Las Vegas lets its Elvis show

From time to time, I hear criticism that Las Vegas doesn't celebrate it's Elvis-ness enough, believe it or not.

Three years ago a group of Elvis-loving guys from Chicago came to town for what would have been Elvis' 70th birthday and claimed they had to search high and low for a party honoring The King.

They sent a letter to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce saying that just wasn't right.

That won't be a problem in a few years, when former Wall Street operator Robert F.X. Sillerman opens his 18-acre Elvis site at what is now the Harley Davidson Cafe, on the corner of Harmon and Las Vegas Boulevard. The venue is across from the nearly $8 billion City Center project.

While there's little information out there on Sillerman's project, there's word that he's named it Park Central and plans to have "multiple elements incorporating Elvis assets and theming."

Meantime, there are a number of parties in Elvis' honor tonight, on what would have been his 73rd birthday.

Sapphire, the triple D-sized adult entertainment complex at 3025 S. Industrial Road, is offering one free Blue Hawaiian drink for anyone who shows up in Elvis attire.

Elvis impersonator George Thomas will host the evening, which includes a best-Elvis contest from 7-11 p.m., with $1,000 going to the winner.

Dick's Last Resort at Excalibur will unveil the winner of its best-Elvis contest, plus a jelly donut-eating contest and live Elvis karaoke. That's from 8-11 p.m.

Elvis fan club Viva Las Vegas! gathers at 6:30 p.m. at the bronze statue of Presley at the Las Vegas Hilton, where he performed from 1969 to 1977.

AND THE WINNER IS ...

VegasTripping.Com, a Vegas travel Web site, has named freelancer Steve Friess (thestrippodcast.com) Person of the Year and best blogger. The site's readers voted Steve Wynn as Person of the Year.

Caesars Palace headliner Elton John was the readers' choice for best entertainer, while the Web site selected comedian Dom Irrera, a regular at the Riviera.

Paris Hilton was the people's choice for most annoying while illusionist Criss Angel was Vegas Tripping's pick.

Angel "ensnares starlets, porn babes and actresses for self-promotion purposes via tabloid headlines and talk show hot air. If only his disappearing act was real," wrote the site's editors.

The site: http://www.vegastripping.com

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Durango High's Cerina Vincent is scheduled to be on "Today" this morning to pitch her new book ,"How to Eat Like a Hot Chick," with co-author Jodi Lipper. ...

During the Bow Wow-Chris Brown concert at Mandalay Bay on Friday, Bow Wow said, "Las Vegas, I got a confession to make. ... You'll probably stalk me and all. ... but I just bought a condo in Vegas." ...

Correction: Artie Lange's two shows are at the Mandalay Bay Theatre Feb. 1.

SIGHTINGS

You know it's going to be a good day when you're the owner of the Hash House A Go Go and the first customer waiting outside the door Monday is Al Roker, weather anchor for NBC's "Today" show. At CatHouse (Luxor): "Today" show travel editor Peter Greenberg, with friends on Monday. On Sunday at CatHouse: guitarist Slash, with a group of friends. ... Actor David Caruso of "CSI: Miami," dining at KOI restaurant (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Sunday. He's in town to launch a new product at the CES convention this week. ... Yoko Ono, attending Sunday's 7 p.m. performance of "Love" (Mirage). Ono, in town for the CES convention, was with a group of business associates, including singer Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Complimentary sideburns left on your pillow." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Features of the New Elvis Theme Resort

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