Wednesday, May 12, 2004 | 10:23 a.m.
Donald Trump, real estate developer, is coming to Las Vegas.
Donald Trump, casino operator, is staying in New York and Atlantic City.
"It is just a question of time -- but I am definitely coming to Las Vegas," The Donald told VegasBeat in a phone conversation from his Trump Tower office on Tuesday.
"However, you should not be thinking on the casino front, but along the lines of real estate -- a residential project -- and we're seriously looking downtown."
Trump visited Las Vegas last week. "I had a terrific time there. It really is becoming one hell of a town," the part-time TV star and best-selling author said.
The Donald detailed his meetings with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, fellow casino mogul Steve Wynn and MGM boss Terry Lanni.
"I toured Wynn's place and looked at all the plans, and I have to say it is absolutely amazing. Las Vegas will never be the same again after it opens."
He also modestly added that when his Vegas buildings are built, he'll have the same thing to say.
"The Trump name changes the skyline, raises real estate values in every direction, and our tenants are real assets to their community. Thanks to visionaries like Steve, Terri and Oscar, Las Vegas has done very well so far," Trump said.
"And once I get there, it will be even better."
Keep up
"Face to Face With Jon Ralston," the public affairs show on Las Vegas ONE (Cox cable channels 1 and 19), will be taping later today and Thursday. This way, the show can report on proceedings from the Ethics Commission hearings regarding Goodman.
Both nights the show will air at 10:30.
Attorney Frank Cremen appears with Jon Ralston on today's show, and Cremen and former State Ethics Commission member Liz Hatcher are on Thursday's installment.
Ball game
It's played with a different ball, but is still a fun playground game. Once the movie "Dodgeball" opens next month -- the Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn flick was filmed mainly in Las Vegas -- the kickball people are going to set up shop in Las Vegas.
Rick Humphrey of the World Adult Kickball Association (really!) tells us he is aiming to start a division in Las Vegas.
The adult, co-ed social athletic league has divisions nationwide. Check out their Web site, www.worldkickball.com, for more info.
He's back?
Famous Las Vegas-styled lounge lizard Tony Clifton is the announced performer at a party at the House of Blues in Los Angeles on Sunday. He hasn't been seen in more than 20 years.
Clifton shot to fame as a character played by conceptual comic Andy Kaufman more than two decades ago.
Kaufman died of lung cancer on May 16, 1984, but according to legend, the eccentric comedian said if he were faking, he'd resurface 20 years later.
So, just in case, a party is being planned by Bob Zmuda, Kaufman's best friend and partner.
"Over 100 personal ads will be taken out across the country and abroad, reminding him of his words. Will he show?" Zmuda wrote on the Web site for Comic Relief, a charity that raises money for the homeless that Zmuda founded after Kaufman died.
Tickets to "Andy Kaufman -- Dead or Alive?" offer "select seating and celebrity reception (hopefully with Andy)."
In addition to wrestling against women and his offbeat "Saturday Night Live" performances, Kaufman was famous for his Latka character on "Taxi."
Seal of approval
Producers of the Sandra Bullock movie "Miss Congenialty 2," which is now filming in Las Vegas, glued a big fake FBI seal on the outside of the George Federal Building on Las Vegas Boulevard for a shoot on Monday.
Seems that it looks more like an FBI building than the real local FBI building on Charleston Boulevard.
"The actual FBI building is a sort of boring-looking, three-story brick office building that simply does not say FBI when you look at it," said a production source.
"The George Building looks like an architect designed it and is a lot more impressive, visually."
VegasBits
Honor: Gen. Hal Hornburg presented Stardust headliner and USO entertainment chief Wayne Newton with the Air Force's Scroll of Appreciation during Newton's show Tuesday night ...
New material: Madonna is doing a version of the John Lennon classic "Imagine" during rehearsals for her upcoming tour, which kicks off May 24 in Los Angeles. It comes to the MGM Grand Garden Arena over Memorial Day weekend ...
Host: Carson Daly was at the Hard Rock Hotel pool over the weekend, filming bits for his upcoming Vegas shows. He broadcasts from the hotel May 18 to May 22. Free tickets to the tapings are available through www.hardrockhotel.com or www.nbc.com. Also, on May 20 the hotel will introduce a line of collectible Daly gaming chips ...
Bunny: Playboy's newly crowned 2004 Playmate of the Year Carmella DeCesare had dinner at AquaKnox (Venetian) Monday night ...
Happy: Vegas headliners George Carlin and Burt Bacharach celebrate birthdays today. Carlin is 67; Barcharach, 76 ...
Tee: The newly formed nonprofit Sapphire Foundation for Prostate Cancer will host its first Charity Golf Tournament at the Bali Hai Golf Club on May 27. For more information, call (702) 839-9872 ...
Hitch: Stacy Solovey, the lovely and talented public relations manager for Bally's and Paris Las Vegas, is engaged. She and Bill Hamilton are tying the knot in March at the Reflection Bay Golf Club. He is a history teacher and soccer coach at Eldorado High School; in the fall he moves to similar jobs at the new Spring Valley High School ...
Net game: About 30 local tennis players, including Clint Holmes, KLAS Channel 8 weatherman Kevin Janison and Steve Rossi, are among the participants in the first fund-raiser for the MacCall Youth Tennis Foundation. The event will be held Saturday afternoon at Fertitta's Tennis Stadium at UNLV, and it is free to watch ...
Move: Jacqueline Wright has joined Plush, the Summerlin night spot, as its special-events person. Look for some high-profile events to break out over there.
From Sun wires
Gilpin becomes mother: "Frasier" co-star Peri Gilpin is having a big month: The end of the long-running sitcom and the arrival of two daughters.
The babies, named Ava and Stella, were born to a surrogate mother in Las Vegas on Friday, a spokeswoman for the actress said. They are Gilpin's first children. Gilpin, 42, has been married to artist Christian Vincent since 1999.
Estefan to tour: Gloria Estefan knows how she'll be spending her summer -- her first concert tour in almost eight years. The Live and Re-Wrapped tour will open July 30 in McAllen, Texas.
Sutherland seeks divorce: Actor Kiefer Sutherland has filed for divorce from his wife, Elizabeth Kelly Winn Sutherland, of nearly eight years, citing irreconcilable differences.
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