Actress giving CityCenter a kiss

Eva Longoria of "Desperate Housewives" and star chef Todd English are teaming up on a Latin-tinged steakhouse concept for CityCenter.

They are bringing a spinoff of Beso -- Spanish for kiss -- from Hollywood.

Longoria will be among the highest profile celebrity restaurant investors when CityCenter opens late this year. Jonas Lawrence, formerly of Miami hot spot Rokbar, is the managing partner, a source said.

English, whose Boston-based Olives restaurant empire includes an eatery at Bellagio, will feature his Latin take on flatbreads, along with tacos and chili-rubbed steak.

Longoria, who grew up in Texas, contributed the guacamole recipe and tortilla soup to Beso's original menu.

It won't be English's only venue at CityCenter. He also is doing a British pub.

It has been reported that Victoria Beckham, wife of British soccer star David Beckham, was joining Longoria as a partner in the Las Vegas venture, but that could not be substantiated.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Negotiations between Steve Wynn and Garth Brooks appear to be moving along nicely. Brooks, the hottest thing in country in the 1990s before retiring in 2000, on Tuesday is doing another free invite-only show at the Encore Theatre. ...

Tip of the week: I'm hearing a big Fourth of July fireworks show is planned for mid-Strip in the Caesars Palace area. That means the primo views will be on the east side of the Strip, at restaurants with outdoor dining, such as Lavo's 3,000-square-foot terrace, Morels Steakhouse at The Palazzo and Trader Vic's patio outside Planet Hollywood Resort. Make your reservations for 9 p.m. ...

Actor Rusty Meyers was one of a half-dozen locals with speaking parts in the remake of "Ocean's Eleven." He is the founder and director of RAW, or RealActorsWorkshop.com, which he started 14 years ago. ...

Motown great Smokey Robinson tells me he has made Las Vegas his second home since 2004, first in Seven Hills before moving to Summerlin a couple years ago. Asked what brought him to our fair city, Robinson responded, "Uncle Sam," because Nevada doesn't add a state income tax on top of his federal tax bill. ...

Mitch Truswell, morning and noon anchor at KVBC-TV, Channel 3 since 2003, is among the latest casualities of cutbacks in the local TV community. "Nothing to do with his talents or performance, strictly based on tough economic times," KVBC general manager Lisa Howfield said.

SIGHTINGS

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, amid rumors that he and supermodel Gisele Bundchen are expecting, at Blush (Wynn) on Friday. He's in town for Warren Buffett's meeting of NetJets investors, which included Wayne Gretzky, Steve Martin and Ray Romano. ... Singer John Mayer, dining at Botero (Encore) on Friday before going to XS nightclub. ... Backstage after Larry King's evening of humor at the Encore Theatre on Friday: wife Shawn's son, Danny Southwick, who has been working out with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent quarterback. Also there: Steve Wynn and Andrea Hissom. ... Sally Kellerman, the original "Hot Lips" Houlihan in "M.A.S.H.," taking in the Friday night performance of "Voices" at the Hilton. ... Steve Martin and Teller of Penn & Teller, dining Friday at Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare (Wynn). ... Alton Fitzgerald White, who plays Mufasa in "The Lion King," in the audience Friday at "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular."