Ex-owner’s son seen at Hard Rock Hotel
Sightings of Harry Morton touring the Hard Rock Hotel on Friday set off speculation that the son of the property's former owner Peter Morton might be an interested buyer.
The struggling hotel could be sold to the highest bidder in a public auction in New York City.
The lending group NRFC HRH Holdings LLC has the option to acquire the hotel-casino, which is in foreclosure, or put it up for auction.
Harry Morton, who turns 30 in April, is the founder of the Pink Taco Mexican restaurants. His father, co-founder of the Hard Rock Café chain, sold the Hard Rock Hotel five years ago for $770 million to the Morgans Hotel Group.
NEIL CELEBRATES 50TH
Ten days away from starting a two-week jail term, Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil has been partying like it's 1999.
He's celebrating his 50th birthday early tonight at Blush, the boutique club at Wynn Las Vegas. Invitees include fellow contestants from ABC's "Skating With the Stars" Bethenny Frankel, ski champ Jonny Moseley and Brandon Mychal Smith, plus Carrot Top and Criss Angel, according to Neil's girlfriend and the party host, Alicia Jacobs.
Neil, whose birthday is Tuesday, was sentenced late last month to two weeks in the Clark County Detention Center and two weeks of home arrest.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Terry Bradshaw, ringmaster of Fox's NFL pregame show , wants to be a Las Vegas headliner before retiring. Bradshaw, who will work the Super Bowl pregame show on Sunday, told USA Today that he's working on a one-man Vegas show. "It will take me about a year to learn it," he said.
Funeral services are set for Monday for Mario Papasavvas, director of VIP and butler services at Planet Hollywood Resort since 2004. Papasavvas, who had also worked at The Venetian, died following surgery Monday, a few days after working the Las Vegas premiere of "The Mechanic" at Planet Hollywood Resort. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 5300 S. El Camino Road. ...
The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association has presented its Humanitarian Award to Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino for his work with underprivileged kids. Victorino lives in Las Vegas during the offseason with his wife, Melissa Smith, a former assistant to UFC chief executive officer Lorenzo Fertitta.
SIGHTINGS
Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, catching lunch Friday at Cabo Wabo Cantina at Miracle Mile (Planet Hollywood Resort). ... Mike Tyson, signing an autograph on the inside of a male fan's bicep Friday during a meet-and-greet session at Memorabilia International at the Miracle Mile Shops (Planet Hollywood Resort). The fan intended to have Tyson's autograph turned into a tattoo. Tyson returns to the store today from 1-4 p.m. ... Boston Red Sox star Jacoby Ellsbury at Nove Italiano (Palms) on Thursday and "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier at Beso at Crystals (CityCenter). ... NFL Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Paul Hornung dining Friday night at Terra Rossa at Red Rock Resort.
THE PUNCH LINE
"It was so cold in New York that the PETA people are saying, 'Maybe fur ain't that bad.' " -- David Letterman
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
