WELCOME to Kimo’s Vegas… The Players Edge!

Since becoming the 2002 American Idol, Kelly Clarkson has sold over 15 million albums, won Grammy’s, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, People Choice Awards and more. Her biggest tour ever (35 cities and counting) kicks off in NYC at the Live Earth Show on 7/7. Right now we’ll be able to see her at the MGM Grand Garden on September 29^th but with a little luck maybe Uncle Tom Moffat will bring her to Hawaii.

Rebound or real love, (singer) Justin Timerlake’s recent ex, Cameron Diaz (actress) was spotted with and resident Mind Freak, (magician) Criss Angel having dinner at Bellagio’s Prime Steakhouse then walking arm in arm into the Cirque du Soleil show “Love”.

Japan’s “Ichiban” production, Matsuri (Festival) opens at the Sahara May 29^th. It’s like Cirque du Solei… Nihongo style with over 18 acts featuring Olympic medalists and world-class athletes performing a combination of acrobatics, dance, stunts and athletics set to high energy music fused with Japanese culture.

If you find yourself in Vegas over the Labor Day weekend check out the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon at the South Point Casino because “garins ball bearins” you’ll see some Hollywood celeb’s. Including the $61 million it raised last year, the telethon has gotten over $1.4 billion since its inception in 1966.

Goodbye Montreux, hello Plaza… billionaire Phil Ruffin has sold his ageing New Frontier to the Israeli billionaire owner of The Plaza hotel in New York. Yitzhak Tshuva will demolish the property across from the Wynn early next year and is scheduling the grand opening of his new Plaza in 2011. Phil paid $165 million for the joint in 1998 and sold it for $1.2 billion, nine years later almost doubling his $1.4 billion dollar net worth. No word on the fate of the similarly named Plaza downtown.

Dealers at the Wynn Las Vegas voted overwhelmingly to be represented by Transportation Workers Union of America after a controversial tip sharing program was implemented. Dealers were making over $100,000 while the supervisors made about $60,000. Wynn said the disparity in salaries made it difficult to keep people in supervisory positions… who could blame the supe’s for wanting to be dealers.

As an actuary, Michael Shackleford (The Wizard of Odds) used to tabulate the most popular baby names for the Social Security Administration a practice that continues to this day. The top three most popular boys names in Nevada are Anthony, Daniel and Angel for the girls it’s Emily, Isabella and Mia. In Hawaii the most popular names are Noah, Joshua, Ethan and Isabella, Emma, and Madison. See a complete list by any state or all the states combined.

Did ya hear about the Ontario company that is marketing reusable, micro-fiber diapers for gamblers? They hold nine cups of uhhh, fluid, dry in about an hour and come in white or burgundy with Velcro straps for $35. It’s the perfect companion for those times when you don’t wanna leave your lucky table or slot machine.

Get more Kimo’s Vegas here online at Around Hawaii, in both issues of MidWeek and with Billy V. Friday morning at 7:20 on Hawaiian105 KINE.

© 2006 www.KimosVegas.com Kimo Akane