VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Friendly Vegas celebs are to dine for

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2002 | 8:59 a.m.

I was reminded again last week why Las Vegas is so great.

Unlike New York or Los Angeles, where celebrities are typically surrounded by an impenetrable shield of bodyguards, managers, agents, and various handlers and hangers-on, the famous folks move around here in a different way.

Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington was in the house at BullShrimp at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino on Thursday.

The notoriously reclusive actor walked right up to Queen Latifah's table and sat down.

The pair were entirely gracious to fans, to restaurateur Gustav Mauler's staff and everyone else who spoke to them as they moved through the casino after the table was cleared.

Best part was the electricity that jolted the room. Heads were really turning. Fingers were pointing. Smiles were breaking out everywhere.

I did not see the trio (comedian Sinbad joined them, too) duck out a service entrance, knock over any kids, curse autograph seekers, hide behind massive security men or get into a Lincoln Navigator and back over customers.

Good for them. Good for the happy people who saw them and have a great story to tell. And in the end, good for Las Vegas. And Henderson, too.

I saw a similar crowd reaction when Robin Leach and I (separately) pulled into the valet lane at Harrah's at the same time the other night.

Leach was with August 1999 Playboy Playmate Rebecca Scott, set to open in the new show "X" at Aladdin on Nov. 1.

He had been at a photo shoot for the cover of the November issue of Michael Politz' Las Vegas Food Service magazine (Leach is promoting a new cigar, the American High Roller).

Thanks to his television work, the former face of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" is extremely recognizable -- probably more so than Denzel. (Not as handsome, perhaps, but easier to spot.)

Las Vegans might see Leach around town on a regular basis, but not everyone lives here.

The spell that Leach cast on the room was noticeable.

Most of the Harrah's patrons were tourists, looking for some action, some fun, to win some money and to see a famous face, to have some good stories to tell once they get home.

Denzel and Leach gave it to them.

Sunny sound

His flute is not as sharp as his forecasts, but both are pretty solid.

Bow-tied KTNV Channel 13 weatherman Nate Tannenbaum played the national anthem on his flute at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday before the start of the NASCAR Craftsman Las Vegas 350.

He didn't miss a note.

Workaholic

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has pretty thick skin, but do not say he is not a hard worker.

He called VegasBeat on Monday to register his response to an item that was critical of his liquor endorsement deal, and another item where his staffers said his workday ended at 5 p.m.

Point taken. Do his ends justify his means? Is his deal with Bombay gin a good image to promote Las Vegas? Form your own opinion.

But no one can reasonably argue that Goodman isn't a hard worker who tirelessly promotes this city.

Tuesday he was out with Loni Anderson at a senior center on North Durango, helping her promote and raise funds for COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), which is caused by inhaling tobacco smoke. It took both of Anderson's parents.

Book 'em

Interesting book club meeting at 7 tonight at Whitney Library on East Tropicana Avenue.

On the agenda is "Dice Angel," a favorite of ours, written by Las Vegas resident and author Brian Rouff, who will be on hand to discuss.

I think the club's next choice ought to be "The Trials of Lenny Bruce: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon."

The authoritatively researched tome by Ronald K.L. Collins and David M. Skover details the various obscenity trials the landmark social commentator and comic had to endure for his art.

It comes with a CD that features several of Bruce's classic monologues, including "Las Vegas T and A," and comments by noted First Amendment advocate and writer Nat Hentoff.

Hmmm. Now that Oprah Winfrey has stepped down, maybe VegasBeat ought to start a book club.

But I guess not enough people still read comic books.

Junior jock?

New addition coming to the "Zoo": Amy Sweet from the KLUC 98.5-FM "Morning Zoo" told VegasBeat Tuesday she is having a baby. She and husband Scott Wormsley are expecting their first child in June.

Early Halloween

Very proletariat buffet for congressional candidate Jon Porter's fund-raiser at MGM Conference Center on Tuesday.

Special guest former President George H.W. Bush and 500 other Republicans were treated to Milky Way and 3 Musketeers candy bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, bags of Planters Peanuts and bowls of popcorn, pretzels, chips and dip.

Ugly celebration

Many Las Vegas bars and clubs open with a big splash. But few are able to sustain the momentum of Coyote Ugly.

The hot spot inside New York-New York celebrates its first birthday on Nov. 9.

"Why are we so good? Well, let me tell you," owner Jen Worthington told VegasBeat with this town's typical complement of relish.

"The women who work here are cool, and they are not strippers. Our female customers want to be friends with them and our male customers want to sleep with them."

Worthington also said pre-production is about to start for "Coyote Ugly 2," the sequel to the 2000 movie.

She was an associate producer on the original and was for many years a vice president with Jerry Bruckheimer's production company.

Diverse-city

For those uninterested in the usual entertainment fare of magic shows, under-dressed showgirls, tributes to dead rock stars and potty-mouthed comics, three interesting and culturally diverse events are coming to Artemus Ham Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas this month.

On Tuesday traditional gypsy music will be performed by Burhan Ocal and the Istanbul Ensemble; Oct. 25 brings the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico to town.

And on Oct. 30, world famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs.

Gremlins

Of course, we know that Bob Anderson is performing at Stardust.

Inexplicably, gremlins infiltrated the VegasBeat computer and Monday's column had him at a different locale.

Progress, not perfection.