Reynolds/fisher auction one last family production
THE Kats! Bureau at this writing is Pronto by Giada at Caesars Palace. As namesake and proprietor Giada De Laurentiis promised, the quick-stop eatery is open. The inviting interior is bedecked in a cream-and-orange color scheme and offers a great view of Mr Chow and Rao’s across the way.
Giada also said Pronto would be a great place to stop, grab some java and get some work done. She’s right about that.
More from this scene, and elsewhere:
A royal auction
Todd Fisher is presiding over an estate sale for the ages, selling off much of the memorabilia collected over the years by his mother, Debbie Reynolds, and his sister, Carrie Fisher.
Fisher, who has a home in Las Vegas with actress and hypnotist Catherine Hickland, is presiding over an auction of family belongings from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Mcmanus Auctions at 3864 Silvestri Lane in Las Vegas.
The venue seats only about 300, so arrive early if you are seriously interested in picking up a piece of Hollywood history. Bidders can also preview and bid on the collection at Debbiereynolds. com. A total of 774 lots are up for sale, including the family’s collection of movie costumes, props, scripts and songbooks, photos, artwork, furniture and other assorted personal belongings.
Money raised will be donated to the new Debbie Reynolds Performing Arts Scholarship at UNLV.
A similar Reynolds family auction last October in Los Angeles grossed more than $2 million. Even Fisher was stunned to unearth many of the items left behind by his legendary mother and sister, who died just a day apart in December 2016. A space at the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studios in North Hollywood was home to what the family called “The Vegas Room.”
The room was a storage area for Reynolds’ film and stage costumes and many movie artifacts from her days as owner and operator of the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Hotel on Convention Center Drive. It also became the home for such items as Carrie Fisher’s original “Star Wars” scripts and items as lightsabers and Stormtrooper blasters.
Franky’s natal gig
Column fave Frankyperez and The Dirty are blowing out the candles, and the amps, at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Sunset Station’s Club Madrid. Perez’s free-admission birthday show kicks off the band’s run of dates at Station Casinos this year. He’s at Sunset Station every fourth Friday and at Rocks Lounge at Red Rock Resort every fifth Friday (yes, there are five Fridays in March, June, August and November).
Perez and The Dirty also play Alexxa’s at Paris Las Vegas at 8 p.m. Sundays, including this weekend. He’s a Vegas original, born and raised, and commits completely in every show.
Rockie rolla
On the topic of favorites who inhabit this column, Rockie Brown headlines a lineup at Vinyl at the Hard Rock Hotel at 8 p.m. Feb. 23. Vegas rockers Rabid Young and budding hip-hop artist Mike Xavier are also on the bill.
Brown has issued her latest release, “Rockie Brown: Vol. 1,” with her beau and blazing guitarist and producer Jason Tanzer. Whenever you have a chance to catch Brown, or any of these artists, do it. And the show at Vinyl is a no-cover spectacular.
He can misbehave
It takes a special sort of talent to step into Amy Saunders’ lead role in “Miss Behave Game Show” at The Back Room at Bally’s. But the great Murray Hill, aka “Mr. Showbiz,” takes the helm of the satirical, audience-participation production March 6- 17.
Based in New York, Hill is a masterful improv comic who is well-known on the burlesque circuit as host of Dita Von Teese’s touring shows and as a guest in Melody Sweets’ productions at Myron’s Cabaret Jazz.
He’s also an unofficial host at his favorite Vegas haunt, Peppermill Restaurant. Find him there most any night during his run at Bally’s — provided he’s not sitting for a photo shoot. As he says, “It’s showbiz!”
What’s his sign?
Digital artist Craig
Winslow, who has designed the light show “Brilliant,” which re-animates many classic Vegas signs at the Neon Museum, has studied every vintage visage in the city.
Not surprisingly, he favors classic designs.
“I love Binion’s, the colors, the lines, the architecture — it reminds me of a great, classic car,” Winslow said. “I love the Mint, the really clean lines of color (which are now on display at a new Mint lounge on West Sahara Avenue). Atomic Liquors, too, has a very old-school look and a great feeling to it.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal. com. Follow @johnnykatson Twitter. As of 9 p.m. Friday:
1. New performance venue near Las Vegas Strip to reshape skyline
Madison Square
Garden’s planned Las Vegas performance venue will offer sound and visual technology never before heard or seen and change the Strip skyline with a sphere-shaped building 360 feet tall.
2. Las Vegas shooter’s autopsy gives no clues
Autopsy records obtained by the Review-journal
Friday shed no new light on what might have contributed to Stephen Paddock’s motives for committing the Oct. 1 Las Vegas Strip massacre.
3. Suspects arrested in deadly west Las Vegas shooting, kidnapping
Officers identified a second suspect in a deadly shooting and abduction Wednesday in the west valley, police said.
4. Judge orders RJ to destroy autopsy report
A judge on Friday ordered the Las Vegas Reviewjournal and The Associated Press to destroy their copies of an autopsy report for an Oct. 1 mass shooting victim, siding with the privacy concerns of the victim’s widow.
5. UNLV compliance head Eric Toliver placed on leave amid allegations
Eric Toliver, the longtime UNLV executive associate athletic director of compliance, has been placed on administrative leave while the university investigates harassment claims against him, several sources confirmed Thursday. As of 9 p.m. Friday:
1. Video of attempted kidnapping suspect’s car
Las Vegas police are attempting to identify a suspect in two attempted kidnappings. The suspect’s vehicle was described a red four door sedan with silver trim around the windows.
2. VR experience adds new dimension to the Big Apple Coaster
New York-new York has added a virtual reality experience with its Big Apple Coaster.
3. Former Wynn cocktail waitresses say they’re glad the truth is finally being told
Charlotte Arrowsmith, a former cocktail waitress who sued in a sexual misconduct case involving Steve Wynn, talks about working for Steve Wynn.