New restaurant serves up Sinatra

One of the new restaurants at Steve Wynn's Encore hotel will pay homage to Frank Sinatra and another will feature walls that lift up and down, transforming the room throughout the evening.

In a recent interview, Wynn revealed the Sinatra family has loaned him their father's lone Academy Award, for best actor in a supporting role in 1953's "From Here to Eternity," and his Grammy awards.

The priceless memorabilia will be prominently featured in the Italian restaurant which will be named Sinatra. The family has so fiercely guarded the name that Wynn, a family friend, is the only person who was granted permission to use it. Among Wynn's biggest coups was wooing Sinatra to the revitalized Golden Nugget as an exclusive headliner in the 1980s.

Wynn added that Paul Anka has promised the gold record he won for writing the English lyrics for "My Way." Anka wrote the hit song soon after Sinatra told him he was leaving show business.

"It won't be a museum. It will be the most stunning restaurant in the country," promised Wynn.

When Wynn recently unveiled his restaurant lineup for Encore, his $2.2 billion all-suites sister hotel to Wynn Las Vegas, the restaurant name was listed as Theo's, after Theo Schoenegger, executive chef of Patina, a Los Angeles legend founded by Joachim Splichal.

Things change fast in Wynn's world.

Switch, the other restaurant Wynn brought up in the interview, is so named because of the transformation diners will experience, from the changing walls and ceiling to the staff switching clothes.

Wynn's national ad campaign, which has him standing atop Encore, is being launched today.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Danny Gans ended his 81/2-year run Saturday at The Mirage by singing Louis Armstrong's classic "It's a Wonderful World" in 10 voices, a first for Gans. He is moving to Wynn's Encore, where his show opens in February.

SIGHTINGS

Soccer superstar David Beckham, being escorted Saturday to the Hardwood Suite in the Palms Fantasy Tower. He was in town to support countryman Ricky Hatton, who defeated junior welterweight champ Paulie Malignaggi at the MGM Grand Garden on Saturday night. ... Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, spotted at the Comedy Festival at Caesars Palace on Saturday before his guest DJ duties at Pure. ... Jamie Foxx, dapper in diamond-studded sunglasses and a black scarf, dancing and singing on the catwalk at Tao (The Venetian) on Friday. Wilmer Valderrama joined his party. Foxx also showed up at Lavo (Palazzo) with a group of friends. ... Usher at the Grape Bistro in Town Square on Friday. He is a part owner. ... Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, at Tao hosting his brother's bachelor party in a skybox. ... Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone and Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl, partying at Privé after the premiere of Statham's "Transporter 3" at Planet Hollywood Resort. ... Geraldo Rivera, taking in the Cheech and Chong roast at The Comedy Festival at Caesars Palace. ... Kim Kardashian, eating cotton candy with her sister Kourtney at Kim's Vegas magazine cover party in their Palms Place penthouse before attending Usher's concert in The Pearl. Later, they partied at LAX (Luxor) with sister Khloe and brother Robert. ... Also at Pure: Brad Garrett and David Alan Grier at separate tables. ... Day 26, from P. Diddy's "Making the Band 4," performing four of their hits at Jet nightclub (The Mirage) on Friday.