Red Carpet Report: ‘Solo Strips,’ ‘Bronx Wanderers,’ Criss Angel, Miss Nevada, Wolfgang Puck
When the lights go down, the clothes come off at the provocative fundraiser SOLO STRIPS at the ABSINTHE tent at midnight Monday, Sept. 26. The steamy skin show is the sixth-annual undertaking by Strip performers baring it to benefit Aid for AIDS of Nevada and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Ryan Lyons, formerly of LE REVE — THE DREAM at Wynn Las Vegas, has gathered local entertainers the last five years to hit the stage to raise funds for those affected and living with HIV/AIDS. Last year, 400 guests at the ABSINTHE tent raised a record-setting $20,000.
This year’s performers include Cirque du Soleil, CHIPPENDALES, SEXXY and STEVE WYNN’S SHOWSTOPPERS. Director Jerry Mitchell began the Strip fundraisers on a Manhattan bar top in 1992, and what eventually grew into Broadway Bares spread across the globe, with the New York group recently commemorating its 25th anniversary.
NEW SHOW AT BALLY’S
Amid the slew of Strip show closings, there’s still hope and room for new ones. A father-and-sons trio known as THE BRONX WANDERERS has an unlimited run starting Sept. 22, at Window’s Showroom at Bally’s. (There is still no word if Jubilee Theater will get a new show.)
Former chart-topping record producer Vinny Adinolfi, his sons Vinny Jr. and Nicky and backup band make up THE BRONX WANDERERS seven nights a week performing hits by The Beach Boys, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Dion, Queen and Bruno Mars. Vinny and his sons have toured America the last 12 years.
Incidentally, a welcome back home to former Caesars Entertainment PR Director Kelly Frey after a stint in Nashville. She’s opening her own Las Vegas PR company, and THE BRONX WANDERERS is one of her first projects.
CRISS ANGEL’S CAMPAIGN
MINDREAK LIVE! at The Luxor headliner illusionist Criss Angel is still counting incoming donations after Monday’s benefit show Heal Every Life Possible he staged at his Luxor theater as a fundraiser for children’s cancer.
Criss tells me that it will be a few weeks before he has a total because fans are still donating. Criss set a goal of $1 million, so if you haven’t given to the cause, please send anything between $1 and $1 million to CrissAngel.com/donations to ensure that he achieves his target.
DRESS OF CARDS
Bravo to Miss Nevada Bailey Gumm, 20, for her appearance at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City on Sunday on ABC. Bailey represented our Silver State admirably. The day before, she was a stunning attraction in the Show Us Your Shoes Parade, which rolled along the Boardwalk.
Bailey wore a skirt decorated in playing cards. Miss America officials pointed out that Bailey wasn’t just pageant royalty but also Hollywood royalty, as she’s descended from Judy Garland, whose birth name was Frances Gumm.
IT’S NOW OFFICIAL
Chef Wolfgang Puck confirmed today our weekend news that his Downtown Summerlin Bar & Grill executive chef Mark Andelbradt will be the third chef to run Spago in its 24 years now that Eric Klein is moving to Wolf’s fine dining operation in Los Angeles. David Robins opened Spago in 1992 at The Forum Shops in Caesars and stayed at its helm until 2006 when Eric took over. Wolf also confirmed that Eric’s No. 2 at Spago, Spencer Rudow, will take over Mark’s top slot at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill in Downtown Summerlin.
Mark has more than 20 years of culinary experience with Daniel Boulud in New York, Morimoto in Philadelphia and New York and two years at Tao in The Venetian. He won an Italian Culinary Institute certification while cooking at Villa Crespi in Piedmont after a stint at Regent Hotel in Hong Kong. Mark was named one of America’s Top 10 rising chefs and ultimate Rising Star Chef by a New York organization.
CARIBBEAN FOOD & WINE
Three of our food stars have been named to the 6th Annual Caribbean Food & Wine Festival from Nov. 3-6 at Grace Bay Resorts on Turks and Caicos. Restaurateur Elizabeth Blau will be joined by her husband, chef Kim Canteenwalla, and James Beard Award winner Shawn McClain.
The four-day festival has become one of the Caribbean’s premiere culinary events that also will feature four winemakers and master sommeliers.
NEW CANDIDATE
Spike TV believes that its BAR RESCUE reality-TV star Jon Taffer, who is headquartered here, should throw his hat into the ring for president. His first campaign commercials air tonight ahead of his new season of BAR RESCUE premiering Sunday. His playful slogan? “Make America’s Bars Great Again.”
Jon promises to build a wall of nothing but beers on tap and vows not to discriminate against any foreign or domestic imports. Here’s the first campaign spot.