Columnist Kate Maddox: Ex-CineVegas exec might not go quietly

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, only in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach her at [email protected].

The brass at CineVegas, Las Vegas' upcoming film festival, may not have heard the last of ousted Executive Director Michele LeBlanc.

LeBlanc, who was unceremoniously dumped by CineVegas earlier this week, has now retained a lawyer.

This isn't the first time CineVegas has had troubles in terms of leadership and insider squabbling. The first executive director, Joshua Abbey, left last year citing differences with the group. The buzz on the festival, which runs from Dec. 6-11 at Paris Las Vegas, is that bad communication and in-fighting are seriously damaging the image and reputation of what otherwise promises to be an exceptional event for Las Vegas.

As for the Le Prix Cristal gala dinner -- which was organized by LeBlanc and scheduled to be the closing party for CineVegas on Dec. 12 -- LeBlanc has reportedly told people that she has no plans to cancel it. But her publicist, David Kramer, cannot confirm or deny whether the event will take place. LeBlanc herself is out of town and couldn't be reached.

The powers that be at CineVegas state that Le Prix Cristal has been cancelled from their program and that they are "producing an award ceremony with a wonderful party as our closing event" instead.

Miriam and Sheldon Adelson took a stroll through the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian on Thursday night to check out new holiday decorations.

A four-day celebration to kick off the holiday shopping season at the Shoppes started Thursday night with a party at the Kenneth Cole store, hosted by GQ magazine. According to GQ retail manager Eric Hunter, GQ selected the Las Vegas store for its holiday bash because Vegas is fast becoming the retail hub of America. Major chains and designer boutiques are coming to town in droves.

GQ's party gave guests the opportunity to shop at 20 percent off regular store prices. And those who stayed at the shindig late enough were treated to an impromptu Elvis concert courtesy of Steve Connolly. Connolly is the star of the Elvis revue "Love Him Tender," at Bally's.

The holiday celebration at the Grand Canal Shoppes ends today with a free concert by the Las Vegas Philharmonic in St. Mark's Square at 2 p.m.

According to the New York Daily News, superstar Cher has made plans for life after life.

The newspaper reports that the singer/actress has purchased a plot in Paris' famed Pere Lachaise cemetery. The cemetery is already the resting place of a number of famous people including French singer Edith Piaf, Moliere and composer Frederic Chopin, as well as the late Doors frontman, Jim Morrison, whose grave there is covered in graffiti from fans.

The only obstacle facing Cher in terms of the cemetery is that plots are only available to Paris residents. This would lead one to assume that Cher might be making a trans-Atlantic jump at some point in the future.

Cher, 53, isn't worried about those kinds of details at this point. Taking a break from her European tour, the singer paid a visit to Pere Lachaise on Tuesday to sign papers and plunk down $4,330 for the plot.

Robin Leach can't get enough of Las Vegas, or of its beautiful blondes.

The former host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," whose stunning Antigua mansion is profiled in this month's Millionaire magazine, was seen dining on lobster at the newly-opened Rock Lobster restaurant at Mandalay Bay. The eatery took over the space previously occupied by the China Grill Cafe. Leach's dinner partner? A stunning, curvaceous blonde, of course.

Rap music mogul Percy Miller, a k a Master P, has a little something going on aside from his chart-topping music career.

Master P happens to be a guard for the San Diego Stingrays basketball team. The team, part of the newly created International Basketball League, will be in town on Friday to play the Las Vegas Silver Bandits at Thomas & Mack and Master P will suit up to play.

It seems that despite the millions he has made creating and producing hardcore gangster rap, Master P still wants to try his hand at professional basketball. He has played since he was a kid and made the cut on his athletic abilities, but don't think he won't try to get a little music business accomplished in his new role.

Two stars from Master P's label, No Limit, will sing the national anthem and his younger brother, known as Silkk the Shocker, will perform at halftime.

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