"Hope is not just on the way," said Larry Ruvo, "it's finally arrived!"
Today at 4PM, world-famous architect Frank Gehry joins Mayor Oscar Goodman (seen above together), celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck and Larry to put on hardhats and pick up shovels for the groundbreaking ceremony downtown that I will emcee. Tomorrow, at the 11th annual Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives), Lorraine Bracco (Sopranos) Hilary and Haylie Duff, (Agent Cody Banks) Kevin Spacey, John Cusack and 'Mindfreak' magician Criss Angel will all add to the glittering red-carpet festivities. Comedy king Brad Garrett will be the headline entertainer, with one extraordinary surprise superstar attraction in a Vegas debut of never-seen-before entertainment. Although I know the wow blockbuster, I'm sworn to secrecy, but we'll have the close-up report with photos right here on Monday morning! (Meantime, here are a few photos of last year's gala.)
Top-chefs Joel Robuchon and Mario Batali will join Wolfgang and his partner David Robbins for the spectacular four-course dinner, which will be accompanied by some of the world's rarest and most sought-after wines. Star chef Emeril Lagasse will also attend but this year officially gets a night off; until his infectious personality propels him into the night's unscripted excitement.
I'll emcee the evening as ringmaster with Sotheby's Vice-Chairman, auctioneer Jamie Niven as guru of the gavel selling the most incredible lineup of remarkable auction items. They include: David Copperfield's donation to stay at his "fountain of youth" island in the Bahamas with roundtrip private jet; A summer weekend of tennis games and lessons with Andre Agassi and his wife Stefi Graf, who will even do all the cooking; A Vegas shopping spree with Teri Hatcher; Dinner with Oscar winning actress Dame Julie Andrews; A private dinner cooked by Emeril, who will bring his pal, Robin Williams along to entertain; Tommy Lasorda will personally host a visit to Dodger Stadium; Dinner with the drivers at this year's Indy 500 and then watch the race in the pits; The ultimate trip to Italy hosted at the Tuscan estates of fashion kings Salvatore Ferragamo and Ermenegildo Zegna; A rare, impossible to obtain collector's 2007 Bentley Continental convertible, one of which just sold for $1.3 million in Florida.
Kevin Spacey will help me with the final knockout item of the night, when he'll host the winning bidder to a New York visit that includes a Tiffany his and hers shopping spree and front-row seats for his new play 'A Moon for the Misbegotten,' followed by dinner with him at super chef Daniel Boulud's Manhattan restaurant. On top of that rocker Jon Bon Jovi has agreed to host the next night's dinner at the "unreservable" RAO's restaurant, which even had to say NO to Bill Clinton and Madonna! Dr. Ruth Westheimer will take charge of a legendary Le Cirque lunch and offer free advice to spice up your love life!
Architect Frank Gehry, whose family was also affected by Alzheimer's, has designed the unique building, which has already been hailed as a world architectural masterpiece. His friend, superstar actor Brad Pitt, who is an architectural student, has seen the design plans and models and has promised to help our future fundraising efforts!!! This is the ultimate! (AOL joined me in helping our charitable efforts and you can link to the progress of our fight right here on our daily Luxe Life pages).
With 1,000 of Vegas' movers and shakers attending, we're hoping for a $10-million night, which will finalize the construction go-ahead of the 67,000 sq.ft Brain Institute set for completion late next year. It has been hailed worldwide as the finest initiative for attacking brain diseases and the national USA resource for new detection, diagnostic and treatment solutions. As a result the all-star board of scientists and physicians which includes Nobel Laureate prizewinners and top teams from Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic and he Universities of Pennsylvania and San Diego specializing in combating and conquering the increasing elderly population's battle against dementia and memory disorders.
Larry's efforts to build the Brain Institute in honor of his father Lou Ruvo, who died from Alzheimer's began with a small dinner 10-years-ago in an upstairs room at Wolfgang's Spago restaurant here with just 40 friends. Wolf also lost his parents to Alzheimer's. In the past decade the annual fundraising dinner has grown to a 1,000 supporters who've raised $60 million to see that dream come true. "All, I want now is for the scientists to find a cure," said my friend, Larry. "And they've promised me they will. This in itself is a remarkable achievement for Las Vegas and when that happens our city will be on the map all over again for the medical breakthrough."
STRIP SCRIBBLES
Now, thanks to wife Nicole Kidman standing by him while in drug-rehab, Keith Urban's much-anticipated return to a concert stage tour is set with a June 9 date here at Mandalay Bay. Named after his multi-platinum album, 'Love, Pain & the whole Crazy Thing,' the tour will feature The Wreckers, with Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp, as the opening act. Tickets, go on sale tomorrow morning and later on Saturday Night Live he'll make his 1st TV show appearance following the hospital stay. ... Tickets for the May 5 championship clash between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. at MGM were all sold out in less than 30 hours for a record-shattering total of $19-million, with some fetching $2,000. And that was pre-scalper and pre-ticket-brokers prices! The Cinco de Mayo bout between De La Hoya (38-4, 30 knockouts), the sport's most popular attraction, and Mayweather (37-0, 24 KOs), widely regarded as its best fighter, is also likely to break pay-per-view records.
And now for this weekends attractions and our highlights that we refer to around here affectionately as ...
ROBIN'S ROYAL RUNDOWN
Fri Feb 9
* After sell-out previews, it's finally the laugh-filled premiere of 'The Producers' with David Hasselhoff at the Paris.
* For laughter out loud fun Brad Garrett is master of mirth at the Mirage.
* 30 Seconds to Mars band members Jared & Shannon Leto, Tom Milicivec and Matt Wachter will celebrate their new record "A Beautiful Lie" going platinum with a bash at JET in the Mirage.
* The six veterans of rock are right at home as Foreigner playing at the Luxor.
* Step downtown and back in time a little to the sweet pop sounds of Petula Clark at the Suncoast.
* They stand tall and strong! The Tower of Power takes control at the Orleans.
* A slight gap in musical history because I don't see the Union with Gary Puckett when his destination ticket is punched for Boulder Station.
* CineVegas continues its screening series lineup with a Cannes Film Festival winner "Climates" at the Tropicana Cinemas.
* Hit 'Alpha Dog' movie actress Dominique Swain hosts a party at Light to celebrate her covergirl status on the February Stuff magazine.
Sat Feb 10
* Kevin Spacey, John Cusack, Teri Hatcher, Lorraine Bracco, Hilary and Haylie Duff are on the red carpet at the Keep Memory Alive Gala in MGM's Convention center. Brad Garrett will make the laughs before zipping back to his Mirage show, and there's one unbelievable surprise first time performance that will be kept secret until the very last moment!
* Baby Come to Me just once! I just don't have the heart to tell James Ingram I wont be able to break-away from the Keep Memory Alive gala when he sings spectacular pre-Valentine's Day soul out at the Green Valley Ranch.
* There'll be beads of perspiration when Keith Sweat pulls into Texas Station.
* Direct from Jay Leno's Tonight Show, Kevin Eubanks will blow the horn entering Sante Fe Station.
* Expect a toe-to-toe, in the trenches slugfest when three time world champion "Sugar Shane" Mosley makes his long-awaited return to the ring to face former welterweight champion Luis Collazo at Mandalay Bay.
* Back to the oldies but goldies with The Comets at the Cannery.
Sun Feb 11
* Light cocktail server Natasha Meade is the covergirl on the new Clubplanet Magazine so she's the star of Light's MAGIC kickoff party.
* 'Surreal Life Fame Games' Episode 5: After a one-week Super Bowl break, our 5th episode of 'Fame Games' returns with a full-frontal course of naked chef and a visit by Surreal Lifers Adrianne Curry and Christopher Knight. But then comes the challenge of comics vs. magicians with a live variety show in front of an unsuspecting audience at the V Theater in the Desert passage. Magician Nathan Burton makes a special appearance to teach magic to stars of our already top-rated reality show. The cast is split into two teams, to battle against each other and, as our photo shows, Nathan presents Chyna, Emmanuel Lewis, Verne Troyer and Traci Bingham. Comedian Joe Trammell gets the other team In Back to Reality 's Go-Fish game one more player loses and I kick them out of the mansion for good and forever!!
MONDAY'S TEASE
The NBA comes to town, and all the superstars of basketball will take up residence for the All-Star Jam and the big game of the giants! Luxe Life has the full rundown so you don't miss anything. Plus, even the cynic in us will vanish as we celebrate the most romantic time of the year. It's Valentine's Day, and that means the busiest day on the books for weddings!
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