Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

John Katsilometes on the return to Vegas of Yoko Ono, who brings an exhibit of Lennon’s artwork to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel

Yoko Ono is spending enough time in Las Vegas lately to headline her own show on the Strip.

Ono, who has visited Vegas several times this year, is back again - this time with her late husband's art in tow. Ono is showcasing some of John Lennon's artwork during the "Imagine" weekend at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, the hotel announced Wednesday. The dates are Sept. 8-9, and on display will be an extensive collection of Lennon's original drawings and signed pieces, along with a few limited edition prints. A tribute act known as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band will perform on both nights.

Ono has become quite the Vegas socialite in 2006. In the spring she was confirmed to be in the audience for a few dress rehearsals of "Love" at the Mirage and was spotted at various locales on the Strip. And on June 30 she attended the production's gala opening performance and party, with longtime friend and associate Elliot Mintz on her arm.

In an upcoming interview with the News (the chain of weekly newspapers published by the Greenspun Media Group, which also publishes the Las Vegas Sun), Ono says, "I was there and was surprised by Vegas, actually. Some people love (Las Vegas) and some people think they never want to go there. I was totally, totally amazed by Las Vegas itself. I think it's a beautiful, beautiful city.

"The thing that's going on in Las Vegas, it's very interesting. It's the city of the future in a way. It's giving a lot of freedom to artists, and I think it's going to blossom because of that."

Ono sets a couple of conditions for her interviews - no questions about Paul McCartney or Julian Lennon. But when she walked the red carpet at "Love" in June, her gleaming white pants were designed by Stella McCartney, Paul's star fashion-designer daughter.

NoteMart

The Luxor is bringing Nick Lachey in for two dates (Nov. 10-11) as part of its "Spotlight Series"

W Las Vegas principal Reagan W. Silber has purchased a $6.5-million, 4,900-square-foot residence at Park Towers, the luxury high-rise off Hughes Center Drive

All indications are that the plucky production "Forever Plaid" is about to leave the Gold Coast. The last dates scheduled there for the harmonic quartet are its annual "Plaid Tidings" show on Dec. 31, and we can expect an inspired send-off for the feel-good production with deep roots in Las Vegas. The show recently celebrated its 500th performance at the Gold Coast, where it relocated in January 2005. "Plaid" ran for six years (and 3,700 performances) at the Flamingo before closing in 2000

From the Apple-Not-Falling-Far-From-The-Tree file: Appearing Sept. 7 as part of "The Automatic Millionaire Conference" at the MGM Grand is Donald Trump Jr. Also on the bill are David Bach (author of "The Automatic Millionaire"), motivational speaker Les Brown and Bill Rancic, winner of the first season of "The Apprentice"

Here's the latest from "The Rat Pack is Back" - where discord seems the order of the day: Jeff Greenberg's departure as music director has sparked (or continued) a hissing match between him and co-producer Dick Feeney. On Aug. 24 Greenberg announced, onstage, he was quitting the show after spending four years as its music director. (He did not leave the performance early, as originally reported, but did finish the show.) Greenberg said he left because of a lingering dispute with Feeney, who shot back by saying Greenberg "is suffering from nontalentitis" and that he was already in the process of replacing Greenberg with Rob Cooke by the time Greenberg bolted. Greenberg responded that there were no plans to replace him until after he departed the show and added, "If I don't have talent, why was I with the show for four years?"

The Las Vegas Walk of Stars plans to honor the Society of Seven with one of its giant granite slabs on either Oct. 10 or Oct. 17. The high-spirited Society, whose far-flung variety show is fronted by vocalist Lani Misalucha, just began a headlining gig at the Flamingo Showroom

The production that will open the new showroom at Planet Hollywood will be from the creators of "Stomp." Preview performances are scheduled to begin in the spring of '07 in the hotel's $20 million, 1,500-seat showroom

Old-school rap: Caesars Palace headliner Elton John tells Rolling Stone magazine he wants to record a hip-hop album with Dr. Dre. "I want to work with Pharrell, Timberland, Snoop, Kanye, Eminem and just see what happens, John, 59, says in the magazine's Sept. 7 issue

Reader Marilyn Kidd, who is a new resident to Las Vegas, reports a vanity plate bolted to a car owned by one of her brothers: IH4RDS. I hate Fords. The car is a 1955 Chevy, black.

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