Monday, March 07, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Wynn, Hard Rock go head-to-head

Bon Jovi set for Hard Rock party. Leonardo DiCaprio spotted at Light. Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes in "X" at V. Coolio seen swinging in Rain.

Steve Wynn's gala weekend opening of his $2.5 billion resort won't be the only game in town.

While Thursday is the Hard Rock Hotel's actual 10th anniversary, the celebration has been set up for the weekend of April 29, the same weekend that Wynn Las Vegas opens.

Hard Rock chief Peter Morton clearly is sending a message: He's lined up white-hot British band Coldplay, Nine Inch Nails and Bon Jovi for this establishment's big weekend.

A published report in Sunday's Page Six gossip column of the New York Post said the Eagles will open Wynn's new hotel.

But that's not a done deal, according to my sources.

There's a delicate issue involving the Eagles' $1 million fee, music industry sources say.

Novel approach

I met Stephen White, author of eight books that have made the New York Times' best-seller list, over lunch at Aqua in October 2003.

A Denver clinical psychologist turned author, he was putting together another psychological thriller, this one with a Las Vegas conclusion, and he wanted permission to include me as a character in "Missing Persons" (Dutton).

The fictional Norm Clarke, also an R-J gossip columnist, is recruited to help solve the case. Through a homeless man, he arranges a contact with an underworld character.

White came up with that angle after I shared a personal story with him. About four years ago an R-J photographer came back from an assignment about the homeless with a puzzling side story. One of the homeless men approached him and said he grew up with me in my small Montana hometown.

The homeless man declined to give his name. Learning his identity in hopes of reaching out has been one of my life's biggest mysteries.

White is signing his book at Borders in Henderson from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Through some crazy coincidence, it's the second time in two years that I've ended up in a murder novel.

Las Vegas-based novelist Michele Jaffe included me in her serial killer tome "Bad Girl" as a food-fiend gossip columnist named Storm Larke.

The Scene and Heard

Expect an announcement any day that the Sahara has purchased NASCAR Cafe, a tenant since 2000.

Sightings

At Light's anniversary party that started at Caramel: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Owen Wilson, Laura Prepon, Shannon Elizabeth, Nicolette Sheridan, Bill Maher, Keenen, Shawn and Marlon Wayans, Michael Vartan, Nicky Hilton and Kevin Connolly and the entire cast from his show "Entourage." Also at Light: Ageless poker ace Doyle Brunson, drawing a big crowd of admirers around his banquette. Still Texas-tough at 71, he was spotted hobbling out on a crutch at 1 a.m., his big-hatted entourage in tow. ... Dale Earnhardt Jr., with NASCAR pals T.J. Majors, J.R. Rhodes and Tommy Kendall at the topless revue "X" on Saturday night at V Theatre (Aladdin). ... At Rain nightclub (Palms) on Saturday: Kurt Busch, former Denver Broncos teammates Terrell Davis and Rod Smith and rapper Coolio. ... John Stamos and his two "Jake in Progress" co-stars, Ian Gomez and Rick Hoffman, at "Beacher's Madhouse" (Hard Rock Hotel) on Saturday before clubbing at Body English. ... Actor Rip Torn, among a large group from "Retirement," the movie being shot here, visiting the Scintas backstage at the Rio. The green room was so crowded, said Mama Scinta, "it feels like my kitchen."

The Punch Line

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." -- Hunter S. Thompson

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