Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 | 10:30 a.m.
Where is Michael Jackson ? Only his hairdresser might know for sure.
But no one else seems to, especially the other gossip columnist in town.
In Sunday's paper he noted that Jackson had checked out of a Mirage suite on Wednesday after a "two-week stay."
Curiously, the other gossip reported last Monday that Jackson was seen "checking out of the Four Seasons (Mandalay Bay) on Sunday after a two-week stay." So, unless Jackson was registered in two places at once for a week and a half ...
So, again, where was Jackson? It was sworn to us by one informed source that the King of Pop was in seclusion at a private residence in Spanish Hills -- the upscale west-side neighborhood where Jackson's dad, Joe Jackson, has a home. A partner in the OPM nightclub told VegasBeat he heard Jacko was in a suite at the Palms. The Los Angeles Times reported that Jackson was heading back to his Neverland ranch in California to meet with his lawyer, Mark Geragos.
The other gossip also reported that starting at 10 p.m. Thursday Jackson was hiding out, without his children, at a Regency Towers penthouse apartment on the grounds of the Las Vegas Country Club. This despite numerous media reports that the entertainer was eyeballed with his two older children at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino as late as 4 a.m. Friday.
Arizona papers were reporting that he was headed to The Boulders, a Phoenix resort.
About all that is certain is Jackson will be in a Santa Barbara courtroom on Jan. 9 to answer the child molestation charges.
Jackson's camp was set to launch a website today -- www.mjnews.us -- with official information and comment from Jackson and his reps.
Small vigils were held around the world Saturday night by Jackson fans. About 25 fans gathered outside the CMX Productions studio on Petra Avenue, where Jackson had been working last week. Among other places, fans also gathered on Rome's fabled Spanish Steps and under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Also, for the record, VegasBeat does not pay for information. A Las Vegas hotel public relations department employee called VegasBeat on Friday, asking for money in exchange for information on Jacko's whereabouts. We politely and firmly explained that's not how we do business here.
Anyway, we probably would have been told that Jacko was off with Judge Crater.
Slinky good
Celebrity lingerie designer Samantha Chang spent much of the weekend at her new Mandalay Place boutique, making sure everything was just right.
The store, her first dedicated, stand-alone effort, is slated to open this week. She is known for attracting such alluring clients as Pamela Anderson, Kate Hudson and Mira Sorvino.
Still slinky
In other garment business news, Vegas fashionista Meital Grantz is preparing to open the third local branch of her trend-setting Talulah G boutique. It will be in the Fashion Show mall and will be celebrated with a Dec. 9 opening party.
Her regulars include Kelly Preston, Chloe Sevigny and home video star Paris Hilton. Today, Grantz is opening a seasonal Talulah G holiday store on Sunset Road in Henderson.
Case sale
His family has a vineyard, but TV "Bachelor" Andrew Firestone is pretty much a teetotaler.
Firestone was drinking bottled water, not one of the 500 or so wines, including his Firestone label, at the first Lee's Wine Experience tasting event at TI on Saturday.
Firestone and fiancee Jen Schefft also took to the auctioneer podium after Robin Leach finished his auctioneer duties. Firestone sold off a case of his family grape, with his signature on each of the labels.
After the successful wine event, Leach was off to Caesars Palace to emcee the "Mensch of the Year" tribute dinner to local entertainment figure Bernie Yuman.
VegasBits
Curry: Former Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil had brunch Sunday with friends at Gaylord Indian Restaurant (The Rio). Afterward he stuck around for a wine-tasting event sponsored by Las Vegas Food & Beverage magazine. He regaled guests with his experience passing a kidney stone in a Jamaica hotel room ...
Guest: Disco diva Donna Summer and a party of seven dined Friday night at AquaKnox (Venetian) after her art opening at S2K's Entertainment Gallery. Summer was overheard telling pals it was the first time she had ever eaten stone crab claws, one of the seafood restaurant's signature dishes ...
Speed: Former "Beverly Hills 90201" star Ian Ziering stopped in the Hot Rod Grille in Henderson on Friday night. Zierling, a car enthusiast, spent most of the weekend enjoying the Super Chevy show at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway ...
Photo: Joe, Gavin and George Maloof were featured in the Styles section of the Sunday New York Times. The story recounted the brothers out on an evening in Gotham City ...
Honor: Celine Dion will be honored as the Nevada Ballet Theatre's Woman of the Year 2004 at its Black & White Ball on Jan. 24 at Caesars Palace. Jacqueline Juliano is honorary chairwoman of the event, which is generally considered to be the highlight of the social season. Table prices range from $3,500 to $25,000 ...
Special guest: Las Vegas Sun columnist Jeff German made appearances Thursday and Friday on Greta Van Susteren's Fox News Channel talker. Topic, natch, was Michael Jackson.
From Sun wires
Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and soccer star Mia Hamm were married in a private ceremony Saturday in Santa Barbara, Calif.
The wedding came a year after Garciaparra, a two-time American League batting champion, proposed to Hamm, the top scorer in the history of the U.S. women's national team.
The two met at charity event in 1998 and started dating last Thanksgiving, shortly after Hamm divorced her husband of six years.
Royal baby home: Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, carried their infant daughter out of the hospital and headed home on Sunday more than two weeks after the baby was born prematurely.
Before climbing into their car, the couple thanked staff at Frimley Park Hospital, southwest of central London, where the baby was delivered by emergency Caesarean about four weeks early on Nov. 8, weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces.
The couple refused to tell reporters the name of the baby. But she will not have be a Royal Highness. She will be known as Lady -- with the chosen first name. When her parents married, it was announced that they had decided any children they had should not have the HRH title.
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