Wynn gets rid of sign eyesore
One down, one to go for Steve Wynn.
The Frontier sign has quietly come down at the implosion site.
Getting rid of it was on Wynn's to-do list to before the Dec. 22 unveiling of his latest multibillion-dollar hotel, Encore.
Wynn told me recently he was planning to offer to pay half the cost -- about $150,000 out of his pocket -- to have the sign taken down. Apparently that was music to the ears of the Israeli-owned company that wants to build a $5 billion copy of New York's Plaza hotel.
Also on Wynn's list of eyesores was the Echelon, Boyd Gaming's $4 billion resort that was being constructed on the Stardust site before the project was halted last summer.
Wynn said he wanted to pick up the tab for having part of the skeletal works wrapped with an art theme to spruce up the neighborhood.
If he had his way, the Fashion Show mall's "cloud" would be gone too, he said. He's never been a fan. "That's why I built the 'mountain,'" he said, referring to the tree-lined, waterfall feature that fronts the Strip.
AGASSI RESPONDS
Retired tennis icon Andre Agassi is returning volley in the bitter split with former business partner and close friend Perry Rogers.
About a week ago, Rogers sued Agassi's wife for $50,000, claiming breach of contract.
Agassi responded Friday by accusing Rogers of using his father's TV station, KVBC-TV, Channel 3, to go after him. Jim Rogers owns the station and is chancellor of the state's university system.
He sent the following to the station and released it to the media:
"A series of requests have been made by your station for interviews and information that is clearly designed to portray me and our Foundation's work in a negative light.
"I have no intention of honoring any such requests from a news station owned and controlled by individuals participating in a lawsuit against my wife, and that are clearly being used to further their agenda.
"The Agassi Foundation is busy working to help the underserved children of Las Vegas, and advancing our state and local efforts in education while preparing for the upcoming legislative session. We would be happy to honor any legitimate media requests for interviews or information."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner's ex-girlfriend, is in talks to join a show on the Strip, her publicist confirmed. "It isn't a done deal as of yet. Still back and forth but no, no contract has been signed," said Steve Flynn, who also represents Madison's boyfriend, Criss Angel, the star of Cirque du Soleil"s "Believe" show at Luxor. She is joining her "Girls Next Door" mates Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson at the Playboy Store today from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Forum Shops at Caesars.
SIGHTINGS
Donny Osmond, celebrating his 51st birthday on Saturday in the Flamingo with a private gathering of 500 of his fans. The party included a video featuring 51 celebrities. Well-wishers included Stevie Wonder, Joey Fatone, formerly of * N SYNC, Rickey Minor, musical director of "American Idol" (he and Osmond are doing a TV show together soon), Rita Rudner, Penn & Teller and Danny Gans, who sang "Puppy Love" in Wayne Newton's voice, complete with whistling teeth. ... Townfolk from Cranfills Gap, Texas, population 350, being filmed Saturday at Simon at Palms Place for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's new ad campaign. ... Miss Nevada USA 2009 Georgina Vaughan, celebrating her 21st birthday Friday night with a tiara-topped cake at The Bank (Bellagio). Earlier in the week, superstar country duo Big & Rich showed up with a posse and danced on the banquettes when the DJ played their crossover hit "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)".
THE PUNCH LINE
"They figured Jay (Leno) would retire, but Jay can't retire because he's got like 185 car payments to make. So he has to work." - Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
