Red Carpet Report: Tom Cridland, Wolfgang Puck, Rick Moonen, Cherry Boom Boom, Jokesters
As Sir Elton John and his British bandmates prepare to return to their residency MILLION DOLLAR PIANO at Caesars Palace on Oct. 12, I uncovered a fascinating story, and it has nothing to do with their show Oct. 19 that competes with the Donald Trump–Hillary Clinton presidential debate here at UNLV.
Elton’s drummer, Nigel Olsson, is a fan of the sustainable fashions by Tom Cridland, who grew his business from a $9,000 British government startup grant into a nearly $1.5 million business within two years.
Tom told me that he was in a hopeless situation and had run out of money trying to continue the brand when he decided to send a free pair of pants to Nigel. The ploy worked because Elton’s drummer since 1969 emailed the next day to say that he loved the look and ordered every pair of trousers and commissioned jackets and sweatshirts in addition to becoming a friend.
“His reply and support gave me the faith to keep trying, and our campaign for sustainable fashion with garments guaranteed to last 30 years was off and running,” Tom told me. “Nigel went from being my favorite musician to our favorite customer making his really cool custom jackets with his logo on the back.
“We’ve also made clothes for bassist Matt Bisonette, keyboardist Kim Bullard and percussionist John Mahon. Their favorites to wear onstage at Caesars Palace are the wool-and-cashmere blend navy trousers and the 30-year classic navy sweatshirt.”
Tom, whose customers include Leonardo DiCaprio, Rod Stewart, Brandon Flowers, Daniel Craig, Miley Cyrus and Clint Eastwood, will be here to see the next shows and deliver new designs to the band.
“We love Las Vegas and have been there many times. It’s a wonder of the world with the best shows, amazing dining and great atmosphere,” says Tom, who sells directly to customers at TomCridland.com.
CHEFS TO NEW YORK
Chef Wolfgang Puck is dispatching some of his Las Vegas chefs led by Cut’s Matthew Hurley from The Palazzo to help with Tuesday’s opening of Cut in New York. The Manhattan venue in The Four Seasons is open from breakfast through dinner and requires extra attention from Wolf’s kitchen kings.
At Wednesday night’s Sip & Savor dine- and drink-around fundraiser benefiting Keep Memory Alive, Wolf told me that, for now, he’s not contemplating new Las Vegas or Los Angeles restaurant expansions. With Mark Andelbradt replacing Eric Klein as Spago executive chef, Wolf added: “We’re also staying put in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.”
There had been Wicked Whispers that Spago was moving to MGM Resorts. Mark is wrapping up a stint at L.A. headquarters of Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group before returning next week to run Spago. Wolf also confirmed as I had previously reported that Eric moves to L.A. to run fine dining catering operations.
HOT OFF THE GRILL
Home cooks can finally give themselves the TOP CHEF MASTERS treatment with the new Blades by Rick Moonen knife set. The knives and kitchen tools are the first of its kind developed by Rick, who has two restaurants at Mandalay Bay.
In addition to being a competitor on Bravo’s TCM, Rick is a judge on TOP CHEF. The 12-piece set, which includes flexible fish spatula, kitchen scissors and six chef’s knives, is available for pre-order now at BladesbyMoonen.com for $199 and starting Oct. 3 at Amazon.com.
GLAMOUR GIRLS
The 12 music video dancers from L.A. comprising the star team in CHERRY BOOM BOOM at The Tropicana proved that they are some of the sexiest creatures to strut a stage here. Their next-to-nothing wardrobes of lingerie and other eye-popping underwear is better than Frederick’s of Hollywood. This is dance like you’ve never seen before here: Fast, frenzied and furious.
Cherry Boom Boom is modern-day cabaret. Wednesday night’s first-preview audience was mesmerized by the whip-cracking temptress and edgy, green punk Mohawk of another dancer. The show opens Sept. 29, which is when we’ll review it. It’s the night after SEXXY at Westgate Las Vegas celebrates its 400th performance.
ANOTHER NEW SHOW
Get down and dirty Downtown with a daily carnival of comedy with rotating list of comedians at the new Jokesters Comedy Club at The D Las Vegas. Producer Leon Quenneville promises racy, raunchy and risque comedy bits from seven rotating laugh masters, including Comedy Institute co-founder Linda Vu and craps dealer Keith Kyle, who had a cameo in THE HANGOVER.
I’LL DRINK TO THAT
Two Sundays ago, I wrote about my visit to Mexico’s Guadalupe Valley 90 minutes south of San Diego that’s become a wine and dining hotspot. Imagine my surprise this morning waking up to a Forbes story titled “Move Over, Margaritas, and Welcome to Mexico’s Vibrant Wines.” Nice to be ahead of Wall Street watchers!
STAR PARADE
Las Vegas native Ryan Moore, who won his fifth PGA Tour title Sunday, just can’t put his clubs down. He celebrated his John Deere Classic win by popping golf balls in the Chairman’s Suite at Topgolf Las Vegas on Tuesday night.
Former NBA star Chris Wilcox of the Boston Celtics dined at Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steakhouse at The D and was mobbed by fans when he went to nearby Longbar.
