Thursday, November 04, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Jaime Pressly: Picture perfect

Jaime Pressly on cover of Tom Breitling photography book. Jay Leno hanging out at V Bar. Billy Gibbons dining at Les Artistes. Sandy Murphy gets a medal.

A familiar face graces the cover of Tom Breitling's new photography book titled "Vintage Vegas."

That's actress/model Jaime Pressly, who has been dating the Golden Nugget co-owner since last spring.

They met when she walked into Breitling's office to pitch an idea.

"She came in to talk about doing a show -- she does choreography for a dance show," Breitling said.

Soon they were quietly dating, a relationship they managed to keep under the radar for months.

The book came about through Breitling's passion for photography. He's hoping it's a face that launches thousands of sales.

"I thought she'd be the perfect person for the cover," said Breitling, who bought the Golden Nugget with business partner Tim Poster.

Pressly will be appearing at the launch party on Friday night at the Golden Nugget pool area, along with the 14 models who appear in Old Vegas scenes and award-winning photographer Scott Duncan, who is the brother of NBA star Tim Duncan.

Breitling self-published the 96-page coffee table-style book, which goes for $50.

The Scene and Heard

The latest Las Vegas reality show, "The Club" premieres on Spike TV, 9 p.m. on Wednesday. It was filmed this summer at Ice, formerly the Drink nightclub. A red-carpet event is planned at Ice. ...

What was that silver object Sandy Murphy recently showed to her mother Sandra Murphy? KLAS-TV, Channel 8 investigative reporter George Knapp, reveals in his column in today's issue of the Las Vegas Mercury, an R-J publication, that it is in fact a St. Jude's medal, a gift from a girlfriend.

Sightings

Jay Leno, at the ultralounge V Bar at The Venetian, for a private event about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday. ... Elton John, shopping in the new Versace Home Collection Store in Phase III of The Forum Shops on Monday. ... District Court Judge Joseph Bonaventure, celebrating his son Joe's election victory with a family luncheon Wednesday at Courthouse Cafe, the downtown eatery. Young Joe, 28, was elected Tuesday to the newly created Department 9 in Clark County Justice Court. The Bonaventures were dining under the mural that depicts Judge Joe Sr. with a plate of pasta in front of him during a boisterous court scene. The mood was less jolly across the room, where Frank and Lani Tabish were having lunch. They had just come from the senior Bonaventure's courtroom, where their son Rick Tabish is in Week 3 of his retrial in the 1998 slaying of Ted Binion. ... Tempest Storm, Jack Jones and Ben Vereen, inductees into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame on Sunday at the Tropicana, took in Clint Holmes' show (Harrah's) on Tuesday. ... Ricky Ullman, star of the Disney Channel's "Phil of the Future," leading sixth-grade students at J.D. Smith Middle School on a creativity adventure. ... Pasta Shop Ristorante, catering the cast and crew of ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" on Tuesday at a home in northwest Las Vegas. ... Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top dining Tuesday at Les Artistes Steakhouse in Paris Las Vegas.

The Punch Line

"There is a whiff of snobbery in some of the opposition to new casinos." -- Tessa Jowell, Britain's Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.Jaime Pressly on

cover of Tom Breitling photography book.