No Buffett shows at MGM Grand in October — but he’s in Camden this month

By John Katsilometes

Friday, June 5, 2009 | 4:42 p.m.

A quick note to Parrot Heads or those who have the odd Parrott Head in his or her life: There is no Jimmy Buffett show scheduled for October at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Many Buffett fans, seizing information from the Margaritaville.com Jimmy Buffett Web site posted in February, were led to believe that Buffett would return to the Grand Garden Arena in October. Many had even booked rooms at the hotel hoping to catch a follow-up to Buffett’s triumphant performance of May 16.

The latest announcement on the Margaritaville site reads: “It has come to our attention that some fans have been disappointed to find that the shows tentatively scheduled for October are no longer going to happen due to unanticipated scheduling conflicts. We're sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you and look forward to seeing you back in Las Vegas and on the West Coast in 2010!”

A spokeswoman at the MGM Grand reminded that Buffett was never officially booked to play at the hotel. Regardless, the news of tentative plans took off, as Parrot Heads rival Trekkies in their connectivity when swapping information about their artistic (and in most cases, spiritual) heroes. Buffett’s next show is June 18 at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, N.J. “Headin’ out, to Camden, New Jersey, for the Labor Day weekend show …”

Note riffs

A spokeswoman for The Killers has confirmed a report that originated on People magazine’s Web site that Brandon and Tana Flowers are expecting their second child. I caught the couple (and by “caught,” I mean, “observed from across the aisle”) at the premiere of “The Lion King” a couple of weeks ago. … Great exchange between KNPR’s Dave Berns and Chancellor Jim Rogers on yesterday’s “State of Nevada.” Berns asked Rogers if he might be facing legal repercussions because Rogers was speaking publicly about the job performance of UNLV President David Ashley and the allegedly overbearing behavior of Ashley's wife, Bonnie. Rogers recoiled at the question and responded: “You’re not qualified to ask that question, and I’m not qualified to answer it.” Berns reminded Rogers that he (Berns) is a journalist whose job it is to ask questions, and Rogers is, in fact, an attorney. … The hosts of the live auction at the Taste of the Nation event at the Hard Rock Hotel, featuring the work of the city’s top chefs to benefit Three Square, Chefo for Kids, Project Mana and Catholic Charities, were Nate Tannenbaum and Holly Madison. They had all the compatibility of bologna and whipped cream, and at one point Nate looked like he was about to boil in his own sweat from the heat onstage, but the event raised thousands for the city’s food bank. I honestly don’t know how Madison’s eyes aren’t permanently damaged from all the flash photography she faces. I’m stalking her, legally and tastefully, for an upcoming cover story in Las Vegas Weekly, and my eyes were spotty for hours after last night’s event at the Hard Rock. … Check out the KUNV 91.5-FM booth at Jazz in the Park tomorrow night at Clark County Amphitheatre. Sax Pack is playing (note: I am involved with KUNV as host of “Our Metropolis,” but check out the booth, regardless). … Twitter will never be the same now that URL (Ubiquitous Robin Leach) is involved; check him out at twitter.com/robin_leach and twitter.com/vegasdeluxe . … The shoe shine man (or woman, as the company that hires the women in fishnets reminds) is facing competition in the form of a new company called Mobile Shoe Pro. It’s the only outfit in Vegas that offers shines and repairs and a 48-hour turnaround. The company has been in operation for a little more than two months. On that note, Robert (last name withheld, for now), a shoe shiner at Caesars Palace who works near the phone banks and restrooms at the escalators near The Colosseum, is terrific. … Anyone wishing that Brent Barrett would return to his role as the lead in “Phantom -- Las Vegas Spectacular” at The Venetian will be sad to know he’s moving from Las Vegas. He’s revising his role as Billy Flynn in the touring production of “Chicago” through Aug. 23. … Photographers and videographers who visit the Neon Boneyard for shoots never want to leave the property for the rich visual material, says Boneyard rep Danielle Kelly. … A note that is true that has no news value: Nothing is more maddening than a 4- to 6-month-old kitten acclimating herself to a new house. I thank former Sun sports writer Brian Hildebrand for gifting me this animal last weekend. She’s enjoying life on the top shelf of my closet now, and I have no idea how she got there.