Columnist Kate Maddox: Venetian has hip club selection

Kate Maddox

Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 | 9:35 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

In coming months one resort will have cornered the market on late-night hipster hangouts. The Venetian, which is already planning an early 2002 opening for the Vegas extension of New York's fabled Lotus nightclub, is about to welcome Venus to the scene.

The '50s- and '60s-inspired lounge and tiki bar is almost complete and owners are anticipating a mid-September opening. Venus will be just above Lutece, facing the Strip (out the doors and to the right from the WB Stage 16).

Look for Venus to be the anti-new-Vegas, Vegas joint. Operators plan to cater to the swingers/rockabilly crowd by providing cushy, kitschy furniture, martinis galore, blown-up black-and-whites of '40s pin-up girls and live lounge-style music seven nights a week.

If you're trying to jump-start your acting career, here's how not to do it: Agree to a bit part in a movie called "Forbidden Love" (the title alone should be a mammoth red flag), co-star with Margot Kidder (who's that sleeping in my bed?) and the guy from "Beastmaster" (don't know what it is, not even gonna go there), and play a serial killer suspect who hunts down and murders women on the gritty streets of Las Vegas.

All of that was accomplished by casino entrepreneur Bob Stupak this week on the set of the aforementioned murder/detective flick. Stupak, who has been featured in movies with such noteworthy actors as Ryan O'Neal and Martin Sheen, is playing opposite Superman's girlfriend.

But I guess Stupak's bit part could be a good thing for "Forbidden Love" ... Director David Heavener says the Stratosphere visionary adds "authentic local color" and that he is "a compelling presence onscreen." The (B) movie wraps production Sept. 9 and is slated to hit theaters/shelves in late November.

Rough couple of weeks for baller Dennis Rodman. Last week the Worm settled out of court with a young woman who claimed he assaulted her at the MGM Grand (one source told me the settlement was "generous" and that the woman in question is "very pleased" with the payout.)

And now comes word that his ex-wife, Carmen Electra, is remarrying. Electra, soon to be a Strip headliner at the Aladdin, has reportedly agreed to marry rocker Dave Navarro, according to the New York Post. Tough luck for Rodman, who has publicly said he continues to carry a torch for his Playmate ex.

I hear Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is planning to make V Bar his Vegas home while he's in town for the MAGIC convention later this month. Puffy will be hawking his lux clothing line Sean John (think urban chic) during the day and VIP-ing at V Bar at night. I'm hearing he's already booked the Venetian spot for at least one private party on Aug. 27.

Rick Springfield is scheduled to return to the stage in "EFX Alive" on Tuesday. Springfield's birthday celebration performance and post-party are slated for Thursday.

If you're looking for an excuse to check out Seven, which opens Sunday, get on over there Thursday night for Las Vegas Weekly's third-anniversary bash. The folks at the Weekly (which is owned by the Greenspun Media Group, which also owns the Sun) have invited the public to join the festivities, and they've waived the cover charge. So file in at 8 p.m., sample Seven's gourmet menu, then follow with intense getting on of your groove with Vegas' most popular DJ Mike Fuller and the reggae band Bonafide. Seven is on the Strip across the street from Harley-Davidson Cafe and kitty-corner from Aladdin.