Trump fires back about CityCenter

Donald Trump isn't going away quietly after getting zinged by a top MGM Mirage executive.

Trump fired back at Alan Feldman, senior vice president of public affairs for MGM Mirage, with another round of critical comments about the $8.5 billion CityCenter project.

Feldman, asked for a response Tuesday to Trump's remark on Larry King's CNN talk-show that CityCenter was an "absolute catastrophe," told Vegas Confidential: "I can hardly imagine anyone's opinion that matters less than his," Feldman said.

Trump e-mailed me a copy of my Wednesday column, with Feldman's quote circled in ink. In the right upper corner was a hand-written note.

"The CityCenter is architecturally unappealing -- It will be the biggest bust in the history of real estate -- good concept but badly designed and really badly executed. Too bad." It was signed "Donald."

WAIT AND SEE FOR WYRICK

An impasse with his partners was behind illusionist Steve Wyrick's closure of his show earlier this month at Planet Hollywood Resort.

Wyrick wanted to gravitate toward a TV career but his partners didn't embrace the idea, I'm told, and things are on hold until it gets sorted out.

He's been working on a reality show called "Tricky Business" and has done a one-hour show with the History Channel.

Remember that July Fourth "Death Drop" that went up in flames? Ford Motor Co., recently came in, arranged to have the Strip closed down to do a different illusion, this time featuring a speeding 2010 Mustang and Wyrick in front of Planet Hollywood Resort. That illusion is on youtube.com at http://tinyurl.com/yblyc7t

SIGHTINGS

Wayne Gretzky and his wife, Janet, at Dos Caminos (Palazzo). ... MGM Mirage chairman and CEO Jim Murren and his wife, Heather, twice dining at Julian Serrano tapas restaurant (Aria at CityCenter) on Wednesday, the night of Aria's grand opening. The Murrens are longtime friends of Serrano and his daughter Stefania, 23, who was on hand for opening night. Heather Murren spent much of her childhood in his homeland of Spain, including several years in the 3,000-year-old Mediterrean fishing village of Cadaques. Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali lived in a nearby village and "used to walk his leopards on leashes in the (Cadaques) town square like most folks walk their dogs," she said. Cadaques is near Roses, home of the famed restaurant El Bulli. ...

Also attending Aria's grand opening: TV sports reporter Jim Gray with mall mogul Herb Simon, owner of the Indiana Pacers. ... Eva Longoria Parker, hanging out at her restaurant Beso (Crystals at CityCenter) on Wednesday with a group that included restaurant partner Todd English, George Maloof, chefs Jean Georges Vongerigten and Kerry Simon and former O.J. Simpson attorney Robert Shapiro. ... Six-time Grammy nominee Juan Gabriel was honored with the 42nd Walk of Stars presentation on Thursday at The Mirage.

THE PUNCH LINE

"The timing is awkward, but Tiger Woods was named 'Athlete of the Decade' by the Associated Press. In a related story, Tiger's caddy was named 'Man of the Decade' by Wingman magazine." -- Conan O'Brien

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