Columnist Kate Maddox: MGM MIRAGE passes on tab

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2001 | 8:10 a.m.

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

CityLife, a Las Vegas alternative weekly newspaper, messed with the big boys this week. And the big boys are messing back.

In a story in this week's CityLife, scribe Heidi Walters criticizes MGM MIRAGE President and CEO Terry Lanni for a series of financial decisions he and the company have made post-Sept. 11. Walters questions the timing of MGM MIRAGE's $1 million Red Cross donation and the company's 6,000-employee layoff, and suggests the firings had more to do with economic downturns pre-tragedy than with poor business post-tragedy.

MGM MIRAGE Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Alan Feldman clearly didn't appreciate the reporter's line of questioning, and since the story appeared the company has decided to quit purchasing display advertisements in the alterna-tabloid.

Feldman, who was quoted in the story using an expletive to emphasize his intense dislike of the paper, said Monday, "There is no reason for (MGM MIRAGE) to have any dealings with CityLife or any of its sister publications in the future ... I was personally and professionally offended by the article."

OK, don't hold back there. Tell us how you really feel.

"(CityLife) is an irresponsible rag ... it doesn't bring us any business anyway ... they're not worthy of us."

Harmed feelings aside, the withdrawl of big-money hotel advertising should hit CityLife where it hurts. Las Vegas Press -- which publishes CityLife, Las Vegas Business Press and Las Vegas Senior Press -- has had to let go of a number of employees in recent weeks due to financial trouble.

CityLife, which delights in taking swipes at Vegas' um, well ... anything in Vegas actually, might have crossed into dangerous territory with this latest dig. Ironically, the story's headline is, "Don't Shoot Us, We're Just the Questioners." Guess MGM MIRAGE was willing to squeeze the trigger.

CityLife Editor and Publisher Rod Smith did not return calls Monday for comment.

Piero's Trattoria, an offshoot of Piero's on Convention Center Drive that has been opened by the offspring of Freddie Glusman, is trying hard to lure local customers. After ditching a planned after-hours nightclub at the revamped Hughes Center space (and, let's face it, a trattoria can't really pull off a nightly conversion into a happenin' club,) co-owners/brothers Evan Glusman and Charlie Skinner are yuppifying the place with a happy hour. Starting next week patrons can take advantage of drink specials, DJ'd background music and comfy, brand-new banquettes.

Let's hope this idea takes off with more gusto than the after-hours brainstorm. Rumor has it Evan and Charlie already owe Poppa Freddie a pretty penny for his assistance with the burgeoning restaurant. So if you're interested, show up and be a part of what Trattoria regulars are calling: Piero's -- The Next Generation.

Live long and prosper.

Shanna Moakler, Playboy's Miss December, stopped at Venetian for an important appointment before officially kicking off her five-day Vegas promotional visit: She had her hair done. Moakler is a regular of Canyon Ranch Salon colorist-to-the-stars Michael Boychuck. The busty blonde, who dated boxer Oscar De La Hoya and is the mother of one of his children, also asked Boychuck if he had time to touch up the roots of her current beau, actor Dennis Quaid.

Boychuck said yes, 'natch.