City Center will get new hot spot

Beverly Hills hot spot Mr. Chow is heading for MGM Mirage's $7 billion City Center project.

A celebrity magnet for years, Mr. Chow was under contract to be part of the Hard Rock Hotel's massive expansion but that changed when owner Peter Morton sold to Morgans Hotel Group Co. in May 2006 for $770 million.

Owner Michael Chow has been looking for a Las Vegas presence for almost a decade.

The restaurant lineup at City Center, due to open in late 2009, will borrow heavily from the Bellagio's deep pool of star chefs.

Others include: The celebrated Maccione family, who operate Le Cirque restaurants in New York and Bellagio, along with Osteria del Circo at Bellagio; Julian Serrano, fresh from a two-star Michelin rating and a AAA five-diamond award at Picasso; much-decorated New York City chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Prime steakhouse; San Francisco chef Michael Mina is rumored to have two concepts in the works; and Jean-Phillipe Maury is the Bellagio executive pastry chef.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Mark Cuban, billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks and chairman of HDTV cable network, is attempting to woo unbeaten boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. into mixed martial arts. ESPN.com reported Saturday that Cuban and Mayweather met in Las Vegas on Thursday to discuss a deal. Mayweather is "strongly considering" the move, according to ESPN.com. ...

Songbird Mariah Carey is hosting New Year's Eve at Tao.

SIGHTINGS

Marie Osmond and all eight of her children, spending the weekend at Luxor. ... Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx, celebrating his 40th birthday Friday at Jet (Mirage) after dinner at Stack with actor/comedian Martin Lawrence. Foxx's birthday was Dec. 13. Also in the house: Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees. ... Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon, spotted leaving a Hollywood party about 6 a.m. Saturday. ... Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Al Unser Jr., turning heads at Pole Position Raceway on Saturday. ... ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, dining Friday with his model-actress wife, Gilligan, at Company American Bistro (Luxor). ... Brent Barrett, one of the rotating phantoms in "Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular," singing "America the Beautiful" at the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday. ... Gaming Today gossip columnist Monti Rock III, celebrating his birthday with friends at Sand Dollar Blues nightclub and lounge on Thursday. The former New York City disco queen, who had a cameo in "Saturday Night Fever," appears in the film's 30th anniversary DVD, which came out last month. Rock is abuzz over an off-Broadway production in development tentatively titled "Miss Monti." "It's about my legend," said Rock, who turns 70 in May.

THE PUNCH LINE

"If people need something greater than five-star hotels, it's time to bring back the guillotine." -- Bill Maher, during his show at the Hard Rock Hotel on Friday.

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