Celebrity Sightings In Las Vegas

Vegas Virgins expect to see celebrities on their first trip. Sometimes you do, most times you don't. Sometimes you just stumble across one. They don't do Vegas like mere mortals, they have entourages. If you are clubbing, they're in private areas. You'll KNOW they are there, you may not see them. Just follow the flashbulbs and read about it the next day on the net.

My first trip to LV, I was in an elevator with Richard Pryor. I realized who he was the minute he said hello and I became mute. I couldn't open my mouth. I stood there like an idiot. All I remember is that he was very polite, totally unlike his on stage persona.

I've seen a variety of celebs and sometimes didn't recognize them. One day I was playing the slots at the Rio and had a great time bantering with the guy next to me. He was hilarious and we played for hours. When he got up to leave, I realized there was a group of people behind us. One man came up to me and kept saying...OMG...do you realize who that was? No, I didn't and I still don't know who he was. He was a golfer, he wasn't Tiger Woods. He was just a really fun person.

I was at Caesar's the night they opened Planet Hollywood in the Forum Shops. I was there with family and was totally oblivious to all the celebs milling about until Sylvester Stallone's body guards came by. They made us move from the machines we were playing so he could walk down the center of the aisle. Gimmeabreak! We were winning! Everytime I see a Rocky pic, I still get pissed off by his arrogance.

I had an encounter with Mike Tyson at the Venetian. I waved at him and he thought he knew me and came over to talk. I freaked. He was really polite and his face tattoo isn't as noticable in person. The same night I was chatting with some rappers who were sitting next to me in the Grand Luxe Cafe. Since I'm not into rap, I had no clue who they were, but they had a line of fans. They were fun, they let me wear their bling, they rapped for us and offered me and my husband back stage passes to their show. We would have gone if we were in town!

We've seen celebs like Doogie Houser, Kenny Rogers, Daisy Fuentes, Steven Tyler, Lou Gossett, and Senator John McCain on different trips. And you know what? They're just like us, only with more $$$$.

In Search of Criss Angel

I wasn't stalking Criss Angel from Mindfreak. It hadn't crossed my mind that he'd actually be walking amongst us at Luxor. I was 10 paces behind him on the last two trips to the Luxor.


I will stay at any hotel that will give me a free room. The Luxor gave us an offer we couldn't refuse including checking in at the VIP at the east valet. There were three sports cars covered and surrounded by posts so you couldn't touch them.


Me to valet: "What's under the covers?"


Valet: "Those belong to Criss Angel. One is a Ferrari, One is a Lambo, the other is...."


I stopped listening because my husband had a glazed over slack jawed look on his face of pure nirvana. Nothing like a hot car or a hot woman to get a man to smile and command his total attention.


Valet: "You just missed Criss".

My husband had no idea who Criss Angel is because he's always watching ESPN. I dragged him into the official Criss store and he got a look of recognition until he saw one of Criss' bikes on display. He was smitten. Criss was just there talking to his fans, we'd just missed him.


A couple of weeks ago, we're back at the Luxor. The same valet remembered me because I'd say to him "Get the key and we'll go for a spin". As we pulled in, the valet said "I'm going to get the key and we're going for a spin. You just missed Criss." At check in: "Criss just walked by."


Later, we headed back to valet to get out car. Criss just brought the Lambo back from a spin. Lambo is cool for Lamborghini, which makes my car a Grambo, short for granny mobile. I wanted to see Criss up close, hubby wanted to see the Lambo being driven.


Back in the casino, a gal sits down next to me. "You'll never guess what just happened to my husband. He was just in the elevator with Criss Angel and three gorgeous blondes. And the dumb ass didn't say a word to him. He said he was really cool but I know he was checking out the blondes." She said she was going to stand by the elevators all day because if he went up, he's going to have to come down. She didn't have to move, because the cocktail waitress said "There goes Criss". The dude is such a good illusionist, he disappeared into thin air.


Is Criss Angel really walking around the Luxor? Is the staff just mentioning him to keep you in the hotel and casino? Can Criss stand upright wearing all his silver bling and chains? Are his nails really painted black? And why in God's name are some women getting his logo tattooed on their body? OMG! I'll just be content to be 10 paces behind him.

RIP Joey Bishop, the last member of the Rat Pack

Joey Bishop was the last living member of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack died at age 89. Joey was a stone faced comedian who made the phrase "Son of a Gun" famous. Frank called him the hub of the wheel in the Rat Pack that ruled Vegas in the 60's.

Things I didn't know about the Rat Pack:


The Rat Pack was a social group that originally revolved around Humphery Bogart.
The Rat Pack appeared at the Sands Hotel in Vegas and was a singing and comedy act that changed every day depending on the whims of the performers. It could get really crazy and the craziness is what drew the crowds.
The group consisted of Frank Sinatra, Joey, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford.
The group made two movies together: "Ocean's Eleven" and "Sergeants 3"
The group made President John F Kennedy an honorary member.

To read more about Joey's life, click here.