VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: LV (hic) prepares for another wingding

Monday, Dec. 30, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

VegasBeat appears Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Sun. Timothy McDarrah can be reached at tim@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-4096.

Las Vegas is generally acknowledged as the party capital of the nation, if not the world.

Rio de Janeiro during Carnivale? The Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans? They can't hold a candle to Vegas festivities.

And on the biggest party night of the year -- New Year's Eve -- Las Vegas is America's choice as the place to be.

After all, Fox isn't broadcasting a 90-minute special from Broad Street in Philadelphia, is it?

Nope, the hottest New Year's Eve telecast will have "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest hosting a star-studded national broadcast live from the Strip, from a stage smack dab in front of The Venetian.

"The ball that drops from Times Square has 696 bulbs, 90 rotating pyramid mirrors on the exterior and 432 multicolored bulbs and 86 strobe lights on the interior -- which is barely the same wattage as one hotel on the Strip," Robin Leach, one of America's premier party people, told VegasBeat.

"Out with the old and in with the new? We do that here in Vegas every night of the year!"

Beyond the usual spectacular concerts -- including Sheryl Crow at The Venetian, the Red Hot Chili Peppers at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, Lionel Richie at Paris Las Vegas, Alabama at the Aladdin, Sugar Ray at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, Hall & Oates at Bally's and rap legend Grandmaster Flash at the Palms' Rain in the Desert -- the clubs and restaurants are pulling out all the stops.

Atop Palms, ghostbar promises to be its usual self -- a room full of liquored-up celebrities enjoying a spectacular view. The view Tuesday night will include fireworks, of course.

At $250, it is the most expensive New Year's ticket in town.

The cast of "Real World Las Vegas" will be celebrating locally, but not at its MTV suite at the Palms. The lascivious crew will host a party at Curve inside the London Club Casino at Aladdin.

Tickets ($100 a pop) were expected to be sold out by Tuesday.

Another great fireworks viewing post will be from atop Stratosphere.

For $200, its 9 p.m. restaurant seating includes a five-course gourmet meal, party favors, a champagne toast and unlimited rides from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Light at Bellagio is hoping a $125 cover charge ($250 per person at a reserved table) will keep out the hoi polloi.

At perhaps the hippest spot in Las Vegas, Simon Kitchen and Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel, Chef Kerry Simon is featuring an evening -- and morning -- of special menus.

He'll feed, among others, the Hollywood A-list coming to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers, including Anthony Kiedis' new lady friend, supermodel Heidi Klum.

There will be two seatings before the clock strikes 12 (the special prix fixe menu goes for $125), and then a special After Hours Tent Party by the Hard Rock pool. The cover is only $25. Don't worry, outdoor heat lamps will be provided so no one will get cold.

Then, Simon is doing something he's never done -- offering a breakfast menu.

From 3:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. guests can dine on poached eggs, brioche French toast and caviar.

Downstairs at the Hard Rock, Baby's will feature techno prodigy DJ Dig Dug. Tickets are $150 each.

Celebrated Las Vegas attorney James "Bucky" Buchanan and his wife, Gianna Orlandi Buchanan, will be dancing to the Noel Friedline Quintet at the posh Stirling Club. About 300 other of Las Vegas' most social set will be there, too.

The Hush Lounge, on the 19th floor of Polo Towers, will host an intimate open-bar fete. Tickets are nearly sold out at $100 each. The plush space, which has tremendous 180-degree views of the Strip, opened last New Year's Eve.

For the somewhat wilder revelers, Bacardi rum is sponsoring a $10,000 bikini battle, as it bills it, at BiKiNis Beach and Dance Club at The Rio. Tickets bought by today are $75 each.

Also at The Rio, Club Rio and the 51st floor VooDoo Lounge both offer $100 per-ticket parties.

The Carmel Room, an upscale restaurant in the Rampart Casino at the Resort at Summerlin, is featuring a special six-course gourmet meal.

Also at the Resort at Summerlin will be "The Summerlin New Year's Eve Spectacular." It promises Las Vegas' largest balloon and confetti drop, and snow at midnight. Tickets are also $100.

"In addition to the spectacular talent and entertainment we'll have, our guests will not have the hassle of navigating the Strip," Vegas scenester Michael Shulman said.

Siegfried & Roy are having a special $125 New Year's Eve performance. The special 10:15 p.m. show includes a split of champagne, a program, two drinks and party favors.

Finally, local-boys-making-good Frankie Perez and the Angel Hearts -- who just inked a deal with LAVA Records -- are playing the Harley-Davidson Cafe. Tickets are $110 at the door and include an open bar and a midnight champagne toast.

Show's over

Tuesday will be the last day on the air for Erik Levine, the well-regarded KLAS Channel 8 reporter.

After seven years in television news -- the last three covering development, finance and business stories in the Las Vegas Valley -- the 32-year-old South Florida native has decided to switch careers.

Six months ago Levine received his real-estate license, and has decided to make it his day job, as well. He even said no to CNBC -- national exposure -- to stay in the Las Vegas area and follow his dream.

He starts at the Century 21 Maximum office in Anthem Hills in Green Valley on Jan. 6.

Better late ...

It was too late to make the deadline for Sunday's VegasBeat, but The Venetian did get back to us about what might happen to its Guggenheim Las Vegas space.

As we reported last week, the museum is going dark after the current motorcycle show closes Jan. 5.

"We, along with the Guggenheim, are looking into many options," Venetian Director of Communications Kurt Ouchida told VegasBeat.

"We want to do what is right for Las Vegas in general and The Venetian in particular. With that in mind, we intend to bring in another world-class attraction that drives visitation to Las Vegas.

"We are very proud of our association with the Guggenheim."

But no comment was forthcoming regarding the persistent stories about Michael Jackson or David Copperfield taking over the space.

Thanks

The new best booth at Sazio, Gustav Mauler's always-jammed Italian place inside The Orleans, is No. 96.

That's because on Sunday, directly above it, they hung a picture of me.

We're flattered to have joined the pantheon of Las Vegas personalities on the restaurant's walls.

A tip of the toque to Mauler, Sazio Manager Ralph Navarino and Executive Chef Aaron Raeder.