VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Billionaire can get some satisfaction

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002 | 9:32 a.m.

It's only rock 'n' roll, but one rich man likes it.

A lot.

The Rolling Stones are playing in Las Vegas Saturday night. Robin Williams and John Mellencamp are opening for them. The event is a private birthday party being tossed by Texas billionaire David Bonderman.

One source estimated the cost of the entire evening, including appearance fees for the three acts (plus transportation, accommodations and expenses) and the cost of renting The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel for the evening, would top $15 million.

Bonderman can likely get that much cash together by looking under the sofa cushions in his Gulfsteam. As the principal general partner and founder of Texas Pacific Group he has access to more than $8 billion in equity capitol.

Before starting Texas Pacific, Bonderman was chief operating officer of the Robert M. Bass Group. Bonderman was last in the public eye when he helped resurrect Continental Airlines from bankruptcy several years ago.

Unlike other conservative corporate titans, Bonderman is not only a Stones devotee, but a liberal kind of a guy. In the late 1960s he was a Justice Department lawyer working in the Civil Rights Division.

According to staffers at the Hard Rock (and I hope they will not be fired for spilling the beans), the World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band rolls into town Friday.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood have a date on their Licks World Tour on Thursday night in San Diego and are not scheduled to play again until Nov. 23 in San Antonio.

The Stones are back in town for their $1,000-per-ticket show at The Joint Nov. 29 and their MGM Grand Garden Arena performance Nov. 30.

Mazel Tov

Las Vegas developer Ed Nigro is scheduled to be honored Saturday as "Mensch of the Year."

There will be "a beautiful dinner that includes entertainment," according to Ira Miller of the Congregation Ner Tamid on Emerson Avenue.

Clint Holmes and musician Rick Jarrett headline the black-tie event at Four Seasons.

Burning story

Tonight at 7:30 on KLAS Channel 8, "Inside Edition" airs a segment on fires at gas stations caused by static electricity.

One of the many nationwide fire victims featured is an 11-year-old Las Vegas girl, Alexis Camfora.

After enduring 21 operations and spending four months in hospitals, she is recovering nicely. Camfora telling her story to reporter Matt Meagher is riveting television.

Also, the show's anchor, Deborah Norville, will be in Las Vegas Thursday.

She is speaking at Aladdin to a convention of dentists. The talk is based on her motivational book, "Back on Track: How to Straighten Out Your Life When It Throws You a Curve."

Cuddle time

Winter nights can be cold, even in the desert.

And though it is hard to understand exactly why, but animal therapists are doing a surging business.

As a result, the latest trend is designer blankets for pets.

INSecurity Blankets is the name of the original.

"Not only do dogs and cats and other pets get cold, but pets have insecurities, too," said David Avalos, who came up with the concept.

"CSI" star Marg Helgenberger is the latest in a long list of celebrities to get one for her pet. She bought one in Ivy League, a store on West Sahara.

Speedy angel

The VegasBeat-mobile was cruising south on Paradise Road Sunday morning after placing a few harmless wagers at the Las Vegas Hilton sports book (Go Jets!).

Suddenly, a souped-up, red Mitsubishi Galant zoomed past, darting between the traffic.

The California license plate read: "B GRICH."

Bobby Grich was a star second baseman for the California Angels in the dog days before they were World Series champs.

Maybe it was him, heading for home.

Fine wine(maker)

Perhaps the world's most prestigious winery is coming to Las Vegas.

For one night, at least.

The posh Stirling Club will feature the Chateau Mouton Rothschild winery and winemaker Oliver Lebret at a dinner tonight.

Many wine experts say Mouton really has no peers in the length and luster of its history. The vineyard was already prestigious when Nathaniel de Rothschild bought it in 1853.

It is now owned by his great-great granddaughter Philippine de Rothschild.

School's in

Where else but Las Vegas can a lap dancer be a guest college lecturer?

Garold Gardner's Sex, Dance and Entertainment class at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a serious academic offering.

"But at the same time, it isn't a course for Mary Poppins," Gardner said in a phone conversation Tuesday.

The class was started by the school's Dance Department founder, Carole Rae.

Today the 40 students are attending a performance of "Thunder From Down Under"; on Friday a dancer from Olympic Garden is coming for a Q-and-A.

The woman, Susan Ware, is also a ballet student at Las Vegas Dance Theater Studios in North Las Vegas, which is run by Gardner.

Spell check

VegasBeat attended the Dolce & Gabbana opening at Forum Shops at Caesars last week, but made the (very, very rare) error of asking the store to check the spelling of the names of the society shoppers we had scribbled down. And the spelling of one name was wrong.

But we were flattered that Jane Schorr -- wife of Wynn Resorts Chief Operation Officer Marc D. Schorr -- reads the column, and called to correct the spelling of her name after it appeared.

A tradition

On this day in 1969, Felix Ungar was asked to remove himself from his place of residence.

That request came from his wife.

Deep down, he knew she was right, but he also knew that some day he would return to her.

With nowhere else to go, he appeared at the home of his childhood friend Oscar Madison. Sometime earlier, his wife had thrown him out, requesting that he, never, return.

Can two divorced men share an apartment together without driving each other crazy?

That is the opening narration from the sitcom version of the Neil Simon classic, "The Odd Couple," which immortalized Jack Klugman as the sloppy sportswriter Oscar and Tony Randall as his neatnik photographer roommate, Felix.

A shout out to Oscar and Felix, as today is their "anniversary" and Las Vegas is the marriage -- and divorce -- capital of the world.

Check out

A fairly incognito Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman riding the "A Day in the Arts District" tour bus Saturday afternoon and listening to historian Frank Wright's commentary ... Pat Morita and Eddie Mekka (Carmine "The Big Ragu" Ragusa from "Laverne & Shirley") discussing a potential stage collaboration Monday with producer Marlene Ricci at Le Bistro Theatre ... Hawaiian surf legend Shawn Briley was feted by a large group of friends, including Billabong team pro surfer Benji Weatherly, at his bachelor party at Simon Kitchen & Bar on Saturday night.