Dawn of a new day for Las Vegas
Celine Dion received a royal welcome Wednesday that would have made The King envious.
Caesars Palace greeted the Canadian superstar with an elaborate homecoming that raised the bar in a city known for grand gestures.
With centurions flanking Caesar and his royal court, the "Overture from Ben Hur" played as Dion's caravan arrived at the front entrance around 7 p.m.
About 500 to 600 people cheered and chanted "Welcome Home Celine" as Dion and her husband/manager, Rene Angelil, each carrying one of their 5-month-old twin boys, walked up a red carpet strewn with red rose petals.
Their 10-year-old son, Rene-Charles, carried a bouquet of roses.
Among the throng: about 200 Caesars Palace employees, half of them Colosseum ushers, including 86-year-old Dorothy Brooks, one of the original ushers when Dion opened a record-breaking run at Caesars Palace almost eight years ago.
Dion thanked the crowd, saying she felt "wanted and loved."
With Las Vegas still in the grip of its worst recession, Dion's three-year engagement here is widely viewed as a much-needed spark.
"It is as monumental as the impact of the Rat Pack and Elvis," said John Meglen, president of AEG Live, the entertainment giant that built The Colosseum to woo Dion to Caesars Palace.
He said her phenomenal numbers -- almost 54 sold-out Colosseum crowds already and with sales at 20 percent ahead of her previous Caesars run "A New Day" -- prove she's still in a league of her own.
"She's coming back when we need her the most," he said.
Dion's queen-for-a-day odyssey included a taping of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Chicago that ended with the announcement: "You're going to Vegas!" Winfrey told the audience.
SIGHTINGS
Sports Illustrated swimsuit models Brooklyn Decker, Jessica Gomes, Anne Vyalitsyna and Hilary Rhoda, getting tips on how to cook chicken pot pie from STK steakhouse chef Stephen Hopcraft on Wednesday before their signing appearance. Later, all 17 models made a photo-and-autograph appearance at Diablo's Cantina at Monte Carlo, which included a performance by the Jabbawockeez. They're at the Fashion Show mall from noon to 2 p.m. today for a fashion and beauty roundtable and more signings and fan photos. ... NFL Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson of Eldorado High School, having a romantic dinner at the Stratosphere's Top of the World restaurant. ... Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, dining at T-Bones Chophouse at Red Rock Resort on Tuesday.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Doctors are trying to figure out how 170 people became ill at a Playboy mansion party. So far, they're leaning toward the hot tub."-- Conan O'Brien
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
