VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Dion’s perfume pitch is heaven-scent

Monday, Feb. 3, 2003 | 9:13 a.m.

No place in the nation looked prettier -- or smelled better -- than Las Vegas over the weekend.

That is because virtually every top beauty editor from every major fashion magazine was in town. And they were all wearing Celine Dion's new perfume.

The subject of occasional ribbing from the media since her song "My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic" became a pop-culture phenomenon in 1997, Dion nevertheless works hard at being in the public eye. And anyone watching her conduct herself as hostess all weekend -- as VegasBeat did -- would have to have a newfound respect for her.

Dion even seemed to charm the cattiest of her weekend guests, Village Voice scribe Michael Musto.

Fragrance maker Coty hired New York publicity powerhouse Susan Magrino to coordinate the weekend's events and fly to Las Vegas such folks as Musto, Emily Dougherty from Elle, Vogue's Maggie Bullock, Melissa Foss of Harper's Bazaar, Alex Marshall from Radar and Mickey Boardman from Paper.

On Friday night Dion gave a private miniconcert at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the 4,000-seat, $95 million arena that was built for her as part of her Caesars deal.

She later told VegasBeat that when "A New Day" debuts in March, she will be onstage and singing for a "very large part" of the show.

"We are still in rehearsals and the final order is still being worked on," Dion told us. "I am very sure that no one will be disappointed." (Last week VegasBeat reported that Dion may only be onstage for half of the 100-minute show and actually perform for as few as 15 minutes.)

After Friday's concert Dion held a press event and formally introduced Celine Dion Parfums, posing with a giant bottle for cameras from "Entertainment Tonight." The perfume goes on sale March 25, the same day that "A New Day" opens.

After the show it was on to dinner for 100 at Terrazza -- all the visiting media, plus sales and marketing people from Caesars and Coty, reps from some ticket agencies, her husband and producer Rene Angelil and a group from DRAGONE, his production company.

Saturday it was more press conferences and marketing meetings and then another large dinner, at Drai's at Barbary Coast.

Throughout she was upbeat, patiently posing for photos and acknowledging fans -- and even being polite to the pesky media.

Hardly the surly celebrity.

Celeb scene

Which silly columnist was it who wrote that Whiskey Bar and Green Valley Ranch Station Casino was Celebrity Lite?

Oh yes -- it was this one.

Well, Brad Pitt was the latest "Sexiest Man Alive" from People magazine (1995 and 2000) to send the (Green) Valley girls swooning.

Looking especially scruffy in a worn brown corduroy jacket, Mr. Jennifer Aniston was flying solo Friday night at Whiskey Bar. Solo except for the scores of young lovelies vying for his attention, that is.

The weekend before, People's "Sexiest Man Alive 1997" George Clooney was ensconced at the Green Valley hotel.

The scuttlebutt at the hotel was that the two "Ocean's Eleven" hunks were looking at the property as a possible locale for "Ocean's 12," an anticipated sequel to the remake of the classic 1960 Rat Pack flick.

The 2001 remake was filmed mainly at Bellagio, and was made before Green Valley Ranch opened.

Touch up

The folks from M.A.C. cosmetics put their products to good use at the party for their new store that opened Friday at the Forum Shops at Caesars.

Several dancers -- male and female -- were dressed only in what appeared to be shoelaces, strategically placed to cover their southern regions.

But their toned torsos were covered in body paint and makeup. And as hard as the dancers shook, swayed and gyrated, the makeup didn't run or smudge.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas alumna Kristine W., who last week had the No. 1 single on the Billboard dance charts, "Some Lovin,' " performed her hit tune.

Rock on

There was an appropriately eclectic turnout for Monti Rock III's bash at Chameleon Studios on Hinson Street on Sunday night.

The event was to put out the word that Rock is making a reality show for Bravo, and for him to transform himself from Sir to Lord -- or from Dame to Lady, as he put it.

He also sang what he hopes will be his next chart topper -- a twisted version of "My Way" filled with hilarious homosexual references.

Rock's (real name: Joseph Montanez Jr.) last hit single was 1974's million-seller, "Get Dancin.' "

Among those cheering Rock on: Lezlie Anders and Buddy Greco, Lon Chaney Jr.'s son Earl Chaney, Psychic Tania and the controversial Vincent Toma of Cafe Michele fame.

Nice pass

Not a lot of people tell Steve Wynn, "No."

Gov. Kenny Guinn is one of them.

The two titans had a private tete a tete during halftime of UNLV's 90-80 loss to Wyoming at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday night.

At halftime Wynn looked around the arena and noticed the governor sitting four rows behind him. He motioned Guinn down.

According to Guinn spokesman Greg Bortolin, Wynn asked the governor out to dinner. But Guinn said no, citing his desire to spend the remainder of evening with his grandchildren.

Then Wynn asked him to play a round of golf Sunday. Again, Guinn said no, citing a need to work on remedying the state budget shortfall.

Wynn perked up. "I thought you delivered a good speech the other night, and if you need my assistance in any of your endeavors ..." -- such as selling the proposed gross receipts tax to the business community -- " ... I'd be happy to help."

Then the buzzer sounded, signaling the start of the second half. Wynn and Guinn embraced, and the governor ambled back to his seat.

VegasBits

Diminutive former NBA player Spud Webb was doing shots, not taking them, at Rain in the Desert at the Palms on Friday night ...

The missing Lego version of the Stanley Cup has been found. Arizona resident Brian Copp turned it in to police there; Copp told them he bought it for $50 when he was in Las Vegas. The trophy had been pilfered during the sporting goods show at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. Copp's reward is the entire line of Lego hockey products and tickets to some Phoenix Coyotes games ...

Pro wrestler Miss Bobcat -- a former Ba Da Bing girl on "The Sopranos" -- was strolling through the Forum Shops on Saturday afternoon ...

Debbie Osmond was not happy about something. Donny Osmond and the couple's five children were getting an earful from Mom on a Southwest flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. He appeared at a contestant search for his game show "Pyramid" at The Rio on Saturday.