Ovechkin was turned away at the door Wednesday night when he and two friends showed up wearing flip flops on their way to, of all places, a fashion show.

Before the Russian superstar moved on, someone at the door recognized him, and he and his friends attended Jeremy Roenick's Label Junkie party that featured his Muze T-shirt line in Lavo's nightclub. He was wearing shredded jeans and a T-shirt.

About 30 NHL players attended the event, including Mats Sundin of the Vancouver Canucks and Sheldon Souray of the Edmonton Oilers.

Clubs sometimes make an exception to their dress code rules. Sometimes they don't.

Shaquille O'Neal, wearing shorts and sneakers, was asked to leave Light nightclub (now The Bank) at Bellagio about seven years ago.

Eric Trump showed up at Light with more than a dozen male friends on his 21st birthday in 2005. He was turned away in part because Light had a policy that limits parties of men to six, to keep the female ratio high, and because he played the dreaded "don't-you-know-who-I am" card.

Lavo recently turned back Terrell Owens because of dress code issues. Tao did the same to NBA star Dwyane Wade.

Ovechkin, the league's goal-scoring leader, scored great room accommodations. He has been staying in the Crib Suite at the Palms Fantasy Tower. The suite features a hydraulic bed, a DJ booth and a pool table.

He showed up at the awards after-party at the Palms Pool & Bungalows in the company of a stunning cocktail server from Encore's XS nightclub.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle, recently signed by her mentor, Simon Cowell, is reportedly being shopped to Planet Hollywood Resort. There was no confirmation or denial from Planet Hollywood Resort, which is owned by Brit Robert Earl, a close friend of Cowell's. A reader of the London Evening Standard, which reported the development, commented on the newspaper's Web site: "Of all the venues in America, why does it have to be Las Vegas. ... What a tacky, tawdry showcase for someone who has brought the world together in a way no one has in decades. Before America finishes with her she'll be a sideshow."

MAY I RECOMMEND ...

Human Nature, the former Australian boy band sensation, reinvented itself into a Motown act and is wowing Imperial Palace crowds. Motown icon Smokey Robinson is not only producing the show, but he's in talks to perform solo on Fridays, Human Nature's day off.

SIGHTINGS

Hockey great Mark Messier, having breakfast Thursday at Palms Place. At another table: Detroit Red Wings star Nicholas Lidstrom. ... Robert Iler, Tony Soprano's son in "The Sopranos," at the Grand Lux Café in The Venetian on Wednesday with a friend. He's in town for the World Series of Poker. ... At Lavo (Palazzo) on Wednesday: Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards, having dinner with Peter Luukko, president and COO of Comcast-Spectacor, the team's owner; "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly; and "General Hospital" actress Kristen Storms. ... At Wednesday's opening night of "Human Nature" at the Imperial Palace: Smokey Robinson, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Skip Martin of Kool and the Gang, George Wallace, the Alizma Triplets, Nathan Burton, Frank Marino, Murray Sawchuck, members of the "Jersey Boys" cast, producer Adam Steck and Melanie Troxler, lead singer of the punk band Objex, with KLAS-TV, Channel 8 reporter Edward Lawrence. ... Soul icon Aretha Franklin, taking in George Wallace's show (Flamingo) and Wayne Brady's (Venetian) on Wednesday night. She's performing tonight in the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Yesterday was the 'Fire Dave Rally' ... a gathering of people who hate me. At my house, we call that Thanksgiving." -- David Letterman

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.