Party could roll, Branson says
Richard Branson wants his Virgin Trains to operate the rail line that someday would connect Vegas to Los Angeles.
“We’re talking to the American government, and to one or two private people, about using Virgin’s experience. A Virgin Vegas train service could, I think, do as well as the airlines,” Branson told me late Wednesday night, minutes before he was given a key to the Palms’ Playboy Club.
When would Virgin Trains, based in Britain, be ready to roll here?
“I wouldn’t want to make any promises.”
He also said Virgin’s domestic plane fleet is expanding.
“We’re going to get a lot more planes,” he said, “so that’ll be good for Vegas, as well.”
What does Branson like about Vegas?
“Everything, really. You only live once, and you might as well live life to its full. In Vegas, people definitely live life to its full,” he said. “It’s got great people, great food, great parties. What more could you want?”
PRE-SIGHTINGS
Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian will strut into Kate Bennett’s Vegas magazine party Saturday night at Encore’s Surrender club-and-pool. It’s invite-only. ... Brittny Gastineau, Jack Osbourne, Shannon Elizabeth, Aaron Paul, Clark Duke, Kid Cudi and Jacob Zachar are slated for Saturday’s 11:45 p.m. red carpet opening of the Rio’s Crown Theater and Nightclub. ... From noon-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Warren Moon takes sports pals to Lagasse’s Stadium restaurant at the Palazzo, including Michael Irvin, Robert Horry, Charles Haley, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Tony Gonzalez, Eddie George, Warrick Dunn and Ndamukong Suh. At 3 p.m., those guys head to Texas Station to bowl for Moon’s Urban Youth Scholarship Fund. ... Christopher Mintz-Plasse (“McLovin” from “Superbad”) walks an 11 p.m. red carpet Saturday at Venetian’s club Tao, then turns 21 at midnight and starts looking for legal alcohol. ... All weekend at Planet Hollywood: Michael Jackson is still dead, but you can view his stuff for free (and items of Tupac, Marilyn Monroe and “Star Trek” stars) before Julien’s Auctions sells it all.
WHERE THE GIRLS ARE
Some 18 bachelor firefighters go on auction from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Palms’ club Rain ($35 for women; $70 for men). Raffle prizes include hotel stays and VIP services. The cause is the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation. Emcees are Dayna Roselli and Melissa Duran from KLAS-TV, Channel 8. If you’re a dude, I’m sure you don’t want to go, but I heard it was wall-to-wall women last year.
Doug Elfman’s column appears Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. E-mail him at delfman@ reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.
