Hugh Hefner and designer Roberto Cavalli pose with Playboy Bunnies during the unveiling of the new Bunny costumes Friday at the Palms' ghostbar. Photo by Jeff Scheid.
Playboy's iconic Bunny is back, and she makes her long-delayed Las Vegas debut in May.
When the Playboy Club opens atop the Palms next spring, the new Fantasy Tower will appropriately feature a pop-top (retractable) roof and a litter of next-generation Bunnies.
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Kicking off the Palms' fourth anniversary celebration, Hugh Hefner, his daughter Christy and designer Roberto Cavalli unveiled the new look on Friday night at a private fashion show in the Palms' ghostbar.
After a catwalk parade of retro Bunny looks, Cavalli's first costume made a fitting Vegas statement: snow leopard accessorized with a rhinestone collar and metallic gold bow tie.
Other new styles, which will be rotated with the classic costumes: a tuxedo with tails, a black silk satin design, a black-and-white version, and another featuring luminous black crystals.
"I think the big message in all of this," Hugh Hefner told me, "is 'the Bunny is back' -- the beginning of a very exciting time for Playboy here in Vegas and around the world."
It has been 22 years since a Playboy Club opened in the United States (Omaha, Neb.) and 17 years since the last one (Lansing, Mich.) closed.
Las Vegas previously got a cold shoulder as a prospective Playboy Club site, said Hugh Hefner, because his gaming license in England disallowed any ties to Las Vegas "because 'the boys' were here."
SIGHTINGS
Hef and his cigar-smoking blond entourage, being taped by E! during dinner at N9NE Steakhouse (Palms) on Friday. The camera crew was shooting for "The Girls Next Door" reality series featuring Hef's gal pals and life at the Playboy mansion. N9NE Group honcho Scott DeGraff dashed into the kitchen and had chef Barry Dakake's kitchen crew supply Hef et al with cigars freshly rubbed with amaretto and decorated with chocolate drizzle. ... Bono, in his signature glasses and cowboy hat, along with the rest of U2, celebrating their post-concert party at Light (Bellagio) on Friday night with Bruce Willis, the Killers, Matthew Perry and Damon Marley who opened the concert. Light girls dressed as rhinestoned-up showgirls presented a birthday cake to U2's longtime road manager, Dennis Sheehan. Also at Light: San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt and ultimate fighting warriors Chuck Liddell and Rich Franklin. Hometown hero Steven Jackson, starting running back with the St. Louis Rams, dining at Chinois (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Friday. ... NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, creating a buzz at Aquaknox (The Venetian). ... Drew Carey, taking in "The Fashionistas" show at Krave (Aladdin) on Friday. ... Sluggers Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves and Gary Sheffield of the New York Yankees, at Rain (Palms) on Friday. ... Korn, previewing songs from the band's new album at Rainbow Bar & Grill on Friday at a KXTE-FM, 107.5 listeners party.
THE PUNCH LINE
"The hardest part of the New York Marathon is figuring out which gunshot came from the starter's pistol." -- David Letterman
