Times a-changin’ at the Hard Rock

Changes are brewing at Hard Rock Hotel.

Simon Kitchen & Bar, which closes Sunday night, is being replaced by AGO, the South Beach Italian-style restaurant by Agostino Sciandri and Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro.

A.J.'s Steakhouse will soon be replaced by a new concept created by the owners of Los Angeles hotspot Les Deux Café.

AGO, pronounced aw-go, is named after Sciandri, who opened his first one in West Hollywood in 1997 with De Niro, who also is a part-owner of Nobu. AGO's menu is heavily influenced with Tuscan flavors.

Singer Pink and former motocross star Carey Hart are turning a Hard Rock lounge into a rock and roll bar called Wasted Space. Chef Kerry Simon is moving his "fun dining" concept to Palm Place, with a spring opening planned.

SIGHTINGS

At the Democratic presidential debate on Thursday at UNLV: James Denton of "Desperate Housewives," Joe Pantoliano of "The Sopranos," Richard Schiff, who played Toby Ziegler in "The West Wing" and Kerry Washington, who played Ray Charles' wife in "Ray." Local publicist Laura Herlovich, wearing a "Barack 'N Roll" political pin while meeting presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday night at Paradise Cantina, site of his post-debate gathering. She had the pin made earlier in the day. ... CNN's Wolf Blitzer, moderator of the Democratic debate, dining at Nobhill (MGM Grand) on Wednesday. ...

Paris Hilton, after agreeing to participate in a $35,000 bid for a night on the town with her, agreed to two more off-stage, during Jim and Heather Murren's Nevada Cancer Institute's "Rock for the Cure" on Thursday night at Mandalay Bay. The $105,000 will go to the NVCI. Hilton, just back from a tour of Tokyo and Korea where she drew crowds in excess of 10,000, agreed to have dinner with three separate groups of seven at Company American Bistro, co-owned by Paris' sister, Nicky, followed by a VIP night out at LAX nightclub at Luxor. The biggest hand of the night came when Glynda and Jim Rhodes, chairpersons for the event, donated $10 million. Entertainment included Rod Stewart, actor/comedian Howie Mandel and illusionist Criss Angel. Also there: Sylvester Stallone, Tommy Lee, socialites Kimberly Stewart and Sean Stewart, emcee Larry King, Miss USA Rachel Smith and Miss Universe Riyo Mori. Hilton flew back to Los Angeles after the event on a private jet with Jeff Beacher and King. ...

Jenny Garth of "Dancing With the Stars," flipping the switch that illuminated the 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower in red at midnight Wednesday for Paris Las Vegas' week-long Beaujolais Nouveau festival. She was with her dance partner, Derek Hough. Also on hand: Chefs Guy Savoy of Restaurant Guy Savoy (Caesars Palace) and Jean Joho of Eiffel Tower restaurant. ... Comedian Jon Stewart and rapper Lil' Jon, dining with separate parties Thursday at Strip House restaurant (Planet Hollywood Resort). ... Comedian Wanda Sykes, at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Friday. ...

Steve Schirripa of "The Sopranos," dining at Rao's (Caesars) on Thursday night. Also at Rao: Bobby Slayton. ... Hollywood couple Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo celebrated their birthdays Wednesday, as co-hosts of the evening at LAX nightclub (Luxor). Earlier in the evening, the pair dined at Social House (Treasure Island). ... Taye Diggs of "Private Practice," with his wife and friends in the Playboy Club (Palms) on Thursday. Members of Puddle of Mudd partied at another table. ... Judy Woodruff, senior news correspondent for PBS' "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," at a private reception Wednesday in her honor by Vegas PBS and N9NE Group's Michael and Jenna Morton. ...

A red carpet tonight for Planet Hollywood's grand opening begins at 8 p.m. in front of the resort. ...The ABC-TV trucks at Coachmen's Inn were for interviews with attorney Bucky Buchanan on the O.J. Simpson preliminary hearing. Buchanan is a part-owner of the restaurant. ... Barry Manilow, at Pure (Caesars Palace) on Tuesday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday if his party wins big in the next election, it will give him the moral right to stay in power. He's muzzled the media and taken over the oil industry and runs a security state. Vladimir Putin is a lot like Dick Cheney, except he was taught to shoot by the KGB, so if he hits a lawyer it wasn't by accident." -- Argus Hamilton

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