Monday, Jan. 20, 2003 | 9:32 a.m.
The "Rock X-Posed" photo show at The Rio is pretty impressive, both artistically, historically and in the sheer amount of material on display.
That said, there are still some pretty glaring omissions.
Among the 500 images on display are Al Wertheimer's classic 1956 Elvis Presley series, Art Kane's oft-reproduced image of The Who draped in the Union Jack, and Bob Gruen's photos of John Lennon in a New York City T-shirt and standing in front of the Statue of Liberty.
But some pretty notable rock photogs are curiously missing.
What is a rock 'n' roll photo show without Linda McCartney? Her access led to a collection of fascinating images.
And where is the main Rolling Stone photographer for its first few decades, Annie Leibovitz?
Her images of rock figures ranging from Bruce Springsteen's jeans-clad backside (in front of an American flag, taken for his "Born in the USA" album cover) to a naked John Lennon cuddling with Yoko Ono are classics.
What about Jim Marshall, whose classic book "Not Fade Away" has such memorable images as Janis Joplin lounging on a sofa with a bottle of Jack Daniels?
On the other hand, many of rock's premier photogs are represented, including a posse that my dad gave career bumps to when he used their early work in the Village Voice: Chuck Pulin, Laura Levine, Deborah Feingold, Ebet Roberts, Mick Rock, Kate Simon and Raeanne Rubenstein.
The show went up Dec. 27, but does not have its official opening event until Wednesday.
Many of the lensmen and women whose work is displayed are scheduled to attend the opening.
The show is mounted in a pavilion that was constructed adjacent to the Flamingo Road property. Besides the photo galleries there is a 750-seat concert venue and some hospitality suites.
Finally, the images in the show are for sale, in a limited, signed edition. Some of the proceeds go to Crossroads at Antigua, the drug treatment center founded by guitar god and former user Eric Clapton.
Film update
From the Las Vegas Sun's Carson City bureau chief, Cy Ryan: The state film office and the Las Vegas Film Critics Society announced last week that DK Productions won the Silver Nitrate Award for 2002.
The award is given annually to a Las Vegas business or person who actively promoted and participated in film-related activities.
DK Productions has created hundreds of commercials, television programs, feature films and music videos since its creation in 1990.
The film office also named the top three screenplays of 2002 in the annual screenwriters competition. In first place was "The Mob, Muscle & the Moulin Rouge" by Gayle Schreiber and Stan Armstrong of Las Vegas; second place went to "Lucky in Love" by William Raeburn "Bill" Green of Irvine, Calif.; and the third place award went to "Zero on the Bone" by D.V. Caitlyn of Sunland, Calif.
King day
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, which the nation celebrates today, Madame Tussaud's Las Vegas at The Venetian will display a wax figure of the late civil rights leader.
The statue is on loan for a limited time from Madame Tussaud's London gallery.
"It gives visitors an opportunity to consider and reflect upon a remarkable historical figure," the museum said in a news release.
It will be on display through the end of February, which is Black History Month.
Vegas time
Las Vegas, as usual, is all over the mass media.
The Travel Channel just wrapped up "Vegas Week." The Super Bowl commercial controversy simmering. Steve Wynn (sans stogie) gracing the cover of Cigar Aficionado magazine. Men's Journal running a long feature on Yucca Mountain.
In the works: Chef Kerry Simon poses in the April Playgirl (though not totally nude), and separately was just interviewed by Rolling Stone for a story about cool trends. He ought to know.
And Traci Scott, press secretary for Sen. John Ensign, was just photographed and interviewed for a Glamour magazine feature on some of the hard-working women on Capitol Hill.
Fast food
So far, we've heard that Pottery Barn, Cartier and the restaurant Tao are going to open in the space that will be vacated Feb. 14 by WB Stage 16 in The Venetian.
But the most likely scenario now involves Joseph Keller, the immensely talented chef at Larry Ruvo's Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada.
Keller's brother, Thomas Keller, operates one of the world's most highly regarded eateries, The French Laundry in the Napa Valley, and the brothers may team up to open a place in The Venetian.
"It is not a for sure thing, but that's what we're talking about with (Venetian President) Rob Goldstein," Joseph Keller told VegasBeat.
"It's still early in the process, but it is something I think everyone wants to happen."
Ira & Gina
When Ira David Sternberg starts his new communications job with Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt on Feb. 1, he'll do so as a married man.
Sternberg, who has a weekly radio show Tuesdays on KDWN 720-AM that will broadcast live from Neonopolis starting Jan. 28, married Gina Polovina, the director of Government and Community Affairs at Boyd Gaming, on Jan. 4 at Stardust.
Among the well-wishers at the nuptials were state Sen. Dana Titus and Dr. Tom Wright, Bill Boyd and Judy Vieths, MGM MIRAGE's Alan Feldman, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce President Kara Kelley, KTNV Channel 13 weatherman Nate Tannenbaum, state Sen. Valerie Wiener, Linda and Bob Faiss, Dr. Frank Nemec and District Judge Jennifer Togliatti .
The couple just returned from a Hawaiian honeymoon.
"We couldn't be happier," Sternberg told VegasBeat.
VegasBits
That was Yankees slugger Jason Giambi getting a pedicure -- and a facial, massage and a haircut -- at Dolphin Court Spa at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino on Friday ...
Tickets to see "King of Queens" star Kevin James at The Mirage's Danny Gans Theater on Feb. 15 and Feb. 16 go on sale today ...
Joan Rivers and Bob Vila were spotted all around town over the weekend. They both were here for appearances at the International Builders Show at Las Vegas Convention Center ...
One of Southern California's most popular Mexican restaurants is about to open a second outpost in Las Vegas. SuperMex Restaurant & Cantina, now on Sunset and Pecos, is prepping a space in the Seven Hills area to open for Cinco de Mayo celebrations ...
Who said art couldn't make a dent in the Vegas visitor itinerary? A staggering 125,000 patrons have seen the Faberge show at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art since the show went up in September, the gallery reports.
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