John Katsilometes takes in a fine show by Liza Minnelli, whose ride down memory lane started on the Strip

Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006 | 7:27 a.m.

Liza Minnelli remembers visiting Las Vegas for the first time, "when I was 9. No, 10. ... No! I was 13, 13 years old. And my mom was here, getting divorced from ... someone."

The audience at the Luxor Theatre on Friday laughed with Minnelli as she continued, "We were staying out at a ranch ... the place is probably a shopping mall now, and I snuck out and got into a station wagon and started driving it! I light a cigarette, I'm 13, I'm smoking and I'm driving down the Strip and I think I'm hot you-know-what."

But during that impromptu cruise up Las Vegas Boulevard, Minnelli stopped at a light and turned to see a couple standing on the corner. They were her mother's drummer, Bill LaVorgna, and his wife, Joan, who had a full view of the young Liza during her excursion.

"I thought, I am so ... screwed," she said, drawing more laughter. "But Pappy (her nickname for LaVorgna), didn't snitch on me. I asked him why, and he said, 'Because I never snitch!' And that's why he's still with me!"

LaVorgna does still works as Minnelli's drummer and was the music director for her 12-piece band on Friday.

Minnelli, who turned 60 in March, was in fine form during her first Vegas appearance in eight years. She said she has dropped 26 pounds thanks to Jenny Craig, whose name she dropped just before a goofy number paying tribute to Sara Lee. Minnelli also joked that after Thursday's show she was delivered a cherry cheesecake that was "better than any husband I've ever had. I could have sat in this thing." More noteworthy was Minnelli's voice, which is still powerful - especially during the stunning "New York, New York" and the show-ending a cappella version of "The Way You Look Tonight."

And it's also worth reporting that Minnelli sings all of her songs, a claim not every Strip headliner can honestly make.

NoteMart

A man who also has a strong set of pipes, Gordie Brown, has opened in his 800-seat theater at the Venetian. Brown, whose shows have been capped by standing ovations each night, keeps his voice fresh my taking five-minute steams after each performance. He's also become far more recognizable than in his days at the Golden Nugget, thanks to an aggressive (of course!) marketing push by manager Bernie Yuman. Those commercials showcasing Brown performing a series of impressions in a stark-white setting were filmed in New York, on the same soundstage used for "The Sopranos." ...

Now is the time to pick up Stardust souvenirs before the hotel closes Nov. 1. On sale at greatly reduced rates at the hotel now are mementos including T-shirts, shot glasses and prints of LeRoy Neiman's painting celebrating the hotel's history ...

Maybe it was a coincidence (or not) that a cluster of Red Hot Society members took in Clint Holmes' final show at Harrah's last month. The hotel chain has cut a deal with Dick Foster Productions in Las Vegas to bring a stage version of "Hats! A New Musical for the Rest of Your Life," with music and lyrics provided by such entertainment luminaries as Kathie Lee Gifford and Melissa Manchester. The plan is for the show to open At Harrah's in New Orleans in early 2007 and, if all goes well, to Harrah's resorts across the country ...

Upon his return from the NBA Europe Live tour, Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority Vince Alberta reports that two trips to Vegas were awarded after the games' halftime contests, in which participants dribbled the length of the court, around a pair of showgirls, and attempted a layup and foul shot for the grand prize. Both trips were won during games in Cologne, Germany, on Tuesday and Wednesday - one of the winners was actually married in Las Vegas ...

Enlivening our community, "Bodies: The Exhibition" at the Tropicana seems to be fulfilling its objective to be used as an educational tool; since opening in June in the exhibit has hosted more than 1,300 Southern Nevada educators and students at all levels, including institutes of higher learning ...

Orwellian vanity plate passed along by a colleague: 1984NOW.