Eva Longoria Parker is Minding Her Own Businesses
by Bobbie Katz 
If you were to ask Eva Longoria Parker what she has cooking lately, guaranteed her answer would give a whole new meaning to the definition of a “full plate.”

That’s because the beautiful award-winning actress who is entering her 7th season starring as “Gabrielle Solis” on the ABC-TV mega-hit Desperate Housewives, is also a Hollywood/Las Vegas restaurateur/businesswoman… not to mention a producer/director who owns her own production company, an international spokeswoman for L’Oreal Paris, an advocate for the Latino community and for women, the national spokeswoman for PADRES Contra El Cáncer (Parents Against Cancer), a speaker, a philanthropist, a wife, and  a woman who has founded her own charities and organizations and sits on the board of numerous others.

In reality, however, the one place that Longoria Parker can have her “stake” – and eat it, too – is at her restaurant, Beso (meaning “kiss” in Spanish) in the elegant Crystals retail center at the $8.5-billion Leed Gold CityCenter complex in Las Vegas. It is there that the public gets a chance to see what has allowed her to keep stirring the pot in so many areas of her life – cooking has always been her form of therapy.

“I cook almost daily for friends and family,” Longoria Parker says. “Cooking is one of the most personal things you can do. It’s a way of sharing love. I grew up in Miami cooking, and then when I met Tony six years ago, I learned to make a lot of French food and sauces. “

Eva Longoria Parker

What is Zowie Bowie?  The simple answer, the name for the hottest act in Las Vegas  performing at the Palms Resort and Casino.  But there’s more to the story than just another Vegas show.  From the moment I met Chris Phillips and Marley Taylor, you could tell they were more than entertainers.  Zowie Bowie is an excitement for life that lights up a room and exudes a contagious charisma, on and off stage.  Once you’ve seen Zowie Bowie, your life will never be the same.

The fiery energy of Chris and Marley  makes the Lounge at the Palms ablaze with the ecstasy of sheer entertainment. Chris,with his boyish blond looks, sexy blue eyes, electric smile and a voice that gets to you in all the right places couples his charisma with his fiance’, Marley a 5.9, blond, voluptuous super model has the voice, the moves and the musical talent that electrifies the evening.

A big part of the Zowie Bowie experience is their high voltage band.  They produce sounds that ignite the spark for the musical genius that spans the genres from today’s hottest dance, hip-hop, top 40 and classical Las Vegas hits.  Their sound is unique.  Their look sizzles.  Their arrangements are original.  But it is their kinetic energy for entertaining that leaves flying high.  Their sound gives a whole new meaning to Rock’n and Roll’n.   Ever Friday and Saturday night from 10-12pm the lounge is packed.  Don’t worry about finding a seat, once the Zowie Bowie sound hits the stage, you can’t sit down.

So which one’s Zowie…..and who’s Bowie?   Chris grinned when I asked him the question.  You could tell this was one of his favorite stories. “Well I was a drummer in a band and one night, the singer got sick and we needed a singer for the show that night, so I tucked my ponytail inside my shirt, and did the show that night, we did songs from David Lee Roth and David Bowie and it made me think to call myself Zowie Bowie, I’ll never go on stage behind the drums ever again. I loved the singing.  It’s my true passion. I loved the experience on stage. I sold my drums.  Being in front of an audience, center stage was all I wanted to do. I met Marley and continued the Zowie Bowie frame of mind.”

Marley Taylor was raised in Houston, Texas, and has been performing on stage since the age of 12.  A talented singer-songwriter, she performed at nightclubs and other venues throughout Houston before moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, where she continued her solo career.  Chris was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona. and started his career as drummer in a heavy metal band in the early 1980s.   It turned out they shared the same key board man, who insisted the two meet.  The attraction was magnetic.  They were made for each other ….on and off stage. ( I’ve never seen a more handsome couple.  They give Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie a run for their money.)  Chris, appreciating all of Marley’s talents asked her to join Zowie Bowie .  That’s when the sky rockets took flight!

I loved interviewing these two.  Their genuine zest for life is the same on or off stage. Their positive energy, laughter and love for what they do is refreshing.  They are so upbeat and happy, you can’t  help but wonder if they ever get down.   What keeps them so on fire?  This is what I learned.

MVR.  Who is your favorite singer?

Chris-“Well I loved Elvis, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra all these were an inspiration

For me growing up and when I met Marley the idea of a big band sound came together so with that said the biggest influences were the Rat Pack Days”

Marley-“Well I loved Olivia Newton John My favorite was Sandy and Danny in Grease, Barbara Streisand and the Big Band feel of  Dean Martin, and Sinatra yes the big band days..”

MVR..What advice do you have for the person who is thinking about entering the entertainment industry?

Marley “Stay True to who you are-Do not let anyone Change you “Stay focused and do not waiver”

Chris “Always know it is about your audience, “it is about your fans!”   “People want to be acknowledged, that is why we do the birthday thing. “With the cake “We don’t make fans we make friends “

Marley – we got an email from a fan who thanked us that 4 years ago she had seen our show and she will never forget the silver balloon she got and the cake, it was amazing to have such nice emails from fans from years ago.”

MVR…How has the move to Palm’s Casino been for your careers?

Chris “The Palms has the family atmosphere inside the Casino, It is great!! We feel very welcomed and at home. The appreciation starts from the Top! George Maloof is wonderful and it just permeates throughout the casino. We are so happy and are very appreciative to George to give us a chance to be part of the Palms Entertainment.”

Marley- “yes the whole casino is so warm and it was our dream to be here at the Palms., about the time we came to Vegas for the very first time I remember – we were staying at the Rio, we pulled out of the casino and were driving by the Palms and I said, to Chris now that is the casino we need to get into. It is the best casino to be at.” ” Who would of thought it would happen, we were driving the other night and could not believe our Name was on the outside billboard at the Palms , it is a dream come true..”

MVR……What is the next step for your future in your singing careers?

Chris “Well we see ourselves bridging the gap between the New Vegas and the old  big band Vegas, We want  the Vintage Vegas feel brought  into one show. We want to embody the spirit of las vegas into one show” We are in the works of creating a new CD with a 32 piece orchestra ” Big Band Vegas” feeling and sound -like Michael Bublee’ style”

Marley- “I have been doing a lot of writing and one day soon, I will sing music more in the adult contemporary genre.

Chris – “We are also looking into doing a variety show ultimate big band show; bring back the TV show back to the casinos. That is one of our long term goals…”

Chris & Marley reflect

“Well it was a long hard road to get where we are today, and now it is just amazing where we are today and we are so happy and we thank all our Friends/ Fans because it would not be possible with out all who supported us.”

Las Vegas loves Zowie Bowie.  The couple was ranked the “Number One Must-See Show” in Las Vegas by AOL, and voted the “Best of Las Vegas” by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.  Phillips and Taylor have graced the cover of numerous magazines, with their drop-dead good looks, impeccable style and classic elegance.

Now that you know that  Zowie Bowie is the Vegas sizzle that can only happen when Chris, Marley, their band and “you” get together.  Make this weekend your Zowie Bowie experience!

Friday or Saturday night, at the Lounge, Palms Casino and Resort 10-12pm.

Interviewed  by Milka Von Rhedey

By Bobbie Katz

One thing about the new adult show at Planet Hollywood that will officially open on April 18, 2009 is that it’s not looking to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.

In fact, PEEPSHOW, which stars pop sensation Mel B. as Peep Diva and features such characters as Bo Peep, played by Kelly Monaco of “General Hospital,” is just what it sets out to be — a sexy, modern-day burlesque romp that doesn’t cover up beautiful women with a lot of extra face and body makeup or wigs so that you can’t see the person underneath.

In what is a stroke of “shear” determination on the part of Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell, who has collaborated with Las Vegas pacesetter BASE Entertainment on PEEPSHOW, it will be the first time that a production of this nature actually has a storyline, one that depicts the empowerment of women. In taking Bo Peep from sheepish to sexy, the sugar provided by Monaco and the Spice offered by Mel B. add just the right seasoning to the mix that  from Mitchell’s point of view, are what the females in this show are made of.

.”About 12 years ago, I began collaborating on a vehicle that today is essentially PEEPSHOW,” says Mitchell, known for such stage productions as “Legally Blonde,” “Hairspray,” “La Cage Aux Folles,” “The Full Monty” and others.  “It is a sexy, inviting show that takes you on a journey and introduces you to beautiful women in a way that you’re not asking, ‘Where’s the woman?’ I want you to see that beautiful woman – that’s what this show’s about. We have gathered 20 of the sexiest dancers from film, video, and Broadway to bring a truly American form of entertainment back to the Strip. PEEPSHOW is the art of the tease, mixed with humor, razzle-dazzle, and today’s sexy music. These stunning dancers will use their bodies to tell a story.”

“The story starts out with a modern, everyday woman coming home from work,” he continues. ”She’s had a hard day and all she wants in her life is love. She takes a book from the shelf and curls up on the sofa with her dog. After telling her dog, ‘I want someone as loyal, loving and trustworthy as you,’ she falls asleep and we zoom in on the book she is reading, ‘Little Bo Peep.’  Suddenly the stage explodes and Bo Peep stumbles across it, encountering an all-female live band, live singers and live dancers. They invite her into the PEEPSHOW where she meets the likes of Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, the Girl with the Wicked Curl, Cranberry Cross, Mrs. Pumpkin-eater and others. They teach her how to be confident and sexy and to become the woman she’s always wanted to be to find love in her life. It’s a very empowering story for women as well as a sexy, hot story for men.”

With 25 of the 30-member cast being female, the latter is not a hard scenario to imagine. For, Spice Girl Mel B., who as Peep Diva will be originating the role of  PEEPSHOW’s Mistress of Ceremonies, it does not represent a departure for her in any way since being on stage and performing is very much home to her.

“The character, Peep Diva, I’ve actually developed with Jerry is going to be very exciting for me,” she expresses. “It’s not anything that’s going to make me panic or nervous. If anything, I’m going to be celebrating the fact that I’m part of such an amazing production, telling this amazing story,  because I’ll be narrating the whole thing through song and dance and taking Kelly on this amazing journey to self-empowerment, giving her confidence, style, elegance and the knowledge that she is a sexy woman”

“It’s a pretty powerful role,” she continues. “I’m carrying the whole show and I get to be the Diva while at the same time telling Kelly that I can teach her everything she needs to know.”

Mel B. who claims that while they remain friends, the Spice Girls will never perform together again and announces that she will be coming out as a solo artist next year, says that she knew that the role of Peep Diva was right for her at first glance at the production. Mitchell had been wanting her to work with him for the last two or three years and had called her in for auditions for other shows. But it wasn’t until she took a look at PEEPSHOW that she wanted in. She admits that the character contains elements of who she’s always been in performance.

“I’ve always been a fun person and if you look at any of the Spice Girls performances, we are all five very individual girls and we do basically what we want to do,” she laughs. “The last time we performed here in Vegas, I got to bring someone up from the audience and whip him with my whip. So I’ve always been on the racy side – it’s nothing new to me. I’m really more excited about the fact that this is something that has never been seen or created here before. In Vegas, things are either completely naked or completely clothed – there’s no in-between where it’s artistic and tells a story that people are going to feel compassionate about and, at the same be on the edge of their seats saying, ’Wow – did  I really just see that?’”

Where costumes are concerned, Mel B. admits that she will come out fully clothed but then things will come off in “bits and bobs” throughout the different songs. As to whether it will be uncomfortable for her, she responds that to feel sexy and be who she is, a woman has to be comfortable in her own skin, which is what the show is about.  She also notes that she has a highly sexy underwear line of her own.

Mel B. is excited about the original music in the show that she gets to sing. She says that being on ‘”Dancing with the Stars” was a great thing for her because she never knew how to ballroom dance before and it gave her the discipline to learn two dances each week in three-four days.

“I never got nervous or felt pressure,” she claims. “It was like a huge challenge to me and I wasn’t going to let it break me down or beat me. I was determined to ride it in a good way. I challenge myself every day. Just being Peep Diva and taking people on this journey with me will be a challenge for me with this show.”

Mel B. will be in the show for at least the first three or four months but says that she will come back and forth depending on how well her kids adjust to Las Vegas. For now, the whole family, including the dog, is living here. What is she looking forward to the most?

“Putting on my costume and getting on stage opening night,” she says.

As for Monaco, also known for being the first-season winner on “Dancing with the Stars,” this production is a radical departure.

“The only thing I’ve ever done in my life that is even remotely close to dance is ‘Dancing with the Stars,’” she reveals. “I did a very small amount of theater growing up but that’s where the love of theater started for me. I’ve wanted to get back to the theater but unfortunately, I can’t sing so Broadway was almost immediately out of the question. But after ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ I had so many opportunities for Broadway come up. This show, to me, is the most exceptional and the biggest opportunity to come my way so I was willing to take it on.”

“To be on stage, to dance, to act, with a live band and a live audience, puts all the elements that I think make a performer a performer into one,” she adds. “I’m incredibly nervous and incredibly excited.  I’ve always gone for a challenge.”

Monaco admits that there were a lot of obstacles that had to be overcome before she could take the role of Bo Peep. The biggest one was getting “General Hospital” to let her star in PEEPSHOW since she will still be appearing on the soap opera every day.

“I needed to get them on my side because they own me right now,” she says earnestly. “But ‘Dancing with the Stars’ helped because they saw that I could do both that and ‘General Hospital’ without slacking on either one. So I will be filming a week’s worth of ‘General Hospital’ in a day-and-a-half and doing PEEPSHOW six days a week. It will be a task but I can’t think of a more interesting and thrilling place to be in my life right now.”

Despite that, Monaco maintains that she takes opportunities as they come along and that she’s not looking at a really big picture of her career as far as the future is concerned. Rather, she is seeking a bit of adventure.

“I just want to be the best Bo Peep I can be,” she says.

If all goes as planned, PEEPSHOW should be one Baaaaaaaaaaad show – and that’s good.

By Bobbie Katz

Simon says, “You can now enjoy brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. And yes, you can even wear your pajamas or come in your bathrobe!”

That’s quite a mouthful but when it comes from award-winning chef Kerry Simon, who owns Simon Restaurant and Lounge at Palms Place, you can bet that it’s a bedclothes and breakfast offer that has no precedent. Rest assured, everything at the new brunch at his eatery is done in the best of taste, from the incredible array of luscious food, served both buffet counter style and tableside, to the  “eye candy”  provided by the attractive female and male servers that sweetens the ambiance. However, if you’re going to get caught with your hand in the candy dish, make sure it’s when you enter or leave the restaurant and have the opportunity to partake in the numerous bowls of the confectionary stuff sitting on racks beside the hostess stand.

“We brainstorm a lot,” explains Simon about the unique brunch concept. “At one of our sessions, someone jokingly said that we should have the hostesses dress in nightgowns at the door and that the guests should dress that way, too. People really do put on their robes and come to our brunch. And kids really look forward to coming in their pajamas, too.”

“I always remember living in New York and going to brunch every Sunday,” he continues. “It was great running into people that you hadn’t seen for a while – it was kind of an unplanned get-together. This brunch has that New York/L.A. kind of vibe. No one has really done that here. I wasn’t sure at first that there was a total market for it but right now it looks like there is.”

The brunch, which debuted on New Year’s Day, offers a delectable mix of items from fruits, juices and yogurts to all sorts of breads, bagels and pastries, granola parfaits, whole fruits and smoothies, sushi, organic egg dishes, peel and eat shrimp,  French toast, pancakes, paninis, smoked salmon, wood fired pizzas, desserts  and coffees and teas.. Then there are the items called “White Trash” that include BBQ pork baby back ribs, chicken and waffles, and pigs in a blanket. According to Simon, the junk food ,on the menu such as the dessert plate consisting of cotton candy, snowballs, Hostess cakes, cookies and Rice Krispies treats is a nostalgic throwback to people’s childhoods.

There is also a Kids Only menu, as well as a Bloody Mary Buffet and a all-you-can-drink champagne bar. The latter two cost $7.00 and $16.00, respectively, in addition to the $38 per person for the buffet.  The cost for kids 12 and under is $12.00.

“I chose things that I like to eat in the morning, mainly,” Simon explains about the menu. “But I wanted it to be more interesting than other menus and have things that gave it its own tag, such as our Bloody Mary Buffet. The brunch has turned out to be its own thing. Part of the menu came from my extensive traveling. I would travel from Hong Kong to New York, for example, and get in at weird times and want eggs. What do you do? So I made a list and took notes of those things and of what I thought the menu should be.”

In general, Simon says that has achieved his success because he is a hard worker and that what he does is a constant thing – he doesn’t stop. He also emphasizes that it about the team of people he has put together, including partner Elizabeth Blau, as well as being well-educated in what he does and keeping up with what’s happening in the world. He himself likes to eat healthy and he is not afraid to try new things such as new creations with raw vegetables (his latest focus) and create healthier dishes for his restaurant and try to make them more appealing for the public.  A couple of his innovations in that area include salad with just lemon juice and olive oil for dressing and zucchini sliced like spaghetti that replaces pasta in a homemade tomato sauce..

“Everything you do in the restaurant business is compromise,” Simon admits. “You bring so many different minds to the table – so many customers with so many different tastes – so you have to find middle ground. You’ll change and tweak stuff but the important thing is that the food has to be excellent. Certain things work and other things don’t. The thing I’ve learned is not to hang on to a dish – if it doesn’t work, I let it go.”

“I don’t like food that is fooled with,” he adds. “I like food that is clean and simple. I learned from working with incredible chefs that you don’t need to add a whole lot of stuff. I learned to balance flavors. I like to use lemon, lime and citrus juices in cooking to pick up a lot of the natural flavors. I think it’s more exciting to the palate. To me, it’s all about freshness. We use everything green.”

His success is indicative of the fact that when Simon talks, people listen. Then they eat.

Spring is popping out all over and along with it is the media who have been popping in and out of almost every hotel covering new openings and events.

Terry Fator’s opening at the Mirage was a truly fun-filled evening.. Besides his terrific performance, there were a few surprises in the packed-to-the-seams house. Among the celebrities in attendance, were former Las Vegas resident Kevin Sorbo (“Hercules;” “Andromeda”) and Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk”). In hilarious bit, Fator pulled Ferrigno up on stage and turned him into a human puppet.  From where we were sitting, I couldn’t tell whether Sorbo was turning green — with envy — but I sincerely doubt it.

Comedy impressionist Gordie Brown had his official opening at the Golden Nugget as well and his performance was right on the money, as usual. In the audience were Clint Holmes and his wife Kelly Clinton, Frank Marino and comedian Steve Rossi. Also in the audience was Joe Esposito, who was Elvis’ manager and close friend for 17 years. Brown delighted the enthusiastic crowd with a whole range of impressions from contemporary artists to actors, presidents and singers from the golden age of Las Vegas. He also mixes his impressions with a lot of very funny humor, some of it ad-lib as he “plays” with the audience. Brown’s wife, by the way, was about to give birth to their fifth child.

Over at the South Point, on a recent Sunday, composer/singer Larry Hart debuted his original non-denominational “irreverently reverent Gospel concert” called “Praise.” Hart, a Grammy winner, wrote much of the music in the show, much of it containing humor such as the song, “Gonna Stomp My Prada for Jesus.”

No religion was ignored and the crowed was up on their feet and clapping to a lot of the upbeat songs. Hart sang  a lot of the songs and solos were done by each of the six women in the show with him – Jenevi, Jeneane Marie, Paris Red, Diane Spann, Jennifer Weatherly, and Jill Rock Jones. The talent on stage was overwhelming. The costumes were also great; the ones worn by Jeneane Marie, who stole the show at points with her big voice and style reminiscent of Sophie Tucker, were very funny. In the audience were Phyllis McGuire, Steve Rossi, Tony Ruvilar from the Society of Seven, Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton and Marva Scott, who performs Diana Ross and Donna Summer in “Legends in Concert,” which recently moved from the Imperial Palace to Harrah’s.

Larry also had as his special guests Mary Williams; his mom Toni Hatt, who used to be a singer herself, and his sister Linda Hart, who performs on Broadway and acts in movies (she played “Doreen” in “Tin Cup” starring Kevin Kostner). At the end of the show, Toni Hart invited the entire 400-seat audience to bring some food and come to “church” at the 30,000-square-foot Hart Mansion in Las Vegas the following Sunday.  Larry is hoping to find a steady venue for the show.

Another new show that premiered at O’Shea’s is FREAKS. The problem is that it’s pretty hard to describe but both the cast and acts definitely hold true to the show’s name. I found some of it difficult to watch, such as when witnessing a girl eating her wine glass and a lightbulb and watching one of the stars, Andrew S., have two hooks put through the skin on his band to which a harness was attached that hoisted him into the air and left him dangling there. The show is produced by adult comedy hypnotist Anthony Cools, who has his own show and showroom, the Anthony Cools Experience, at Paris Las Vegas.  He doesn’t have to hypnotize anyone in the audience at FREAKS – the show is mesmerizing itself on its own. That is, when you’re able to pull your hands away from your eyes. But it is definitely for the younger set who seem more apt to enjoy watching such things as a long metal rod going through two people’s arms at once.

The new Joint at the Hard Rock has a whole new look and Santana has signed to be the first every rock ‘n’ roll resident act in Las Vegas through a multi-year deal with AEG Live. You will not see him performing anywhere else but the Joint west of the Mississippi through 2010..Titled to pay homage to his most successful body of work to date, Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits debuts on Wednesday May 27 and features the artist’s signature fusion sound in a show designed exclusively for the new venue.

For those of you who didn’t catch Tom Jones at his last engagement here at the MGM Grand, it might surprise you to learn that he has let his hair and beard go totally gray. Seems he didn’t have time to dye it  before a recent engagement so he went on stage that way and when he asked the audience how they liked it, they responded that they did. So he left it gray, feeling that’s who he is anyway. Jones turns 69 in June. He’ll be back at the MGM Grand May 7-20.

Michael Boychuck “the colorist to the stars,” is the visionary that’s reinventing the salon industry for the world.   And what a vision he has created!  In a city that’s known for over the top fantasy environment, Michael’s meteoric rise to stardom with his salon Color, in Caesar’s Palace, exudes opulence, colorful celebrities, artistry and genuine warmth.  His energy and skill create an experience that proves beauty is for everyone!

What drives a man to devote his life to Hair, Color, and Beauty?  The answers were surprising. Michael’s passion to inspire stardom in everyone he meets is the brightest light on the Vegas Strip. Color me beautiful is what he does.

What is it that you see in a woman that makes her beautiful to you?

Every woman is beautiful and it’s up to me find out what to emphasize and bring that beauty out in her.  Everyone has something special.  I think it can be eyes, skin, or overall aura of a person….like with you, you’ve got this happiness, so basically I would want to brighten that up… I just bring out in the person what she already has.  I think everyone is beautiful in some way.

What are the three things that you can do for a woman so she can see her beauty?

Well, there’s a lot of things you can do.  First of all giving her the right hair cut.  Sometimes people cover their face when they should be opening it up.  Sometimes the hair can be too long and overpowering when it should be a little shorter.  Sometimes it can be too short if you have a larger frame, you need it longer to balance it out.  It’s important to create the right balance and the right tones in your hair.  Sometimes when someone comes in and their hair is naturally ashy and they’ve been in the sun, it’s good to put some golden highlights.  When you’re working with someone  your’ always balancing out their tones, balancing out their overall picture.  it’s like a frame.  Your framing them so you have to constantly be balancing it  And make-up is another thing.  Learn to cover up your imperfections and turn them into perfections…that’s really fun.

How would you describe yourself?

You know I’m just here to try to help people. I feel like I’ve worked hard at my craft and I know it.I just want to share.  I’ve been lucky all my life.  I’ve worked with some of the best people and I love my clients that come in.  I love the people I work with and I feel very fortunate.

Where are you from?

I’m from upstate New York.

When did you decide to do hair?

Well, I was in Jacksonville Florida and basically I saw the movie Shampoo and actually that’s when I really started to get into hair.  I went to school in Pennsylvania, and I was there for a little while but it was because of the movie Shampoo.and the fact that I wanted to meet girls and that was it!  I mean, I went to more or less meet people, I didn’t know if I really wanted to do hair.  I thought this would be a great intro. I could talk about hair and  it just turned out that I loved it!  I got my very first job in Jacksonville, Florida.

Who inspired you?

Jose Ebere!  I read his book, SHAKE YOUR HEAD DARLING. And I said that’s the person I want to be like. I read his book and he’s looking at their facial shapes and he’s  looking at everything about the person and how you bring out the best in them and I  thought that was such an art.  This is the first person I saw that made a make-over seem like main stream.  He brought the make-overs to Our Magazine and he was on all the shows…He’s the  first one that did the total make-over package.   So he inspired me more than anyone.

Who inspires you as a client?

Anyone who is best in their profession and what they do inspires me.  When I work on Pete Rose, that’s incredible to me.  He’s the best baseball player..he’s had the most hits, and he really didn’t have the most to work with.  He’s not like Alex Roderigez. He’s not six foot five or 245 pounds but he made it work and I admire that.  I admire the best chef.  I think chef’s are amazing!  To know how to balance everything and oh my God their food is so good.   The best actor!  I think acting is tough.  Daytime, especially on those soaps.  They have to learn like hundreds of pages…so I’m always inspired by everyone that comes in.  I think, “oh my God, these people are incredible!  The best real estate person… anything, the best photographer, I’m always learning.   That’ s what’s great about being a hair stylist.

What’s something about you that people would be surprised to know?

Mmmm, ah, I’m really just a home body. You know I say hello to people when I’m out and socialize. Sometimes I go to different events, Red Carpets and stuff  but basically my ideal night is to be at home with my four dogs and my wife.

What kind of dogs do you have?

Pekinese, Lasoapso, Shiatsu and a Wiener dog.

What are their names?

Marshmallow, Lillybilly, Pumpkin and Gizzy.  My wife named all the dogs.

How long have you been married?

It’s going on nine years.  So I met her when I came out here and she’s just a really sweet warm person and it’s just great to share time with her.

Does she work?

Yeah, she was the star of Crazy Girls and now she runs the show.

Who are the three people you most admire?

People I most admire?  I admire a lot of people.  I admire Paris.  Paris has to be there because she’s done so much for me all of my life.

Where did you meet her?

I met her when she was eleven.  So I was the first one to do her hair.  You know a lot of celebrities will go from hair dresser to hair dresser, they don’t really care who does their hair, just so they can get their picture taken or whatever, Paris has always been very, very loyal to me and that’s why I’m so ultra loyal to her and I respect her in a lot of ways because she go anywhere in the world to get her hair done, and she always tries to work with me, her friendliness and the way she stays loyal is unbelievable.  She’s really so true and honest  and a really great friend.  If she can ever do something for you, she will do it.  Also, people don’t realize how intelligent she is.  I love being around her because she really is, to me, an icon.  She’s really one of the nicest people in Hollywood.  She’ll call you on your birthday.  She’s really very loyal.  I always try to be there for her and she really appreciates that.  There really aren’t many people out there like her.  Paris has got to be one that I really admire.

Who else?

This one I feel so fortunate to work with.  He’s a mogul in town…George Malouf.  I admire George, more than anyone… because you could have a fifty page contract with some casino owners in town and it’s worth nothing.  A handshake with George Malouf is worth everything. So I feel really fortunate to work with him.  Every time I’m around him I say “Wow”   I’m really around someone who’s fantastic!

Another person I admire is Robin Leach.  He’s another one of my all time best friends.  He can talk to you about sports, food, politics, money, I always include him, he’s  really a remarkable man.

You went from Pennsylvania, to Florida to L.A. then Vegas.  How did you get to Vegas?

I was working with Jose Ebere and Laurent Dufourg was his  partner and basically Jose said work with Laurent.  I traveled a lot with Laurent.  He worked with all the young celebrities and stuff.  When Jose and Laurent broke up their business, Laurent said you come to Vegas with me and I’ll make you my partner.  So that’s how I got to Vegas.

What can I woman say to you that will help her get the best results she wants with her hair?

I like someone to come in and tell me the direction that they want to go and how they’re feeling and then I can expand on it or direct them to the right way.  When someone comes in and says, “Do what you want,”  I feel I need to know a little more about the person than just say carte blanche because they may just have grown their hair out and then  they’ve been doing it for years and they don’t want to cut it but they may look good short.  I want to know ..I want to know a little bit more.  Give me some direction and I’ll take you the rest of the way there.

Direction meaning like? ” I want it long, short, I want to look sexy ?”

One of the easiest ways is to bring a picture of some looks you admire.  Bring two or three pictures and say, “I like this one and this one/  And then I can pretty much say this is how we can combine these things. This is what I think looks great about this picture and this is what I think looks fair about that.  I like to work with someone. I don’t like to tell someone.  I always have my ideas and I think that they’re pretty good, but working with someone is much better than telling them.

What’s your worst nightmare?

My worst nightmare?  I never look at anything really as a nightmare, I look at it as a challenge, and I’ve had a lot of challenges.

What’s the worst “challenge” you had to overcome?

One night I’m having dinner with my wife, it’s Memorial Day weekend and I’m having a great time and all of a sudden I get a call from Paris’s manager.  He said Paris needs you this weekend.  “OK, I’ll be there.” So I’m thinking no big deal, it’s fine I’ll touch up her base. Then he calls right back and  says, “Oh by the way bring a lot of bleach it’s not for Paris it’s for one of the girls in her BFF show who’s got black hair and she wants to go  platinum.  So…it’s one of the hardest jobs to do and it’s also being filmed for eight hours straight.  Everyone says what a great opportunity for press.  It’s also one of the greatest opportunities for disaster. If you mess up they’ve got proof…but it turned out great.  That was one of the biggest challenges.

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

Well, I think just building up a great cliental is a great accomplishment because that means you’ve made people happy.   I think that’s more important than saying I made this color and I did this.  When you have a cliental that you can continually make happy for a number of years that means a lot.

What are you looking forward to?

Like I said, every day is great!  I just come in and enjoy what’s happening.

So were you born this positive and happy?  Did you develop it?

I think it’s a process.  I mean when I was growing up I’d say, “Man, I need to do this, I need to do that.  I used to put a lot of pressure on myself.  And then you know sometimes it’s just not worth putting the pressure on yourself.  Enjoy your environment, enjoy people around you and then you’re a lot more successful.  Don’t try to change people, try to work with people, it just makes a nicer experience.

Who are your favorite clients besides Paris?

Well, it’s hard to say favorite clients, some people I enjoy working with, like I said Pete Rose is one of my all time favorites.  When you talk to him, he’s right there and tells you everything about how he’s worked hard, it’s inspiration  but I mean to say that I single out a client that’s so much more special, I think that they’re all special.  One more girl that I think is really really sweet is Georgina Vaughan.  She just won Miss Nevada

I’ve been doing her hair for four or five years and basically she came to me because she said, “oh you do Paris.”  Then I was doing another girl about her same age and she said she was doing the Miss Nevada contest.  I said that was great!  She said, “You do the girl that won.”  I said, “Who’s that?”  Georgina Vaughan!   “

“Really?”  When I saw Georgina I asked her why she didn’t tell me.  Georgina said that she only told her Grandma and she didn’t like making a big thing out of it.  I thought that was so cool.  So I love talking to people like that!

What do you see in a celebrity that’s different from us regular people?

I don’t see a lot of differences, except for sometimes when you’re a celebrity it’s because you’ve accomplished a lot to a certain degree.  What you find in a lot of celebrities is that they have a strong drive and they won’t say no.  They want to go till they get there or until they achieve something. That’s what my opinion is whether your a rock star or the best real estate agent or whatever it is.  It’s like you have drive, it’s just fun to listen to how people develop.  People have long stories as to how they got there….it’s great.

What’s your greatest asset?

Umm…probably my wife (big smile)

As a person, I think Karen. But I mean I value friendship a lot.  I think that when people learn to value friends and to listen that’s the best thing you can ever have.  Cause when you listen…that’s what I said about the people that I admire, Robin Leach, George Malouf, I’m so lucky to be able to hang around them and listen to some of their ideas.  Some people just try to impress everybody, they don’t listen.  And they miss out on a lot.

What‘s your greatest extravagance?

Extravagance? ah that I’ve done or that I like?

Both!

Well, I mean I love great restaurants and chefs.  So that’s something I really enjoy…. the great chefs in town. That’s a lot of fun for me so that’s probably my biggest extravagance.  Something else that was a lot of fun…  I had a friend one time that said, “Michael do you want to go to Sedona?” I said,  “Well it’s quite a long drive.”  She said, “How about we rent a plane? We’ll go in the morning and then fly back.”  And that’s really an ultra extravagance, in my opinion.  I mean not too many times do I get to say let’s rent a plane and spend a day somewhere.  I’m really a down to earth kinda guy.  So that was unusual for me, but I enjoyed it!

What do you do to unwind, this a real high pressure business, isn’t it?

You know it is and but the reason why it’s pressure is because I care and want people to be happy so I’m very sensitive.  So when I get home to unwind I’ve got my dogs that have been missing me.    It’s really great, I have four little animals you know coming at you, kissing you.  Takes away all the stress.  It really is the best!

If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

I wish everyone was more tolerant of everyone.  I mean nobody is right 100% about anything.  And if we’d just learn “to get along,” it’d be a lot easier.  Why argue about everything?  Just have fun, admire and work with people.

What’s your heritage?

Ukrainian.  My father was born in Pennsylvania, but his father was from the Ukraine.  My mom’s German and I have a brother who owns a hair salon in Florida and he’s doing very well.

How did the two of you both decide to do hair?

My brother and I were very close always.  And he was into karate and stuff like that and I was into hair.  But we both liked girls!  (another big smile and laughter)

I told him he needed to start making more money.  I’m booked like all the time.  You come and be my assistant and I’ll make sure you will have clientele and all of that and meet a lot of girls and still do your Karate at different hours. That’s basically how we started working together.  And we had a salon together.  And he was happier in a smaller area and I wanted to be in Beverly Hills, with Jose  Ebere, experiencing that best.  I always want to be experiencing the best.

What would you love people to know about you?

I really care about people a lot.  I really care about animals.  I really care about helping people and being involved.

What advice would you give to a woman who’s unhappy about the way she looks?

Get into my salon!

Is it really that easy to fix?

Yes!  If someone’s unhappy it’s pretty easy to find out.  I just had a woman today who was miserable because the boyfriend she was living with wasn’t paying anything.  I told her he should get out.  You don’t need this.  He’s an anchor. You are beautiful.  Kick him out.  Go out and meet some other people.  And just feel how great you are.  One thing people don’t realize is that they are a lot greater than they think.  Lot of people don’t have the confidence to know who they are.  Take that first step and your halfway there,

What do you think is different about hair today than when you started?

When I started hair was really permed and really big.  Billy Ray Cyrus mullets were in.  Now the hair is really really loose, no curls, mostly waves and now it’s not over bleached, more natural.  It’s a lot better.  If you look at magazines right now, people are doing more colors that are only a couple shades lighter, or level on level blondes or brunettes. There’s a lot of brunettes out there and they are putting in caramel highlights, chestnut highlight-and they are going just a couple shades lighter;  it makes a great reflection in the hair.  It gives off a lot of shine and it keeps the hair healthier.  Extensions have influenced  hair color a lot, because now people don’t have to bleach out sections of hair to make a statement. They can just put in some extensions ad get a lot of contrast without damaging the hair in any way.  I think healthy hair is really, really popular right now.

What do you think hair will evolve into in the next five years?

Because there’s so much internet people are trying new things all the time now.  We’ve all done most things that we can do with hair.  Now it’s a question of what’s happened over here, “I’m going to try that.”  There will be more experimentation.  You’ll see a lot of extensions.  You can grow your hair out over night then.  Lot of pinks, blues, I think it’s a time we’ll be trying out things.

Where is the hair Mecca now?

There isn’t a hair Mecca any more.  But in Vegas right now we’ve got celebrity hair stylists, just like we’ve got celebrity chefs.  There are more celebrity hair stylists in Vegas than there are in LA.   All the hair stylists in LA are getting past their prime and the younger ones want to be in Vegas.

What’s the one thing a woman can do to get the attention she desires?

It depends on what kind of attention she wants.  If you want attention wear something low cut.  If you want to draw attention a different way, dress really, really smart and wear a nice pair of earrings or fix your hair style and make sure it’s perfect.  And beautiful make- up draws more attention than anything.  Make- up is an art.   And with air brushing now it really is an art.  We do a lot of make -up here.  And with spray tanning now, if you have a really nice tan and wear something light, guys look.  If a woman’s in a group and is mysterious, guys will always want to find out more about her.

How would you describe Color as a salon?

It’s been referred to as the most luxurious salon in the world.  The sky was the limit.  Caesars Palace wanted the best salon in the world and they gave me a five million dollar budget to do that.  So I called Faye Resnick to design it for me.  We built the most luxurious salon, with no limitations.  The hair bowls look like Mic Jagger’s tongue.  Faye designed the salon with more grays, whites and basically a lack of color.  And that’s what’s great about that is when you come in  (we have the best lighting anywhere), we do your color, we do your makeup and you jump out!  Your natural color explodes in the salon because there’s no other color influencing it.

What are people saying about Color?

People come from around the world and say, “Wow, I’ve never seen anything like this.”  When you walk in you feel like, “I’m totally at ease here, I’m welcome.”  I love it when someone calls and says they’re sending in their girlfriend and she’s never really been in a high-end salon, and I want you to treat her just like you would Paris or Nicky.”  It ‘s funny, because that how I try to treat everyone anyway.  I mean, when you walk in we have a $40,000 chandelier lighting up the reception area and we have a Fendi crocodile skin desk.  And that’s just the reception area.  It’s great to see people come out of their shells and say,  “I’ve never been treated like this before?”  That’s what makes the salon different.  We have a number of celebrities come in.  Kristin Cavallari, Mandy Moore, Paris and Nicky Hilton…..Gina Gerrshon was just in, the Kardashians have been in.  But, again, so many of them are new to celebrity and they come in and just want to have a good time.  And when they come in to my salon they can just be themselves.  That’s what I wanted.  Some come in sweatpants, and sometimes they come all dressed up. and it doesn’t really matter.  When you can make people look their absolute best, but then also have them say, “I feel warm inside too, because I’ve never been treated this well.” That’s what it’s all about!