Sahara to get some high-profile glitz

A "massive makeover" is planned at the Sahara, once Los Angeles nightlife kingpin Sam Nazarian takes over the property.

"We're two years away," Nazarian partner Brent Bolthouse said in a red carpet interview Saturday at the Palms. He was in town to attend Gwen Stefani's concert at the Palms' new music venue, The Pearl.

Nazarian's SBE Entertainment Group bought the Sahara this year in a partnership with San Francisco-based Stockbridge Real Estate Funds.

Philippe Starck, who has designed many of Nazarian's clubs along with Ian Schrager's Delano Hotel in South Beach, Fla., is a partner with Nazarian and Bolthouse in what has been described as the first nightlife "super-company."

Bolthouse is considered among the most connected celebrity event promoters on the West Coast.

COACH K PEP TALK

A pep talk by Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski highlighted opening night at Michael's restaurant at the South Point.

After flying in specifically for the opening with his wife, Micki, Krzyzewski asked if he could say a few words to the staff after dinner.

"He gave a pep talk, saying how great it was that our team stayed together over the years, and he related it to basketball and life," said maitre d' Jose Martel.

The pep talk ended with Coach K and the staff joining in a champagne toast.

The new gourmet restaurant is a near-carbon copy of the over-the-top eatery that made its home in the Barbary Coast until it closed in January. Several patrons who were present on opening night in 1982 were part of Wednesday's reopening.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Red carpet rumblings: There's growing concern about Jenna Jameson's dramatic weight loss. The porn icon, who did not appear on the Palms' red carpet Saturday, has been recovering from health issues. ...

Britney Spears wants to be a Pussycat Doll, but "the timing has been a little off," Pussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin said Saturday. There have been talks, and "she will do it for sure. She's working on herself" for now, said Antin, the Los Angeles choreographer who started the burlesque show in the early 1990s. ...

Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee says he wants to enroll his sons in etiquette school. "I want to groom them as these beautiful men (who) learn how to open a door for a lady," said Lee, also in town for Stefani's show.

SIGHTINGS

NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky and three of his children, Trevor, Tristan and Emma, backstage after seeing the 4:30 p.m. performance off "Mystere" (Mirage) on Sunday. ... Bruce Willis, partying at Tryst (Wynn) on Saturday. ... Stefani and her husband, Gavin Rossdale, guitarist for the band Bush, partying in a booth at Moon (Palms) after her show. Paris Hilton spent time in the deejay booth and later danced to her song "Stars Are Blind" on a platform next to a booth. Also there, Nicky Hilton, Lee, Slash, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, Nicolette Sheridan, Luke Wilson, Suge Knight and Marlon Wayans. Dining at Nove Italiano: Willis, Wilson and Sheridan. At N9ne Steakhouse: Tennis figures Mark Philippoussis and Darren Cahill and Slash. ... Gretzky and family, having lunch Sunday at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... At Pure (Caesars Palace) on Saturday: Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler of "The Sopranos," co-hosting the evening. In the house: Ryan Cabrera, Kevin Federline, Marlon and Damon Wayans, Eric Szmanda of "CSI," Federico Castelluccio of "The Sopranos," actor Elias Koteas and boxer Sergio Mora. ... Maria Conchita Alonso, at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center gala Saturday at the Wynn. She was in town to support her friend Sandy Peltyn, who was honored at the event with the humanitarian of the year award. ... Brent Barrett, one of the phantoms in "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular," and KVBC-TV, Channel 3 entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs, dining at Lucky Cheng's on Friday.