Holly Madison signs off on 'Rabbit Hole'; numbers crunchled to Grimm decision at Vinyl

Tom Donoghue / DonoghuePhotography.com

Holly Madison and Claire Sinclair attend the 2015 Keep Memory Alive "Power of Love" galaSaturday, June 13, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

By John Katsilometes (contact)

Friday, June 19, 2015 | 4:45 p.m.

HarperCollins

Holly Madison's new book is due out on June 23.

The Kats Report Bureau just returned from a writing spree at Jean Philippe Patisserie in Aria, afterwhich I ran into City Councilman Steve Ross, who is running for Clark County Commission. We had aquick conversation about a retail complex of great history in VegasVille, the Commercial Center onEast Sahara Avenue. The historic complex in under county jurisdiction, and as Ross said it is ripe foreconomic development.

That vast fortress of small businesses was established in 1960. It is home to about 150 stores andrestaurants, including many famous family operations, among them John Fish Jewelers, Lotus ofSiam and Tiffany Cleaners. Onyx Theater, the Green Door, Badlands Saloon, A Harmony Nail Spa --all of them give Commercial Center a distinct flair.

But even as Ross talks of a potential revival, I've heard for years about some of the long-standingbusiness owners looking to vacate. One that has moved out was Serge's Wigs, which operated in thecenter for about 30 years before moving about five years ago to a new space on West Sahara. AndI've long wondered how long Tiffany Cleaners will hang in the location it has held since opening in1970.

Quirky, vast and sprawling. That's Commercial Center. And it is a far jaunt from such resorts as Aria,in fact and spirit. Maybe Mr. Ross will one day be an agent for change. Or maybe the Center willcontinue to be the place to find a beautiful diamond ring or eat great Thai food. We'll see.

Onward:

o Holly Madison is to promote her new book "Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures andCautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny" on July 1 with a book signing at Barnes Noble atRainbow Promenade shopping center, 2191 N. Rainbow Boulevard. The event begins at 7 p.m., andeveryone in line must have a copy of a book and a wristband issued by BN staff. Priority will be givento BN members and those who bought the book at that outlet.

Madison's book is set for release Tuesday. Her first signing is at the Barnes Noble at the Grove inLos Angeles on Thursday.

o Michael Grimm's residency at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel was a simple case of the show nothitting its numbers. Grimm was to play four nights a week through Aug. 30, with locals paying $10per ticket. Grimm's wife, Lucie, who also acts as his manager, said today that locals were turning outfor the show, but at such a low price point even a full room of 400 ticket buyers (and Grimm drewmaybe half that on his opening night) would not cover expenses.

But Grimm is still in talks with the hotel to return to the venue with fewer dates this summer. He isplanning a tour in September, but Lucie says his focus in Las Vegas is solely the Hard Rock room.He also happens to be looking for a new guitarist, for anyone interested ...

o The PBS concert special recorded by Frankie Moreno at the Stratosphere in February 2014 is nowairing across the country as the public station's pledge-drive campaign. The video will air in majormarkets across the country, including Southern California, beginning this weekend. The target forVegas PBS is during the month of August, but no formal date is yet set.

Meantime, the video recorded by Moreno and violin great Joshua Bell at Moreno's home in LasVegas last year is nominated for an Emmy for best arts and entertainment show at the PacificSouthwest Chapter of the National Academy of Arts Sciences Emmy Awards on Saturday night inPalm Springs, Calif.

o Among the donations made at last Saturday's Keep Memory Alive "Power of Love" gala for theCleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health was a $1.25 million grant from NV EnergyFoundation. The endowment is for NV Energy Chair for Brain Health Education, and that money isdistributed over five years to fund the chair and help the clinic advance its Nevada health careeducational program. The gift was announced during the gala's live auction, as NV Energy Presidentand CEO Paul Caudill was among the dignitaries in the audience.

o We thought that he was gone, like, last fall. We ate the celebratory goodbye cake and everything.But there seems no end to the boundless run of Cook E. Jarr in Las Vegas, as he is back atNapoleon's Lounge at Paris Las Vegas on Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. (and big ups to our friends atVital Vegas for making this note; that's where I first learned of it).

Among other oddities, this means that the Jarr -- a Las Vegas lounge legend dating to the early1980s -- will have played the same venue as a champion of "American Idol." And this reminds of howmuch we miss Taylor Hicks, who rocked Napoleon's not so long ago ...

Wildly popular about a generation ago with Cook E. Jarr The Krums, the Jarr played famous hotelssuch as El Rancho (after it was rebranded from the Thunderbird), the Dunes, Sands and CaesarsPalace. He played the back room at Tap House on West Charleston Boulevard, then moved fromthere to Carnival Court at Harrah's, and finally the Piano Bar at Harrah's. That's where he mostrecently headlined until Aug. 27, when he shut it down -- or so it seemed.

Now the Jarr is at Napoleon's, and whether this gig proves to be his Waterloo remains to be seen.

Vinyl

Vinyl, which opened in August 2012, is the intimate live entertainment venue at the Hard Rock HotelCasino, featuring a diversity of genres, including rock 'n' roll, jazz, blues, pop and even country.

The multifunctional room provides an intimate setting that puts the audience within an arm's reachof the performers.

The space, which is just under 7,000 square feet, can accommodate 650 guests. With a speakeasyatmosphere, Vinyl has an industrial look from its Chicago-common brick and cinderblock, distressedwood floors and an exposed, sky-high ceiling.

An elevated VIP section houses leather banquette seating and offers guests their own wait staff andan exclusive bar. The perimeter features a bar where guests can watch all the action. A state-o--the-art entertainment system offers high-definition screens on both sides of the main stage.

4455 Paradise Road Las Vegas,

NV 89169

702-693-5000 Hard Rock Hotel Casino

Arguably one the coolest joints in town, the Hard Rock Hotel Casino houses some of Vegas' bestentertainment, restaurants and nightlife.

At Hard Rock, it's all about the music. From the light fixtures made out of drum cymbals and guitarshaped door handles to stage costumes and tools of the trade of legendary musicians displayed onthe walls, the hotel screams rock and roll. The Hard Rock's Joint has hosted some the biggest namesin music -- from The Who to Bob Dylan to hometown heroes, The Killers.

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Aside from the music venues, the pool at the Hard Rock is one of its biggest attractions. Spread outover 4.7 acres, the pool area features swim-up blackjack, a bar and grill, private cabanas, a bevy ofsecluded nooks, a waterfall and an extensive live music venue with a dance floor. During thesummer, the pool transforms into the Rehab club on Sunday afternoons.

The resident nightclub Body English fuses European elegance with a rock star bachelor pad and itoften a hot spot for visiting celebs and popular DJs. Vintage rock memorabilia lines the walls atWasted Space, Hard Rock's anti-club.

Restaurants at Hard Rock are just as hip as the rest of the casino. Pink Taco serves up Mexicandishes, as well as a Central American and Caribbean menu. Nobu, one of five worldwide Japanese-specialty restaurants from famed Nobu Matsuhisa, satisfies a different taste. For round-the-clockcuisine, Mr. Lucky's 24/7, is sure to ease your appetite even after a Vegas-all-nighter.

4455 Paradise Road Las Vegas,

NV 89169

702-693-5000 Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow "KatsWith the Dish" at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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