Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Brace for another shark tome

Las Vegas and poker continue to be a fountain of literary inspiration.

The next entry expected to cause a splash is "Poker Face: A Girlhood Among Gamblers" (Crown, $23.95, on sale Aug. 12).

Poet Kate Lederer brilliantly tracks her siblings' improbable metamorphosis from New Hampshire private school faculty brats (and occasional degenerates) to world-class card sharks. Her brother is poker professional Howard Lederer, who won Binion's 1995 Hall of Fame Classic, among other events.

The publisher provided VegasBeat with an advance galley copy, and the book was recently highlighted in Publisher's Weekly, the book-industry bible.

PW praised the work: "Lederer homes in on the family's complex relationship to games, money and one another and their efforts to direct the flow of all three, and will convince even the abstemious of gambling's deep power to alter relationships."

Kid star Lalaine (one name only, please), who stars as Miranda on the top-rated Disney show, "Lizzie McGuire," will visit Las Vegas and perform at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel tonight.

Lalaine will sing cuts from her upcoming CD and meet and greet fans after KLUC 98.5-FM's "Superstar Showcase" event. The evening is part of a series created by KLUC, Greg Enriquez and Laura Herlovich to serve as a platform for exposure for talented, but unknown, Vegas vocalists.

Popular KXNT Channel 13 sports anchor Ron Futrell is leading a hike at Mount Charleston on Aug. 9.

An avid hiker, he leads an annual trek that ends up at the lodge atop the mountain.

Flamingo Las Vegas headliner Gladys Knight has been selected as a judge on the Fox summer show, "American Juniors."

The show is essentially a kiddie version of "American Idol." The other judge is Debbie Gibson, and the first guest judge will be original "Idol" favorite Justin Guarini.

Knight said that she agreed to do the show because she got her start the same way -- on a televised talent competition. Knight first achieved notice as a 7-year-old when she won the $2,000 grand prize on "The Ted Mack Amateur Hour."

"American Junior" airs Tuesdays on KVVU Channel 5.

Celine Dion met with California mother and breast-cancer patient Elizabeth Rorman before Thursday's performance of "A New Day ..."

"During the course of my illness, the music of Celine Dion has helped me and my family cope," Rorman said before the backstage visit at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

A national organization called The Dream Foundation helped to arrange the emotional meeting.

Want to get up close and personal with Duran Duran? It'll cost two grand. Plus airfare.

The reunited '80s new-wave band is offering a select amount of fans what it calls a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" on its website, duranduran.com.

The $1,995 package ($1,895 each for a couple) comes with a ticket to one of their concerts at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, a VIP pass, an autographed trinket and a chance to "party and have your photograph taken" with original band members Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor.

Hopefully the photo will be taken early in the party. Such evidence can end marriages.

The band sold out its July 19 date at The Joint in one day, so a second show for July 17 has been added.

Today is my mother Gloria's birthday. She is, uh, ageless. And priceless. Isn't yours?

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