Tuesday, March 25, 2003 | 10:42 a.m.
Now I know what Celine was talking about when she referred to "ancillary merchandise" at a press conference a few weeks back.
A new retail temple devoted to Diva Las Vegas officially opened on Monday, adjacent to The Colosseum, where her show "A New Day" kicks off tonight.
The amount and variety of Celine merchandise for sale -- everything emblazoned with the "A New Day" logo -- is breathtaking.
Some would call the Celine Dion Retail Boutique a shameless commercial sellout. Others would call it smart business -- if there is money to be made off your name, why not make it for yourself?
VegasBeat does not judge. We merely marvel.
As you walk in, a display case offers Celine picture frames, lipstick holders, pillboxes and beautifully finished lacquer music boxes with Celine's mug on the box top.
Near the front register there are also "A New Day" paperweights, key chains, change purses, golf balls, playing cards, notepads, lapel pins and business-card holders.
Then there is the jewelry, which all feature a silhouette of Celine. Some of the Judith Jack-designed pieces include a brooch ($98), pendants (also $98), charm bracelets ($170 and $325) and earrings ($110).
The same pieces with diamonds cost considerably more.
There is also a Celine photo album for your own photos, framed photos of Celine, a variety of posters, candles, tote bags, refrigerator magnets and throw pillows bearing her image.
Among the clothing items for sale are undershirts, T-shirts, sweat shirts, sweat pants, polo shirts (some also have the Chrysler logo), shorts, nightshirts and pajamas.
Of course, there are "A New Day" baseball caps, visors and fishing caps.
Can't imagine there is going to be a big demand for "A New Day" shot glasses, but they are for sale, along with tumblers, high-ball glasses, champagne flutes and thermal cups.
The new Celine Dion Parfum is also available, plus other Celine beauty products.
"There are a lot of things for sale, but they are all tasteful and designed to please her fans," said Renee Levy, Caesars Palace retail director.
Just outside the store is the casino floor. When you are inside, looking at the store's high-end merchandise -- the "A New Day" Mont Blanc pens, the Baccarat heart-shaped "A New Day" crystal pendants and the $3,400 Judith Lieber "A New Day" handbags -- visible outside are Beverly Hillbillies slot machines.
Interesting juxtaposition.
Oh yes, almost forgot. The store also sells Celine's music on CD, DVD and her "Diva" concert videos.
Countdown
All systems are go for tonight's televised red-carpet arrivals for "A New Day."
Justin Timberlake will host the national CBS show starting at 6 p.m. It airs locally via tape delay on KLAS Channel 8 at 9 p.m.
Celine spokeswoman Jennifer Dunne told VegasBeat the hope was that war concerns would not hold down the celebrity head count.
If the attendance at the Oscars Sunday night is any indication, tonight's performance should be quite star-studded.
The post-show party is still on hold, however. But with all those celebrities milling around afterward, who knows? A party is liable to break out at any time.
Oprah crashes
That Oprah Winfrey has some audience.
Moments after her all-Celine broadcast ended Monday afternoon on KVBC Channel 13, the Caesars switchboard was so overwhelmed with calls asking about tickets that its entire phone system crashed.
It was back up within a few minutes.
Callers were told that a new block of tickets goes on sale Wednesday.
Road trip
It was a pretty interesting time to be in Washington, D.C.
The Rev. Willie Davis of the Las Vegas Second Baptist Church, entertainer Dondino and the 37-member church choir had just left a reception at Rep. Shelley Berkley's D.C. condo when war broke out Wednesday.
The next morning at the welcome breakfast at the African-American Summit, the traveling group sang "Let Freedom Ring" for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton -- who gave the welcoming address -- and Nevada Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign, among others.
Then on Friday, Berkley arranged for Davis to give the opening prayer on the House floor. He was the first black pastor from Nevada to ever do so.
Memorex
While the Oscar dress rehearsals were going on late last week in Los Angeles, around at the corner at the Henry Fonda Theatre more than 100 celebrity impersonators gathered for the Reel Awards.
It is an elaborate stage and awards show that benefits children's charities.
Most of the best acts were by performers originating in Las Vegas, including Hollie Vest (Tina Turner), Michael Colby (Ricky Martin) and Brendan Paul (Elvis).
The Outstanding 2002 Contemporary Stage Performer nod went to Jay White, who stars in a Neil Diamond tribute show at the Riviera.
Some of the real-life stars who turned out at the event included Debbie Reynolds, Monty Hall and Lainie Kazan.
Saxe on key
Talk about raising awareness: Producer David Saxe told VegasBeat that his Feb. 22 ALS benefit -- which raised more than $40,000 for the Nevada chapter of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) Association -- prompted 14 sufferers who had not previously known there was a local group to seek help.
"So, there are now 14 more people getting treatment, which I am very proud of," Saxe said.
He also seemed proud, and a bit humbled, the other night when Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman gave him a key to the city for his efforts on behalf of ALS victims at a dinner at the Suncoast.
Meanwhile one of the shows Saxe produces, "Showgirls of Magic" at San Remo, shifts to all-topless on April 1. The early shows had been covered.
"The demand is not for a family version anymore, " Saxe said.
From Sun wires
"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling has given birth to a boy, her second child, her spokeswoman said Monday.
David Gordon Rowling Murray was born Sunday at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The author, 37, has a daughter, Jessica, from her previous marriage. She wed Dr. Neil Murray, an anesthetist, in December 2001. They live in Scotland.
Crowning achievement: Miss Massachusetts Susie Castillo was crowned Miss USA 2003 in the 52nd annual staging of the pageant Monday night.
Castillo, 23, of Lawrence, Mass., replaces Shauntay Hinton, who represented the District of Columbia in last year's event.
Castillo, an office manager and model, will be America's candidate in the Miss Universe pageant in June.
A fluent Spanish speaker with Puerto Rican roots, Castillo said she would use her crown to try to raise the stature of the nation's Hispanic population.
"Hopefully I can erase some stereotypes about Latinos -- that they're not all housekeepers, drug dealers or hoodlums in the ghetto," she said.
So long, farewell: Luciano Pavarotti said goodbye to Reno, which he calls one of his favorite American cities, with a subdued program at Lawlor Events Center, a venue more accustomed to hosting basketball games and boxing matches.
"You are a great audience and it's important to me that you enjoy a lot," he said.
His brief comments came during the encores in Sunday night's program of 23 arias shared with soprano Cynthia Lawrence.
It marked the last of four American concerts this month, although Pavarotti has said he plans additional U.S. appearances in the fall. He intends to retire on Oct. 12, 2005, his 70th birthday.
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