Sunday, May 01, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
NORM: Hard Rock shows off its big plans
Peter Morton discusses the expansion of the Hard Rock Hotel during a Saturday news conference.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.
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Peter Morton unveiled his $1 billion Hard Rock Hotel expansion project Saturday but was a man of few words on a reported falling out with Britney Spears.
Asked to clarify whether Spears purchased one of the planned Hard Rock condos, as a New York gossip column reported, Morton said:
"No comment. I'm going to take the Fifth on that one. I apologize, but I'm between a rock and hard place on that one."
Spears reportedly was furious over what her camp considered a planted story that included a quote from a Hard Rock rep claiming Spears, who is about five months pregnant, conceived during a Hard Rock stay.
According to sources, her husband, Kevin Federline, also landed in the Spears doghouse for signing a cocktail napkin, during a weekend of partying in Las Vegas, promising a $50,000 down payment on a Hard Rock condo.
Detailing project plans at a Saturday news conference at the Hard Rock, Morton said sales were cut off recently after 3,000 units on the 24-acre site sold for $2.5 million to $6 million each.
The Hard Rock project includes five towers, an amphitheaterlike pool setting for outdoor concerts, a spa and 50,000 square feet of convention space.
The Scene and Heard
According to the hottest rumor burning up the Strip, this wild chain-reaction of executive musical chairs is unfolding: Marc Schorr, chief operating officer at Wynn Las Vegas, would move to Steve Wynn's Macau property later this year. Mark Juliano, president of Caesars Palace, would run Wynn Las Vegas. His replacement would be Don Marrandino, former Hard Rock Hotel general manager and Wynn's short-lived choice to operate Wynn Las Vegas. Marrandino currently is boss at Harrah's at Tahoe for Harrah's Entertainment, which is taking over four Caesars Entertainment properties on Las Vegas Boulevard. ...
The Stratosphere got a call late Friday from someone saying Tom Cruise wanted to arrive at 2 a.m. to ride the Big Shot. Someone called later, canceling the request. Cruise's romance with Katie Holmes went public last week. Cruise and then-wife Nicole Kidman showed up at 1 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2000, and rode the Big Shot several times. He started divorce proceedings about a month later. ...
One of the coolest moments of the Wynn Las Vegas opening, witnesses tell me, came during the midnight countdown Wednesday on the hotel's marquee. Heard in the New Year's Eve-like atmosphere were numerous languages, counting down.
Sightings
Natalie Cole, Barbara Sinatra, Quincy Jones and Don Johnson, taking in a "Le Reve" preview Friday at Wynn Las Vegas. The early word: The show needs a lot of work -- a lot. Was that Elaine Wynn walking out of a "Le Reve" rehearsal in tears? ... Billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch and filmmaker Steven Spielberg, checking out shops at Wynn Las Vegas on Saturday. ... Party princess Tara Reid, very cozy Friday night with Motley Crue's Tommy Lee at Body English (Hard Rock Hotel). Raising eyebrows: Jessica Simpson's Hard Rock weekend with Nick Lachey nowhere in sight. ... The Baker Boys, better known as Phil and Howard Baker of "Fabulous Baker Boys" film fame, along with Las Vegas vocalist Kim Styles, receiving standing o's all night at the Parasol Up Lounge at Wynn Las Vegas. ... Penny slots, yes, penny slots, at Wynn Las Vegas. For the record, the $2.7 billion it took to build the Wynn comes to 270 billion pennies, or about one-fourth of a trillion, give or take a few cents.
The Punch Line
"Free buffet is all-you-can-eat lemon wedges" -- David Letterman's Top Ten Signs You're At A Bad Casino.
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.
