Siegfried & Roy back in the public eye for Mirage event

By John Katsilometes

Monday, May 11, 2009 | 8:01 p.m.

There is an unwritten rule in VegasVille, or maybe it's a loosely interpreted directive, that any time Siegfried & Roy make a public appearance here, it should be reported. So we report that S&R will be making an appearance (actually, appearances, as S&R are plural, right?) tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage. The event is to mark the first birthday of the white, white-striped and golden tiger cubs that were carted to the Secret Garden as mere pups in June of last year. At 3 p.m., S&R will sign copies of their re-issued book, “Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Begins at Home,” and other merchandise, such as little stuffed white tigers, until about 4 p.m.

It will be the first Vegas public event since the duo performed for what is expected to be the last time onstage at the Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” gala at the Bellagio on Feb. 28. It will be a good chance to see how Horn’s rehabilitation is progressing as he moves toward a more complete recovery from the injuries he suffered onstage the night of Oct. 3, 2003.

Nice booking

It turns out that the expected return of Celine Dion in 2010, as reported today by Robin Leach on the Vegas DeLuxe Web site, wasn’t the biggest news to emanate from The Colosseum at Caesars Palace today. The venue will be the site for President Obama’s appearance May 26, who will be in the heezy as the special guest for Sen. Harry Reid’s fundraiser, “The Good Fight,” as reported today by Sun columnist Jon Ralston. Scheduled to perform at the rally are Sheryl Crow, who also played prior to Obama’s Democratic Party nomination speech at Denver’s INVESCO Field in September, and Colosseum headliner Bette Midler (this might be the only column item ever to match a Google search for Leach Ralston Obama Reid Crow Midler). VIP reception tickets are being offered for $4,800 and $2,400 per couple), and from $50 to $250 for regular seating. Tickets are not being sold at the moment, but should be available through the Caesars box office and Ticketmaster within the week.

Tommy can you hear me?

This weekend’s invasion of Parrotheads for Saturday’s Jimmy Buffett concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be highlighted by an appearance Friday night at the Flamingo pool by the eminent Tommy Rocker and Conched Out. Rocker, owner of Tommy Rocker’s Gentlemen’s Club on Dean Martin Drive just south of The Rio, is a longtime favorite of Parrotheads and even those not afflicted. The band hits the stage at 6 p.m.; a donation of $40 is recommended at the door, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Las Vegas Speedway Children’s Charity. The chicanery continues Saturday at 11:30 a.m. with the famous Parrothead block party in the alley just north of the Flamingo and south of O’Sheas, which runs until 6 p.m. The Buffett concert -- the reason for all this hooey -- is at 8 p.m. I’ve never been to a Buffett show but will be there Saturday. Remember me as I was …