Friday, November 29, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
COLUMN: Norm!
Lopez, Affleck find holiday shopping to be popular Forum
Jennifer Lopez, shown here accepting an award Oct. 15 at the 2002 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards, created a stir on Thanksgiving Day with fiance Ben Affleck at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
Photo by Associated Press
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An extensive shopping spree by Jennifer Lopez and fiance Ben Affleck created a Thanksgiving Day mob scene at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
A shrieking contingent of fans followed them from store to store after the newly engaged couple arrived about noon in a limousine full of family and friends.
Under heavy security, Lopez and Affleck, along with their party of a dozen or so, spent 3 1/2 hours doing some power shopping at Gucci, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.
Gucci staff members closed the store's doors to accommodate the group, and from there the celebrities went out a back door on their way to Versace.
The limousine later dropped the film stars off at the Mirage.
New Year's Lineup
If you're among those who believe in leaving New Year's Eve to the amateurs, Fox News is planning a 90-minute live show hosted by "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest.
Otherwise, headliner bookings at Strip properties include:
Sugar Ray at House of Blues (Mandalay Bay) for a New Year's Eve concert.
Daryl Hall and John Oates, icons of the '80s, on Dec. 31 at Bally's Events Center.
Paris Las Vegas is featuring Lionel Richie with special guest Sinbad at the ballroom on Dec. 31.
At Le Theatre des Arts at Paris Las Vegas on Dec. 30-31: the Classical Mystery Tour, featuring original members of the Broadway sensation "Beatlemania," who will be accompanied by a 45-piece live orchestra.
The Scene and Heard
KVVU, Channel 5 weekend anchor/reporter John Huck flew back to Atlanta last week to donate a kidney to his 70-year-old father. ...
Mr. Sinonymous tells me Steve Wynn has decided to make Le Reve a palm tree-free zone. The dozens of such trees that currently dot the golf course are being removed and sold. But there will be trees atop Wynn's mountain, the centerpiece of the property. ...
Fox News National is scheduled to arrive next week to do a feature on "X," the hot new topless revue at the Aladdin. ...
Some observations after catching Ronn Lucas at the Rio, Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee at the Barbary Coast and Amazing Johnathan at the Golden Nugget this week: Lucas' act is first-rate, highlighted by the oversized jaws bit involving an audience member. "Big Elvis" is way bigger than you can imagine. So is his voice: truly Elvis-esque. But don't expect any karate kicks. And I'd rank the Amazing Johnathan show among the 10 funniest acts I've seen in Las Vegas, one that is boosted by the genius of Psychic Tanya, a modern-day Gracie Allen of mayhem.
Sightings
The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and Ron Wood, finishing off Florida stone crabs while their bodyguards stood vigil Tuesday in a closed-off room at Piero's Italian Ristorante. They are performing at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel tonight and the MGM Grand on Saturday. ... Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell at "O" Tuesday night. ... Adam Sandler at the Bellagio on Thursday. ... Jerry Tarkanian and son George, boxing promoter Bob Arum, WBO heavyweight Vladimer Klitchko and his boxing brother Vitaly (who fights Lennox Lewis here in April), Manny Cortez and former Mayor Ron Lurie among the VIPs serving Thanksgiving dinners to 600 kids Thursday at Piero's annual Youth Charities of Southern Nevada event. "Tark's looking for a job," cracked Piero's owner Freddie Glusman, event sponsor.
The Punch Line
"There are so many turkeys in Washington, I should pardon at least one." -- President Bill Clinton, during a 1995 Thanksgiving photo op.
Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can reach him at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.
