Tara Reid will have even more trouble finding her room after George Maloof is done with improvements to the Palms property. A 50-story condo-hotel complex and a second 40-story hotel are scheduled to be built at a cost of $600 million. Among the bells and whistles listed in a recent press release are themed party suites with extra soundproofing, a high-end Playboy lounge, and a recording studio giving visiting musicians the ability to cut tracks from their suites. You know, on those nights when they're too, uh, excited to sleep. Palms Place will be connected to the Palms by a moving walkway which, like all moving walkways in Vegas, will only be operational 1-1:15 p.m. Tuesdays. Not mentioned in the press release is a plan for a retractable roof—but you didn't hear it from us, Norm.
DVDs |
Piccadilly (NR) (4 stars)
$29.99
The near-legendary Chinese-American actress, Anna May Wong, starred in this wonderful British melodrama, which had the great misfortune of debuting at precisely the same moment as the sun began setting on the silent-film era. Wong plays Sho-Sho, a frisky kitchen worker in a popular London nightclub, who, after being discovered by the boss, bewitches café society with her exotic dancing. In doing so, Sho-Sho also gets on the wrong side of her boss' girlfriend, who's played by Gilda Gray (a.k.a. the Shimmy Queen). This beautifully restored DVD—from Milestone, which also has released Mary Pickford's Little Lord Fauntleroy—demonstrates just how much fun a good silent picture can be, even at the ripe old age of 75.
Dolls (NR) (4 stars)
$24.99
It's hard to believe that this lushly shot, delicately paced and achingly sad film from Japan—inspired by the Bunraku doll theater—was written, directed and edited by "Beat" Takeshi Kitano, best known here for such bloodbaths as Brother, Violent Cop and Fireworks. Here, he interweaves three deeply poignant and wholly mesmerizing love stories. They involve a young couple who wander around the Japanese countryside while bound together by a long red cord, an elderly yakuza who can't distinguish the flame of a long-lost love, and a disfigured pop star as she reaches out to an obsessive fan.
The Brady Bunch: The Complete First Season (NR) (3 stars)
$38.99
Is there a person under 45 who doesn't have some sort of an emotional link to The Brady Bunch? Sadly, probably not. Created by Sherwood Schwartz, who also unleashed Gilligan's Island on an unsuspecting world, the conjoined-family sitcom finally has been released in a four-disc package. Oddly enough, it arrived well after nearly every other Brady spin-off already made the leap.
CAN I GET FRIES WITH THAT? |
With Las Vegas considered the ninth Hawaiian island, it's only a matter of time before the McDonald's on the Strip starts offering this. According to a posting on eDiets.com's Hall of Shame XXXXIX, the fast-food chain's restaurants on the islands have rolled out ... wait for it ... Spam McGriddles. Yes, all the tasty goodness of canned luncheon meat product can now be found alongside the tasty goodness of scrambled egg product, and possibly drizzled with maple syrup-like liquid. In the first few days, says the McDonald's Hawaiian marketing director, about 3,000 of the platters were sold. Personally, we're waiting for the kim chee shakes to come out on Chuseok, Korea's Thanksgiving.
SUCH A DEAL! |
Ever suddenly been seized by the urge to watch French-Canadian contortionists in leotards gyrate in front of you, only to realize there can be a month of waiting before a Cirque ticket becomes available? (What? You thought we were talking about a show at Krave?) No need to curse and wail in frustration; Tix4Tonight recently opened a new kiosk at the Fashion Show Mall. Already having locations by the Harley-Davidson Café and across from the Stardust, with another planned for the Hawaiian Marketplace (yes, it's still open), the business lets you buy half-price, same-day tickets for any number of shows on the Strip. Hours are noon-9 p.m. daily. www.tix4tonight.com.
LOCAL CD |
DJ Scotty Boy (4 stars)
Ice Tour 2005
At times, Scott Schroer, a.k.a. DJ Scotty Boy, seems like a one-man music industry. Aside from residencies at just about every place in town except the Greek Isles, he recorded and released his Best of Drai's CD in 2003, and now his selection of music from Ice, soon to be followed by a mix CD from Vivid. Ice is a great collection of party tunes, the kind you can put on the stereo and go back to mingling with your multitude of guests. Or stand by yourself, flicking the light switch on and off, if you're more the loner type. Best of all, it's free. Because the mixed music is copyrighted by the original performers (Superchumbo, Armand Van Helden, Gabriel & Dresden and more), Scotty can't sell it—only charge $6 for production costs and shipping from his website, www.scottyboy.com.