Recent celeb incidents a reminder that even Las Vegas’ adult playground has boundaries

By John Katsilometes

Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010 | 7:26 a.m.

When 36 million visitors are beating a conga line to your city every year, you have to expect that some of them are going to suffer a lapse of judgment, if not consciousness.

That's true of you are heiress/socialite Paris Hilton or Stan from Paris, Texas. It can happen to a high-profile nightclub operator or a guy packin' his clubs from Akron who is celebrating a 2.5-day bachelor party.

This was evident in Las Vegas over the weekend, when Paris Hilton and her boyfriend, Wynn Las Vegas nightclub official Cy Waits, were arrested after a police stop on the Strip near the Wynn on Friday night.

It was apparent the weekend before, too, when the two sons of Michael Jordan spent nearly $60,000 at Aria hotspots Haze nightclub and Liquid Pool Lounge. This is a problem because the younger of the two men, Marcus Jordan, is just 19 years old (Jeff Jordan is 21) and sent out Twitter updates describing the brothers' now-famous spending spree.

Nevada Gaming Control Board enforcement officer Jerry Markling told the Associated Press on Monday that state regulators are investigating whether the resort violated the law by allowing drinking or gambling by a minor. Regulators gauge the circumstances of each incident before determining punishment for casino operators, Markling told the AP.

Assessing the unfolding daffiness from his perch as a vice president of public affairs for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Vince Alberta says these episodes are mere examples of what happens when people abuse the freedom so selflessly offered in our city.

"These circumstances are not unique to Las Vegas," Alberta said during a phone interview Monday afternoon. "When you are an international destination that hosts a large number of visitors each year, it's a fact of life that you are going to have incidents."

Alberta says Las Vegas, through the LVCVA, has marketed itself as an adult playground with the idea that the city offers freedom to have adult fun. How that adult fun is enacted depends on the individual.

"The Las Vegas brand is defined by each individual, and it means something different to everyone," he said. "For some, it might be a culinary experience that is high in fat (and) rich foods, where a person breaks his nutrition plan for a weekend. It could be shopping, a form of entertainment you can get only in Las Vegas, even wearing an outfit especially for Las Vegas."

It's all about freedom to have a good time — without violating any laws.

"We want you to be able to do something in Las Vegas that might not be in your comfort level in your hometown," Alberta said. "It's about independence of freedom, providing a safe environment for tourists to enjoy access to adult entertainment, whatever it is."

The key to that experience, of course, is to be an adult.

The Waits wait

At this writing, there has been no announcement from Wynn Las Vegas as to the status of Cy Waits at the hotel. He and his 34-year-old twin brother, Jesse, have been managing partners at Tryst at Wynn Las Vegas and XS at adjoining Encore. The two took over management of those clubs last week after it was announced that Steve Wynn formally was splitting with nightclub operator Victor Drai — who opened Tryst and XS and had a long partnership with Wynn — leaving the brothers to run Wynn's Vegas nightlife operation.

Over the weekend, E! Online and KSNV Channel 3 entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs both reported Cy Waits has been fired, but again, nothing official has been issued by the hotel as to his status. What we can confidently report is Jesse Waits has been at his post Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Cy Waits has not been working in any capacity since the arrest.

Meanwhile, according to the incident's arrest report, Paris Hilton is claiming that bag she was carrying Friday night (housing a little less than a gram of cocaine, along with her ID, credit cards, prescription inhaler, a broken Albuterol tablet and some Zig Zag rolling papers) belonged to a friend. An officer uncovered the clear baggie of coke when Hilton was being detained at the hotel following the arrest.

Lonestar added to "Fest" bill

Add Lonestar to the list of acts at "Nevada Wild Fest," set for Oct. 15, 16 and 17 at Henderson Pavilion. Lonestar is slotted in the Oct. 16 lineup of Crossover Country artists, along with Jason Michael Carroll and Love and Theft. It's a brimming-with-talent showcase that also features Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, John Ford Coley, Montgomery gentry, the Eli Young Band and Lee Brice.

Entertainment doubleheader at Cosmopolitan

The amenity I'm most looking forward at Cosmopolitan, when it opens in December, is Book & Stage. It has everything: A sports book by day, a lounge by night. Thus, it is the perfect casino hybrid venue.

Great hang update

Great recent, unexpected, moments onstage at Ovation showroom at Green Valley Ranch:

French horn virtuoso Beth Lano performing The Beatles' "For No One" with full string accompaniment. It was a brilliant performance of a song that is rarely played live, for the difficult French horn part. But Lano, a member of the "Sgt. Pepper" orchestra for the Cheap Trick performance of that album at Paris Theatre, aced it.

Also, on Saturday night, former Quiet Riot and Rough Cutt vocalist Paul Shortino climbed onstage with Yellow Brick Road for Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll." Shortino had just hung with Queen drummer Roger Taylor at Carrot Top's show, but couldn't quite entice Taylor to see Brody Dolyniuk and the boys at GVR. Too bad. It was a great, high-volume, experience.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.