Columnist Kate Maddox: Howling good times at NY-NY

Kate Maddox

Friday, Aug. 24, 2001 | 9:15 a.m.

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

New York-New York will add a much-needed shot of sexy when Coyote Ugly opens at the property in late October. The bar, based on last year's cheesy chick-flick of the same name, plans to capitalize on some of the things we ladies like to think we do best: party, dress daringly, dance on bars and boss men around. Hmmmm, a little slice of heaven.

Jennifer Curran, a consultant on the movie "Coyote Ugly," and a consultant/choreographer for the New York-New York project, demonstrated to the media and hotel brass at a Thursday press conference just how much fun can be had with a shot of Jack Daniel's and your average Bic lighter. (Fire codes? What fire codes?)

Curran also showed what will happen to any man who dares to wear a tie to the watering hole. New York-New York President and COO Felix Rappaport and Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations Tom McCartney had their neck nooses snipped off by Curran, a leather pants-wearing, statuesque brunette. (Rappaport quickly replaced his, McCartney went with the flow and undid some buttons.) And not that we'll get off easy there, either. Women are encouraged to take off their bras and hang them from the ceiling.

It will be interesting to see if New York-New York can handle this body shots-and-brassieres concept. A nationwide talent search for bartenders kicks off in Vegas in the next couple of weeks.

Michael Jordan was among the first VIPs lucky enough to stay at one of Caesars Palace's two new high-end villas. Jordan, in town this week to host his four-day fantasy basketball camp at Caesars Pavilion, was just one of many pro and college players attending the annual event.

Jordan and his wife took advantage of the 10,000-square-foot Artemis Villa, a four-bedroom suite that insiders describe as the best on the Strip. The three-bedroom Neptune Villa completes the pair. Both were built on the space once occupied by the Circus Maximus showroom and were said to have cost Park Place $25 million in construction and decoration alone.

Rumor has it Seigfried & Roy masterminds Kenneth Feld and Bernie Yuman met with executives at Paris Las Vegas this week to discuss future plans for Darren Romeo. Romeo's budding career is currently in the hands of Feld and Yuman, who are reportedly anxious to get the talented singing magician a headlining deal at a major Vegas property.

Former President Bill Clinton apparently has a thing for Wolfgang Puck -- or at least Puck's food. Out of all the fine-dining establishments in our city, Clinton chose to dine at both Spago and Cili, two of Puck's most popular eateries. (OK, so he only had a club sandwich at Cili, but it still counts.)

Daughter Chelsea Clinton joined her pop for the meals and one-upped him with an added dinner at another Puck place, Chinois. (Mysterious hanger-on Anthony Hopkins was also part of the party). But who cares about food when there's shopping to be done? Chelsea wisely spent more time dragging Dad around the Forum Shops at Caesars -- most notably at the pricey Louis Vuitton boutique.

And I've gotta hand it to Rick Springfield's very (scary) devoted fans. Not only did representatives from at least 20 (!) states show up for Springfield's Thursday-night birthday performance of "EFX Alive," but they were also scheduled to gather today in front of the billboard they purchased for the star, at Tropicana Avenue and Valley View Boulevard, to "commemorate" Springfield's 52nd. For more birthday revelry, visit happybirthdayrick.com.