Big Elvis’ wedding draws media pack

Big Elvis' wedding is getting a whole lotta media coverage this week.

Pete Vallee, who was pushing 900 pounds before losing more than 500 of it, is drawing an international crowd of journalists to his wedding Thursday at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon.

Among the media throng: an Italian film crew has been shadowing the ever-shrinking Vallee and girlfriend Amanda Lasham in the run-up to their big day and an Argentine film crew is arriving today.

Details magazine has assigned a photographer and feature writer.

Vallee, a fixture for eight years at what was previously the Barbary Coast lounge, took a liking to Amanda when she came in to see him with her boyfriend more than three years ago.

Things clicked and they started dating.

He proposed last September at one of their favorite restaurants, Super Mex, over some chicken nachos and guacamole. She said yes, and Vallee had former Elvis jeweler Artie Dadyan make a replica of the engagement ring the real Elvis had given his last girlfriend, Ginger Alden.

Amanda's wedding band will be the ring Elvis designed for Marty Lacker's wife in 1970s, an upgrade. Vallee purchased it from Lacker at auction after the Lackers split.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

I'm hearing that Tiger Woods' No. 1 mistress Rachel Uchitel, who has a condo at Turnberry, has rented a condo in San Diego to get away from the media heat. She's found herself a new beau, too, while she sorts out offers ranging from TV reality shows to peeling for Playboy. ...

Uchitel isn't the only one trying for distance from the media. A recently deposed nightclub exec has decided to disappear in Europe. ...

Family members have been gathering as film star Tony Curtis battles his latest medical crisis at a Henderson hospital. ...

Another longtime Elvis tribute artist, Pete Willcox, had a firecracker Fourth. Willcox, who performs "The King Lives" at the Hooters Hotel, and his girlfriend, Grace Long, got hitched at Graceland Chapel, with fellow Elvis impersonator Brendan Paul officiating. The lovebirds met the old-fashioned way: on Facebook.

There's talk in local construction industry circles that corporate raider Carl Icahn may be on the verge of finishing the $2 billion Fountainbleau that he purchased in foreclosure for a fraction of that price.

SIGHTINGS

Pamela Anderson, chatting with Anthony Crivello, Tony winner and co-lead of "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular," on Saturday at her belated birthday party at Tao (The Venetian). Anderson was with Jesus Villa, who played the devil-horned character in "Zumanity" for a number of years. Earlier Saturday, she received a supersized cake replica of a bottle of Veuve Clicquot at Tao Beach. ... New York Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis, Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce, Andrew Firestone of "The Bachelor," celebrating his birthday with his wife, Ivana Bozilovic, Jesse Buss, the youngest son of L.A. Lakers owner Jerry Buss, showing off an NBA championship ring, all at Vanity (Hard Rock Hotel). ... Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher, fresh off the plane from Miami after meeting with the Miami Heat, celebrating wife Candace's birthday at Tao.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Congratulations to Spain on their World Cup victory! May the streets run red with blood-orange sangria and ham!" -- Conan O'Brian, on his Twitter feed Sunday.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.