Ringing in 2014, Las Vegas-style
Wrapping a bow around 2013 and ringing in 2014 with bubbly toasts and a fiery skyline:
■ Nightclub colossus Hakkasan had one table left at 4 p.m. Tuesday – for $50,000 – and Grey Goose was going for about $800, including 20 percent tip, taxes and a tip for the host.
■ Turning back the clock 10 years: Britney Spears was partying at Palms. She stayed in the Real World Suite, and things got real crazy. She and childhood friend Jason Alexander had a Palms bellman drive ’em down to A Little White Wedding Chapel for a pre-dawn quickie wedding. The groom was spotted walking around the casino barefooted and holding a Big Gulp. Within a few hours, an annulment was in motion. Fifty-five hours later they were legally kaput in one of the most bizarre celebrity weddings in a city that’s had its share of jawdroppers.
■ This time, the New Year’s lovebirds are Katy Perry and John Mayer. They were blown away Monday at the Fleetwood Mac concert at MGM Grand when Stevie Nicks surprised them. On Perry’s Twitter feed, Mayer wrote: “John here. Katy can’t write because she’s getting over Stevie Nicks dedicating Landslide to us at the Fleetwood Mac concert. Unforgettable.”
■ Celine Dion put a punctuation mark on a banner year with a surprise near the end of Tuesday’s show at Caesars Palace. Joining her was homegrown sensation Ne-Yo for a duet of their new single, “Incredible.” He popped in before heading over to Pure nightclub where he was performing.
■ Spears provided a belated Christmas present to more than 50 students from the Junior League’s Fashion Forward program. She invited them to her private preview performance in front of friends, family and Caesars employees in her theater at Planet Hollywood Resort. The kids got to stand in the general admission section, in front of the stage. Afterward, they got posters from Las Vegas’ newest headliner. It was a nice statement.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Broadway writer Frank Wildhorn, Clint Holmes, Pia Zadora and Kristen Hertzenberg of “Phantom: The Vegas Spectacular” capped off Myron and Dana Martin’s New Year’s party Monday by taking turns at the piano. “No lip syncing here,” chirped Holmes.
SIGHTINGS
Paris and Nicky Hilton and Nasim Pedrad of “Saturday Night Live,” at Spears’ “Piece of Me” on Monday. Former ’N Sync member Lance Bass was pulled on stage by Spears’ dancers for the “Freakshow” number. ... The Hiltons were celebrating with cousin Brooke Brinson, who got engaged at Christmas to Thayer Wiederhorn, heir to the Fatburger restaurant chain. Brinson is the daughter of Kim Richards of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” Wiederhorn’s twin brother is dating Brinson’s cousin Farrah, daughter of Kyle Richards, who also appears on “Housewives of Beverly Hills.” ... Miley Cyrus created a Twitter storm during her Las Vegas visit to attend Spears’ opening show Friday and host “Beacher’s Madhouse” (MGM Grand). At the latter, she and “Twilight”’s Kellan Lutz were photographed snuggling and reportedly danced to “Bubble Butt.”… Brad Garrett, dining at Crush (MGM Grand) on Monday. ... CNN co-hosts Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin, joking during their New Year’s Eve coverage after airing an unflattering viral video of Spears’ singing. ... Spears’ little sis Jamie Lynn Spears, with friends at a VIP table at Marquee (Cosmopolitan) on Monday. ... NeNe Leakes of “Housewives of Atlanta,” at Lavo (Palazzo) on Monday.
THE PUNCH LINE
From David Letterman’s Top 10 Things Overheard in Times Square: “Valet parking at the Port Authority? What a surprise! Here are my keys.”
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
