A recent case, Joho said, involved a gentleman who called to say he was offended that he was not invited to the "reopening."

"But we never closed," he was told.

"I am a regular customer. Why was I not invited?" the injured party insisted.

After a few more awkward exchanges, the mystery was solved. The caller was under the impression that French star chef Alain Ducasse, who last month took over the Eiffel Tower restaurant in Paris, also had taken over the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas.

Both restaurants get their share of reservation mistakes, said Joho, who grew up in the Alsace region of France.

The restaurant in the French capital has sent e-mails to Las Vegas saying diners accidentally booked reservations at the restaurant in the real Eiffel Tower.

"And we have had people show up at our restaurant with a confirmation from Paris," Joho said.

Recent confusion apparently stems from an erroneous published report out of Las Vegas that Ducasse, who operates Mix restaurant at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, had replaced Joho, who also owns Everest in Chicago.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Diana Ross, Seal, Andy Garcia and his band, the Cineson All-Stars, and the cast of "Jersey Boys" will supply the entertainment during next Saturday's grand opening gala at the $1.8 billion Palazzo. Wayne Brady, who headlines next door at The Venetian, will host the Saturday soiree. Red carpet stars will include superchefs Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck and Charlie Trotter, actress Angie Harmon and husband Jason Sehorn, James Denton of "Desperate Housewives," actress Mandy Moore and entertainer Gordie Brown. The grand opening officially begins on Thursday.

SIGHTINGS

Kid Rock, at the South Point Arena watching the Extreme Monster Truck Nationals on Friday and Saturday. ... Hollywood couple Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo, checking out Pure nightclub (Caesars Palace) on Friday with actor Geoff Stults and actress Stacy Keibler. Also at Pure: rocker Dave Navarro and San Francisco Giants infielder Rich Aurilia and actor Stu Stone. Lachey and Minnillo earlier dined at SW Steakhouse (Wynn) with a large party. ... Actor Dean "Superman" Cain and baseball slugger Jose Canseco, dining in separate parties Friday at Ago restaurant (Hard Rock Hotel). They were in town for Randy Couture's poker tournament Saturday at The Joint (Hard Rock). ... Two-time Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, joining the Moanin' Blacksnakes for five songs at the Sand Dollar Blues nightclub Friday night. ... Howard Stern sidekicks Artie Lang and Yucko the Clown, shooting TV footage at CatHouse (Luxor) on Friday with the Rev. Bob Levy, Pauly Shore, Tao's Jason Strauss and a group of Stern execs. ... Actress Bijou Phillips, working the turntables Friday with boyfriend/actor Danny Masterson at Privé nightclub (Planet Hollywood Resort). Also at Privé: UFC star Chuck Liddell, who dined earlier at Social House (Treasure Island). ... In the crowd at the Adult Entertainment Expo (Sands Expo Center): Hustler magazine icon Larry Flynt and Joey Buttafuoco. ... Adult entertainment star Jenna Jameson and boyfriend/UFC fighter Tito Ortiz, checking out Tryst nightclub (Wynn) on Friday. ... Drummer John Dolmayan, stopping by LAX nightclub (Luxor) on Friday. Also at LAX: Keibler and adult entertainment star Chasey Lain. ... Bodybuilder Jay Cutler, dining Friday at Social House restaurant (Treasure Island). ... Rock band One Republic, performing Friday at The Bank nightclub (Bellagio). Also at The Bank: "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly, and reality TV stars Brittny Gastineau and Fabian Basabe. ... Former Washington Redskins star Darryl Grant, dining Friday at Mimmo Ferraro's restaurant. ... "American Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe, dining Friday at N9NE steakhouse (Palms). ... Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, checking out Poetry nightclub (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Friday. Also at Poetry: former NBA star Gary Payton.

THE PUNCH LINE

"TV reporters seem to be using the word 'dude' a lot." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Signs You're Watching Bad Election Coverage

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.