A few quickies after a rake of the scene:
• Brad Garrett is showing up a day earlier than scheduled for his next run at his club at MGM Grand. On Sunday, Garrett is hosting a lineup featuring Steve White, Tim O’Rourke and Brett Walkow.
As already booked, Garrett will be in the lineup of comics appearing at the new Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club from Monday through May 13. Joining him will be Eddie Ifft, Paul Ogata and Jay Reid.
• The changes in structure and staff continue at the Palms. The hotel’s new sports book opens Friday at 10 a.m., in time to take wagers on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
The new book is operated by Cantor Gaming, the most recent deal brokered by hotel President Joe Magliarditi and Cantor Chief Executive Officer Lee Amaitis. The two have known each other for five years and negotiated partnerships for similar Cantor sports book operations at M Resort and the Hard Rock Hotel, when Magliarditi was an exec at each resort. A celebrity is being summoned to make the “first bet” at an event Friday morning. Also set to open is a new bar, Tonic, that sits just off the entrance to the new book.
This upgrade to the creaky old Palms sports book is the first of as many as five venue renovations planned for the hotel before New Year’s Eve.
Apart from the new construction is a change in the Palms administrative staff, chiefly the departures of PR chief Larry Fink and his sidekick, Kala Peterson. Fink was brought on board by Palms founder George Maloof 6 ½ years ago and has taken a position working for Robert Earl as VP of public relations and celebrity entertainment for Planet Hollywood International (Buca di Beppo, Earl of Sandwich, Planet Dailies L.A. and Mixology 101 are among that company’s holdings).
Fink will be based in L.A., and his last day at the Palms is Friday to oversee the new sports book unveiling. Peterson, who left the hotel last Friday, has taken a position with Cirque du Soleil. She had been with the Palms for a little more than a year. These moves were announced less than a month after N9Ne Group Senior Vice President and General Manager Jon Gray, one of the key figures in the hotel’s nightlife operations, confirmed that he has resigned his post. Gray has not yet specified his next position.
• The city’s original Performing Arts Center -- at UNLV -- has learned of regretful news regarding one of its most popular performances.
It was announced Tuesday that Hal Holbrook is backing out of his May 19 performance at Artemus Ham Hall for his inspired “Mark Twain Tonight!” showcase. Holbrook has taken a role in the upcoming Gus Van Sant film “Promise Land,” starring Matt Damon, and filming for the movie conflicts with the May booking in Las Vegas. Refunds are being offered at the point of purchase. Holbrook is to return to Vegas, specifically to UNLV, in the fall of 2013.
• On the topic of the university, the UNLV Jazz Sextet took first place in the College Combo Division at the Reno Jazz Festival on Saturday. A total of 17 jazz combos from western universities, including Northridge (Calif.) State, the University of Oregon, UCLA and the University of Pacific, participated. The UNLV Department of Music Jazz Studies Program is one of the strongest in the country, having won five of these titles since 2003.
• As part of the dismantling and demolition of O’Sheas, the hotel’s clover-decorated signs have been removed from the property. That happened this morning. Signs bearing the famous O'Sheas logo will be reinstalled at the O'Sheas in its new location inside Linq when it opens next year. Other signs will be put on display at the Neon Museum.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.
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