Sometimes days go by in this 24-hour town with nary a blip on the social radar to pique my interest.  Saturday was certainly not one of these…

Miguel Cotto smashes into opponent Ricardo Mayorga at MGM Grand Garden Arena (Chris Farina/Top Rank)

Whenever there’s a big fight in town, that usually means a huge influx of people.  This weekend, Bob Arum’s Top Rank fighter Miguel Cotto put the smack-down on Don King Promotion’s smack-talking Ricardo Mayorga, and won by TKO in the 12th Round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.  It was well deserved, and shouldn’t have come as too big a surprise for anyone.   I was saddened by the pounding Israeli-raised Yuri Foreman (an Orthodox rabbinical student when not in the ring) took, earlier in the evening, calling it quits, after a relentless six rounds of beating, at the hands (fists?) of New Jersey construction-worker, Pawel Wolak.  Well, I suppose this was a literal example of “You win some; you lose some.”

Down the Strip, the Canadian songbird (no, not Ann Murray…), Celine Dion was performing a special preview of her new show, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, for the doctors, personnel, staff, and volunteers of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, as well as donors to the Center’s fundraising arm, Keep Memory Alive.

Katie White of The Ting Tings at the Red Bull Soundclash (Photo: Garth Milan/Red Bull Photofiles)

Back at the South end of the Strip, across the street from the Luxor, on a lot owned by MGM Resorts International, the Red Bull Soundclash, featuring Cee Lo Green and The Ting Tings, had 6,000 spring breakers screaming for more.  The evening featured the two acts “battling” with musical challenges – rehearsed and improvised – for the audience.  The “Warm Up Round” allowed the acts to perform a trio of their original songs.  For Cee Lo this meant “Lady Killer” and “Bright Lights” as well as his Gnarls Barkley hit “Crazy.”  The Ting Tings hit-back with “Keep Your Head” and “Hit Me Down Sonny” as well as their breakout single, “Shut Up and Let Me Go.”

Cee Lo Green at the Red Bull Soundclash (Photo: Marv Watson/Red Bull Photofiles)

Then, for the “Wild Card Round” each act was allowed to invite special guests to perform with them, on stage.  The TTs resurrected Elvis (via an impersonator) to join them on “That’s Not My Name,” while Cee Lo was reunited with his Goodie M.O.B. peeps, T-Mo, Khujo, and Big Gipp for a performance of “Get Rich to This.”

Ending things on a very high note, with everyone on one stage, the grand finale consisted of a creative collaboration of Cee Lo’s worldwide smash (and the top of my “Best Music of 2010” list), “Fuck You.”  How ‘bout them apples?

Snooki gets her freak-on at LAX (Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage)

Across the Strip at LAX, everyone’s favorite reality personality, Nicole “Snooki” Pollizzi (you know, the one who looks like a Cheese Doodle crossed with an Oompa Loompa, with big hair, teetering on really high heels) was kicking off Spring Break, Jersey Shore-style.  Apparently, this involves dry-humping an inflatable alligator, on stage, as hundreds of fans cheer you on.

Back down the Strip, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, The Strokes – those well-bred (members attended New York’s posh Dwight School and Switzerland’s über-elite Le Rosey) indie-rockers, were performing at The Chelsea, promoting their upcoming release, Angles (available on March 22nd). 

By all accounts, the concert was a gas, gas, gas.  Check-out live video footage from the concert, below. 

 

Emmanuelle Chriqui, Kevin Connolly, and Jenna Fagnan enjoy Tequila Avión at Mandarin Bar

 

Next door, in the swanky Mandarin Bar on the 23rd Floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at CityCenter, VEGAS Magazine celebrated its March 2011 issue with a party hosted by cover-girl Emmanuelle Chriqui.  The party was sponsored by my favorite new spirit, Tequila Avión – known to many as “that tequila from Entourage.”  On the scene were Chriqui’s small-screen love interest, Kevin Connolly, and the president of Tequila Avión, Jenna Fagnan.

 

 

Scott Disick gets served a King Kong Sundae at Sugar Factory American Bistro (Photo: Jacob Andrzejczak/WireImage)

Emmy-nominated actress, author, and all-around funny girl Wanda Sykes took hold of the mike at the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage, while over at Palms Casino Resort, Playboy Comedy presented MadTV’s Bobby Lee, who kept the crowd at Pearl Concert Theater in stitches.

Allana, Will, Danny, Chris and Jordy Masterson at LAVO Las Vegas for Danny's 35th Birthday Party (Photo: Al Powers)

Rounding-out the night, down at TAO at The Venetian, comedian Dane Cook celebrated his 39th birthday.  Also keeping the party going, was Danny Masterson (aka DJ Mom Jeans), who had thrown his 35th birthday party the night earlier, at Lavo at The Palazzo, along with siblings Alanna, Will, Chris and Jordy Masterson, as well as showbiz buddies Eric Balfour, Juliette Lewis, Michael Peña, former That ‘70s Show co-star Wilmer Valderrama, Jimmy deBello, and fiancée Bijou Phillips.

Talk about having a hot time in the old town, one night!

Saturday Night on the Strip

Get into it!