over All-Star weekend to perform at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay and obviously catch the big game. He's juggling the writing of new songs for Vegas' own Celine Dion, plus Whitney Houston's comeback album and Alicia Keyes. And Luxe Life has learned that Britney Spears, who was recording here last week at the Palms, and Rihanna have tapped him for in-studio duets and producing winning tracks. His first-single 'All Because of You' has just been released and you can even hear it on his MySpace page. He's getting ready for the Spring Scream Tour and hopes his new still untitled album will be ready and released to coincide with the criss-cross travels across America. First up though next Sunday's Grammy's where he goes up against Rio headliner Prince for 'Best Male &B Performer' with "So Sick" and you can catch him in the current " Stomp The Yard" movie. All pretty incredible and fantastic for the teenager who still admits he pays strict attention to what Mom tells him to do!

CELINE & RENE'S GAMING CONTROVERSY
Just as Luxe Life predicted, news of Celine Dion's husband, Rene Angeli's incredibly big poker and craps betting numbers first revealed last week set off a firestorm of controversy. (Click here for that story and click here for the extraordinary statement Caesars Palace issued afterwards at his request). Emails from fellow players have poured into us confirming his very frequent and very large $$ bets and two-at-a-time $20,000 markers! However, according to Cardplayer.com, the Internet poker authority, Rene has lifetime poker winnings of almost $350,000. The website even lists the last 10 tournaments he's played in; mostly at the rival Bellagio rather than Caesars, where he was thought to play more often.

One extraordinary email even related that Celine had urged him not to play at Caesars when she was performing there because it caused "image problems." For the record though, here's just a couple of his big wins: $62,175, $16,150, and $11,720 in Bellagio No-Limit Hold'em Tournaments and $24,405 in the Festa Al Lago Classic.

ALL OR NOTHING

It wasn't just a "football only" weekend. Ultimate Fighting Championship stars brought more bare-knuckle, mixed-martial arts excitement to the Octagon for

How is it possible that Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, two marquee Mexican fighters who have circled each other for years, have somehow avoided clashing before now? Their 12-round dream fight is set for March 17 at 6PM at Mandalay Bay, with the WBC Super Featherweight Championship on the line.

Barrera (63-4, 42 KOs) would love this win to cap a storied 17-year career that includes world championships in three weight classes. But to get there he'll have to beat a stellar technician in Marquez (46-3-1, 35 KOs), who has held the featherweight championship of the world twice.

Tickets to Barrera vs Marquez are priced at $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50.

Despite the fact that Monty Python star Eric Idle introduced him as the Grim Reaper of TV, blaming him for single-handedly killing off three top shows, John O'Hurley will still play King Arthur when the 'Spamalot' musical opens at the Wynn next month. He's a good friend, a great guy, and we've shared some fine wines over the years!

Luxe Life concludes its four-part salute to 'Spamalot' in a casual conversation with the actor who will be commuting between Vegas and Hollywood.

Robin Leach: What was your reaction when you got the call saying "we want you to play the King in the Monty Python musical?"

John O'Hurley: Well, it was a toss up because I was really wanting to go back to Broadway this year. It was such a wonderful experience in the Chicago musical that I was going to go back and do it again this year. But I also said to my agent, see what s going on over at 'Spamalot' and see when the king pops open because I would love to have that. I wasn't thinking about Vegas. And lo and behold they said we are opening up in Vegas and they asked if I would be in it. I thought what a dream. When my wife and I were in New York I went to see every other show because I really wanted to see what else was out there. I circled two roles and I said to my wife 'I have got to do these roles.' One was the lead in 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,' which closed before I got a hold of it, and the other was the king in 'Spamalot.' I thought it was an extraordinary show and I thought it was so funny. I had not laughed as hard at a Broadway musical since the first time I saw 'Noises Off' back in the 80's. I described 'Spamalot' as the show that if you laugh too long, you miss the next joke. It just doesn't stop and that is why I wanted to do it.

It is so perfect now that we have the birth of our first-born seven weeks ago. I am a good daddy by the way and we'll even set up a nursery in my dressing room backstage to be there every performance. So it is easy to hop over to the executive airport and go home in 45 minutes. This has been an extraordinary thing and I am going to be here for a long time. It'll be full time through the summer here in Vegas but then I go back in September and film. We are shooting Family Feud again. I'll also be doing a new NBC show and believe it or not there's even a new one too but I can't talk about that one yet. So in some cases I will be leaving Vegas at midnight flying back to shoot the next day and then flying back here to do the 'Spamalot' show again that same night.

RL: How is your health and stamina for that grueling schedule?

JO: These are the gravy years, this is the time you do the things to give you greater freedom later in life so while the opportunities are there I am going to embrace them.


RL: You are stepping into some pretty powerful armor and kingly boots and you bring a completely different thing to it than Tim Curry did.

JO: Yes. And how strange that Tim and I did a sitcom together on TV and it is very funny that here we are exchanging roles. I have a different take on the character. To me he is like the pirate king in the 'Pirates of Penzance.' It doesn't matter who is the best qualified, he just happened to look best in the outfit. But they just told me to do what I wanted to and play it the way I wanted to, so here goes!

RL: What do you love about Vegas when you come here?

JO: When I land at the airport it is always like you are coming to a great party. I think that is what it feels like. It is a city of infinite possibilities. I think that is what makes anything in life interesting.

RL: So if you get a house here, you will be our newest showbiz resident. Will you build another wine cellar?

JO: Yes. We brought all of the good wines out so we will have to imbibe some night.

Related Pop-ular Stories:
- Luxe Life: Part I: Eric Idle, John O'Hurley and Steve Wynn Answer 'Why Vegas?'
- Luxe Life: Part II: Eric 'American' Idle On Why Monty Python is Popular in the U.S.
- Luxe Life: Part III: Steve Wynn On the State of Vegas
- Luxe Life: Part IV: John O'Hurley Goes From the Grim Reaper to King Arthur

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Sports books in Vegas are already predicting another mammoth betting spree and are hoping to shatter records this Super Bowl weekend with a $100 million betting bonanza. It is the busiest sports wagering weekend of the year, exceeding even March Madness. A year ago, when the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl, the final take was a record $94.5 million.

So, the city is packed to the rafters; probably more than in Miami itself! Hilton's executive sports book director Jay Kornegay said: "Vegas is at this moment insane. The whole week is big for everybody in Vegas." That's partly because we also have the first middleweight title defense by Anderson Silva, who will battle Travis Lutter inside the Octagon tomorrow at Mandalay Bay.

However, I must also point out that two weeks from now, when the NBA All-Star Game is played in Vegas, the city will be even busier and more crazed. I learned today that some tickets for the All-Star match-up with Kobe vs. LeBron and Tim Duncan vs. Shaq are being offered around town at a whopping $17,000 a seat, but Harrah's sports book executives tell me, "No Betting at all on NBA," because that was the major concession the league wanted for the game to be played in our gambling mecca.

Now, back to the Gridiron Glory of the magical meeting in Miami. At Caesar's, sports book director Chuck Esposito added: "The Super Bowl may be 2,500 miles away, but it might as well be here as it fills up every avenue of the casino. People actually camp out the night before just to get a seat in here."

For the best party in Vegas, Luxe Life tips its hat to The Joint in the Hard Rock. Sports book director Jamie Shae told my ABC Radio producer pal Al Mancini: "It will be wild as usual particularly with the "hot girl football toss." We'll have a slew of gorgeous sexy girls dressed in very skimpy sports outfits who will throw out footballs stuffed with chips into the crowd. It's a lot of money so the party will kickoff in a very wild and exciting way. It really is the event of the year and the best party of the weekend. Throughout our entire circular casino you can hear the roar of the crowd anywhere. They're energized. They're screaming and it's so much fun." Jamie is confident the game will break the $100 million betting mark in Vegas. "This will be the best handle ever," she said. "People want this game. You couldn't ask for better teams. This is the best match up. This will be the wildest, craziest of them all. Chicago and Indianapolis are two teams that belong to the entire country, so everybody comes out for them rather than just a local favorite."

Al asked if big bets of $100,000 might even escalate up to $500,000 this year. Jamie replied: "We take substantial bets, and the numbers are truly fantastic. We don't reveal individuals or the size of their bets, but those numbers wouldn't surprise me around town. We have just 60 props and because everybody thinks they know football the margin of victory becomes the most popular."

Just remember though, you cannot bet on the outcome of the coin toss. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has ruled that, because that is not a sporting event, but is pure luck, there can be no betting.

Late checkup at the Hilton indicates Indianapolis is favored by 7 points over Chicago and the total is 48 at its SuperBook, which has no less than 300 different propositions offered to bet the game any which way you choose. I really don't need an excuse to run a photo of luscious lusty ladies, but it helps when they even make Super Bowl predictions.


The girls of Sinsation Pictures (seen above) showed up at the Imperial Palace with their Super Bowl picks. Dee and Kristal Summers took the Bears plus 7 points, Mika Tan sided with the Colts minus 7; Dee and Kristal both liked over 49 points, while Mika selected under the total; their Prop picks were: Kristal Summers: Colts will be the first team to call a timeout at -115, Peyton Manning over 265.5 passing yards at -130, and Marvin Harrison over 5.5 receptions at -115.; Dee: There will be a successful coaches challenge +130, There will be a special teams of Defensive TD in the game at +140, Rex Grossman to throw an interception before he throws a TD at even money. Bonus selection: Devin Hester will go over 25.5 with a kickoff return at -120; Mika Tan: There will not be a safety scored in the game at -900, Cedric Benson will go under 51.5 rushing yards at -120, and neither team will score in the final two minutes of the first half at -300. Quite frankly, it doesn't matter if they are right or wrong when they look like at them, but if they are spot-on that would be an added bonus!

While every hotel has its big-gun entertainment stars and over-the-top parties, ironically one of our biggest superstars is out of town in Miami! Prince is away from his Club 3121 in the Rio to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, so artist Lauryn Hill will perform live here in his regular slot. She launched her music career with the hip hop trio, The Fugees, with their debut album 'The Score' selling more than 17 million albums worldwide. Going solo she sold more than 12 million albums worldwide with 'Miseducation' with such hits as "Ex-Factor" and "Everything is Everything." Also, members of our Cirque du Soleil shows here in Vegas will perform pre-game entertainment along with Miami's salsa-singing queen Gloria Estefan.

MORE MISS AMERICA
If you couldn't tune into Monday's live broadcast of the 2007 Miss America pageant, CMT will give you four more opportunities to catch it this weekend: Today at 4PM and Saturday twice at 2:30PM and 9PM prime time, and then Sunday at 6PM, opposite the Super Bowl. Personally, I think its brilliant counter-programming, because if you're not into hunks manhandling one another over a ball, then watch the glamour girls smile in their swimsuits and sashes! Click here for our extensive Miss America coverage.

NEW INTERNET OLDIES NETWORK
My friend, Ron Dante (seen below with yours truly), who is a legendary recording artist in his own right (The Archies, The Detergents, The Cufflinks), and one of the biggest and busiest record producers in the business (Barry Manilow, Cher, Trini Lopez), is preparing a comprehensive series of performance music videos here of the top pop recording artists of the 1960's and 1970's for the new Rock and Roll TV4U.Com. The artists include The Miracles, The Grass Roots, Len Barry, Mitch Ryder, Brian Hyland, Lou Christie, Spencer Davis, Chuck Jackson, Al Wilson, The Association, Iron Butterfly, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Lenny Welch, Cannibal and the Headhunters, Jewel Akins, and the Bay City Rollers. Each artist will return to perform and film their Billboard Top 40 Hits from the Rock and Roll era.

"The '60s and '70s were an exciting time in the music industry and it's a pleasure to record these artists using 21st century technology so their fans can enjoy their classic hits with today's quality," exclaimed Ron on a visit to the recording studio at the Palms, where he was producing Trini Lopez's newest album. "Rock and Roll TV4U.Com is a broadband channel concept that gives the millions of fans of these great artists the chance to enjoy their performances on video after all of these years. You can think of this as a Baby Boomer MTV style channel." Ron Dante also performs on the Cufflinks videos and plans to reprise his hits with The Archies as well. "We've enjoyed making music videos of almost 100 top songs so far and we're just getting started," Dante continued. "We'll be making the majority of these videos in Las Vegas and Henderson."

STRIP SCRIBBLES
Sugarcult's birthday party at Rainbow Bar & Grill was anything but sour. While known as one of the hardest working underground rock bands, lead guitarist Marko DeSantis, bassist Airin, and drummer Kenny Livingston took a break from their schedule and partied with birthday boy and lead singer Tim Pagnotta. Fresh off a U.S. headlining tour, the band also just released their new CD 'Lights Out' and are heading to Japan this week. The Rainbow Bar & Grill, located directly opposite the Hard Rock Hotel and Cafe, has just celebrated its 1st anniversary. Its growing reputation as a new playground has attracted an exciting celebrity clientele. Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney signed the "Drumhead of Fame," and Clint Holmes regularly stops by to pick up pizzas. Members of the band Smash Mouth came in for a bottle of vodka and pizzas, and drummer Vinnie Paul had dinner and drinks before hanging up his snare drum in the green room. Dave Navarro came in for some drinks with a trio of lady friends, and 3 Doors Down dropped in for a bite; all in the past few days! Now all ears and eyes may be on Miami this weekend for Super Bowl but Vegas offers up an abundance of alternatives and here they are in what we affectionately refer to as ...

ROBIN'S ROYAL RUNDOWN
FRI, FEB 2
* Sir Elton John will be at his Red Piano in Caesars Palace this weekend and through February 17. (Click here for our Tuesday Luxe Life story.)

* Kevin James keeps the yuks coming on strong at the Mirage tonight and tomorrow

* Howard Stern's comedic sidekick Artie Lange will standup in his own spotlight at the Luxor through tomorrow night, and you can bet your last buck he'll also be standing up at the gaming tables!

* More comedy from Damon Wayans at the Orleans for two nights and it's anybody's guess how many members of that special showbiz family will be there to root him on.

* Brilliant jazz guitarist Larry Carlton really makes smooth music up at the Suncoast through Saturday night.

* For the best in artists' studios, antique stores and art-galleries walkabout downtown in our monthly art celebration known as First Friday.

SAT, FEB 3
* Girls girls girls! My pal, Motley Crue's Vince Neil sings it and will host it at a Fashion party tied into Super Bowl at Scores.

* It's All or Nothing with the UFC, as the world middleweight championship is at stake inside the Octagon when Silva takes on Lutter at Mandalay Bay. Teamed up also is the UFC debuts of Rampage Jackson and Mirko Crocop, which will be more intense than the Chicago and Indianapolis battle.

* He was the breakout hit of 'Undercover Brother' and 'Deuce Bigalow' and now Eddie Griffin goes live solo at Mandalay Bay, bringing Sheryl Underwood in as his special opening act guest.

* Country's greatest, some would say, but this double header speaks volumes about being at the very top. George Strait & Ronnie Milsap sing and play to frenzied fans at MGM.

* Goodness knows how long the five members of Little River Band have been traveling but their train pulls into Boulder Station one more time.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, FEB. 4
* The streets will be quiet and the casino sports books will be buzzing as the majority of America will be glued to their TV sets for the big game.

* 'Fame Games' even takes a week's rest so as not to go head-to-head with the Super Bowl. Episode five will air next Sunday, Feb. 11 when yet another train-wreck contestant will be kicked out of the house for good!

MONDAY'S TEASE
We'll have the wrap up of all the Super Bowl excitement as celebrities pour into our desert kingdom to watch the clash of Chicago go up against the imperialism of Indianapolis. And Tuesday we'll have an extraordinary and amazing world exclusive interview that will make headlines around the globe. It's a story and photo-souvenir you will only see here at Luxe Life. Before the week is over we'll also see how a 10-year-dream finally comes true and will help change the world.

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Responding to grossly inaccurate media speculation about the gaming activity of prominent entertainment entrepreneur Rene Angelil, Caesars Palace issued a statement this afternoon.

"Allegations that Rene gambles as much as $1 million per week are totally false," said Gary Selesner, president of the famed resort. "In deference to the privacy of all our guests, we don't discuss their gaming or hotel patronage, but with Rene's permission, we would like to set the record straight. His casino losses in 2005 and 2006 have totaled exactly $230,300, which have been more than offset by his tournament poker winnings, of $259,079, which are posted on the Internet.

"Rene and his wife Celine Dion are very dear to us," Selesner continued. "In addition to being the best partners a business person could want, they are exemplary people, whose integrity, achievement and philanthropy have justly earned worldwide respect. In life and in business, Rene is a winner, and one of the finest people I have ever known. Caesars Palace is very sorry for any embarrassment that may have resulted from the media speculation."

The Caesars Palace response was issued after an inaccurate statement appeared in newspapers.

Editor's Note: The gambling figures in the original story were from Harrah's VP of Communications, Jan Jones, and printed in a prestigious and responsible British newspaper, The Observer. The story was first filed locally in the LATimes.com blog of writer Richard Abowitz. Luxe Life reported coverage by the LA Times and Review-Journal and made no comments, observations or speculation, but quite correctly predicted the controversy that would be ignited by them.

I Headed out to the Silverton awhile back for an early dinner at Seasons, a terrific buffet. But after braving the south Strip traffic and the perennial construction on Blue Diamond Rd., I arrived to discover that Seasons was closed for a private party.

Such happenings are a common occurrence in a money-talks town. Travel here often enough and you'll inevitably find a favorite restaurant has been commandeered for the night by the Georgia Peach Growers Association or some such outfit. However, it's a rarity this far off the main resort corridors, so it was with some surprise that I was politely directed to one of the Silverton's other dining opportunities.

As I wandered across the hunting lodge-style casino, I gazed down the rows of slot machines for a glimpse of Paula Abdul. No, I don't look for the former Laker Girl everywhere I go, but this was a legit celebrity-sighting opportunity, as the shortest, cutest and some would say wackiest 'American Idol' judge, has been hired by the Silverton as a consultant on their entertainment offerings. Alas, no Paula, so I settled for dinner at the Sundance Grill, also known as the coffee shop.

Hotel coffee shops are Las Vegas staples, and what's most unique about them is how un-unique they are. The names change and the decor might pick up on the theme of the resort in which they reside, but every coffee shop has the same breakfast items served all day, the same waitresses that seem to have wandered in from an episode of 'Alice,' the same late night specials, and that spinning metal display of cheesecakes and coconut-cream pies under glass.

No real surprises at the Silverton's entry, but no disappointments either. I could predict most of the entrees before opening the menu; hot open-face roast turkey, French dip, burgers, etc. I opted for the French dip, which was served hot and fast, with the kind of French fries I like (for me, the thinner, the better). It wasn't why I went to the Silverton, but it was tasty and priced fairly enough to merit a return visit.

And next time I'll save room for some pie.