Pure’s investors won’t talk of raid

Pure nightclub's celebrity investors aren't talking to the media about the recent IRS raid, but sources say there's been growing tension even before the feds got involved.

I sent e-mails last week, asking for comment about the Pure raid from Celine Dion, tennis icons Andre Agassi, his wife, Steffi Graf, and NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. Dion's publicist Kim Jakwerth did not respond, nor did Perry Rogers, who represents Agassi, Graf and O'Neal.

Las Vegas attorney David Chesnoff, who is representing Pure managing partner Steve Davidovici, dismissed rumors that celebrity investors were upset or considering dropping out of the partnership. Pure spokeswoman Kate Turner said she was unaware of any disgruntled partners.

However, sources confirm that there has been at least one audit of the megaclub at Caesars Palace on behalf of several celebrity investors and that other investors have made their displeasure known.

Sources said some of the unhappiness stems from the celebrity investors not being invited to be partners in LAX nightclub at Luxor, which they believed had been agreed upon.

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS

Wolfgang Puck, who opened his sixth Las Vegas restaurant last week, is aiming for the stars: his first-ever Michelin three-star eatery.

During a stop at our table, I asked him if he's considered doing a dream restaurant to crown his career.

"I'd like to do one with about 45 seats, and make it a three-star," he told me during his VIP opening of CUT Steakhouse at the Palazzo.

It would be Puck's ultimate challenge.

Michelin, the world's most prestigious dining guide, had never published a Los Angeles or Las Vegas version until this year. The only three-star rating awarded to a restaurant in either city went to Joel Robuchon's at the MGM Grand.

Puck's next fine dining frontier is likely to be Singapore, where billionaire Sheldon Adelson, owner of The Venetian and he Palazzo, is building Singapore's first casino on a 50-acre waterfront site near the financial district.

SIGHTINGS

The fountain at Paris Las Vegas, flowing emerald green on Sunday to promote St. Patrick's Day and McFadden's Irish Pub at the Rio. The fountain will run green through tonight. ... Molly Sims, who co-starred in "Las Vegas" for five seasons, hosting the grand-opening party Saturday at Dos Caminos restaurant (Palazzo). She was appearing on behalf of Friends of El Faro, a charity for an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. ...

Actor Verne "Mini Me" Troyer, attending the Juan Manuel Marquez-Manny Pacquiao boxing match Saturday at Mandalay Bay and later playing baccarat at $100 a hand. Also at the fight: Former boxing champion Mike Tyson, and Playboy Playmates Jordan Monroe and Hiromi Oshima. ... Olympic snowboarding champion Shaun White, dropping by the Playboy Club (Palms) and Moon nightclub (Palms) on Saturday. ... At LAX nightclub (Luxor) on Saturday: Comedian/talk-show host Bill Maher, Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Ronde Barber and drummer John Dolymayan of music group System of a Down. ... Rapper Bow Wow, celebrating his 21st birthday Saturday at Jet nightclub (Mirage). Also at Jet: Rapper Snoop Dogg. ... Former boxing champion Erik Morales, checking out Pure nightclub on Saturday. ... Kansas City Chiefs star Jared Allen, stopping by Privé nightclub (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Saturday. ... Dining in separate parties at N9NE steakhouse (Palms) on Saturday: Former NFL star Marshall Faulk, "American Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe, former baseball star Pete Rose and Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook. ... Actor Paul Rudd and sportscaster Joe Buck, dining Saturday at Tao Asian Bistro (Venetian) before heading upstairs to Tao nightclub. ... UNLV basketball great Larry Johnson, accommodating fans Friday while watching the UNLV-Utah game. As he was besieged in the concourse after the game, a young father held his months-old son up to Johnson's face. Why? So he could someday tell his son that he had met the greatest player in UNLV history.