SJP plans ‘shoe dog’ visit to Las Vegas
IEDINBURGH, Scotland — T’S not all Fringe Fest action this week. Casting the light toward the home Vegas homefront:
SJP on the Strip
Actress/fashion entrepreneur Sarah Jessica Parker is making her annual trip to Las Vegas to pop in on her SJP boutique at the Bellagio from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, and from 11 a.m.to 1 p.m. Monday. Around 6 p.m. Sunday, Parker is to visit Terrene at Aria, which also features her line of ladies’ shoes. No, no men’s shoes as of yet (I persist about this).
Parker will meet fans and play customer service rep as she helps visitors select their shoes.
“It’s not standing there and taking a photo and signing a shoe, it’s really allowing me to be on the floor and running to the back room and sizing them and fitting them,” Parker said in a recent phone interview. “A particular preference of mine is for people to put their phones down and actually engage. I learn about them, about their lives and where they’re from. We’ve been doing that more and more.”
SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker is near the pool entrance at Bellagio. Terrene is on the second level near the north valet at Aria. The events are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
That’s fine with Parker, who says her typical customer ranges in age “from 8 to 87.” She has been in partnership with MGM Resorts International since 2015, starting with a pop-up event sponsored by Zappos at The Shops at Crystals. Parker and her business partner, George Malkemus ,CEOOF shoe manufacturer Manolo Blahnik, met with MGM Resorts officials about doing business with the resort company.
“I think that being at the Bellagio, because of the energy associated with that particular property, has just given us an opportunity to kind of meet our customers and have them know us,” Parker says. “I’m on sales, as they say, I’m a ‘shoe dog,’ I’m on the floor, I work it, I love being a part of that exchange.”
Parker has drawn the masses at previous appearances at her store at Bellagio, beginning with the boutique’s launch in 2017. Fans still yearn to chat with Parker about her iconic Carrie Bradshaw character from “Sex and the City.”
“I mean, every day. Every day I’m being stopped and people are sharing with me, whether it’s on the beach, or the streets of New York or when I travel, or in the airport, and you know, people are always really nice,” she says. “There’s a whole new generation of viewers. It’s a very privileged conversation to have and I still feel very, very touched by the kind of affection that people feel for the show, and the characters, and obviously the writing in particular.”
A Sweets’ ‘Flavor’
Longtime “Absinthe” cast member Melody Sweets has unfurled a trifecta of announcements. On Aug. 16, the originator of the Green Fairy role is issuing her new single, “Flavor of the Month,” a burlesque take on the hiphop hit from Black Sheep. The video release of that songs is Aug. 23, followed by a live performance of “Flavor” at the fittingly themed Chocolate Lounge at Sugar Factory at 8 p.m. Aug. 27.
Sweets’ music lineup is headed up by producer/ arranger Mike Williams, with Eric Plante of “O” on keyboard, bass and sax; and Dave Richardson (horn arrangements), Nathan Tanouye (trombone), Gil Kaupp (trumpet) and Rob Mader (sax), all of Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns, contributing to the single.
Performers from “Chippendales,” Cirque du Soleil, “Crazy Girls,” Lady Gaga’s and Celine Dion’s bands (including the Vegas horn players mentioned); “Magic Mike Live,” “Opium” and the city’s burlesque scene all are involved in the project. Visual artist Robert John Kley produced and directed the video.
Sweets logged more than 3,500 performances in “Absinthe,” and was in the original Las Vegas cast dating to March 2011. She departed the show in October 2017 after a 6½-year run. She continues to pursue a venue for her own show with producer Adam Steck of SPI Entertainment.
Franco makes it four
Magician Mat Franco iscelebrating the fourth anniversary of his headlining show at The Linq Hotel this week. The “America’s Got Talent” Season 9 champion also is the celeb spokesman for The Animal Foundation. Franco is a rescue-pet kind of guy.
“I think it’s interesting that we found our house cat outside, and are currently trapping, neutering and releasing stray cats,” Franco says. “I always grew up with dogs and still have one, but am now bonding with the dog’s best ‘frenemy.’”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His Podkats! podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/ podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal. com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Eldorado won’t be selling Caesars property on Strip soon
The top executive for Renobased Eldorado Resorts said it isn’t likely a Strip property would be sold until after the company’s $17.3 billion acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Corp. closes.
2. FBI rescues 14 minors in Las Vegas sex trafficking sweep
The FBI recently rescued 14 child sex trafficking victims and arrested 33 suspected traffickers in Las Vegas, the highest total in the U.S. during a nationwide sweep in July known as Operation Independence Day. 3. Las Vegas housing market most stable in 20 years, says GLVAR president
“Local home prices are appreciating, but at a more gradual rate than they have been in many years,” Janet Carpenter, president of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, said. 4. Road rage victim came to Las Vegas to celebrate birthday
Las Vegas police are asking for the public’s help to identify suspects who fatally shot a California man in an apparent road rage incident Monday evening on Interstate 15 as he was coming to the city to celebrate his birthday.
5. Las Vegas woman sentenced for fatally stabbing 2-year-old son
Cristina Guadalupe Moya, 21, pleaded guilty in June to first-degree murder in the death of Martin Velazquez. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Las Vegas police searching for video related to road rage homicide
Lt. Ray Spencer of the
Las Vegas Metropolitan
Police Department Homicide Section is asking for clues from the public to help solve a killing from Aug. 5.
2. Raiders topping ceremony of Allegiant Stadium
The Raiders held a topping out ceremony in Las Vegas where the last beam to connect the last roof truss was hoisted into the stadium frame.
3. Woman accused of trafficking an 11-year-old girl in Las Vegas
A woman accused of trafficking an 11-year-old girl on the Strip agreed to plead guilty to a child abuse charge, her attorney said.