‘Cake Boss’ sweetens Las Vegas girls’ 10th birthdays
Best pals Gabriella McColl and Gabriella Johnson won’t forget their 10th birthdays.
McColl got her wish on Saturday — to have something from the “Cake Boss” bakery — and what happened next was frosting on the cake.
They were in a long line at Carlo’s Bakery across from Buddy V’s Ristorante at the Palazzo when they got word that the “Cake Boss,” Buddy Valastro, was dining in his restaurant.
Stacey Escalante, a former Channel 3 reporter, said the two girls are “diehard” fans of TLC’s reality hit show “Cake Boss.”
After picking up pastries for the girls, the moms, Escalante and Diane Johnson, saw Valastro being mobbed in his restaurant as he chatted at a table with Hard Rock Hotel executive Don Marrandino and Alicia Jacobs.
“I can be very assertive when it comes to my daughter,” said Escalante with a laugh.
Valastro couldn’t have been sweeter, Escalante said.
The awestruck girls got their photo taken with the star of the show, which tracks the lives of the Italian-American family’s business in Hoboken, N.J.
He told them he had an 11-year-old daughter and gave hugs to the two Gabriellas, who were wired beyond their biggest sugar highs.
“My Gabriella was so excited she was shaking,” Escalante said.
McColl turned 10 on Sunday, and the other Gabriella’s birthday was last Wednesday.
“They’ve been best friends since pre-kindergarten,” Escalante said.
She added, “My Gabriella said, ‘Mommy, we pinched ourselves afterwards because we didn’t know if it was real.’ ”
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Clint Holmes has a new contract and a new look. He announced during his Friday holiday show that he’s signed up for a third year at Cabaret Jazz inside The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. As for the salt-and-pepper beard, “I was looking through GQ and noticed eight of the 10 models had a beard or the scruffy look. It’s more salt than pepper, but my wife (singer Kelly Clinton) likes it.” The weekend-a-month contract at Cab Jazz is “a great home base to have,” he said. …
What started with a $500 budget has grown into the sixth annual Cadillac of Las Vegas Marine Corps Toys for Tots Christmas charity. “We raised $200,000 last year,” said LJ Harness, the organizer. Chris Phillips will be hosting Saturday’s show at the Westgate. Vince Neil of Motley Crue is on board, with David Perrico’s Pop Evolution, the American Trilogy and Pia Zadora. Tickets are available at the Westgate on the night of the show or in advance at the Cadillac dealership by bringing an unwrapped gift valued at $20 or greater. The show starts at 8 p.m., with the red carpet beginning at 6:30 p.m. …
Current and legendary stars of the National Finals Rodeo will be signing autographs in the MGM Grand’s main lobby from 10 to 11:30 a.m. today.
SIGHTINGS
Country legend George Strait and his wife, Norma, checking out Beacher’s Madhouse at the MGM Grand on Saturday. … Jake Owen, one of country’s biggest stars, put on a surprise performance at Gilley’s (TI) on Friday. Fans saw a radical new look: His shoulder- length locks are gone, replaced by what Owen described on Twitter as a “high and tight” style. The surprise show was part of a Budweiser/NASCAR celebration for 2014 Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick. … Hanging out at Chateau Nightclub & Rooftop (Paris) on Saturday: country rap artist Cowboy Troy and Big & Rich. … Country sensations Maddie & Tae, taking in Shania Twain’s show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Saturday. They were celebrating the success of their hit song “Girl in a Country Song.”… Chef Rick Moonen and sports agent J.B. Bernstein of “Million Dollar Arm” fame, dining at Crush (MGM Grand) on Saturday. … Zadora, with husband Michael Jeffries at the Italian American Club for dinner and Chadwick Johnson’s show on Sunday night. … Actor Jeremy Piven, playing the drums at The Sayers Club at SLS on Saturday.
THE PUNCH LINE
“The rain is giving much needed relief to California’s crops. By that I mean ‘marijuana.’ ’’ — Craig Ferguson
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more at normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter.
