Expect to see the hip quotient soar at the Sahara with the arrival of Los Angeles nightlife heavyweights Sam Nazarian and Brent Bolthouse.

The 55-year-old resort, once the epicenter of Las Vegas' lounge phenomenon, is being acquired by Nazarian's SBE Entertainment Group in a partnership with San Francisco-based Stockbridge Real Estate Funds.

Nazarian, the 31-year-old son of Qualcomm co-founder David Nazarian, and Bolthouse, a premier promoter, own and operate a powerhouse collection of Los Angeles' most celebrated nightclubs, restaurants and hotels.

They've been collaborating on a Las Vegas project for some time, sources say.

Nazarian has been seen at the hippest clubs in Las Vegas, talking up his interest in the Sahara, while Bolthouse was a force at bringing star power to Body English when it replaced Baby's at the Hard Rock Hotel three years ago.

Nazarian and Bolthouse's first joint venture was Hyde Lounge, one of L.A.'s hottest A-list destinations.

A movie producer as well, Nazarian paid $12.5 million for Jennifer Lopez's Beverly Hills mansion. He got his start in real estate and has made no secret of his aim to surpass Ian Schrager in the hip hotel wars.

Calls and e-mails to Bolthouse were not returned by deadline.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Elvis had just moved into Graceland with his family, and Andy Williams was celebrating his first No. 1 hit, "Butterfly." It was early April 1957 and the Tropicana had just opened to rave reviews as the 12th hotel-casino on Highway 99, then known as the Strip. The Trop is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a March 31 gala in the Grand Ballroom. Columbia Entertainment, current owner of the Tropicana Resort & Casino, will begin a multibillion-dollar expansion and renovation later this year. ...

Former Wolfgang Puck disciple Eric Klein, who opened SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas two years ago as executive chef, has left Fix (Bellagio), and there's word he might be rejoining Puck's Las Vegas empire. ...

On this day 31 years ago: Elton John was immortalized in wax when a life-sized figure of the singer was unveiled at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London. He was the first rock celebrity since the Beatles to be represented in the wax museum.

SIGHTINGS

Chippendales dancer James Wilcox, a former naval officer and professor at Johns Hopkins University, and "Girls Next Door" star Bridget Marquardt, met on the set Monday during the taping of the new NBC game show "Identity," hosted by Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller. ... David Hasselhoff, shopping at Lucky Jeans at Desert Passage (Aladdin) on Tuesday. ... Talk-show host Carson Daly, in Jet (Mirage) on Monday with his sister and friends after dining at Stack. ... Luxor headliner Carrot Top, with a large group at Social House (Treasure Island) on Monday. ... Former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt and her husband, Dennis Bono, celebrating their first anniversary Monday at Martin Nievera's show at the Aladdin.

THE PUNCH LINE

"It was so warm here in New York City today, that Wall Street brokers were jumping out of windows in shorts." -- David Letterman

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.