Columnist Kate Maddox: Seven loses its Country roots

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001 | 8:32 a.m.

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

The restaurant/club Seven had an opening bash on Sunday night, giving VIPs a sneak peak at the interesting new nightspot. Seven is across the Strip from the Harley-Davidson Cafe -- located in the space previously occupied by the Country Star theme restaurant. But after an intense overhaul and redecoration (by local team Society by Design), it's safe to say Seven is more urban chic than country kitchen. In fact, pretty much the only thing left tainting Seven's image as the latest hip hangout is the goofy giant jukebox on the corner of the building. Thankfully, it's coming down. Managing partner Andrei Briley said the removal of the jukebox, as well as the addition of a Seven awning and a Strip-side water wall, are a few of the finishing touches to be completed in the coming weeks.

So was all that money the Las Vegas Hilton plunked down for its high-roller "Sopranos" party worth it? (The cost of getting the cast to attend alone was rumored to be in the half-million dollar neighborhood.)

"Without a doubt," Hilton Vice President of Marketing Richard Langlois said. "We definitely made back the money we spent ... We'd think about doing it again."

What was the biggest hit of the party? The cast? The authentic Italian feast? The big-money elbow rubbing?

"The recreation of the Bada Bing (the strip club featured in "The Sopranos") was by far the biggest hit," Langlois said. Upon entry, the first thing the high-rolling guests saw were dancers, swinging from poles, paying homage to the seedy, fictional New Jersey skin club. But the Hilton girls didn't doff their tops. "We had them keep their (bikini) tops on," Langlois explained, "mainly out of respect for the wives who came along to the party."

Uh-oh. Is Matt Damon jockeying for the Ben Affleck Award for most celebrity visits to Vegas?

Damon was in town again this weekend to celebrate the birthday of a girlfriend (a girl who's a friend, I'm told). The actor and about 30 of his pals spent hours at Nobu at the Hard Rock hotel on Saturday night -- ultimately ringing up a $9,000 tab.

The Scintas, Clint Holmes, Bob Anderson and the cast of "The Rat Pack is Back" were just some of the entertainers participating in a Sunday-night jam session at Olio! The Vegas headliners were on hand at the fund-raising fete to support the Entertainment Development Corporation and the CineVegas film festival.

Tom Jones, Penn Jillette, Lance Burton, Bill Acosta and Siegfried & Roy were also in attendance.

With all the entertainment shuffling going on at Flamingo Las Vegas, it's no surprise that producers are pitching the place like crazy for new acts.

Gladys Knight appears to be the frontrunner. The singer, who reportedly wants a permanent space on the Strip, is close to signing a headliner deal with the property for a long-term stay. Knight is reportedly bringing along comedian George Wallace, who will be her nightly opening act.

To my colleague at the paper down the street: Again, you're wrong. I hate to admit it, but I wasn't the gossip columnist who "took catty delight" in saying Julia Roberts didn't attend the Lyle Lovett concert here back in June. In fact, I'm the one who wrote the Vegas portion of the People magazine story you quoted in your item, confirming that Roberts was indeed at the Regent Las Vegas with her ex. Check the bylines at the bottom of the story.

And as for being the first to report (on Friday) that Britney Spears will tape her Nov. 18 HBO special at the MGM Grand, check out my July 24 column.

Hate to break it to you, but both Us Weekly and People got that info out to the public weeks before your big scoop. Just thought I'd let you know ...