Wednesday, April 09, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
COLUMN: Norm!
Palms owner George Maloof, singer Britney Spears make nice
A former colleague says Palms owner George Maloof, above, has had his eye on singer Britney Spears, below.
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Fact or fiction? Rumor has it a romance has blossomed between pop singer Britney Spears and Palms owner George Maloof.
Maloof isn't taking calls from gossip hounds, but my spies tell me they hit it off while on the town last week.
Spears checked into the Palms a week ago Monday with a girlfriend and was put up in the "Real World" suites. After a day of sun-tanning at the Palms pool and primping at Amp salon, she dined at N9NE with Maloof and his brother, Phil, a former New Mexico state senator who is dating Playboy Playmate of the Year Dalene Curtis. He also co-owns the hotel and the NBA's Sacramento Kings.
Later the foursome was seen downing Purple Hooter shots and dancing until 2 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay's House of Blues Foundation Room.
Spears and her friend were sighted at Spanish Trail, the celebrity-studded enclave where Maloof lives.
"He's made no secret that he's had a crush on her," said a former colleague.
More things French
The banning of all things French widened in Las Vegas Tuesday with confirmation that Coast Casinos has pulled all French wine and water.
But a top restaurant executive urged restraint and cautioned against overreaction.
Van Heffner, president and CEO of the Nevada Restaurant Association, said he understands "the intense patriotism, but we have a lot of people of French descent who really have a soul for Las Vegas. America and Las Vegas is really a melting pot."
Jose Martel, maitre d' at Michael's, the fine dining restaurant at the Barbary Coast, confirmed the edict from Coast Casinos boss Michael Gaughan.
"We've taken French wines out. We're adding wines from allied countries like Spain, Australia, New Zealand and out with the French. No Perrier, no Evian. We're offering Mountain Valley water from Arkansas."
Paris Las Vegas no longer flies the French flag and the Hard Rock Hotel has halted sales of French water.
The Scene and Heard
Hard Rock Hotel lounge performer Richard Cheese will be appearing on "Last Call With Carson Daly" when the show is taped at the Hard Rock May 7-8. ...
Oscar-nominated actress and Grammy-winning rapper Queen Latifah will host the sixth "VH1 Divas Duets," live from the MGM Grand on May 22. The Divas Las Vegas lineup: Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan and Jewel.
Sightings
Record company mogul Tommy Mottola on Sunday in the green room below the Colosseum at Caesars presenting Celine Dion with a home movie of a concert that they had worked on years ago; also spotted on the green-room elevator: actress Darryl Hannah. ... Tampa Bay Bucs' wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, dropping $200,000 at Mandalay Bay over the weekend. ... Indy car driver Jimmy Vassar and pals, watching the Final Four on Monday at the new Road Runner on West Flamingo. ... June Lockhart, of "Lassie" and "Lost in Space" fame, posing for fan photos while walking through the Hilton on Tuesday. ... Duke University men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski spent Final Four weekend in Las Vegas, instead of New Orleans. He and wife Mickie dined at Michael's on Friday and were guests of Steve and Elaine Wynn at Saturday's Tim Conway and Harvey Korman show at the Stardust. Others catching Korman and Conway were Jackie Mason and TV producer George Schlatter.
The Punch Line
"Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them." -- Bill Vaughan.
Reach Norm Clarke at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.
