Three central performers in one of the most popular television series of the 1980s will be reunited during the upcoming season of "Las Vegas."

"Magnum, P.I." star Tom Selleck is taking over the lead in the series, replacing James Caan.

His "Magnum" co-stars, Larry Manetti and Roger Mosley, recently finished taping an episode of "Las Vegas," the first time the three actors have performed together since Selleck's show ended its eight-year run in 1988.

"Selleck calls it: The 'Magnum' guys are taking over," said Manetti, who spent a lot of time in Las Vegas from 2002 to 2005 when he was an executive at the Plaza. "It works. It fits like a glove."

"You're going to see a lot of movement" in the next year, says a longtime entertainment executive. "You're going to see stars people never dreamed of playing Las Vegas 25 weeks a year."

Within four years, six to eight new theaters will be part of an unprecedented building boom that includes MGM Mirage's $7.4 billion CityCenter and Boyd Gaming's $4 billion Echelon, along with replicas of the Plaza Hotel of New York and the Fountainebleau of Miami.

After being approached for years, they finally gave the project the green light.

An insider said the book is due out early next year.

There have been rumblings for several years that it will be a tell-all book by the German illusionists, who moved to Las Vegas 40 years ago and became the most successful show business duo in the city's history.
ReviewJournal.com - News - NORM: Siegfried & Roy book on the way

The Strip seems always to get all the publicity and all the "ooohs" and "aaahs" from visitors, which makes it more than a little tough for downtown Las Vegas to compete. But that doesn't mean it's throwing in the towel, at least not without a fight. Sure, Lady Luck is closed down and who knows when the hell it will reopen, if ever, as a hotel-casino. And yeah, Binion's is a shadow of its former glory.

But the Gold Spike has just been sold and the new owners have some interesting plans for the joint and they have a good track record of turning dumps into "happening" places. Then there's the Golden Nugget, whose new owners have spent around $100 million renovating and adding and making sure it keeps its status as the King of Downtown. To tell the truth, I never saw anything wrong with the place, but everything they've done has been an improvement, from the pool to the restaurants and theatre. Class place.

The Fremont Street Experience, despite its critics, still is the biggest draw downtown and now it's adding more free entertainment options with the addition of the Real Action Stunt Stage. Located at the 1st Street intersection near the Golden Nugget and Binion's, the stage features live action performances nightly to include the Russian Bar, cube balancing and a flying silk act. These acts are unique and will garner their share of all those "ooohs" and "aaahs" I talked about earlier.

Just so you get an idea of what you'll see, the Russian Bar is a gymnastic act that combines the elements of balance, aerial and acrobatic techniques. A thin, flexible bar, suspended between the shoulders of two sturdy holders, is used to propel a flyer high into the air. Executing a series of flips, twists and somersaults, the flyer then lands in perfect balance—back on the bar. They asked me to try it, but I asked for a rain check, citing a sprained back.

The cube balancing consists of an artist working with an enormous metal cube to create these incredible visuals. Spinning and propelling the cube around his head, body and the palm of his hand, the artist's dexterity is not to be believed as the cube itself catches the light and transforms into a shimmering whirlwind of rainbow colors. Great stuff.

A flying silk act finds the aerialist suspended from the 90-foot Viva Vision canopy. Soaring in graceful circles, high above the heads of the crowd, the aerialist and the silk blend together in a series of beautiful twists and turns. All of the above are going to be crowd pleasers and will add a lot to the whole downtown experience.

Lisa Robinson, director of marketing for the Fremont Street Experience hit it on the head when she said, "We want to give our visitors an experience that's on par with what they expect of Las Vegas. A night out in Vegas should be dazzling, exciting and one-of-a-kind—and the Real Action Stunt Stage definitely plays a big part in that."

If you want to see these entertainers, they perform nightly at 8:15 and 10:15. Riders of the Thunderdome perform Thursday through Saturday at 9:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. Live bands perform from the 3rd Street stage seven nights a week, times vary. Nightly shows on the Viva Vision screen appear at 8:30, 9, 10, 11 and midnight through August 18. Beginning August 19, the first show will be at 8 pm. All shows and performances at the Fremont Street Experience are free and open to the public. If you need to park, there's the Fremont Street Experience parking garage at the corner of Carson and 4th Streets or you can got to any of the downtown casinos.
ReviewJournal.com - Living - LENNY'S LAS VEGAS: Waking Up Downtown

He said he's never used the word on stage, but he acknowledged that he uses it "around the people I hang with. They're educated and they know it's just a word and it's a funny word, y'know."

He said he's used the c-word on women he's thrown out of his shows "and gotten away with it because they were." There is, he said, "a right way to do it."

His comments are sure to be a hot topic at the national convention of the National Association of Black Journalists, which opened Wednesday at Bally's and runs through Sunday.
ReviewJournal.com - News - NORM: Entertainer has some choice words

It's tough to put a price on memories.

It gets easier when memories come in the form of clay chips stamped in $5, $25 and $100 denominations.

The history of Nevada — and casino culture in general — is tumbling through the fingers of collectors for whom colorfully dated gambling chips are currency to recover memories of everything from family vacations in Reno to mobster sightings in old Las Vegas.

The chips are also lucrative collectibles that can fetch thousands of dollars for the person lucky enough to have bought one directly from a casino or undervalued at a garage sale.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/business/9051576.html

VegasTalk Radio Show - The FIRST Internet Radio Variety Show from Las Vegas ABOUT LAS VEGAS!!!

You can isten to ALL of the previous guest interviews under "Show Archives" on the website!

http://www.VegasTalkRadio.com

Since our show has been running weekly since 2004, there are quite a few.  So you'll need to select the Intial of the Last Name of our guests to locate them.  Take a look around and listen in!  Each interview runs less than 20 minutes.

This week's show for Thursday, August 9, 2007 contains:
——————————————————
Marc Savard is causing a sensation on the Las Vegas Strip with his new show, Mesmerized. Savard has created a unique audience participation show that is hilarious, sensual and mind bending. In Mesmerized curious volunteers have the experience of their lives as they find themselves surrendering to the sound of Marc's voice; doing, seeing and saying the wildest, most out-of-control things, in the world's most chaotic show!

The "Vegas Confidential" call with Norm Clarke,  Norm is voted "Most Connected" person in town and daily columnist for the Review Journal and author of the best selling "1,000 Naked Truths".
http://www.NormClarke.com

"Show Happenings" with Chuck Rounds - Chuck reviews the events happening this week in Las Vegas.
http://www.StraightFromTheStrip.com

"Fine Dining" with chef and Radio Show host Les Kincaid.
http://www.LesKincaid.com

"The Las Vegas Nightclub Report" with Jodie Rocco from TravelNice.com & Nightclubs.com
http://www.travelnice.com/?aid=7397

"The Las Vegas Locals Report" with Tom Wilkinson from Vegas4Locals.com
http://www.Vegas4Locals.com

In a town where the only sure thing is that there isn’t a sure thing, it only makes sense that the longevity of a show based on a theatrical hit raised an eyebrow by those in the know in Las Vegas. After all, critically acclaimed smash hit Tony winners Hairspray and Avenue Q weren’t able to sustain a lengthy run in what has been called the Entertainment Capital of the World. This is why it came as no surprise that even a show with legs and a proven track record like The Phantom of the Opera, which continues to rave reviews and packed houses even to this day in London, New York City, Budapest, and Osaka, Japan, made some wonder just how long the chandelier could come crashing down. It is with great joy that we are thrilled to announce that, thanks to a little tinkering from the maestro of the London’s West End, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and the original New York production’s director and Broadway legend Hal Prince, the Vegas version of the musical theater classic, Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular, this month celebrates its one-year anniversary at The Venetian on the Strip. The tragic tale of love, music and out-of-this-world special effects has paid off in a grand scale.

To mark this milestone, fans can now purchase a brand new package, which includes one Golden Circle ticket, an elite backstage tour and a meet-and-greet with a Phantom cast member. The Phantom VIP Experience is sure to sweep you off your feet and take you to the hidden caverns that make up this extravaganza.

Phantom is also opening up the $40 million 1,800- seat Paris Opera House-style Phantom Theatre for touring, Tuesdays through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This in itself is a sight to behold, not to mention that you also get a chance to view the famous $5 million chandelier. This free attraction is a way to say thank you to the public.

The story of Phantom, for those who have been living in the catacombs of Paris, is based on the 1909 French novel by Gaston Leroux entitled Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, which has been successfully made into countless theatrical, television, and motion picture pieces over the years. The most famous film adaptation came out in 1925 and starred the master of the makeup brush, Lon Chaney. But it was Webber who immortalized the gothic concept about an eccentric, physically deformed musical genius who terrorizes the Paris Opera House and takes the beautiful innocent Christine Daaé under his wing, pretending to be the “Angel of Music.” He coaches the trusting girl until she is ready to become the new soprano star of Paris.

With wild threats of bringing down the prosperity of the Opera House itself, the Phantom is able to bring Christine to the attention of critics and all of Paris, allowing her talents to shine. Unbeknownst to the masked man, the new fame also opens her up to find love in someone other than himself. In Webber’s project, it is these feelings that produce what some have called one of the most beautiful works of love songs ever written.

Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, which opened in London’s West End in 1986, has been seen worldwide by more than 80 million people and claimed a worldwide box-office gross of more than $3.2 billion, making it the highest-grossing entertainment event of all time.

Most of the cast members from the original Las Vegas production are still in the show, with the notable exception of Sierra Boggess, who begins previews on Broadway in November as Ariel in Disney’s new theatrical production of The Little Mermaid. Elizabeth Loyacano continues in the part of Christine with newly added cast member Kristi Holden taking on the same leading lady role for alternate performances. Brent Barrett and Anthony Crivello continue to alternate as the Phantom.

Phantom—The Las Vegas Spectacular
Where: The Venetian
When: 7 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; 7 & 9:30 p.m. Mon. & Sat.
Cost: $75-$250 plus tax and fee
Info: (702) 492-3960 or
(866) 80-SHOWS
http://www.lvshowbiz.com/

The project will cover more than 80 acres on the land once occupied by The Stardust and the Westward Ho. It will include:

Hotel Echelon – the centerpiece hotel with a 140,000 square foot casino and 2,300 rooms and suites
Suites at Echelon – a separate 650 all-suite tower
Shangri-La – the high-end Asian hotelier will open their largest hotel ever with 353 rooms
Mondrian – One of two swank names from Morgan’s Hotel Group (the same folks who run the Hard Rock) with 860 rooms
Delano – The other Morgan’s hotel with 550 rooms
More than 300,000 square-feet of retail space
The aforementioned 140,000 square-foot casino
More than 30 restaurants, nightclubs, bars, and lounges
Two theaters; one with 4,000 seats and another with 1,500 seats

The whole thing is expected to open in 2010. You can get more info and see more art at the resort's official website.
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Column by Rick Garman

Becker says men are hunters and focus on their prey to the exclusion of everything else around them, making them unaware of their shortcomings - ignoring their wives, poor housekeeping, underwear dropped on the floor.

Women are gatherers and, over thousands of years of evolution, have become tuned in to everything in the world around them. When you're a gatherer , you have to be superalert so you won't miss anything that is worth gathering.

Hypnotist and infomercial hawker Marshall Sylver is returning to a stage on the Strip.

Look for a mid-July opening at Harrah's showroom for the controversial entertainer who was sued by The Venetian for bouncing a $201,000 check and accused by the state of Nevada of bilking self-help seminar attendees.

The Nevada attorney general's office investigated Sylver on suspicion of theft, racketeering and violating the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

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The bonus round is activated by 3 or more slot machine symbols at which time you are awarded 5 free spins.

Freddy, Leena and Adam are the 3 wild cherry bomb people on the third reel. A spin with these 3 wilds allows a cherry bomb to bounce from the top screen to the Picks Remaining area on the bottom screen. Wins containing Freddy bomb=1 additional pick, Leena=2 more picks while Adam=3 more picks.

This game is sure to put a ‘bounce’ of excitement in your slot play.

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The bonus round has two parts, a free spin and re-spin. When three or four Sun God symbols are scattered on the reels, the Sun Gods are held while the remaining reels re-spin. Afterwards, the total of Sun God symbols determines the number of free spins. Therefore, 3, 4 or 5 Sun Gods allow 10, 15 or 20 free spins respectively. Should one or more Brazilian Beauty symbol appear, bonus credits are awarded while 20 of these ‘Beauty’ symbols collected will grant the player 30X the original bet.

As with most bonus rounds with these two ‘spin’ features, additional free spins are often won while you are in the ‘spin’ moment.

3) Top Gun: Wms. 88-92%. 2-3 spins. This slot places you in the cockpit of a fighter jet treating you to the most innovative sensory immersion gaming experience ever.

Top Gun is a multi site progressive penny or nickel slot boasting a top jackpot resetting at $500,000.

While playing, the base game, a random event known as the Fly by Bonus is triggered when a group of jets fly across the screen. Hold onto your seat as it thunders accompanied by a shaking screen. Each time a jet flies by, a wild symbol is revealed to increase the jackpot. Additionally, 3 or more Top Gun bonus symbols start the main Top Gun Bonus.

The thundering chair, the Bose sound and graphics merge to create the experience of the cockpit of an F14.

This experience begins as you take off from an aircraft carrier, enter the danger zone and as the enemy approaches make the decision to avoid, climb, barrel roll, hard left or hard right. That decision will determine your credit award to include a 2-3X multiplier.

During this sequence if Engage Enemy Target appears, you are set against a squadron of enemy jets. Select one of four options to fire a missile and if you hit an enemy target, your pilot rank increases along with another missile shot. This particular bonus event ends if you receive the message ‘Return to Base’.

Should you demolish 5 enemy planes, you are now indeed, the Top Gun.

The Bonus Extender symbol allows you to ignore the ‘Return to Base’ and continue receiving increased bonus points.

There is no doubt that the Top Gun experience is ‘Top of the Line’.

August of 2007, marks the seventh year of this entertainment newsletter.  Each month, I’ve tried to bring readers up to date with the ever-changing face of Las Vegas entertainment—shows that are opening, changing, or closing; as well as the major headliners that will be visiting our town.  With both the news and reviews, I’ve simply tried to let people know what to expect when they came to town or want to go to a show.  I am proud to have been able to bring you the news of what is happening in Las Vegas entertainment, and I look forward to the years to come.  So next time, bake a cake…

August days in Las Vegas are certainly the dog days of summer—instead of a hot and dry 115 degrees, it’s 105 with enough humidity to make it uncomfortable.  Monsoonal showers are always a threat at this time of year, and thunderstorms could pop up anywhere, anytime.  According to all of the weather records, July is the hottest month in Las Vegas…but for some reason, August always seems hotter.  There are still a lot of pool parties and summer concerts going on.  There are a couple of new shows on the horizon, and the convention season is just starting with a couple of big conventions coming to town.

The first convention of note will be Creation Entertainment's Official STAR TREK Convention at the fabulous Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, home of STAR TREK: THE EXPERIENCE, the $50 million dollar attraction that literally is Star Trek live! The 2007 edition of the convention continues in the enduring spirit of offering our attendees the absolute best time ever, a full four days of non-stop entertainment honoring Gene Roddenberry's legacy of a positive future for mankind. With an amazing array of celebrities, events, parties, food functions, autographing, photo ops, vendors, auctions, contests, live music, comedy and surprises: you are invited to leave the "real" world behind and join the fun. As the crown jewel of Creation's 36 year history of fan conventions, this event is "the one" to be at. And unlike all other "huge" fan conventions Creation Entertainment never sells a ticket that does not include a seat in the main theatre. You won't miss a guest or event or spend your time waiting on lines to get into a theatre! Make your plans to join the celebration from August 9th - 12th.

MAGIC is the convention that really kicks off the season.  This monster show comes to town at the end of the month and well over 100,000 people are being expected to attend.  The men’s garment convention is always a popular and well-attended event.  From its humble beginnings, it is now a huge convention that is in town, twice a year.

The singularly named performer, Harmik, has long been internationally recognized and praised as the #1 Tom Jones impersonator, look and sound alike in the world. He has established himself as a staple at corporate events, private functions, and full stage solo concert performances.  The one thing that he has not been able to facilitate, though, has been a regular gig as a headliner in Las Vegas, that is all about to change.  Having just started at the end of July, and hopefully running for the next ten years or so, Harmik will be performing his headlining show inside the new Canyon Club at the Four Queens.  His show runs Sunday through Wednesday and features a live band and the promise of a great time.

"Oo La La" is now playing inside the Anthony Cools theatre at the Paris Las Vegas.  It is a unique show that features a multi-talented cast of women.  Not only do the women dance, but also handle the singing, comedy, and magic.  There are even a couple of aerial acts that are tossed in for good measure.  This is an early evening topless revue that doesn’t really have any competition on the Strip.  It is a fun show and worth checking out.

Tony Danza is starting his run in The Producers at the Paris Las Vegas.  He is going to be playing the role of Max Balystock—the producer that wants to create a flop.  Producers of "The Producers" hope that his name recognition will help boost sales.

Aga-Boom closed early at the Steve Wyrick theatre.  Slow ticket sales were its doom.  It is a shame…it was certainly a worthy show, but it had no money for marketing and was never able to get the word out.

Ronn Lucas has moved his ventriloquist show from the Wyrick theatre to the Luxor.

And Dixie Dooley has gotten the Westin to reopen its showroom with his magic production.

The second week has…
Shadows Fall, Chimaira, Everytime I Die, and Necro
Mandalay Bay Aug 6
Sounds of the Underground Tour
George Carlin
Orleans Hotel Aug 9 - 12
Sonnyboy w/ Matthew Curran and Bone China
Four Queens Hotel Aug 9
The Official Star Trek Convention
Las Vegas Hilton Aug 9 - 12
Tom Jones
MGM Grand Aug 9 - 15
Top Rank Boxing
Hard Rock Aug 9
Augie T w/ special guest Timmy Mattos
Cannery Casino Aug 10
Bill Maher
Hard Rock Aug 10 - 11
Brad Garrett
Mirage Aug 10 - 11
Chuck Mangione
South Point Aug 10 - 12
Floetry w/ Emily King
Mandalay Bay Aug 10
Hawaiian Style Comedy w/ Augie T
Cannery Casino Aug 10
Jerry Van Dyke, the Unknown Comet & Steve Landesberg
Suncoast Hotel Aug 10 - 12
Man in Black Tribute
Santa Fe Station Aug 10- Aug 11
Marshall Sylver - Hypnotist
Harrah's Aug 10 - Aug 29
REO Speedwagon
Palms Aug 10
Shawn Barker - A Tribute to Johnny Cash
Santa Fe Station Aug 10 - 11
Steel Pulse
Hard Rock Aug 10
Bang Tango w/ Kristy Krash Majors
Four Queens Aug 11
CJ Korea Big 4 Concert
Caesars Palace Aug 11
Featuring Hyori Lee, SG Wannabe, Seeya and Epik High.
Colin Hay of Men at Work and the Motels
Cannery Casino Aug 11
Dennis Wise
Boulder Station Aug 11
Don Henley
Buffalo Bill's Aug 11
Imelda Papin
Orleans Hotel Aug 11
Lou Gramm - lead singer of Foreigner
Silverton Hotel Aug 11
Ted Nugent with Alex Winston
Mandalay Bay Aug 11
ZZ Top w/ the Pretenders & the Stray Cats
Orleans Aug 11

The third week includes:
The Osmond 50th Anniversary Show
Orleans Hotel Aug 13 - 14
G. Love & Special Sauce and Slightly Stoopid
Palms Casino Aug 14
David Copperfield
MGM Grand Aug 16 - Sep 19
George Carlin
Orleans Hotel Aug 16 - 19
RX Bandits w/ Fall of Troy and Maps & Atlases
Four Queens Aug 16
1st Annual Funk Fest
Orleans Hotel Aug 17
Featuring George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic, Zapp, Lakeside, Mary Jane Girls
311
Palms Casino Aug 17
Ana Gabriel
Las Vegas Hilton Aug 17 - 18
Dat Phan
South Point Casino Aug 17 - 19
David Spade
Mirage Aug 17 - 18
Fountains of Wayne
Hard Rock Hotel Aug 17
Jeffrey Osborne
Boulder Station Aug 17
John Kay & Steppenwolf
Texas Station Aug 17
Poison w/ Ratt and White Lion
Palms Casino Aug 17
Raul Malo
Green Valley Ranch Aug 17 - 18
The Dan Band
Hard Rock Hotel Aug 17
Cannerystock
Cannery Casino Aug 18
Chicago
Mandalay Bay Aug 18
Deep Purple
Hard Rock Aug 18
Hillary Duff
Palms Casino Aug 18
Dignity Tour
Night Ranger
Boulder Station Aug 18
Patti LaBelle
Buffalo Bill's Resort Aug 18
The Grass Roots
Silverton Hotel Aug 18
The Original Family Stone
Cannery Casino Aug 18
Vertical Horizon
Red Rock Casino Aug 18
Zappa Plays Zappa w/ Dweezil Zappa & Napoleon Murphy Brock
Mandalay Bay Aug 18
Reik and Camila
Hard Rock Aug 19
Sum 41 w/ Sick Puppies and 3OH!3
Mandalay Bay Aug 19

The fourth week will bring in…
Bowling for Soup w/ Melee, Quietdrive and Army of Freshmen
Mandalay Bay Aug 21
2007 FIBA Americas Championship
Thomas & Mack Center Aug 22 - Sep 2
Daughtry
Red Rock Casino Aug 23
Earth, Wind & Fire
Las Vegas Hilton Aug 23 - 25
Matisyahu
Mandalay Bay Aug 23
Jay Leno
Mirage Aug 24 - 25
Liam Sullivan
Mandalay Bay Aug 24
Lost 80s Live
Mandalay Bay Aug 24
Featuring General Public, Flock of Seagulls, Drama Rama, When in Rome, Real Life, and Jean Loves Jez …
Macy Gray & the Brand New Heavies
Green Valley Ranch Aug 24
Quest for the Best: Julius vs. Foxxy 4 U
Cannery Casino Aug 24
Sha Na Na
Suncoast Hotel Aug 24 - Aug 26
Temptations Review
Whiskey Pete's Aug 24 - Aug 25
Young Dubliners
Hard Rock Aug 24
Blue October
Mandalay Bay Aug 25
Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night and Blood, Sweat & Tears
Cannery Casino Aug 25
INXS
Hard Rock Hotel Aug 25
Joe Nichols
Texas Station Aug 25
Small Arms Review
South Point Casino Aug 25 - Aug 26
Summer Storm
Boulder Station Aug 25
Tommy James and the Shondells
Silverton Hotel Aug 25
UB40 with Elan
Mandalay Bay Aug 25
UFC 74: RESPECT Couture vs. Gonzaga
Mandalay Bay Aug 25
Freddie Aguilar
Mandalay Bay Aug 26

The last week of August and into September will have…
Atreyu w/ Trvium and Droid
Mandalay Bay Aug 27
Beyonce
MGM Grand Aug 28
Air Supply
Orleans Hotel Aug 30 - Sep 2
Gipsy Kings
Palms Casino Aug 30
Banda Cuisillos
Orleans Hotel Aug 31
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Hard Rock Hotel Aug 31
Chris Bliss
Suncoast Hotel Aug 31 - Sep 2
Kid Rock
Palms Casino Aug 31
Little River Band
Boulder Station Aug 31
Psychic Gary Spivey
Santa Fe Station Aug 31
Victor Willis
Mandalay Bay Aug 31
Asia
Mandalay Bay Sep 1
Bubblegum Bonanza Concert
Cannery Casino Sep 1 Free
The Archies w/ Ron Dante, 1910 Fruitgum Company, Andrew Gold, The Ohio Express and Bo Donaldson & th …
Forever Grasshopper
Orleans Hotel Sep 1
2007 World Concert - Chinese Music
Heart
Las Vegas Hilton Sep 1 - Sep 2
John Pinette
Mandalay Bay Sep 1
Justin Timberlake
Mandalay Bay Sep 1 - 2
The 2007 Future Sex Love Show
Keyshia Cole
Mandalay Bay Sep 1
Lonestar
Sunset Station Sep 1
Randy Travis
Buffalo Bill's Sep 1
The Archies w/ Ron Dante, 1910 Fruitgum Company, More . . .
Cannery Casino Sep 1 Free
End of Summer Bubblegum Bonanza Concert
The Original Idols
Silverton Hotel Sep 1 - 2
Gary Sinese and the Lt. Dan Band
Cannery Casino Sep 2
Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers
Mandalay Bay Sep 2
BB King & Al Green
Hard Rock Sep 3
Cartel w/ Nightmare of You and Weatherbox
Mandalay Bay Sep 3

For dates and times, be sure to log onto the Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide: ( www.lvol.com ).

I Go Shows ( www.Igoshows.com ) is, of course, the place to read the reviews of all of the shows that are in town so that you can be better informed as to what you should expect from a certain production.  The reviews are updated as needed to give you the knowledge you need to spend your entertainment dollars better.

You can always view the current newsletter here:
http://www.igoshows.com/lventnews.html

Tucked just off the casino floor, almost adjacent to the Wynn Las Vegas poker room, sits the highly-polished, marble-floor showroom of the Penske-Wynn Ferrari-Maserati dealership, featuring this dynamic duo in all their shining splendor. A sight to behold as you are greeted by a pleasant receptionist who also takes your admittance fee of $15 which, of course, goes toward your purchase of a vehicle.

The showroom is not that large, with only some half a dozen cars on display, but each one of them drawing "oohs" and "aahs" from appreciative onlookers. There is something about a low-to-the-ground, sleek automobile with an engine under its hood that you know can easily reach speeds in excess of 200 mile per hour to get your heart racing just a bit faster. You can almost picture yourself behind the wheel, wearing your ascot and Fendi sunglasses as you roar across the desert floor, daring anyone to even come close.

To own one, of course, you must first have a lot of money, and secondly, be lucky enough to find one. In the case of Ferrari, the company's allocation to the U.S. is around 1,200 yearly. Included in that number are the challenge cars they use for racing purposes, so there aren't many left that end up in the hands of dealers. "They tell us what we're going to get and though it's never enough, we're happy with what we get," says Jon Wiggins, area vice president for United Auto Group, the second largest publicly traded automobile retailer in United States.

Here at Penske-Wynn, Wiggins says most of the cars are pre-owned. "The new cars, in terms of Ferrari," he says, "are on a waiting list going on 10 years. When we came here there was no exception to the rule. You couldn't just come in and pick one off the floor.

Maserati is a little different. It has only one model right now, soon to become two by end of year, and we just started receiving shipments of the new automatic transmission model, which has been very well received."

One advantage of the dealership is its authorized full-service shop, located one floor below the casino floor showroom, where there is also a second showroom with some 20 cars on display. Okay, now to the nitty-gritty — price. According to Wiggins, "a typical pre-owned Ferrari here is going to be a late model 360 or 430, so you're looking at a starting price of $175,000 to $185,000 and peaking out at the mid-$300,000 range." He mentions that they recently sold a used Enzo for $1.4 million and a pre-owned 599 model for more than $500,000.

New Ferraris will start off at around $200,000 for a manual transmission coupe and move up to $240,000 for the 430 Spyder. From there it's behind the wheel of a 612 model which runs around $280,000 and then the 599 which will set you back between $300,000 to $340,000. That includes options, like tires (just kidding). On the other hand, the Maserati, which offers only one model, ranges from $110,000 to $135,000.

Although the price of a Ferrari seems on the high side, to say the least, Wiggins points out the value of owning one. "What makes the Ferrari so special is that they have done an excellent job combining style, performance and limited availability. I think the Ferrari's motto is to produce one less car than the market demands. And they have done a great job of that over the past 10 years, which has kept the value of the vehicle up and makes it desirable for buyers. They're collector's items by the time they hit the floor, so it's an excellent investment.

And who's buying these expensive machines? "We see a lot of couples shopping, but we also see a lot of females buying both the Ferrari and Maserati products. It's certainly not gender-specific. Money comes in a lot of packages these days," says Wiggins, "so you see everything from very young people in their 20s to buyers in their 70s. There's not a pattern and they're hard to identify. So we try to be nice to everybody and see what happens. You never know who just hit a jackpot in the casino."

Whether there were a lot of winners, or just people with money who appreciate the finer things in life, the dealership sold more than 200 cars last year. Most were Maseratis, but only because of availability, says Wiggins. "I don't think price has anything to do with it. I think we could sell as many Ferraris, within reason, as they could allocate to us. I know if Ferrari would double up on our allocation, we could certainly sell them all. We're blessed to be here. It's a great location, great franchise and they're great partners."