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NASCAR Banks in Vegas While Jimmie Johnson Wins Third In a Row

Click for more Vegas NASCAR photosUnder brilliant sunshine and perfect racing conditions, the superstar drivers attracted sell out record crowds of 175,000 to produce one of the richest weekends in sports history and with a billion-dollar boost to our economy far, far larger than the recent Superbowl in Detroit! Yesterday's big Nextel Cup race, the UAW-Damiler-Chrysler 400, itself was a hair-raising high-speed thriller with speeds up at the 200mph mark! At Saturday's Busch series race, there were 12 crashes and one spin out and on Sunday TV, commentators said they'd never seen so many problems with tires and track conditions within the first 17 laps!

Hometown Vegas hero Kyle Busch was narrowly pipped at the post by Jeff Burton once again seeing his dream to win in his hometown shattered by a split second. Then at the Nextel it went up in smoke again when he spun out and for the third consecutive year Jimmie Johnson won.


Gentleman, Start Your Engines: NASCAR Weekend in Las Vegas

Neon Garage
This morning, NASCAR race fans will get their first look at the new track and pit facilities at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but LUXE LIFE has the first photos from the private VIP party to celebrate the opening of Neon Garage, where fans are guaranteed fastest ever speeds, hitting 200mph and many more pit stops of car interaction! Ever since the NASCAR crews and drivers left town after the days of racing a year ago, construction crews have razed the infield, demolished the buildings and completed the major part of a nearly $400-million makeover. It's open for the first time today , just in time for the 10th anniversary. (Click here for our LUXE LIFE edition posted Monday this week for the advance rundown of all this weekend's activities).

Pittsburgh Penguins Relocating to Las Vegas? -- BREAKING NEWS

While we're all waiting on Mayor Oscar Goodman's presentation to NBA Commissioner David Stern in hopes of landing an NBA franchise for Las Vegas, my Wall Street sources confirm this morning that our city may become the new home of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins.

When the Penguins partner, the Isle of Capri gaming company, lost its bid for slot machine licenses in Pittsburgh, they decided not to accept the city's alternative plan for a new arena for the team.

Vegas Prepares for a NASCAR Invasion, While Bette Midler Prepares to Take Over for Celine

Jimmie Johnson
The countdown has begun for the most exciting weekend of motor racing. It will be three delicious days of NASCAR madness and mayhem. This year it'll be even faster and more exciting than ever before with all the new track changes and rules! I'm reliably told to expect some track speeds hitting the 190 mph mark!!!

An incredible invasion of auto fanatics from across America -- maybe as many as 175,000 -- are headed to town with 2,000 international journalists and TV crews for the pit party with such race greats as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. It's the sell-out 10th annual UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 Nextel Cup race on Sunday and the Sam's Town 300 Busch Series 200-lap race on Saturday, with the winning purse standing at over $1.5 million.

Pure to Open Sexy New Bowling Alley, Restaurant, Bar and Nightclub, Lucky Strike

Lucky Strike Lanes opening at Rio from Pure NightclubBowling has been in and out on the pop culture radar more often than Wayne Newton. In most of the country it's an entertaining way to kill an evening or a Saturday afternoon, and an excuse for employees at the same company to get together after work and wear funny shirts with their names sewn on. But when people come to Las Vegas, bowling is probably the last activity on their minds, though it may still rank above searching for the perfect dice clock.

Pure Management Group and the Rio Resort hope to change all that with the Lucky Strike Lanes, scheduled to open in March. A combination 10-lane bowling alley, restaurant, bar and nightclub, Lucky Strike puts the beer back into the beer frame. Dining specialties include Bite Size Mac & Cheese Balls and Buffalo Chicken Crisps, as well as the standard alley cuisine of burgers and pizzas.

At night, Lucky Strike Lanes morphs into a nightlife hotbed complete with bowling, bar and beats. A neon-lit, script-lettered Las Vegas sign radiates light over the black-lit lanes. The venue will house state-of-the-art technology including five projection screens, which descend from a cascading, wave-patterned white ceiling, and feature score screens complete with picture-in-picture. And where else could you see hot girls in sexy dresses, wearing ugly shoes with the size displayed on the back?

Click for Lucky Strike photos

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Michael Jackson Sightings | Sammy Gets a Star | Your Guide to NBA All-Star Weekend Events

Michael Jackson in Las VegasEver since our LUXE LIFE exclusive interview with Michael Jackson, the King of Pop has begun to appear more and more often as he gets comfortable in his new home here in Las Vegas.

This week, proving his love for Asian culinary delicacies, he hit two of our famous dining spots. (Remember when I chatted with him he was sipping soup at Wing Lei in the Wynn?) This week he finally went for the first time to the TAO Asian Bistro at The Venetian. Wearing his traditional all-black suit and black sunglasses, he arrived with four guests through a private, security-guarded entrance at the resort. Michael enjoyed chicken satay, Chilean sea bass and lobster wontons during the 90-minute meal and told the managers before leaving that he was very happy with it and promised to return. If he'd gone upstairs to the TAO nightclub, he would have run into Ashanti and Nelly who were partying at a VIP table on the dance floor!

Then next day, Michael took his three children, Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II -- nicknamed Blanket -- to star chef Wolfgang Puck's Asian eatery Chinois in the Caesars Palace Forum Shops. To avoid overzealous fans, who followed them into the restaurant, Michael was given a private room in the upstairs OPM Nightclub for his late lunch with the children. On their way home he stopped at the giant FAO Schwarz store in and loaded them up with new toys and stuffed animals. Michael's settling in right at home!

MISS AMERICA'S PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY
2007 Miss America Lauren Nelson with Robin Leach
One of the last things that the new Miss America did before jetting out of Vegas was to take a portrait photo with yours truly. I never guessed she'd remember with her crazed, immediate schedules in New York and Washington D.C. Well say hallelujah, she made certain I got it and here it is!

RED ROSES

I forgot to tell you when reporting on the romantic reunion between feisty couple Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler that when they retired after the PURE party, he had three dozen red roses for her and they plucked the petals to throw over their bedroom romp!

SAMMY GETS HIS STAR

One of the original Rat Pack, Sammy Davis Jr. was honored yesterday on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. His shining recognition will be placed outside the Riviera Hotel where his widow, Altovise, accepted the award. Born in Harlem back in 1925, Sammy was just three years old when he began dancing. An auto-accident in 1954 almost killed him, but left him with the loss of his left eye. It was in 1959 that he joined Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford, forming the famed Rat Pack of Vegas. He was married to dancer Altovise Gore in 1970 by Rev. Jesse Jackson and remained married until his 1990 death from throat cancer. Eventually celebrity VIP stars will dot four miles of sidewalk along the Strip. Sammy's star is a 3ft square slab of polished granite weighing 180 lbs and features his name in gold embossed letters.

SUPER CHALLENGE
Kobe Bryant Although everybody's attention this NBA All-Star Weekend is focused on the big game Sunday and the All-Star Jam Session meet and greets at Mandalay Bay, there's an extraordinary test of skills tomorrow afternoon at Thomas & Mack definitely worth checking out. Four NBA superstars face an obstacle course of dribbling, shooting and passing, and they are timed while battling the course. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Steve Nash, will attempt to wrestle the skills title from last year's winner, Dwayne Wade Two rounds will determine two players to fight it out in the finals, with the winner walking away with $35,000. Best times range from 26 to 33 seconds and all the NBA stars turn out to root for their favorites and distract their opponents. Every b-ball skill gets called into play; jump shots from the key, pylon dribble around, lay-ups, chest pass and bounce pass and an outlet pass throw- with dunking permitted instead of a lay-up! In addition, tomorrow there's the Shooting Stars contest, the 3-Point Shootout and the Slam Dunk contest!

CONGRATULATIONS
What a wonderful coincidence for the JET nightclub and its sister STACK restaurant in the Mirage. They're celebrating their first anniversary and it all ties into NBA All-Star Weekend. Tomorrow night, two heavyweight headliners, Tracey McGrady and Diddy himself celebrate the anniversary!

BIRTHDAY BATTLE
Both NBA legendary superstar Michael Jordan and party heiress Paris Hilton are celebrating their birthdays this weekend. Michael his the magic 44 mark with a party at the Bellagio, with 75 models and dancers decorating the ballroom. Paris celebrates her 26th birthday with gal pals Nicole Richie and Jenna Jameson with promises from her record producer Scott Storch and both Fergie and Snoop Dogg to join the cake cutting!

PARTY RUINDOWN
- LeBron James is scheduled at the Light in the Bellagio. Magic Johnson and Allen Iverson are set for Studio 54 and Dwayne Wade for Sports Illustrated at rumjungle in Mandalay Bay. Russell Simmons is hosting at OPM in Caesars, The Rat Pack Party hosted by Jermaine Dupri, Nelly and Pharrell Williams, is at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood. Studio 54 at the MGM has Ladies Night Out with LL Cool J. Nick Cannon and Complex Magazine host the Body English, Hard Rock party with promised appearances by LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. LeBron James hosts Kenny Smith's poker party at the Empire Ballroom. Vince Carter and Mark Wahlberg should show at Risque in the Paris. Following their Orleans Arena concert Tabu Ultra Lounge at MGM Grand: hosts the Blackeyed Peas After Party

ELVIS IS EVERYWHERE
Reggie Miller and Cheryl Miller dressed as Elvis in Vegas

As LUXE LIFE reported, former Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller and his anchor sports broadcaster sister, Cheryl, had a dream come true. They dressed in Elvis jumpsuits and wigs to film a taped segment from the Graceland Wedding Chapel here that will air during Sunday's worldwide broadcast of the All-Star Game.

NBA ALL-STAR TIMETABLE
Palms flyer for NBA All_Star Game parties
The week-long celebration that enables fans from around the globe to experience the thrill of the world's greatest athletes playing the game they love sadly winds-up on Sunday, with the 56th NBA All-Star Game at the Thomas & Mack Center, televised on TNT to a worldwide television audience in more than 200 countries. All-Star Jam Session at Mandalay Bay continues through late Monday afternoon, as it's the official President's Day holiday. Here's Luxe Life's weekend NBA calendar highlights:

FRI-MON
9AM-10PM; All-Star Jam Session, the world's largest interactive basketball theme park; so large, you could fit 38 official-size NBA basketball courts or 14 million regulation-size basketballs in it! Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino (South Convention Center).

Friday, Feb. 16
Following our Star-award on the Walk of Fame for Toni Braxton at Brenden movie theaters in the Palms, I'll also emcee the red carpet for the MVP film premiere with a slew of NBA players past and present attending. Then Shaquille O'Neal and AKON will show at The Palm's RAIN nightclub for a special "Welcome to Vegas" party.
- The McDonald's All-Star Celebrity Game features James Denton, Nelly, Taye Diggs, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy, Nick Cannon and Bow Wow amongst others airing live on ESPN.

Saturday, Feb. 17
- While All-Star Jam Session continues on at Mandalay Bay the All-Star Saturday Challenge is at Thomas & Mack.
- Those amazing Harlem Globetrotters will play against the NY Nationals & Dennis Rodman's All-Stars at the Orleans Arena.
- Carmelo Anthony, Floyd Mayweather, Nelly, Lil Wayne will be at Aladdin/Planet Hollywood while Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria and boyfriend Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs will party at PURE.. At the rival TAO in The Venetian, Jay Z and LeBron James will team up.

Sunday, Feb. 18
- It's the 2007 All Star Game at Thomas & Mack -- the first ever in NBA history to be played in a city that doesn't have a franchise team ... YET!

STRIP SCRIBBLES
WWE Divas Ashley, Kristal, Candice and Layla
I'm going to play host for part of the weekend to four of the gorgeous, drop-dead WWE Divas: Ashley, Kristal, Candice and Layla You can check out the girls here. We're going to look at some of designer Katherine Bauman's new basketball jewelery and then hit a couple of the top parties for which we'll do show and tell here on Monday morning. ... For the second consecutive night after filming with Kevin Spacey in the new 21 Blackjack movie on location here, co-star Laurence Fishburne hit the Beatles Revolution Lounge at the Mirage. ... Even though the NBA All-Star Weekend is incredible, Vegas has a whole lot more entertainment going on and we've put it all together in what we call ...

ROBIN'S ROYAL RUNDOWN
Friday, Feb. 16
- Black Eyed Peas
with Fergie will thrill at the Orleans Arena and then race to ultra lounge TABU at MGM for the afterparty.
- D.L. Hughley
ensures laughter galore at the Orleans.
-
Hometown Grammy hero Ne-Yo sings soul and hip-hop at House of Blues.
- David Brenner
brings his headline humor to the Cannery.
- Jamie Foxx
in the first of two nights at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood.
- Jay Leno
is back for more comedy at the Mirage.
-
The Oak Ridge Boys sing out loud Texas Station.
-
All the ladies love LL Cool J as he parties at Studio 54, MGM.
- Nick Cannon, LeBron James, Carmello Anthony
are the expected guests at Body English old school hip-hop showcase at the Hard Rock.
- Dennis Rodman
parties at Scores and then Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony kick off a 2am After Hours blast.
- Arnez J, Earthquake, Lavell Crawford,
(All Stars of Comedy) - Orleans Arena 11:59PM.
- Jungua
kicks off the Chinese New Year at the Suncoast.
-
CineVegas presents 'Half Nelson' with Ryan Gosling at the Tropicana Cinemas.

Saturday, Feb. 17
Paris Hilton's Birthday Party at Body English in the Hard Rock Vegas

- Happy Birthday to Paris Hilton; naked and all tied up in mic-cables at Body English, Hard Rock Hotel.
- Alicia Keyes
hosts at OPM in Caesars Palace.
-
Star-dancer Mario Lopez and Good Charlotte's Joel Madden join forces to make the party rock at the Beatles Revolution Lounge.
- Dolly Parton
is double pleasure at Buffalo Bills.
- Danny Gans
and his many voices entertain at the Opportunity Village Benefit in the Mirage.
- Katt Williams
presents his comedy at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Sunday, Feb. 18

-
A unique Comedy brunch with Cedric the Entertainer at Aladdin/Planet Hollywood.
-
King Magazine throws a Lingerie & PJ party with Jermaine Dupri and Melyssa Ford at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood.
- DJ Grandmaster Flash
, the legend of the turntables, spins at Light in the Bellagio.

-
To mark Chinese New Year -- it's the year of the pig (or boar if you prefer) -- the Roman Grecian theme at Caesars Palace undergoes a slight facelift for the 10th annual celebration of the ancient tradition. Arriving guests will be greeted by 100 strings of firecrackers and over 200 red paper lanterns with Chinese characters representing "luck." The fragrant aromas and colorful blossoms of 1,000 China mums, 500 red azaleas, 80 tangerine and bonsai trees and live orchids will decorate hotel gathering spaces, hallways and VIP lounges. Additionally, three large pigs, with the largest at 6ft. long, will bring the luck of the zodiac to all that enter the gaming areas. 4,100 guests will be entertained with 2 sold out shows in The Colosseum by Asia's top singer, producer and actor Jacky Cheung with 60 hit albums to his credit over the past 20 years.
-
The Vietnamese Lunar New Year is also celebrated at the Orleans.
- Former Saturday Night Live star Joe Piscopo launches a three-month run of his comedy shows at the Hilton.
- It's 'Fame Games' Episode 6: I take the A List for a decadent luscious lunch at Wolfgang Puck's Spago restaurant while the B list gets beer and hotdogs at the Hofbrau, but then we challenge our celebrities to find 20 hookers in a roomful of 60 girls ands boot them out before they make tabloid headlines. Our Back to Reality game is a test to find the real bling and I'm not frightened to smash my hammer into the jewels if they get it wrong!

MONDAY'S TEASE
With as few words as possible and with as many close-up and personal photos as possible LUXE LIFE somehow will miraculously have star-studded highlights of all the game action, the behind the scenes dramas and the non-stop party parade.

Also Pop-ular in Vegas Right Now:
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- Dry Heat: 'Producers' Is Hoff-tastic
- Dry Heat: Old School Vegas
- Luxe Life: Carmen Electra to Star in New Vegas Strip Show
- Luxe Life: Kevin Spacey Brings Down Vegas


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NBA Commissioner Stern to Vegas: "Make Me an Offer"

It appears as if Mayor Oscar Goodman and Greg Anthony are a 'thumbs up' closer to bring an NBA team to Las Vegas.

Just as first reported exclusively here two days ago in LUXE LIFE, NBA Commissioner David Stern has performed a 180-degree pivot when he told Mayor Goodman to draft a proposal to bring an NBA team to Vegas. Stern announced the news today at a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Mayor Oscar Goodman and NBA's Greg Anthony

The next steps for Mayor Goodman are to lobby the NBA team owners in town during the All-Star festivities over the next couple of days and then get the proposal completed in time for the April 23rd NBA owners' spring meeting so Commissioner Stern can deliver the proposal in person as promised.

Vegas Confidential's Norm Clarke confirmed the LUXE LIFE story, but added an element of intrigue surrounding the oft-rumoured move of the Sacramento Kings to Las Vegas. Mayor Goodman and Commissioner Stern sat at the same table as the Joe, Gavin and George Maloof, fueling conversation that it will be the Kings that move to Vegas.

The Maloof brothers, who own the Kings, also own the wildly popular Palms Resort & Casino here in Vegas which includes the new Fantasy Tower and Playboy Club. Speculation about the family consolidating their major business interests into the same market would seem to make sense, but the Maloofs are adamant about keeping their team in Central California.

Robin Leach and George MaloofGeorge Maloof has repeated on several occasions that the family's desire is to keep the Kings in Sacramento even though the voters rejected tax measures to fund an arena.

As reported in LUXE LIFE, local sports hero, Greg Anthony, is hoping to lead a group effort to buy a team and bring it here to Vegas. Greg played basketball at Rancho High School in Las Vegas before becoming a UNLV, NBA and now ESPN star.

Stay tuned to LUXE LIFE as the story develops.

February Fanaticism in Vegas with NBA All-Star Game and MAGIC | Gene Simmons' Moneybag | Britney Watch

It's insane! NBA super madness has struck. Impossible-to-buy tickets for Sunday's NBA All-Star Game have hit the monster $25,000 mark with profiteers. There are no rooms at the inn anywhere; with some fans staying as far away as Mesquite to the north and Primm to the south. The eBay online auction for Hugh Hefner's Sky Villa (pictured below) in the Palms Fantasy Tower began at a whopping $80,000-a-night and ended up topping $100,000.


Forget March Madness -- this is February Fanaticism! There's never been a week like this in Vegas history, going back 100 years. Call it the perfect storm, because we've got all the fashion designers in for their twice-a-year MAGIC convention; the NBA mogul owners, multi-millionaire players past and present and cadres of corporate sponsors. It all combines together in one super slam dunk and yet, believe it or not, the Chinese New Year celebrations also start Sunday.

Vegas has become the #1 attraction in the world with our extraordinary entertainment, fabulous fine dining, nonstop, star-studded nightclubs, superb spas, sexy showgirls, rich resorts and, of course, some gentle gaming thrown in for good measure. In recent years, however, gaming has dropped down to the 46 percent level of the total revenues of the city.

Fortunately we're still #1 in gaming when it comes to certain folks. In recent weeks, much has been reported on Celine Dion's husband, Rene Angelil for being one of the biggest players. He denied published reports that he sometimes played to a $1-million-a-day level, but did acknowledge huge winnings at both the Caesars and Bellagio poker playgrounds.

One former NBA superstar who's here with us all week long -- working and playing -- is a high high roller in his own right. Charles Barkley celebrated a $700,000 win over Super Bowl weekend while here betting the game and playing blackjack. But he hasn't always been that lucky. The "Round Mound of Rebound" has previously admitted that he's lost $10 million in his Vegas gaming sprees, and in just one night lost $2.5 million. "It's a stupid, bad habit," Barkley said. "But the problem is when you can't afford it. I can afford to gamble. I didn't kill myself when I lost two and half million dollars. I like to gamble and I'm not going to quit." When he isn't anchoring the live sports broadcasts from the outdoor fountains of Caesars Palace this weekend you can bet your last dollar he'll be at the tables nearby.

BRITNEY WATCH
Britney Spears Is Britney Spears headed to town for the NBA All-Star celebrity parties? Well her name is on the VIP guest list tonight at Studio 54 for the star-studded Ed Hardy fashion show. The combo fashion, tattoo art and music show is part of the kickoff for opening day MAGIC marketplace festivities. Singer/actor Jeremy Jackson will host the Audigier Rocks Project show for 'Fashionistas' Ed Hardy, Christian Audigier and Johnny Hallyday. Former Victoria's Secret sexy knockout KDF Audbert will strut the runway first with dancers Lil C and Miss Prissy of 'krumping" fame and 'The Producers' star David Hasselhoff will close the show. Front-row VIP guests watching the 20 beautiful living dolls will include soccer sensation David Beckham, porn princess Jenna Jameson, actress Jessica Alba, rap mogul Kanye West and the aforementioned Britney.

GENE'S WARDROBE
gene Simmons and Jason Dussault
My pal, Gene Simmons, who with his talented tongue has led KISS for 34 years, launches his new Street-Wear fashion line today at the Dussault Custom Ink booth of the MAGIC and the savvy financial investor is calling it MONEYBAG. He'll wear and show the line as super salesmen to buyers from stores around the country for the next three days. Thursday night he's invited me to his celebration cocktail and dinner party in his Venetian's penthouse suite. He worked with designer Jason Dussault on the Limited Edition streetwear of hand-finished and signed hoodies, belts, wallets, purses and hats! Go check it out at genesimmonsmoneybag.com.

Gene told me: "I have owned the trademark MONEYBAG logo for over 25 years. I have used it on my magazines, book imprint, record company and a few other areas. Until I met Jason Dussault, I held off on really going out into the marketplace in the street wear line. It has to do with finding a kindred spirit. And, Jason is it. He and I share a passion for only doing things in life that mean something. As a teenager he was a huge KISS fan and spent a lot of time not only dressing like KISS but also drawing my character all over his fashion-books so his teenage dream of meeting me not only became a reality but we hit it off with a great business idea. Together, we intend on creating cutting edge, in-your-face fashions. The MONEYBAG Line, at long last, is becoming a reality." The Hoodies have already been specially designed for Pamela Anderson, Nicole Ritchie and Kid Rock. Gene was at JET Nightclub last night, joining Gnarls Barkley who flew in to celebrate their Sunday night Grammy wins.

PEARL PRICES
When I chatted with Palms owner, George Maloof at our weekend Keep Memory Alive Gala he said in the next 10 days we'd take a final tour of his new Pearl Theater at the Palms, prior to the opening weekend of concerts starting on March 15 with Tool. But he did confirm that the 18 luxury boxes that surround the 2,300 seat complex will go for prices ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 in addition to the regular ticket prices, but that 20 fans can split the extra cost. He asked me how I kept breaking news of the acts appearing at the Pearl even before he knew the contracts had been signed. I smiled and told him to expect the reunited Van Halen to be the next big name band to get him wondering more.

VALENTINE'S DATES
Meantime George plays host tomorrow on love-day to Playboy's new Rock the Rabbit launch with a concert with Rhymefest and Whitestar. (Look for heart-throb Cisco to see if Mischa Barton is liplocked on heart-day with him.) The group will show up at 2PM in the Playboy boutique at Caesars Palace Forum Shops to sign autographs before the RAIN Nightclub concerts at the Palms. ... Kanye West will host his Valentine's Day lovefest at TAO in The Venetian with Maurice Hennessey while across the Strip at TI's Tangerine Nightclub ABC-TV star Kelly Hu from "In Case of Emergency" has 20 beautiful models from Marceau Fashions in tow.

SAKE TO ME

It was Nevada's largest ever sake tasting with an amazing 107 varieties from Japan's most important rice-wine regions. Luigi Alberganti who is the sommelier at Shibuya in MGM poured me four of the best; The Onikoroshi juvenile bamboo, the Kaze No Ichirin Blossom, the Junmai Ginjo Root of Innocence and JunMai Daiginjo Sword. Model girls Karen and Hope (pictured above) toasted the record-setting sake festivities, which ran until 1:30AM.

NEW RESTAURANT -- OLE!
It's supposed to be one of those best-kept secrets, but the Light Group which runs JET at the Mirage, Light at the Bellagio and the hit FIX and STACK restaurants, has a new taste treat coming up. As part of the Monte Carlo makeover, Diablo Cantina will open as a two-story entertainment complex of modern Mexican fare and entertainment set in a fiesta styled lounge. That trademark arch atop the Strip to the long driveway down to the hotel casino's front entrance will be changed to accommodate the new entertainment eatery.

STRIP SCRIBBLES
Criss angel, Tiffany Masters and Shyla Stylez
Tomorrow it will be a boxing hall-of-fame at MAGIC when fight legends Oscar Dela Hoya, Tommy ' Hitman" Hearns, Ken Norton, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini and "Smoking" Joe Frazier strut the fashion stage for Fashion Knockouts at MAGIC. ... Partying at LIGHT were the San Diego Charger cheerleaders, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Scott Spezio and his wife, Oakland A's hitter Frank ''Big Hurt' Thomas, and NBA analyst Charles Barkley. ... Actor Kevin Spacey and his 21 Blackjack movie producer Michael DeLuca went with 10 of the cast and crew to 'LOVE' at the Mirage. ... Social House at TI played host to former WBA Welterweight Luis Collazo. ... Over at Studio 54, Criss Angel was swarmed by Penthouse pet Shyla Stylez and a slew of other curvy creatures modeling Penthouse fashions including emcee Tiffany Masters. ... UFC fighters George St. Pierre and Keith Jardin pulled no punches at PURE, even when master magician David Copperfield showed with a few tricks up his sleeve!

TONIGHT'S TIP
Jackie Chann High-kicking stunt king Jackie Chan takes a break from dangerous dare-devil action to sing for his supper with Asia's top pop group the SuperGirls at the first night of Fu-Sion 2007 at Aladdin/Planet Hollywood. ... The heavily-tattooed drummer Travis Barker hosts his own Famous Stars and Straps fashion showcase at PURE. ... And at ghostbar in the Palms, Will. I. Am. of the Black Eyed Peas joins Poet for Life and Stonerokk for the 4-5 Trunk Show at Gossip Tuesdays. ... Finally, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden, hooks up with Samantha Ronson and Kid Millionaire for BPM's Overamerica party at TAO.

TOMORROW'S TEASE
Love is in the air, and on Valentine's Day that means Vegas become World Marriage HQ. We'll have more couples tie the knot in 24 hours than any other city on the face of the earth. Luxe Life will have all the promises of love, honor, cherish and obey as I Do's ring out across the city with the most romantic restaurants and sensual spas welcoming Cupid!

Also Pop-ular in Vegas Right Now:
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- Luxe Life: Paula Abdul Talks Slurs, 'Idol' and Being Woman of the Year
- Luxe Life: Springtime for Hasselhoff
- Dry Heat: 'Producers' Is Hoff-tastic
- Dry Heat: Old School Vegas



Click for scoop from Surreal Life Fame Games show

Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton and Mary J. Blige Set as Entertainment for NBA All-Star Game

Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton and Mary J. Blige
Four-time Grammy Award-winning artist Christina Aguilera, winner of Sunday night's Grammy for best female pop vocal performance, and six-time Grammy Award-winning R&B artist Toni Braxton will join six-time Grammy Award-winning artist Mary J. Blige as the superstar entertainment for NBA All-Star 2007 in Las Vegas.

Christina and Toni will headline the halftime show of the 56th NBA All-Star Game, Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center. The game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 215 countries and territories. Toni, who can be seen nightly in 'Revealed' at the Flamingo, will open Sunday's halftime extravaganza by performing "Making Me High" from her Secrets album and "Take This Ring" from her 'Libra' album. To culminate the show, Christina will perform two songs from her 2006 Grammy-nominated, certified platinum album 'Back to Basics,' "Ain't No Other Man," for which she won best female pop vocal performance at Sunday's Grammys and "Candyman." This will be Aguilera's last live performance before kicking off her nationwide tour Feb. 20, 2007. (She'll be in Vegas March 3, performing at Mandalay Bay with the gorgeous Pussycat Dolls opening!)

On Saturday, Feb. 17, multi-platinum Mary, who won three Grammys Sunday night, including best R&B album for 'The Breakthrough,' as well as best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance for "Be Without You," will pay tribute to NBA Cares, the league's social responsibility initiative with a special performance of her rendition of the U2 original hit "One" during NBA All-Star Saturday Night at the Thomas & Mack Center, airing live on TNT at 5PM PST.

In addition to the musical acts during Sunday's All-Star Game, Cirque du Soleil artists will perform a dynamic display of acrobatic martial arts from the opening act of 'KA,' the gravity-defying production presented at MGM Grand. Prior to the start of the All-Star Game, nine-time Las Vegas "Entertainer of the Year" Danny Gans, who is celebrating his 11th year as a Las Vegas headliner and seven years as a solo performer, will perform the National Anthem.

In a special performance, "Mr. Las Vegas" Wayne Newton will be part of the NBA All-Star player introductions, which will include the famed Folies Bergere Showgirls from the Tropicana Hotel and Casino will dazzle the crowd with their signature moves providing a Vegas-style show for the worldwide TV audience!

Related Pop-ular Stories:
- Luxe Life: All-Star Weekend: The Hottest Parties Before the Big Game
- Luxe Life: NBA Team in Vegas? Last-Minute Negotiations Taking Place

McDonald's All-Star NBA Celebrity Rosters Set

It will be an all-star super turnout of movie, TV, music and sports stars when they hoop it up on the court and in the stands for McDonald's All-Star NBA Celebrity game on Friday night as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in Vegas. The matchup between teams representing the East and the West have just been announced:

EAST TEAM
David Arquette
("In Case of Emergency")
Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile)
Nelly (Grammy Award-winning hip hop artist)
Kevin Frazier (host of "Entertainment Tonight")
Donald Faison ("Scrubs")
Taye Diggs (Rent, Chicago)
Bobby Flay ("Throwdown with Bobby Flay")
Carrot Top (comedian)
Katie Smith (WNBA's Detroit Shock)
Coach: Tim Legler, ESPN analyst
Asst. Coach – James Pickens Jr. ("Grey's Anatomy")

WEST TEAM
Jamie Foxx
(Ray, Dreamgirls)
James Denton ("Desperate Housewives")
Reggie Bush (NFL's New Orleans Saints)
Bow Wow (Roll Bounce)
Jamie Kennedy ("Jamie Kennedy Experiment")
Tony Potts (co-anchor of "Access Hollywood")
Nick Cannon (Bobby)
Jonathan Silverman ("In Case of Emergency")
Tamika Catchings (WNBA's Indiana Fever)
Coach: Greg Anthony, ESPN
Asst. Coach – Wayne Newton ("Grey's Anatomy")

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN on Friday, Feb. 16 at 4PM PT from the All-Star Jam Session Center Court at Mandaslay Bay resort convention center.

An NBA Team in Las Vegas? League and City in Last-Minute Negotiations

Mayor Oscar Goodman and Greg Anthony
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

NBA All-Star Weekend: Find the Hottest Parties and Events Before the Big Game



It all starts Thursday afternoon -- just 48-hours from now. The clock is ticking on the 56th Annual NBA All-Star weekend with the big game set for 5PM PST on Sunday, to be telecast around the world to 210 countries in 40 languages; an audience of more than 250 million sports fans. It's incredible exposure for Vegas as far away as China.

Wayne Newton and Oscar Goodman Even our hometown stars will shine among all the big name sports athletes. Wayne Newton will be an assistant coach to local star chef Bobby Flay from Caesars Palace slam-dunking with Jamie Foxx, Nelly and James Denton, plus 15 other celebs. Its for the McDonald's All-Star Celebrity Game with our former UNLV star Greg Anthony as main West team coach. Even hometown hero Shawn Marion, former UNLV player, will be at Dillards in the Fashion Show Mall for a Friday afternoon signing. Two of our local heroes will do the honors with the National Anthem. First up, Clint Holmes for the All-Star Challenge game and then Mirage headliner Danny Gans will tackle the Star Spangled Banner in some of his many voices for the big Sunday tip-off.

Headquarters for all the action revolves around the All-Star Jam Session. Stay all day and play! But remember every one of the East and West Conferences players will be staying at George Maloof's Fantasy Suites in the Palms, because the beds there are specifically made for the 6'6" + VIPs. And you can bet a buck they'll be in all the Palms hot spots: RAIN, ghostbar, N9NE, MOON, Nove and the Playboy Club.

Mandalay Bay will transform 400,000 square feet of space into the NBA All-Star Jam Session -- an interactive basketball experience featuring 30 basketball-themed attractions. Fans will go into overdrive at the All-Star Jam Session collecting autographs and meeting NBA and WNBA players. The Jam Session also will include an official NBA Store, a Slam Dunk Court, a 3-point Shootout Court and Kids Zone. In addition, fans can watch the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, the D-League All-Star Game and Rookie Shootarounds. The NBA All-Star Jam Session will be open: Thursday, Feb. 15 from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 16 from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Some of the other highlights from an extraordinary list of events include Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade hosting the official NBA All-Star party Friday, at rumjungle, with special live performances by Interscope's hot new artists including Rich Boy and Slim Thug. Superstar Shaquille O'Neal will host an amazing party night in MIX atop the adjoining THEHotel on Thursday. Next night Shaq is back at rumjungle with LaDainian Tomlinson.

robin Leach and Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman
Across the Strip at MGM, the fun gets started tomorrow night when Studio 54 kicks off All-Star Week with a Tux & Tennis Shoes event, Veteran NBA legends James Silas, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, George Gervin and Clyde Drexler will host performances by The O'Jays. Then Saturday and Sunday, two back-to-back party nights with one of the most revolutionary NBA players of all time; Magic Johnson. His Players Party on Saturday night will be with new Denver Nuggets superstar Allen Iverson with hip-hop artist Biz Markie and the music of Kid Capri. Then Magic will host the All-Star Game after party with none other than our good friend Flavor Flav who's hit reality show "Flavor of Love" runs in tandem with our 'Fame Games' hit on VH1. Up at Treasure Island, Dallas Mavericks star Devean George will bring a slew of celebrity friends for his Club 3300 party. Next door at JET on Friday night in the Mirage stand clear for two mighty men as they combine forces. Diddy himself will make a special appearance at NBA VIP Tracy McGrady's bash for Adidas. From 12 noon to 2pm on Saturday at the ESPN Zone in NYNY NBAS legends Greg Anthony, Bill Walton and Willis Reed are just a few of the stars to sit for fans at a Q&A session and autograph signing.

Greg Anthony and Mayor Oscar Goodman
The center fountain of Caesars Palace should shut down on Friday and Saturday so that sports anchors Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley don't get wet. The huge camera platform for their Turner Sports 'Inside the NBA' show will broadcast live at 5pm from there with remotes from LeBron James celebrity poker challenge underway from the Empire Ballroom

COMMUNITY CARAVAN
NBA All-Star 2007 will not only showcase the world's greatest athletes playing the world's greatest game, but will also celebrate the NBA's tradition and commitment to social responsibility with more than 20 NBA Cares events taking place throughout Vegas -the most the league has done at any previous All-Star Events a will take place in local community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, schools and other neighborhood venues. This week of touching the lives of the Las Vegas community will culminate with the NBA Cares All-Star Legacy project, when the league and its partners dedicate a Learn & Play Center that will include improvements on an expanded library, technology center and athletic facilities.

The NBA Cares Community Caravan will include: Today (Feb. 13) NBA FIT - Partnering with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the NBA will launch NBA FIT, the league's new health and wellness platform, at the YMCA of Southern Nevada with a series of basketball clinics and workshops about the importance of kids leading an active, healthy and safe lifestyle. Also today, Gatorade and Nike, will host hundreds of children from Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA member leagues at a series of skills and fitness clinics at Nellis Air Force Base Boys & Girls Club and Mirabelli Recreation Center.

Lakers vs. Kings in Vegas preseason
Tomorrow, perfectly timed with Valentine's Day love, the NBA and Pitney Bowes will be working with Habitat for Humanity to construct a house for a local family. Also tomorrow, several current WNBA players will host 60 Vegas children at Clark County/Desert Breeze Community Center for an event highlighting the WNBA and its Be Smart-Be Fit-Be Yourself program, which encourage teens and women of all ages to learn more about their bodies and the importance of physical fitness and self-esteem. Then it's the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Basketball Clinic where some of the country's best wheelchair basketball players, who make up the National Wheelchair Basketball Association All-Star basketball team, will host a clinic at Doolittle Community Center for 20 hometown junior wheelchair athletes. Their all-star wheelchair basketball players will meet on Center Court at the All-Star Jam on Thursday for their big game.

Also Thursday, members of the NBA family and special guests such as Ronald McDonald, will visit with children at Sunrise Children's Hospital distributing gifts, including Build-A-Bear Workshop Teddy Bears. After that The NBA and Nike will unveil a newly refurbished basketball court at Lied Memorial Boys & Girls Club with basketball clinics for more than 350 local kids.

On Friday, some of the NBA's top young stars will join our hometown hero Andre Agassi and students from the tennis legend's prep school to dedicate the facility's brand new gymnasium, which will host the practices for the Rookies and Sophomores as they prepare for the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. Six thousand of them will crowd the Thomas & Mack Center for the Youth Jam match-up.

On Saturday the NBA, along with Toyota will unveil a new NBA Cares Learn & Play Center at Mabel Hoggard Elementary School. The project will include extensive refurbishment of the school's library and technology center and the donation of computers by Lenovo as well as books from Scholastic, furniture, reading materials from Encyclopedia Britannica, and the creation of indoor and outdoor places for kids to play.

In addition to the events in the Las Vegas community there will be many activities during All-Star events at the Thomas & Mack Center and at NBA All-Star Jam Session highlighting the league's commitment to the community. Jam Session will host the NBA Cares Read to Achieve Activity Area presented by Toyota featuring players, celebrities and local authors encouraging kids to develop a life-long love of reading. Now for the highlights from the full schedule and hopefully I've not overlooked anybody! This is what we refer to as ...

ROBIN'S ROYAL RUNDOWN

WED FEB 14, Valentines Day
- The O'Jays perform with NBA legends Clyde Drexler, Julius "Dr. J" Irving at Studio 54.

- Our CineVegas Film Festival provides the perfect setting for a romantic and fun date this Valentine's Day with actor Dennis Hopper hosting a charity screening of the celebrated basketball film, "Hoosiers," at the Brenden Theatres at the Palms Casino Resort All proceeds will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas' Hollywood HEART program, The movie won Dennis an Academy award nomination for Best Supporting Actor!

THURS FEB 15
- Shawn Marion now of the Phoenix Suns but onetime a UNLV Running Rebel, will be host a NBA Kick-Off party at the Voodoo Lounge in the Rio. At the Empire Ballroom Miami heat's Gary Payton, Drew Goode n from Cleveland Cavaliers host. Allen Iverson does his "Welcome to Vegas" bash at ICE.

- Michael Jordan, host his Hoopology celebrity party, with a charity poker tournament

FRI Feb 16
- Following our Star-award on the walk of fame to Toni Braxton at Brenden movie theaters in the Palms, I'll also emcee the red carpet for the MVP film premiere with a slew of NBA players past and present attending. Then Shaquille O'Neal and AKON will show at The Palm's RAIN nightclub for a special "Welcome to Vegas" party.

- The McDonald's All-Star Celebrity Game features James Denton, Nelly, Taye Diggs, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy, Nick Cannon and Bow Wow amongst others airing live on ESPN.

- LeBron James is scheduled at the Light in the Bellagio. Magic Johnson and Allen Iverson are set for Studio 54 and Dwayne Wade for Sports Illustrated at rumjungle in Mandalay Bay. Russell Simmons is hosting at OPM in Caesars, The Rat Pack Party hosted by Jermaine Dupri, Nelly and Pharrell Williams, is at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood. Studio 54 at the MGM has Ladies Night Out with LL Cool J. Nick Cannon and Complex Magazine host the Body English, Hard Rock party with promised appearances by LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. LeBron James hosts Kenny Smith's poker party at the Empire Ballroom. Vince Carter and Mark Wahlberg should show at Risque in the Paris. Following their Orleans Arena concert Tabu Ultra Lounge at MGM Grand: hosts the Blackeyed Peas After Party

SAT Feb 17
- While All-Star Jam continues on at Mandalay Bay the All-Star Saturday Challenge is at Thomas & Mack.

- Those amazing Harlem Globetrotters will play against the NY Nationals & Dennis Rodman's All-Stars at the Orleans Arena.

- Carmelo Anthony, Floyd Mayweather, Nelly, Lil Wayne will be at Aladdin/Planet Hollywood while Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria and boyfriend Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs will party at PURE.. At the rival TAO in The Venetian Jay Z and LeBron James will team up.

SUN Feb 18
- It's the 2007 All Star Game at Thomas & Mack -- the first ever in NBA history to be played in a city that doesn't have a franchise team ... YET! Maybe a big announcement from Commissioner David Stern and Mayor Oscar Goodman by game time? My fingers are crossed!

- Cedric the Entertainer kicks the day off with a comedy brunch at Aladdin/Planet Hollywood.

- There's a slew of after the big game parties: Diddy does it best in RAIN at the Palms, Gary Payton, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Garnett, Kanye West, L'il Jon- are set for OPM nightclub in Caesars Palace when it hosts the Official Baller's Ball. LA Laker forward Lamar Odom will team with the NBA's only female recruiter, model sportscaster Bonnie Jill Laflin for the JET nightclub afterparty. Magic Johnson's NBA All-Star Game After-Party hosted by Flava Flav rocks at Studio 54 in MGM. Jamie Foxx's All-Star Party holds court at the Empire Ballroom. As if all that is not enough at the Icehouse Lounge is the West Side Story hosted by Sacramento King's Ron Artest and Coco Marie with Gary Payton, and Amarie Stoudamire.

ALL STAR COCKTAIL
With all this glitz and glamour, taking a break will be mandatory, so BOA Steakhouse at Caesars Palace Forum Shops has created the ultimate taste of temptation with its all-star cocktail. The $200 a shot drink has Remy's Louis 13th cognac, Navan, vanilla syrup and fresh lemon sour with cherry and orange twist. Each day Thursday through Sunday with All-Star Jam continuing on next Monday too, we'll give you a highlights reminder of the key NBA events in our regular Luxe Life columns but meantime enjoy this special Luxe Life edition. {Print it and keep it as your reference for the next five, sizzling hot sports days!)

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NBA All-Stars Appear at Fashion Show Mall

How can you meet some of the NBA's best players who are in town for the All-Star Game? Stalking is always one alternative, but it's easier to head for the Fashion Show Mall.

On Feburary 16 from 3-5PM, Shawn Marion will appear at Dillard's, to sign basketballs for anyone who buys $50 worth of Perry Ellis clothing. And on February 17 at 3PM, Allen Iverson will be at Macy's, offering autographs with purchases of Sean John merchandise.

The Palms Hosts New Las Vegas Golf Pro-Am


Three thousand bucks for three rounds of golf? That's the tab to enter the first Vegas Cup 2007 Pro-Am, scheduled for April 22-26. To be fair, players also get four nights at the hosting Palms Hotel and Casino, an invitation to a welcome party and awards dinner; transportation to and from the courses and a daily on-course lunch. For that money they better give you the big bag of chips with your hot dog.

Teams of five-four amateurs, one professional, compete over four days at Bear's Best Golf Club, DragonRidge Country Club and TPC Canyons. The format is Best Ball, Vegas Cup Rotation and Vegas Scramble. What this really means is you better start working on your game. Try one of these Top Vegas Golf Courses.


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