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Piero's Italian Ristorante owner Fred Glusman took a swipe at boxing promoter Bob Arum with this painting at the restaurant, featuring Glusman and Arum rival Don King.
Photo by NORM CLARKE/ REVIEW-JOURNAL
| Tuesday, December 04, 2001
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal COLUMN: NORM! Cirque du Soleil might have another place to play
New York-New York's courtship of Cirque du Soleil is getting serious. Alan Feldman, vice president of public affairs for MGM Mirage, confirmed Monday New York-New York is the prime candidate for the third Cirque show on the Strip. "We are discussing a possible show with them, but I don't believe it's been finalized," he said. "It's been under discussion for a couple months." The show eventually would go in New York-New York's Broadway Theater, which would require remodeling, Feldman said. One possibility: Cirque might open in a big top tent until the theater could accommodate the Cirque production. "Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance," which occupies the Broadway Theater now, issued a release in May saying it was extended until December, and, I'm told, it will continue indefinitely after its Christmas break. If the deal gets done, five original or offshoots of the Montreal-based circus company could be operating on the Strip by 2004. Cirque's first, "Nouvelle Experience," was in a big top tent in 1992 behind the Mirage, as a precursor to "Mystere," which opened at Treasure Island in 1993. Bellagio has been home to "O" since 1998 and Cirque creator Franco Dragone has been hired to do sister shows for Celine Dion when she opens at Caesars Palace in a year and for Steve Wynn, who plans to put "Fly" in Le Reve, on the Desert Inn property, when it opens in mid-2004. Burying the hatchet Boxing promoter Bob Arum and restaurateur Fred Glusman have called a truce in their two-year feud. Arum was on the A-list at Glusman's tony Piero's Italian Ristorante for years. Glusman went so far as to have a large painting of Arum and some of his top fighters prominently placed in Piero's. Then they had a beef over tickets to the September 1999 title fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad. Glusman wasn't happy with the tickets. "He banned me because he wanted some ringside seats so he could scalp 'em," said Arum. The next time Arum showed up at Piero's, the large painting was covered by a table cloth, and a short time later, the painting was replaced with one showing Glusman proudly standing next to Arum's arch-rival, Don King. Sunday, when Glusman was honored as Temple Beth Sholom's Man of the Year, Arum showed up bearing a gift. He was among a panel of roasters that included Mayor Oscar Goodman, Mandalay Bay executive Mike Sloan, Jerry Tarkanian, developer Irwin Molasky, Manny Cortez of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, former Mayor Ron Lurie and strip joint operator Rick Rizzolo. Arum, hoping to get back in Glusman's good graces, presented the restaurateur with a painting of his own. The four-panel piece of art featured Glusman on every panel. The Scene and Heard Overheard Friday at Coyote Ugly (New York-New York), the new hotspot that's averaging 1,500 patrons a night on weekends: "No sign of a recession here," said an ogling male, while surveying the jammed gin joint. Sightings Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, checking out the ghostbar Monday at The Palms. ... Andre Agassi, wife Stefanie Graf and month-old son Jaden Gil at Bergin Baking Co. & Cafe, 7365 W. Sahara Ave., overheard ordering a mansion of a gingerbread house from owner Mary Bergin. ... Muhammad Ali's manager Gene Kilroy and film icon Tony Curtis, swapping tales at the Steakhouse in Binion's Horseshoe on Saturday. ... 'N Sync's Joey Fatone, posing for a photo with a bride and her bridesmaids at Planet Hollywood on Saturday, while signing T-shirts for the band's charity "Challenge for the Children." ... New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, brother Frank Torre and NFL Hall of Famer George Blanda, dining together at Michael's (Barbary Coast). The Punch Line "The Mafia had respect for me. They stayed away (from his roast). Tonight, they're all here." -- Goodman, at Glusman's roast. Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can reach him at 383-0244 or norm_clarke@lvrj.com.
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