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 By
Judy Thorburn
Entertainment Reporter/Film Critic
Las Vegas Tribune
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer
www.theflickchicks.com
Wax
Likeness of Hollywood Star Cameron Diaz Unveiled at Madame Tussauds Las
Vegas
On May 7 the wax likeness of actress Cameron Diaz was officially
unveiled as the latest A-list celebrity attraction inside the Big Night
Room at world-famous Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. The amazingly life-like
figure of Diaz is center stage for a new experience in the attraction
entitled “Co-Star with Cameron”. Set under prop lighting and a Vegas
backdrop, visitors can perch at Cameron’s side in a matching director’s
chair along with a director’s clapboard providing them with a guest-star
experience and photo opportunity.
Wax likeness of Cameron Diaz with Madame Tussaud's Las Vegas employee
Venah Atles
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
The Las Vegas arrival of Cameron’s likeness coincides
with the launch of her latest film “What Happens in Vegas”, which was
released in theaters on Friday, May 9. Cameron’s figure strikes a
resemblance to her film character, costumed in a similar dress and a
replica dice ring worn in the movie. Her wax figure took the work of
three principle sculptors from the Tussauds Studios, whom successfully
delivered a figure that captures the playful nature of the popular movie
actress, along with her iconic grin.
Seven
Outstanding Locals Honored at 8th Annual Advocacy Awards Ceremony
On May 7, 2008 The Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center held its
Eight Annual Advocacy Awards Ceremony at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino
in Las Vegas. The ceremony honored seven outstanding individuals who
have made extraordinary efforts to protect and advocate for individuals
with disabilities throughout Nevada. The event brought together
advocates, community leaders, law professionals, supporters of
disability rights, and individuals with disabilities.
120 people from the Las Vegas community attended the event in which they
enjoyed an assortment of appetizers ranging from miniature Beef
Wellington, stuffed mushrooms, tomato and buffalo on a crouton, and
chicken salad on banana bread. Entertainment, in the form of elegant
music, was provided by local Las Vegas harpist Mariano Gonzalez.
8th Annual Advocacy Awards Recipients, Left to right - Back Row: NDALC
Board President Shelia King, Anita Wagner, Councilman Larry Brown, Jana
Vickers, Edward Friedland. Front Row: NDALC Board Member Lauraleigh
Mikula, Jean Peyton, Reggie Bennett.
This year’s award recipients included: Councilman
Larry Brown, Special Recognition Award: For his work on establishing a
Disability Advisory Council for the City of Las Vegas; Rosa Waitman,
Family Advocate Award: For her efforts to advocate for her child who has
Noonan Syndrome; Anita Wagner, Family Advocate Award: For her work with
the Hispanic community and advocating for her child with Chromosome
Abnormality; Edward Friedland, Lois Johnson Administrative Advocate
Award: For his work on making the Clark County Court facility more
accessible to the disabled; Jean Peyton, Self Advocate Award: For her
work in the blind community; Jana Vickers, Volunteer Advocate Award: For
her work on the Nevada Association of the Deaf and the State of Nevada’s
Communication Access Council Board of Directors and Reggie Bennett,
Professional Advocate Award: For his 25 years of being a professional
advocate for disabled individuals.
“NDALC is happy to honor individuals who deserve recognition for their
often unpaid, hard work in improving the lives of Nevadans with
disabilities.” says Jack Mayes, NDALC Executive Director.
With more than 375,000 disabled adults and children in Nevada and 54
million people with some kind of disability in America the Nevada
Disability Advocacy & Law Center is recognizing the work of dedicated
public officials and community members who are working to create a
society in which people with disabilities are afforded equality,
opportunities, and are able to fully participate by exercising choice
and self-determination.
Imperial
Palace Hosts Festive Hawaiian Luau
When I was invited back to experience the Imperial Palace’s Hawaiian
Luau, my husband and I decided this would be a great way to celebrate
our wedding anniversary on May 10. For the third time we were able to
enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the Pacific Islands without
leaving Las Vegas, and the "spirit of aloha" filled the air.
Fire Dancer Video
Between May 4 and September 30, 2008 the Imperial
Palace is offering a taste of the tropical islands that is the next best
thing to being there. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 – 9 p.m.
throughout the summer months, visitors are invited to join in the
festive Imperial Luau that is presented in a tropical outdoor atmosphere
by the Shangri La pool. The beautiful setting provides a memorable
Pacific Island cultural experience complete with an authentic Hawaiian
style feast and traditional entertainment. The price of admission
includes Mai Tai and Pina Colada exotic drinks and/or non alcoholic
fruit punch, a lavish all you can eat Polynesian style buffet featuring
roasted pig, seafood, salad fixings, fresh tropical fruits including
papaya mango, pineapple, etc., and extensive dessert bar, followed by an
exciting and colorful music and dance revue, Rozita Lee’s “Drums of the
Islands” in which a handsome cast of native male and female dancers
perform interpretive dances in traditional costumes. Of course, the hula
is always lovely to watch and the entire show is entertaining, but
attention grabbing highlights are the show stopping Samoan slap dance
and the spectacular fire dance finale that will surely impress everyone
in the audience.
Rozita Lee’s “Drums of the Islands”
I highly recommend the Imperial Luau at the Imperial
Palace to locals and visitors alike as one of the best dinner and show
deals in town. For the very reasonable price of only $39.95 (includes 1
free drink) for general admission and $59.95 for VIP admission (includes
preferred seating, souvenir glass, all you can drink, and a fresh flower
lei), it can’t be beat. Please note: ticket prices do not include taxes
and fees.
Other
recent or upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas include:
Kristofer’s Steak House, located within the Riviera Hotel and Casino, is
celebrating twenty years of fine dining. In celebration of the twenty
year anniversary, Las Vegas locals may show their identification and
receive a complimentary cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage of their
choice with the purchase of every entrée until the end of May.
Kristofer’s is open daily from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For dinner
reservations or information, guests may call (702) 794-9233.
Wally Eastwood, world famous comedy juggler and host of “V – The
Ultimate Variety Show” at the V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at
Planet Hollywood, has successfully made it through to the second round
of the third edition of “America’s Got Talent.” The second round of the
competition will take place on May 13th and 15th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On April 19 Jeffrey Koep, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at UNLV was
invested into the prestigious College of Fellows of the American Theatre
during ceremonies at Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts. Membership in the College is one of the highest honors
theatre professionals and educators can confer on their peers.
Silverton Casino Lodge has been named “Best Lodge Hotel” and the
property’s 117,000-gallon aquarium “Best Free Attraction” by Citysearch,
a leading online lifestyle guide, in the Best of Citysearch 2008 awards.
On Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. Peter Schjeldahl, poet and head art
critic for The New Yorker, will be a guest speaker, as part of the UNLV
Department of Art Visiting Artist Program. The lecture is FREE and open
to the public, and will be held in CBC A-112 on the UNLV campus.
On Saturday May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Springs Preserve located
at 333 S. Valley View Blvd. (at Meadows Lane, between Alta Drive and US
95), presents the 2008 Southern Nevada Cultural History Fair featuring a
documentary film festival, tribal dancers, a cowboy poet, and dozens of
museums and cultural preservation groups. Participants can learn how
archaeologists identify and date artifacts, view the remains of ancient
pit houses and get a sneak-peak performance of the upcoming Las Vegas
Paiute Tribe’s Snow Mountain Pow-Wow dances. Admission is FREE to all
activities including performances and workshops. For more information
about the Southern Nevada Cultural History Fair, call 822-7786 or visit
www.springspreserve.org .
The UNLV Senior Adult Theatre program presents A.R Gurney’s “The Dining
Room” in the Paul Harris Theatre of the Alta Ham Fine Arts building at 8
p.m. May 21 – 24 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 25. The play, a series of
18 vignettes, is directed by Douglas Hill, associate director of the
senior adult theatre program, and features 11 senior adult students from
the program. Tickets for “The Dining Room” are $7.50 and can be
purchased at the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office or by calling
895-ARTS (2787). The play is FREE to UNLV students with a valid ID.
From May 25 to 31, RA Sushi, best known for successfully combining
distinctive sushi with a trendy, hip atmosphere, will host its fourth
annual “Nicky’s Week” fundraiser to benefit the internationally renowned
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The restaurant and bar will
donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the signature tootsy
maki, edamame, pork gyoza, FIJI Water, Red Bull, and other select
beverages to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. All 19 RA
Sushi locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland,
Nevada, and Texas will participate in the fundraiser.
On Sunday, May 25 the 17th Annual The Reel Awards, the only awards show
honoring the world’s top celebrity impersonators and tribute artists,
will take place at Nevada’s premier celebrity impersonator venue, the
Imperial Theatre inside the Imperial Palace & Casino. This year, The
King” tribute artists from around the world will gather in an attempt to
break the record for “Largest Number of Assembled Elvis Impersonators to
Sing at One Time." The current record was set in January, 2007 when 147
“Elvi” gathered in Parkes, Australia to sing “Love Me Tender. To break
the Guinness World Record, at least 148 tribute artists must sing the
same song and be in full “Elvis” costume. The song chosen for the
upcoming record-breaking attempt will be unveiled at the time of
performance.
This year’s edition of the Reel Awards will be hosted by Rodney
Dangerfield impersonator, Bill Peterson and acclaimed vocal
impressionist Stephen Sorrentino, honored three times by the
International Guild of Celebrity Impersonators as “Male Impressionist of
the Year.” 16 awards as voted on by industry members will be presented
at this year’s event in such categories as “Best Actor and Actress,”
“Best Television Performance,” “Rising Star” and “Lifetime Achievement
Award.” Red Carpet Arrival begins at 5:00 p.m. with the record-setting
attempt opening the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. The event is open
to the public to enjoy photo-ops with their favorite faux celebrities
and see live performances from many of the top impersonators in the
world.
The Reel Awards™ is presented in conjunction with the 8th Annual
Celebrity Impersonator Convention. For additional information on The
Reel Awards™ including ticket prices please visit
www.TheReelAwards.com
Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling
818.780.4433.
Celebrity
sightings:
The weekend of 5/4 Grammy winning hitmaker Akon amazed the crowd with a
spontaneous serenade at Smashtime Saturdays at Body English. Also
joining the hot party was TV’s newest “It” Girl from “Gossip Girl,"
Leighton Meester and friends, actors Joshua Lebar and Sebastian Stan. At
one point Akon pulled Leighton on stage with him to sing Happy Birthday
to their host for the evening. Watchers including “Sopranos” star Steve
Schirripa, UFC Champ Rampage Jackson, and NFLers Jonathan Ogden, John
Welborne, Melvin Fowler, Alex Smith and Brian Kelly sang along.
The party continued Sunday for the second huge
weekend of world-famous REHAB at the pool. Crowd favorite, Akon
surprised fans with over an hour performance. Clearly a fan of sharing
the stage, this time he brought up Smashtime DJ Clinton Sparks who
produced tracks on Akon’s latest album. The rest of the "Daily 10" and
Smashtime crew were also on hand at REHAB. Leighton Meester and friends
were on hand again after their previous night out. Other famous faces
spotted at Rehab were Floyd Mayweather, Rampage Jackson, Alex Smith
(Tampa Bay Bucaneers) and Sedrick Ellis (NFL first round draft pick).
On Friday evening May 9, Duran Duran brought their full fledged stadium
show to The Joint stage inside the Hard Rock Hotel treating fans to a
nearly 2-hour show for an intimate sold out crowd of 2000 people. After
performing songs from their latest project along with a mix of greatest
hits like “Rio” and “Girls on Film," the band came back for a blazing
encore featuring surprise guests Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning from
the Killers. They performed “Planet Earth” which was Duran Duran’s first
single ever released back in 1981.
Meanwhile poolside, “Sex and the City” star Jason Lewis who played
Samantha’s hot young boy-toy, played in a midnight Blackjack tournament
as part of Vegas Uncork’d food and wine event. Lewis was seen chatting
with reporters about his role in the upcoming blockbuster film version
of “Sex and the City.”
Later in Body English, Maynard James Keenan, the Lead singer of Tool &
Perfect Circle made a rare appearance along with Dave Keuning and Mark
Stoermer from The Killers. The rockers hung out in the exclusive Parlor
room where the lovely DJ 88 spun her set before Adam Bravin from the
band She Wants Revenge took the turntables.
On Friday evening, May 9, sixty-five stunning Miss International
Hawaiian Tropic contestants hosted a night of drinking, dancing and
beautiful women at Torrid nightclub inside Hawaiian Tropic Zone at
Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
Miss International Hawaiian Tropic 2008 Contestants
Photos: Courtesy of Jacob Andrzejczak / Getty Images
Saturday evening, May 10, TV personality Jerry
Springer was spotted dining at Strip House inside Planet Hollywood
Resort & Casino.
I’ll be back next week with more of what’s “happening” in and around Las
Vegas.
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