VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Saxe bags top talent for ALS benefit

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003 | 9:13 a.m.

One of the fine fund-raising events hits Las Vegas on Saturday night -- a benefit for the Nevada chapter of the ALS Association.

The evening's coordinator, David Saxe, the producer of "V -- The Ultimate Variety Show" at The Venetian, lost his father in 2002 to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Saxe credits the Nevada chapter of the ALS Association with making a painful time bearable.

"They came into my father's home and guided him through the disease process, offering solutions for each of the challenges he faced," Saxe said.

"Most of all, they showed him the love, respect and care he needed, at the time he needed it most."

Saxe has put together an all-star lineup for the benefit at The Venetian. The performers include the cast of "V," Clint Holmes, Bill Acosta, Earl Turner, Ronn Lucas, Amazing Johnathan, Russ Merlin and more.

Tickets for the 5 p.m. show range from $50 to $100 and are available at The Venetian's box office.

"The ALS Association operates solely on donations, so please come and see the show and offer your support," Saxe said. "Let's all help them, so that they can continue to benefit others, as they did my father."

Perfectly Frank

A new Frank Sinatra bio reveals that the Chairman of the Board liked women.

Will wonders never cease?

"Mr. S," coming this spring from William Morrow and written by Sinatra's former valet George Jacobs, features a long, long list of conquests by Ol' Blue Eyes.

Among Sinatra's reported partners: Lana Turner, a teenage Natalie Wood, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland and Lauren Bacall.

The tome also details such couplings as Sammy Davis Jr. and Kim Novak, and Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo.

Believe the hype

It was like an old-school rap battle, but with answer parties instead of answer songs.

Tuesday night at Nobu Sean "P. Diddy" Combs tossed a party for MAGIC (formerly the Mens Apparel Guild) for the fashion/clothing convention that is in Las Vegas this week.

The exclusive Japanese eatery inside the Hard Rock Hotel stayed open long past its usual closing time, General Manager Joanne Takahashi told VegasBeat. "We have a huge VIP area roped off."

At the same time, hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons hosted a huge party for his Phat Farm clothing line at the Palms' ghostbar.

Some girls

When the Rolling Stones recorded the song "Some Girls," it was probably not this particular half-dozen Las Vegas women they had in mind.

The independent-minded group is fresh off its own version of Valentine's Day, which they refer to as S.A.D. -- Single Awareness Day.

The group of unattached, hard-working hotties -- pharmacist Jennifer Bariteau, financial planner Deanna Crusius, Niya Zaborowski and Julie Cane from the N9NE Group, Polo Towers exec Theresa Moch and Kathleen Spurney from the Hard Rock Hotel -- had a rollicking dinner at Postrio.

"We were having so much fun that women at other tables came over to us while their dates were in the restroom and said they'd rather be at our table," Cane told VegasBeat.

Cane added that the group likes boys plenty. "But we are still doing a girls' night out for Valentine's Day, no matter what."

After dinner they cruised The Venetian acting like, well, themsleves.

"What better way to celebrate anything than to have a kick-ass time with your girlfriends?" Cane said.

Snow good

After a brief delay caused by 20 some odd inches of snow, I finally made it back from New York to Las Vegas on Tuesday night.

After helping some former colleagues now at the Fox News Channel put together a story on Mike Tyson calling in sick from his Las Vegas home and then (temporarily) bailing out of his fight with Clifford Etienne in Memphis, Tenn., this weekend, I picked up the March edition of Esquire and headed to Kennedy Airport.

As usual, no matter where you look, Vegas is there. Esquire had an interview with Roy Jones Jr., in anticipation of his March 1 heavyweight fight against John Ruiz at the Thomas & Mack Center.

There was also a nice story on the Flaming Lips, who filmed their most recent video on Fremont Street (and which featured Palo Verde High School junior Ashley Vail).

Best part of the trip was seeing how the flight board at the Salt Lake City airport refers to the town as La$ Vega$.

VegasBits

At Penn & Teller at The Rio on Monday: Rita Moreno, and two rows away, Regis Philbin ...

Producer and singer Marlene Ricci was signed for a second year at the Riviera's Le Bistro Theatre ...

The Rev. Al Sharpton is scheduled to appear this evening on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." Maybe Leno will use some Sharpton material in his stand-up routine when he performs at MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre this weekend ...

Pier 1 Imports opens its 1,000th store nationally on March 13 at the Crossroads Commons Shopping Center in Summerlin. The retail chain is throwing a big party at the store to mark the occasion ...

The Clark County Bar Association has its 40 Year Club induction ceremony and dinner on Feb. 28. Honorees include former Sen. Richard Bryan, Robert Neil Peccole, James Rogers, F. DeArmond Sharp and in memoriam, Douglas Ray Pike ...

Danny Gans canceled his performances last weekend. One report said he had the flu, while another said it was an old shoulder injury acting up ...

"I'm a Celebrity -- Get Me Out of Here!" debuts tonight at 10 on KXNT Channel 13. Remember to vote for Robin Leach -- and by extension the Lou Ruvo Alzheimer's facility in Las Vegas. Call toll free (866) 411-4086. The lines are open now, so you can vote without even watching the show!

From Sun wires

Detectives probing a fatal shooting at music producer Phil Spector's home will not be ready to present their case by his scheduled arraignment, the lead investigator said Tuesday.

If that happens, the March 3 arraignment would have to be postponed.

Spector was arrested for investigation of murder after actress Lana Clarkson's body was found in his mansion in suburban Alhambra, Calif., on Feb. 3. No charges have been filed.

His own prison: Former major league slugger Jose Canseco was sent to jail Tuesday for violating his probation for a 2001 nightclub brawl in Miami.

Canseco, 38, could be held until a March 17 hearing, Judge Leonard E. Glick ruled.

The judge issued an arrest warrant after being told Canseco failed to start anger-control classes and community service and had left Florida for longer than 30 days. Those were among the conditions of his probation.