Jackson shopping around in Vegas

Michael Jackson is back in Las Vegas, shopping for a quick pay day.

Spies tell me the former king of pop has approached some of the hottest nightclubs with an offer to host an evening for more than $100,000 for a couple hours of work.

"He's still one of the biggest stars out there, but he comes with a lot of baggage," said a top club executive, alluding to Jackson's child molestation trial.

"It would be worth it," said another major club operator.

Jackson, 49, was spotted with his children at a Barnes & Noble bookstore here last Friday with numerous bandage squares around his mouth. "Looking as if his face is held together with Post-it notes," is how a British newspaper put it.

Jackson moved to Las Vegas a year ago at Christmas with his three children but left after six months when he was unable to find any takers for his hoped-for comeback.

He has been living in northern Virginia. His parents, Joe and Catherine, have a house in Las Vegas.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

When I heard Pete Rose bought his wife super-luxury wheels, I figured his autograph gig in Las Vegas was beyond anything he imagined. Far beyond. For signing four days a week, Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m., the Cincinnati Reds icon "makes over $1 million a year," said Jim Nagourney, general manager of Field of Dreams, the collectible shop at the Forum Shops at Caesars. Nagourney, former vice president for business and marketing for the New York Mets, said he's seen no sign of a decline in fan interest when it comes to Rose's autograph. ...

A relatively obscure Web site, MediaTakeOut.com, reported that Beyoncé and music mogul Jay-Z got married in Paris this week, but don't send your gifts just yet. A music industry source said he would be surprised if it were true, "as busy as both of them are at this time." Jay-Z is opening a spinoff of his 40-40 club on Dec. 30 in Palazzo, the soon-to-open sister property of The Venetian. ...

Jamie Foxx celebrates his 40th birthday tonight at Jet Nightclub at The Mirage.

MAY I RECOMMEND ...

Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens has been transformed into a holiday scene, featuring a 42-foot-tall Shasta White Fir with 12,000 lights, flying reindeer and animated penguins. Nearby, Bellagio executive pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury has created a 230-pound chocolate Santa wearing a suit of sugar icing.

SIGHTINGS

Igor Vovkovinskiy, 1 inch shy of sharing the world's tallest man title, among the celebrities at Criss Angel's 40th birthday party Wednesday at LAX nightclub and Cathouse restaurant and loungerie. The 7-foot, 8-inch Vovkovinskiy, who wears a size 26 shoe, is in town to shoot a segment with Angel on his "Mindfreak" reality show. Others at the party: Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, actress/singer Raven Simone and rapper Lil Jon. Also at LAX: Hollywood producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay and boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. ... Siegfried & Roy, treating 100 guests to a Bavarian Christmas dinner at the Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas on Wednesday night. ... Actor Robert Wagner enjoying lunch Thursday at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at the Forum Shops. ... Poker star Daniel Negreanu, with friend at ghostbar (Palms) on Wednesday. ... Pat Mulroy, who oversees the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, recruiting her department heads to join her in the chicken dance at the annual Christmas party.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Attention: Please wash your paper plates and return them to the supply closet." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Things Overheard At "The Late Show" Christmas Party

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