Bone Thugs and Harmony?

After nearly a decade of incarceration, Flesh-n-Bone was released from prison on July 13, 2008.  Bizzy returned to the group, spurred by Flesh’s release and Layzie Bone’s diplomacy; the five are now working on a new studio album.

A reunion after 1o years of one Hip hop’s greatest groups but like all groups the real story is staying power and harmony is the one thing  they need if the five can co-exist. Bone has gone thru many variations to reunite the original five in las vegas.

They all came out one by one throughout the opening song until the members were all out. The crowd went crazy! One might say that this may be hip hop’s only act to have a cult like following. The show took me way back…. although Bizzy seems to get the most buzz(and was the most buzzed) from the audience and he fed off it by throwing money into the crowd. He barely finish the set before he had to be helped off stage.

It was great to see all five of them together again!! Time will tell if they can grasp the moment . The show was banging!

Visit Vegas Right Now

Vegas Tourism is newest slogan

CHEF EMERIL LAGASSE TO OPEN “LAGASSE’S STADIUM®” AT THE PALAZZO LAS VEGAS

Famed Chef Brings New Game Day Destination to the Las Vegas Strip

LAS VEGAS (August 5, 2009) – Chef Emeril Lagasse and The Palazzo today announced Lagasse’s Stadium – a ground-breaking new place to dine, watch and play – opening this fall at The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino. Sports fans will be in the center of the action while enjoying Chef Emeril’s world-famous cuisine and warm hospitality in this new state-of-the-art venue.

Inspired by two of Chef Emeril’s lifelong passions – cooking and sports – Lagasse’s Stadium marks a new dining standard for a sports and entertainment venue. Custom sports viewing walls consisting of nearly 100 high definition screens will provide unprecedented access to nearly every major college and professional sporting event, including must-see bowl games, track races, tournaments, and championship match-ups.

Lagasse’s Stadium will be Lagasse’s third project with The Palazzo and adjoining Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino. The other two endeavors include the acclaimed Delmonico Steakhouse at The Venetian and Table 10 at The Palazzo.

“As a long-time season ticket holder, on big game days you’ll find me tailgating with friends and supporting my favorite teams,” says Emeril Lagasse. “I’m happy to team up again with our friends at The Palazzo to create the ultimate sports establishment. At Stadium, we’ll be serving serious food for serious fans.”

There will be plenty of culinary action to keep fans engaged, even on non-game days, redefining how guests eat, drink and root for their favorite teams. The menu will feature Lagasse’s play on game-day favorites; a few of Emeril’s “New Orleans” style dishes, plus some surprising re-inventions of American classics.

“Lagasse’s Stadium will be the ultimate sports bar and restaurant on The Strip,” said Rob Goldstein, president and COO of The Palazzo and The Venetian. “With its accessible location and unique design it will provide sports enthusiasts a great location to kick- back, relax, and enjoy great food and beverages while watching their favorite sporting games and highlights on the big screens.”

Renovation of the 24,000-square-foot space, formerly occupied by The Sportsbook Bar & Grill, began in June. The club also features premier access to a street level outdoor space bordering Las Vegas Boulevard. Spectators can enjoy impressive views of The Palazzo and the Las Vegas Strip while dining in a unique open-air setting. The location will feature lounge and stadium-style seating, and luxury boxes for exclusive private events.

It’s a Family Affair as the Pointer Sisters Perform at the Cannery Casino & Hotel

LAS VEGAS – August 3, 2009 – The Pointer Sisters bring their timeless collection of pop and R&B hits to The Club at the Cannery Casino & Hotel on Saturday, September 12 at 8 p.m. The Grammy® award winning trio will be performing several of their popular hits such as “He’s So Shy,” “I’m So Excited” and “Jump (For My Love),” songs that are sure to keep the crowd up and doing the “Neutron Dance.”

Tickets start at $14.95 plus tax and are available for purchase at the Cannery Casino & Hotel’s ticket sales counter located at the front desk. Tickets will also be available for purchase by calling (702) 507-5757 or (866) 999-4899 (toll free), or by visiting www.cannerycasinos.com.

The Pointer Sisters recorded a string of popular R&B and pop tunes in the ‘70s and ‘80s that made them perennial chart toppers during that era. The singing group debuted in 1973 with their self-titled album and achieved early success with such hits as “He’s So Shy,” “Slow Hand” and the cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Fire.” Their 1983 album, Break Out, was certified triple-platinum, making it the biggest selling album of the Pointer Sisters’ career. In 1984, the Pointer Sisters released four Billboard top 10 singles in a row with “Automatic,” “Jump (For My Love),” “I’m So Excited” and, from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, “Neutron Dance.” The success of the album earned the sisters two Grammy® Awards and two American Music Awards ®.

`Happiest Mayor in the Universe’

Bombay Sapphire Gin, the Mayor’s gin of choice, was the drink of choice at Goodman’s 70th birthday party.

Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, the 19th mayor of Las Vegas, captured 84 percent of the vote in his reelection effort to a third 4-year term. As mayor, he was successful in acquiring a large piece of urban real estate in the city without resorting to eminent domain. Symphony Park, a phenomenal 61-acre planned development, will include the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, multiple high-rise residential units, business and retail opportunities. Downtown is undergoing a dramatic change, evolving into a vibrant place for living, working and enjoying entertainment and art venues. Bounding Symphony Park are the World Market Center and the Las Vegas Premium Outlets mall. The World Market Center is a state-of-the-art home furnishings trade show facility. When complete, the complex will exceed 12 million square feet with eight buildings. The outlet mall is the most successful of its kind for dollar-per-square-foot income. In addition, there are almost 18,000 living spaces being planned for construction in downtown. Also, for the first time in many years, multi-million dollar casino and hotel renovations and expansions are currently underway.

Mayor Goodman has been a champion of downtown revitalization, focusing his efforts on creating a downtown urban village filled with small businesses, boutiques, fine restaurants, bookstores and an art component where the public can have social dialogue and exchange ideas.

Mayor Goodman serves as the chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and feverishly works to promote the enticing destination of Las Vegas. Mayor Goodman has also started OPAC, Oscar’s Political Action Committee, to promote and protect the interests of Las Vegas. His first action was to donate $50,000 to the Keep Memory Alive Foundation, the think tank foundation for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

The self-proclaimed happiest mayor in the universe, Goodman was born and raised in Philadelphia, graduating from Haverford College and receiving his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He has become one of the nation’s premier criminal defense attorneys, having been named one of the “15 Best Trial Lawyers in America” by the National Law Journal. He has also been featured in numerous publications such as “Of Rats and Men” and even portrayed himself in the movie “Casino.” Mayor Goodman also serves on the Advisory Board of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Goodman and his wife of 46 years, Carolyn, moved to Las Vegas in 1964 with $87 in their pockets. The couple raised four children in Las Vegas. All four currently make Las Vegas their home. All were educated in Las Vegas and went on to acquire college and graduate level degrees.

Bitch Slap

To open handedly slap someone. Denotes disrespect for the person being bitch slapped as they are not worthy of a man sized punch. Suggests the slap was met with little resistance and much whining

A “pimp slap”, to the contrary, is regularly delivered without announcement and oftentimes over breakfast at an IHOP, on a subway platform, or numerous other indiscriminately chosen venues. The blow is always, always struck with the back of ones hand as to do otherwise is bad form. And the hip motion that accompanies a pimp slap provides the torque to knock a bitch silly.

A literal read of verse 4:34 of the Quran, which states, according to a direct translation, that it’s OK to “beat (lightly)” a disobedient wife as an option of third resort after admonishing her and then turning away from her in bed.

Make it Rain

When you’re in da club with a stack and you throw the money up in the air at the strippers. The effect is that it seems to be raining money.

As used in the lyrics spoken by R. Kelly in “Make it Rain Remix,”

I be drilling these chicks they like Major Payne When I make it rain, they be like “Kells… do it again,” and “So ask your girlfriend my name, I bet she go ‘Skeet skeet skeet, Weatherman ’bout to make it rain!’”

THE ROCTURNALS

The city of Las Vegas is shedding its image as the burial grounds for artists who no longer have a mainstay in mainstream music, with artist such as The Killers, Panic! at the Disco & Neyo. Vegas is getting a musical facelift and becoming the new powerhouse in the future of music.

Next up is the Alternative Urban Rock Band “THE ROCTURNALS”,(Formerly known as KansasCali), they are referred to by some Vegans as the urban version of Linkin Park. Though the band individually hails from different parts of the United States they all converged in Vegas and calls it home. Lead Vocalist/Rapper Aulsondro Hamilton-Mangual (also known as “Novelist”) comes from Topeka, Kansas by way of Ponce, Puerto Rico,Anderson Johnson (also known as “Pittboss”) the Lead Singer is from Chino Hills, California they are the original founders of the band. The other two members are Eric Borders The Drummer (also known as “E. Borders”) from Los Angeles while Guitarist Adam Beltran (known as “Adam Crow”) comes from Pasadena.
The band jumped on the road to stardom 4 years ago as “KansasCali” in June of 2005 with their music video for the song “IF I…” landing on the DVD and Inspired By Soundtrack of the 2005 Academy Award winning movie Crash (2004 film) (stars Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock & Matt Dillon ) that sold over 6 million DVDs with the version of their music video on it. Almost immediately after that, the band landed another song, “If I Never See You Again” on the International Soundtrack of Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film) (stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) this was a rare feat for an Independent Band.

With the band coming off the success of 2 blockbuster movie soundtracks their careers began to bloom, landing on 3 more soundtracks Orlando Bloom’s Haven (film), ESPN’s Once in a Lifetime (documentary) and most recently Jamie Kennedy’s Kickin’ It Old Skool in which their song “The Life” was added as an entitle in the movie. They were also featured on the solo debut of KCi Hailey’s “My Book” and Aaron Hall’s “Adults Only”

“The Rocturnals” just recently finished their debut album “Complicated” set to independently drop in early part of 2009. The album was titled “Complicated” because of some of the things they went through in life, love & business with stories that about 90% of everyday people can relate to.

Melissa Rycroft

When Melissa Rycroft comes to Vegas, she heads where she’s right at home: the pool.

The Dancing With the Stars finalist and would-be winner of The Bachelor was at Las Vegas’ newest pool environment, the Palazzo’s Azure

The former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader is no stranger to swimsuit season—she used to be a swimwear model.

Rycroft was in town with fiance Tye Strickland, a former beau with which she recently rekindled her relationship with.

LV Jackson Tribute

For one performance only, Las Vegas’ top entertainers will come together for a special performance Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at 3 p.m.

“Las Vegas Celebrates Michael Jackson” takes place at the Pearl at the Palms the day of what would have been Jackson’s 51st birthday.

Tickets for the show, which range from $39-$129, go on sale Saturday, July 25 at noon.

A VIP package, which includes VIP seating, access to the afterparty with the cast, a gift bag and limited-edition autographed poster, is available for $504.

“I can’t think of a better way to pay tribute to the person who inspired me and a whole generation of performers,” said Erich Bergen, star of the Palazzo’s Jersey Boys and co-producer of the show. “This event helps keep the music of Michael Jackson alive, while raising money to make sure music education stays alive in the schools of our community.”

Jackson had been a longtime supporter of music education in schools. 100 percent of the proceeds from the tribute goes to music education programs in Clark County schools.

The King of Pop’s songbook will be performed by cast members of the Las Vegas productions of Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Peepshow and Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular. In addition, the show will contain video montages from those who knew Jackson or were inspired by his work.  The acts will be backed by a 10-piece orchestra under the direction of Vegas’ own Joey Melotti.

Look for additional performers and details to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Las Vegas Celebrates Michael Jackson,” August 29 at 3 p.m., $29-$504 (VIP). (702) 942-6888.

For more info: www.vegaslovesmj.com

Back in the Day

You know back in the day when 20 bucks use to get you 50 dollars worth of food stamps. So I could spend my money on more important things like weed ahh those were the days.

NKOTB

I’ll be honest with you the first time I saw New Kids on the Block I thought when did the Osmonds have kids.

The older they got the better they got.  “No More Games” made me a NKOTB believer and then they broke up

Music had drastically changed and by the time their 94 release came out even their own fans had moved on

But absence makes the heart grow fonder. The new kids are clearly no longer kids anymore –– the youngest member, Joey McIntyre, is 36 –– but they still know how to bring their overwhelmingly female fans to the block . The show opened with “Full Service,” one of the better songs from the group’s 2008 release, The Block.

The crowd went wild with screams the second the lights went down and were on their feet the entire two hour set. It was a sea of cell phone camera flashes and home made signs 

The classics really got the crowd moving and shaking, songs like “Please Don’t Go Girl,” “You Got It (The Right Stuff),” “Step by Step” and “I’ll Be Loving You Forever.”

One final critique Jordan your falsetto high notes put more dogs to sleep than Mike Vick but I still love ya

UFC EXPO – IS THE UFC TAKING OVER?

Carol Ann Weber

By Carol Ann Weber

Went to the launch of the new official UFC magazine last week, which was on the eve of the UFC 100 (I think this meant the 100th championship fight) scheduled for the next night at Mandalay Bay. (The card included this bruiser of a guy, Brock Lesnar, a cutie named Georges St.-Pierre, as well as quite a big undercard. Oh, and there was also the first all-female card the night of the dinner over at the Orleans – the women are gaining ground in this very macho sport.)  Anyhoo, it was a dinner celebration for the magazine sponsors and held at the Nove Italiano restaurant inside the Palms Hotel here in Las Vegas. My good friend, Antoinette Forte (she does the advertising for the mag), put this whole shindig together and I have to tell you, the girl knows how to throw a party!  First of all, when I walked in, she was surrounded by a bevy of good-looking buffed guys, as she was chatting everyone up and keeping the party going.  I thought to myself, “even the advertisers for this magazine are great looking guys who are majorly built, how cool is that?” And since women are still a minority in the UFC genre, the odds were in my favor. I was in heaven. I knew one of the guys, a pioneer from the golden days of bodybuilding, Kevin Lawrence, who not only was an artistic poser in his own right (in bodybuilding, great posing is essential to winning), but did some amazing couples posing with a friend of mine, the legendary Diana Dennis.  It was good to see him again. Kevin’s now involved with a great company, BNRG, and I was sitting right next to the COO, a real character by the name of Chris Riley (with a great English or Australian accent – I couldn’t figure out which one).  Chris kept me entertained all evening, and became my partner-in-crime as we found our way up to the Playboy Club after din-din.

Speaking of dinner, the Nove staff explained to us they were serving dinner “family style” and let me tell you, they were planning for a very hungry family.  There were tons of appetizers, like fried calamari, three different kinds of pizza (one tasted like it had escargot on it – was really good!), caesars salad, a delectably prepared herring, and lots and lots of chianti.By the time the main courses arrived (the most deliciously huge meatballs I’ve ever tasted), melt-in-your-mouth gnocci, perfectly baked salmon, and more stuff I can’t even remember, I barely had room left in my appetizer-stuffed stomach. But, the steady flow of chianti in my glass was making everything taste even better and soon, the good-looking guys around me were gorgeous!

The next day, although slightly hungover, I attended the UFC expo and realized that a lot of comrades from my bodybuilding days have moved over into UFC territory.  The UFC is a rapidly growing industry, not just a fight club, and many of the sponsors I’ve seen for years at bodybuilding shows were there in force. Supplements, vitamins, energy drinks and bars, even beef jerky were being touted at the various booths.  Even spotted bodybuilding champion Flex Wheeler at his supplement company’s booth. Some are saying the UFC will not only be bigger than boxing but will be the biggest international sport in the world.  (No doubt football will always be the biggest in the U.S.) From what I heard, Dana White, the no-holds-barred UFC owner, recently turned down a deal with HBO – this, from a man who just a few years ago was considered an outsider with a sport that could only attract a small cult-following.  I do know that UFC events attract crowds that rival Vegas’ biggest boxing events, and UFC fighters are now, for the first time, gaining an element of celebrity.

The BNRG Crew

One thing I noticed – and of course, is of greatest importance – is that the UFC people have the coolest t-shirts and clothes – much hipper than bodybuilding.  Lots of designs that look like elaborate tattoos, on both front and back, and sprinkled with rhinestones and studs. Spoke to Mitchell Bobrow, the guy who owns the clothing line OTOMIX.  I wore a lot of his stuff when I worked out at Gold’s Gym in Venice, California and always thought it was cool.  Now, it’s even cooler with a UFC flare. Mitch says he founded his company 20 years ago, about when I started competing in bodybuilding, and was the first sponsor to the first UFC fight.  Pretty cool.

Jose Conseco

The Mandalay Bay convention center was packed, and I caught glimpses of an assortment of celebrities in attendance, including Jose Conseco, various bodybuilders, martial artists, boxers and of course, a lot of MMA fighters muscling their way through the crowd.  Even got my picture taken with one of them, Clay “The Carpenter” Guida over at the BNRG booth.  Met a very cool chick (did I just say that, er, lady) named Chantelle Louis who is a MMA champion currently training with boxing legend Freddie Roach in L.A.  She is gorgeous enough to be a model and you wouldn’t know she could kick your butt anytime, anywhere.  So sweet and soft spoken.  I know of several other boxing trainers who are now working with MMA and UFC athletes. See, I told you the UFC may be taking over boxing.

Also visited almost all the booths, including Ultimate Nutrition, where I schmoozed for awhile with Neil Blitzer, Melissa Lang and their very friendly crew.  Also bumped into Candace Houston, the overall amateur figure champion from the 2008 IFBB Arnold Classic.  She was in great shape, as she’s getting ready for the USA Bodybuilding Championships next month and will probably compete in the Olympia in October.

By the end of the day, I was exhausted after having to fight my way through the ever-thickening crowds of people. Having tasted just about every protein drink and power bar (why is it that the worse they taste, the better they are for you), I was ready for a relaxing evening in my easy chair, sipping a glass of chianti and wishing I could order me some of those amazing meatballs from Nove Italiano.  I ended up with leftover pizza…

Sinsu 4 U

SINSU CO :: a TV Personality from a reality television show, a trained actor from the distinguished New York University, a musician, and a model with international experience and appeal.

She became known as a fashionable celeb-reality after being cast on MTVsParis Hilton’s My New BFF, a show which aired nationally as well as throughout Europe and Asia. She has also appeared on the British ITV Network Show Paris Hilton British Best Friend.She has made guest appearances on shows such as the Tyra Banks Show, Extra TV, and The Soup from E! Television. She has also attended numerous red carpet events, including the MTV Video Music Awards in both Los Angeles and Tokyo, New York Fashion Week shows, and movie premieres. She continues to receive both national and international magazine press coverage today.

Most recently, she was involved in the massive national ad campaign for JCPenney & Kimora Lee Simmon’s Fashion Line Fabulosity, which consisted of a series of TV spots, airing during primetime slots as well as during the Academy Awards. She has also appeared in many global ad campaigns and national commercials “ Reebok, Lincoln-Mercury, Wal*mart, Sandisk, Axe Aftershave, Propel Fitness Water, and Nike. Many of those billboards are presently up in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

As for her recent film news, she starred in the 2008 short, Light Years, which received 4 awards at notable International Film Festivals. She also made a cameo in the star-studded, highly anticipated collaborative film of 2009, New York, I Love You.  Currently, she is in principal photography for an intriguing female lead in an independent feature film. More to come with her hard work and outgoing personality! Stay tuned.

www.sinsuCO.com

www.myspace.com/sinsu

“Prey” The Interviews

By Carol Ann

Recently went to the premiere of an Australian horror flick, “Prey,” at the Palms.  First, I have to say that the Palms is a great venue for movies, not only just going to see one, but for the premieres, the red carpet stuff, and the Walk of Fame.  Really a slice of Hollywood right here in Las Vegas.   As always, Vegas’ favorite red carpet MC, Robin Leach, arrived flanked by showgirls but soon was overtaken by Australian ghouls (quite attractive in spite of the scary makeup) and assorted groupings of local talent like the Thunder from Down Under (my personal favorites) and then the parade of various cast members. It always cracks me up that some reporters are willing to interview just about anybody, including the ghouls.

I interviewed one of the writer/producers of “Prey,” Robert Lewis Galinksy, who’s a real character.  He reminds me of John Barr from the car commercials on local tv.  He says this was a low budget horror film with teens as the target audience.  He started in January 2007 with the idea and had all the money raised – about $2.5 million – by June 2007, which is quite amazing for a movie project.  The film opened in Australia in May 2009 and this was the U.S. launch.

Galinksy characterized the film as having a lot of funny sarcasm, and then I asked him if he ever got scared during the filming of a horror film.  “I get scared when one of my ex-wives called,” he responded off the cuff.  He did say that he was told they were cursed because they shot the film on some of the Aboriginal sacred ground.  Unfortunately, it seems they were cursed with a bad script, bad special effects, bad editing and lame humor.  Basically, it’s a tale of six young people who set off on a trip across the Australian outback who encounter a creepy shaman who assails them with a 100-year-old curse.  One by one they are transformed into monsters who want to kill the rest of them off.  Only two of the women survive.  The scary things weren’t really scary and the funny stuff wasn’t really funny.  The only time there was laughter in the theater was when the audience was laughing at the movie, not with it.  But he is such a cool guy, I hope he makes another film and learns from his mistakes on this one.

One of the stars, Jesse Johnson, is a cool guy who just happens to be Don Johnson’s son  (His mother is actress Patti D’Arbanville. I remember her so well from her role as Lt. Virginia Cooper in the tv series “New York Undercover.” Amazing eyes! She’s actually done a lot of work since then and her filmography is extensive. What’s funny is that I didn’t realize Don Johnson was seriously hooked up with anyone other than Melanie Griffith.)  Anyhoo, her son plays “Gus” in this movie, an American vacationing with his friends – he dies about midway.

Jesse was really a down-to-earth guy to interview, and looks and sounds JUST like his dad!  He started the interview by saying he’s been taking pictures of himself all day long, which definitely broke the ice.  Jesse says that horror films are really fun to make because “there never can be enough blood.”  He also said that the scariest thing that happened on set was driving out in the middle of nowhere to be scared by a fake snake.  He also said that he was horrified that one of his co-stars, Christian Clark, is more handsome than he is and therefore he won’t be the best looking guy in the movie.  Very funny. He says he got his sense of humor from his dad and has stayed down to earth because of it.  “There are no handouts in my family,” says Jesse.  “Once you are out of school, you’re on your own.”

Jesse has several other film projects in the works, including a film in which he plays John the Baptist.  Now that’s a movie I want to see….

ANTE UP FOR AFRICA

Annually, the largest celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas, the event is accessible for the public to play with their favorite stars or watch as spectators. A full house of celebrities will join Academy Award Nominee, Don Cheadle and “Celebrity Apprentice Star” and WSOP Bracelet winner Annie Duke at the event taking place during the 2009 WORLD SERIES OF POKER®

HardBat Classic

Hardbat Classic combines the best in live events, television entertainment and brand engagement through apparel, equipment, and games. The result is a 360-degree branded table tennis entertainment experience inclusive of playing, watching, supporting, and connecting via licensed brand extensions and innovative promotional marketing partnerships.

Hundreds of table tennis players and fans from around the country packed The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino this past weekend for the HardBat Classic table tennis tournament, presented by Bud Light. The players were all competing for the biggest prize in the history of table tennis in the U.S.: $100,000. Over the course of three days the field was whittled down until only four players remained, including one pro, one casual player, one HardBat All-Star and one of the Bud Light tournament winners. Jack Baker, a 23-year-old from Alabama who gained his spot in the tournament by winning one of the Bud Light bar events, ended up taking home first place and the grand prize.

Celebrities flocked to Vegas this weekend to participate in a celebrity filled ping pong tournament at The Venetian in Las Vegas this weekend.

-Antonio Sabato Jr looked sharp on the carpet with a black suit and red dress shirt as he talked about his new reality show on VH1. Antonio also raved about The Palazzo and The Venetian and said he couldn’t get enough of the two hotels

-Judah Friedlander with his signature large glasses posed for photos with invited celebs on the carpet and interviewed them inside the VIP party at The Palazzo

-Tennis superstar Anna Kournikova showed up to the carpet in a tan mini dress and stilettos, posing for the cameras with a ping pong paddle and with HardBat sponsors

-Autumn Reeser and husband looked adorable and in love as they walked into the VIP party at The Palazzo. Reeser also enjoyed a daybed at Azure, The Palazzo’s luxurious daytime pool club. Autumn said the that she and her hubby had just gotten married and she felt like she was on a second honeymoon

-Brittny Gastineau and guest Jorge Perez attended the VIP party at The Palazzo. Brittny also said that she loves ping pong and its one of her favorite hobbies

-Actor John Schaech enjoyed a 50 minute massage at Canyon Ranch SpaClub at The Palazzo as well as a luxurious cabana at AZURE, the daytime pool club located on The Palazzo pool deck.

Pussycat Dolls perform at Pearl

The Pussycat Dolls made their way through a high energy set and rarely stayed in one place for too long. An entire song was never completed in the same spot. It’s obvious who the real star of the show is. Nicole Scherzinger may be the next Beyonce, it seems as if she has become too big for the group as multiple spotlights fixed on her throughout the set, Scherzinger’s powerful voice and stage presence made the rest of the group look, merely, like back up dancers.

I want to thank Karla M. Rodas of VCP Creations for taking these great shots

North American Premiere of the Australian Horror film “Prey.”

The Stars of Prey

Kristin Sargent (Annika);Jesse Johnson (Gus); Natalie Walker (Ling); Ben Kermode (Matt);  Jennifer Hansen (Waitress)

“Prey” is inspired by the disappearance in the late 80’s of a North American couple who disappeared in the West Australian desert on a 4WD holiday. They were never seen alive again. Their abandoned vehicles and totally unused supplies were found in sand dunes near an Aboriginal sacred site–less than an hour away from the closest town. Two years later, the two men were both found dead of natural causes, on the same day, 1000 miles apart back in North America. Twenty years after the original incident, TOP CAT FILMS and iconic director George Miller commence production of the story of 3 couples who set out into the same desert and unluckily end up in the same area, at the same time of year, with disastrous results. The previously unrevealed psychological and sexual liaisons the couple’s had secretly shared come to light as their lives end one-by-one. Who will survive?

IDA LJUNGQUIST – 2009 PLAYMATE OF THE YEAR!

Ida Ljungqvist .  She is the first african-born and second Swedish to be Playmate of the Year.

and future wife of the Paparazzo:)  I have my dream you can have yours.