Las Vegas is Home

Here I am again with the celebrity gatherings as seen through the eyes of Norm Clarke. It was a busy weekend here in Las Vegas.

Joe Simpson, father of Ashlee and Jessica Simpson, celebrating his 49th birthday Sunday at Social House (Treasure Island). Also there: former United States Olympic gold-medal sprinter Maurice Greene.

Charles Barkley and Tiger Woods, partying at Light (Bellagio) on Sunday night. Barkley had the crowd raging when he climbed on the stage and worked the stripper pole with some ladies.

At ghostbar (Palms) on Sunday for the Mitchell and Ness party: Akon, Dave Chapelle, Darryl McDaniels of rap pioneer group Run DMC, Adam “Pac Man” Jones, Antonio Gates, Anthony Peeler, Felipe Lopez, Dikembe Mutombo, Ed Lover, Grand Master Kane and Monie Love… Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Penny Marshall, Ron Artest and “Sugar” Shane Mosley, dining at N9ne. … Busta Rhymes, Young Joc, LaDanian Tomilson, Deion Sanders, Shawn Marion, Gabrielle Union, Mosely, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jermain Taylor, Kenyon Martin, Darryl McDaniels, “Girls Next Door” star Kendra Wilkinson and “Pac Man” Jones, at Diddy’s sold-out “Black Tie Affair” on Sunday at Rain nightclub (Palms).

At OPM (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Sunday for the annual Ballers Ball / Women Standing Tall / After School All Stars charity event: Hip-hop star Kanye West, Elaine Wynn, Miami Heat guard Gary Payton, R&B singers Akon, Ray J and Tyrese, Pittsburgh Steelers defender Joey Porter, rappers Ludacris, Yung Joc, E-40, Young Jeezy, Lil Flip, Lil Jon, Chamillionaire, Lil Wayne and the group Bone Thugs and Harmony, comedian Katt Williams, champion boxer Jermain Taylor, actress Kim Whitley, Los Angeles Clippers’ Doug Christie and Mad Mike of MTV show “Pimp My Ride.”

Wild child Nicole Richie, joining boyfriend/deejay Joel Madden of music group Good Charlotte at Revolution lounge (Mirage). Also in the house: rap stars 50 cent, with members of the G-Unit crew in tow, and Busta Rhymes.

On Saturday, ESPN analyst and former UNLV star Greg Anthony having dinner at BOA Steakhouse with former teammate Clinton Clausen, BOA exec. Also dining at BOA: Phoenix Suns star and UNLV product Shawn Marion, as well as Scott Padgett of the Memphis Grizzlies. Actor Mario Lopez and James Pickens Jr. at BOA on Sunday.

Ladainian Tomlinson, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and their wives and friends, along with three bodyguards, having a 1 a.m. dinner at N9ne Steakhouse (Palms)…Slam-dunk champion Gerald Green of the Boston Celtics, at N9ne Steakhouse (Palms) on Sunday, doing a photo shoot for ESPN The Magazine. Afterwards he went the N9ne kitchen and signed the “Shakedown Door” for Chef Barry Dakake, before the two had dinner together…Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, celebrating his 27th birthday at N9ne with a dessert platter.

Actress Eva Longoria and San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, dining at Spago (Caesars Forum Shops) on Sunday after the All-Star Game.

Comedian George Wallace, attending longtime Las Vegas showman Earl Turner’s final show at Palace Station on Sunday.

The whole point of bring the NBA All Star game here was to prove to the NBA commission that Las Vegas could be the next home of an NBA team. Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman has been trying to get a team here for over a year now, and hopefully after all that happened this weekend they will still want to come.

We had four shotings in two incidents resulting in three people who were critically injured, and over 300 arrest on various charges. To say I am disappointed is putting it mildly.

One man was shot in the hip inside the parking garage of the MGM Grand. He declined to press charges, and police are not following up on the incident, Montoya said.

Instead they are focused on the more serious shooting, which occurred outside the Minxx strip club on Wynn Road near Tropicana Avenue.

Three people were shot after three or four patrons of the club were escorted outside for fighting. One of them opened fire, wounding two employees and a patron near the club’s entrance, police said.

Blood spatter could be seen Monday morning on one of the double doors at the club.

One worker was shot in the chest, one was shot in the arm and leg, and a female patron was grazed in the head by another bullet, Montoya said. He said all three victims were hospitalized in critical condition.

Montoya said police had heard speculation that NFL cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones of the Tennessee Titans had been involved in the shooting, but those reports had not been confirmed. Jones has had several run-ins with authorities in West Virginia and Tennessee.

Montoya also said he did not know whether any other celebrities were at the club during the time of the shooting. There were reports that rapper Nelly was among the celebrities who had been in the club just before the shooting.

Jones’ agent, Michael Huyghue of Axcess Sports & Entertainment in Jacksonville, Fla., said late Monday afternoon that he knew nothing of the incident and would have been told if his client were the subject of a police investigation.

Because Jones is not a “poster child” for model behavior, he has become “an easy target for people to say he’s involved in this kind of thing,” Huyghue said.

As part of the effort to identify who fired the bullets at Minxx, police were interviewing about 40 witnesses who had been at the club, Montoya said.

Everyone is in town this weekend for the NBA All-star Game including all the celebrities. Once again Norm Clarke gives us the inside scoop on who is here in town and what they are doing.

NBA legend Michael Jordan chatting it up with an unidentified blonde at Pure nightclub at Caesars … Also at Pure, music producer Jermaine Dupri hanging out with former Blink 182 frontman Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler, who recently reunited after a bitter split… At The Beatles Revolution Lounge (Mirage): actor Lawrence Fishburne…Rapper Nelly with a small entourage of friends and security heading toward valet at Treasure Island.

Starr Jones Reynolds, spotted shopping at The Art of Shaving and Lush Puppy at Mandalay Place (Mandalay Bay).

Michael Jordan, getting an early start on the NBA All-Star Weekend. He showed up at Jet (Mirage) on Monday with pal Charles Oakley. Also there: actor Laurence Fishburne, Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, spotted dancing on VIP tables and booths, and Cee-Lo Green of Grammy award-winning group, Gnarls Barkley. Former boxing champ Bernard Hopkins, dining at Fix (Mirage).

Things are all a buzz here in Las Vegas for the big NBA All-Star Game Weekend, Feb. 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Not only is the game a big deal, but the advertising for this game has been outrageous here in town! Everywhere you look the hotels have decked their buildings out for this.

As always, Las Vegas brings out the celebrities, and this weekend seemed to be a little slow in town. I wonder if everyone is home with that flu virus that is hitting the West coast hard this season. Norm Clarke reports his sightings.

Remember our Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees that got a little too personal in her pictures and had her crown taken away by Donald Trump? Well she seems to have taken a liking for Palms owner George Maloof, as they were seen together Saturday night at an event.

At the Alzheimers gala:Kevin Spacey, who was the surprise entertainer, and Laurence Fishburne, who is in town filming with Spacey for another two weeks. They are working on the Vegas-set thriller which is based on the non-fiction best-seller “Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T Students who Took Vegas for Millions”…

At “The Producers” after-party at Paris Las Vegas on Friday: Billionaire Robert F.X. Sillerman, whose CMX enterprise that owns and manages the Elvis Presley rights and Tom Meehan, who co-wrote “The Producers” book with Brooks, as well as “Spaceballs.” Brooks and Meehan are collaborating on a musical based on “Young Frankenstein.” Tony Award-winning choreographer and director Susan Stroman, who attended Friday’s opener, will direct “Young Frankenstein.” Also there: Mel Brooks’ brother, Bernard Kaminsky, and wife, Bella, and their son, Mitchell Edwards, all of Las Vegas…

‘”Sopranos” star Lorraine Bracco, dining at Restaurant Guy Savoy (Caesars Palace) on Friday and dropping into Rao’s and Mesa Grill

There are close to 500 very upset people here in Las Vegas today. They had booked trips to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii through a local company called CEI Sports Tours and found themselves grounded at McCarran Airport this morning. It turns out, that CEI Sports Tours never even booked their flights for them! A sales rep from the company said that they can’t get in contact with the owner, although he got a text message from him saying they didn’t have the money to book the flights. I smell a rat!

One group of family and friends was looking forward to going to Hawaii. Their bags were packed. They were ready to go.

Mark Kerr said, “We have family coming in from D.C., from Wyoming, and about ten of us from Las Vegas.”

The trip was a year in the making. It included going to the NFL Pro Bowl among other things.

“For me and my wife, it was our five-year anniversary, so it was definitely a special trip for us to do that,” said Kerr.

But now the trip is off.

“Disappointment big time. Everything from crying to you name it,” he said.

Source: Trip to Nowhere… Hundreds Duped Out of Hawaii Trip

[tags]ceisportstours.com,NFL Pro Bowl,hawaii[/tags]

One week from today is the big lovers holiday, Valentine’s Day. Living in Las Vegas leaves us many options on how to spend that evening with our sweetheart. Last year my personal favorite sweetheart (my husband), and I went to dinner at La Collina Cucina Italiana in Henderson. It is a gorgeous restaurant that sits up on the hill with a beautiful view of the entire valley, including the Strip. We sat for hours, eating, drinking, and laughing. It is a perfect place for the romantics at heart.

Here are a few of my suggestions for you to do on Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas:

VIPnVegas.com

VIPnVegas has put together the perfect romantic evening for those on a budget. Our Packages start at just $175 per couple and include transportation, Dinner and other attractions great for a romantic evening out in Las Vegas for Valentines Day. We specialize in nightlife activities in Las Vegas and therefore can offer you the perfect recipe for a successful Valentines Day night out on the town.

Phantom

It is estimated that more than 80 million people worldwide have seen “Phantom of the Opera.” Now fans of the stage show have a chance to see an all-new production, “Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular,” at the Venetian.

Music For Lovers

Spend Valentine’s Day with the one you love listening to the smooth R&B sounds from some of the best.

Gondola Ride at the Venetian Hotel

The gondola is a perfect setting to ask the girl of your dreams if she will marry you.

How about doing the most romantic thing you could ever do and get married at the Little White Wedding Chapel on Valentine’s Day.

The ceremony was perfect. Not too short, and not too long. Elvis singing broke the ice and gave me some time to breath in between saying our vows. If not for that I honestly don’t know if I would have been able to coherently said them. The emotions were so high and I could feel my heart beating in my chest. When I took Michael’s hands in mine I felt almost as if there was electricity flowing between us. It was the oddest feeling and I have never been so highly aware of my emotion’s as I did then.

There are a million of things to do on Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas and I could go on forever. Now it’s your turn. How are you going to be spending your Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas?

[tags]las vegas valentines day,las vegas[/tags]

The celebrities were out in full force for the Super Bowl weekend. Norm Clarke reports his sightings.

David Hasselhoff and Roger Clemens, schmoozing the VIP crowd at an Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Super Bowl party at Curve nightclub on Sunday. Also at the high-roller bash: David Dombrowski, president and CEO of the Detroit Tigers. … Michael Jackson, attending the late show of “Love” (Mirage) on Saturday. On the way out, he was seen browsing in the “Love” boutique and stopping at Impulse and DKNY, while accommodating fans who requested photo opportunities. … Derek Jeter, at Tao (Venetian) with friends before returning to the Playboy Club and Moon nightclub (Palms) for some blackjack. Also there: Baltimore Ravens All-Pro offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans. Jeter spent the weekend in a penthouse suite at the Palms. … Lisa Marie Presley and Priscilla Presley, continuing Lisa Marie’s birthday weekend at Caramel Bar & Lounge (Bellagio). … Actor Matthew Lillard (”Scream” and “Scooby-Doo”), dining at Stack (Mirage). … At Mix (Mandalay Bay): Drew Bennett, Tennessee Titans wide receiver. … Socialites Rick and Kathy Hilton, at Pure (Caesars) after dining at Fix (Bellagio). … At Body English (Hard Rock Hotel): Wesley Snipes, Jamie Lynn Sigler of “The Sopranos,” actor Eric Balfour, Joe Rogan, Jenna Jameson, Tito Ortiz, Laura Prepon, Chris Masterson, David Williams, Rampage Jackson (fresh from his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut win over Marvin Eastman), Kansas City Chiefs rushing star Larry Johnson, actor Andrew Keegan, and comedians Artie Lange and Rev. Bob Levy, with their producer, Jeff Beacher, celebrating a boffo weekend of shows at the Luxor. … NFL Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, watching his Chicago Bears at a VIP Super Bowl party at the Gold Coast. … Actress Kate Bosworth and her “21″ co-star Jim Sturgess, playing blackjack at the Heart Bar at Aladdin/Planet Hollywood on Saturday. … At Pure: MC Hammer and UFC main ring announcer Bruce Buffer. … Baseball great Rickey Henderson and the Chiefs’ Johnson, holding court at OPM (Forum Shops at Caesars).

[tags]norm clarke,las vegas journalist[/tags]

Let’s say you live in Las Vegas and for some reason you decide you need to go put money down on the big game. You’re not sure who to pick, so you call your friend (me) who is at home chained to her laptop and you ask her (me) to look up how animals around the world are picking the winner for the 2007 Super Bowl against the Bears and the Colts.

She finds out that a dolphin at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA picked the Colts by having both teams footballs thrown into the water, and the first ball the dolphin picked was the Colts football.

You get your answer, you laugh, you hang up, and you go bet your life savings based on a dolphin that picked a Colts football floating in the water. Only in Vegas does this stuff happen!

[tags]super bowl betting,las vegas[/tags]