The Welcome Back Award of the Week goes to the Mirage Volcano, which begins erupting anew today, December 8. The long-running attraction was shut down for most of this year while it got a $25 million upgrade to the special effects, sound system, and soundtrack.

Speaking of the Volcano, the Seriously Crazy Award of the Week goes to Robbie Knievel who will reportedly attempt to jump the thing on New Year's Eve for a Fox TV special. Knievel's father Evel tried to jump the Caesars Palace fountains on New Year's Eve back in 1967 and wound up in a coma with a couple of dozen broken bones.

The Fore No More Award of the Week goes to the lovely Falls golf course at Lake Las Vegas, whose owners have filed a petition for permission to abandon the property because they not only can't afford to keep it open, they can't afford to close it and maintain it.

And finally, the Flights are Cheap Award of the Week goes to anyone who may be driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on Wednesdays for the next few months. All southbound lanes of Interstate 15 will be closed at the California-Nevada state line on Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm while they blast part of the mountain away to add another lane. Drivers will be taken off the freeway at Primm and told to sit there until the freeway reopens – expect horrifying traffic jams. The project will start on December 10 and December 17 and then pick back up again in January.

2008 Vegas4Visitors Top 10 Awards: Best Restaurants

1. Table 10
   Emeril Lagasse's newest Las Vegas restaurant at Palazzo does what I've always felt his other restaurants aren't able to: provide taste-bud delighting food in a warm, casual environment at relatively affordable prices. The meal I had here was not only the best I had all year, it was one of the best I've had in my entire life. There have been some changes to the menu since my visit but I'm still confident that this is an experience not to be missed.
2. Strip House
   I'm still dreaming about the warm garlic bread sitting in a bed of gorgonzola fondue. If that doesn't make your stomach rumble then we have nothing more to talk about. But beyond the appetizers, the signature steaks and seafood at this Planet Hollywood restaurant are the best on The Strip and the cheeky bordello decor is a nice change of pace from the staid upscale design of most restaurants of this caliber. Not cheap, but totally worth it.
3. Austins
   This steakhouse at Texas Station has been on my Top 10 list every year since I first visited and its staying power really speaks not only to the quality of the food but the quality of the experience. Their steaks are probably the best in town and the prices, while not bargain basement, are certainly lower than what you'll pay for a similar, lesser meal on The Strip.
4. Capriotti's
   Whenever I drive to Las Vegas, my last stop before heading home is at Capriotti's where I get several of their delicious Italian subs to go. These are sandwiches the way they were meant to be!
5. Diablo's Cantina
   There aren't too many really good Mexican restaurants on The Strip (and few in the entire city, oddly), but Diablo's at Monte Carlo is not only "really good" it's downright great. Enormous portions, delicious flavors, a fun and festive environment, and enough flavored margaritas to make you forget about how much money you lost in the casino.
6. Hash House a Go Go
   Why in the world would you got to a warmed over breakfast buffet when you can get the wildly inventive concoctions here? From their signature hashes to their pizza sized pancakes to checkerboard sized waffles with bacon baked right in, the twisted farm food they serve will make you never look at breakfast the same way again.
7. Texas de Brazil
   It's all about the meat at this Brazilian steakhouse, where gaucho-clad servers roam the dining room slicing of hunks of more than a dozen finely grilled selections. It's sort of like a buffet only they bring the main courses to you over and over and over until you are slipping into a meat coma. That's a good thing, trust me.
8. M&M Soul Food
   My southern food cravings are very well fulfilled at this no-frills restaurant near The Strip, where the only question you need to ask yourself is "do I want gravy on that?" The answer, by the way, is yes. The fried chicken here is worthy of any Mississippi juke joint and their BBQ is heaven on earth.
9. Stratta
   Allesandro Stratta's latest venture at Wynn Las Vegas is simply magnificent, with fine Italian cuisine that is elegant and robustly flavorful without being intimidating or outrageously expensive. A true winner.
10. The Cupcakery
    What? Are you saying you can't make an entire meal out of cupcakes? Wuss. Well, then at least skip the high-priced desserts at whatever fancy place you are eating at and head here for what I consider to be among the best cupcakes I've ever tasted – and I've tasted a lot!

1. Capriotti's
   You can get one of their large subs for about $11. Now some of you are saying, "$11 for a sandwich!" and to you I say, "have you seen these things?" Their large is 20" long, nearly two feet of the best Italian sub you can find just about anywhere, which is enough to easily feed two people. Amazing food and a bargain to boot!
2. Ming
   This small, simple Chinese restaurant at Imperial Palace serves up really good classic Asian cuisine at a fraction of the cost of what most Strip restaurants charge. The food is generously portioned and would be at home in places that charge twice as much. Pu pu platter. There, I said it.
3. Mediterranean Cafe & Market
   You don't have to be a fan of Greek food to really enjoy the sandwiches and salads at this family run business on Maryland Parkway. The menu is overflowing with fresh flavors and you'll get a full, satisfying meal for about what you'd pay for an appetizer at a Strip restaurant.
4. Memphis Championship Barbeque
   I am not one of those people who get into fights about which is the best, but I do love me some good BBQ and in Las Vegas it's hard to do any better than here at Memphis Championship. The fact that's its affordable is almost a bonus.
5. Komol
   Gourmet magazine once declared that the Thai food here was the best in all of North America. Heady praise indeed but totally valid for the seemingly endless menu of authentic creations, all bursting with flavor and all very reasonably priced.
6. Dick's Last Resort
   It takes a hearty sense of humor and a definite lack of inhibitions to really get into the swing of this raucous eatery at Excalibur but if you can handle the sometimes obnoxious goings-on, the food here is both better and cheaper than you'd expect. Terrific hamburgers if you're in the mood for one.
7. Bougainvillea Cafe
   Back in the day, a big chunk of hotel marquee space was taken up by the $4.99 prime rib and $5.99 steak and egg type specials at the 24 hour cafes most had. These days most of those places are gone or much more expensive but Terrible's still has one and this simple cafe serves very good diner food at rock bottom prices.
8. Triple 7 Brew Pub
   The

   re are lots of affordable dining options in Downtown Las Vegas at Main Street Station but this is probably my favorite – an authentic experience with micro-brewed beers and fine pub grub that won't break your budget.

9. Earl of Sandwich
   It is almost impossible to find a good, satisfying meal on The Strip for under $10 but you can do it here at thisPlanet Hollywood restaurant. The tasty sandwiches are not huge but are more than enough for sensible stomachs and with all of them under $6 you can stretch your dining dollars further.
10. Viva McDonald's
    So this place isn't officially open yet (that happens December 11), but it's a McDonald's so you know the food will taste like every other McDonald's in the world. The thing that sets it apart and makes it worth knowing about is the Sin City treatment, with a giant two-story facility full of LCD screens, LED lights, retro-cool decor, and what is being billed as the biggest McDonald's kitchen ever built. You've never experienced a Quarter Pounder like this before. It will be located on The Strip right next door to Circus Circus.

1. Main Street Garden Court Buffet
   This all-you-can-eat extravaganza at Main Street Station has been on my list of favorites consistently for years, but reclaims the top spot this year primarily because of cost concerns. Not only is the food simply fantastic, but it'll cost you about half of what lesser buffets on The Strip will. That makes it tops in my book.
2. Buffet at Wynn
   And at the opposite end of the cost spectrum we have this sumptuous feast fit for a king. The food is sit-down restaurant quality (and better) and the garden themed dining room is a visual delight to boot. Expensive, but worth it.
3. Bally's Sterling Brunch
   Did I say opposite end of the cost spectrum for Wynn? Well, yes, but this one is even more expensive and yet the tuxedo clad waiters and endless gourmet dining options (lobster, caviar, etc.) make this seem like so much more than just a buffet.
4. Feast Buffet
   I'm condensing all of the Station Casinos Feast buffets into one entry here. Even though some are better than others (Red Rock and Santa Fe Station are probably my faves), all of them serve huge selections of terrific food at very affordable prices. Depending on where you happen to be, try the feasts at either of the aforementioned hotels or at Green Valley Ranch, Boulder Station, Aliante Station, Texas Station, Palace Station, or Sunset Station.
5. Cravings Buffet
   Awhile back, many of the older traditional buffets were redone as modern wonders, with interactive cooking stations, upscale food choices, and mod design cues. Cravings at The Mirage led the way and has remained a winner in the category by serving up some really good food in a delightful environment.
6. Flavors, the Buffet
   This buffet at Harrah's mostly won my heart with their chocolate fountain, but the selections and quality of the food they serve beyond the dessert station is notable, too.
7. Buffet at Bellagio
   Another very pricey buffet but another one that makes you feel like you're getting what you paid for with a vast horizon full of what could be accurately described as "fine food."
8. Le Village Buffet
   The French countryside setting is charming but its really the food that makes this buffet at Paris Las Vegas stand out. With everything from traditional American favorites to dishes with a Gallic twist, you're sure to find something here to make you say "ooh la la!"
9. Carnival World Buffet
   This is one of the most popular buffets in town, with lines that often stretch deep into the Rio Hotel casino, and it’s easy to see why. The food selection is almost intimidating (name a cuisine and they probably have it) and the prices, while certainly not cheap, are not out of line for what you're getting.
10. Spice Market Buffet
    Once the best buffet in town, its reputation has declined a bit due to some changes made when Planet Hollywood took over. Not to fear, though, because even though it may not be the best anymore it is still darned good and more than worthy to take a spot on this list.

1. Bette Midler
   It's the perfect show, really: music, dancing, comedy, drama, showgirls, costumes, big sets… about the only Vegas archetype missing from this production at Caesars Palace is a white tiger. Midler has never sounded better and her unflagging energy is like a shot of pure adrenaline for the soul. There aren't many performers who can put on a show like this, one that will have you laughing one minute, crying the next, and dancing in between. For me, that's the definition of the "best."
2. Cher
   Although I think Bette Midler wins the Battle of the Divas at Caesars Palace, it was a tight race to the finish line. The word spectacle was practically invented for Cher and her production at Caesars is featured in the dictionary next to the word extravaganza. She understands the concept of "entertainment" better than just about anyone on earth and that makes it easy to declare Cher a solid second place finisher.
3. Donny & Marie
   Who would've believed that this brother sister duo, who had become a national punch line, would be putting on one of the most entertaining shows in Vegas? Filled with the kind of good natured, wholesome entertainment they practically invented, this show at The Flamingo is a welcome bit of comfort food at a time when we all need a little comfort.
4. Rita Rudner
   Many comedians rely on shock and vulgarity to get their laughs these days. Don't get me wrong, I laugh at shock and vulgarity, too, but there's something almost joyous about Rita Rudner's intelligent stand-up set at Harrah's, which uses the brain to tickle the funny bone instead of aiming for some other organ. She's the funniest person in town.
5. KA
   Of all the Cirque du Soleil shows and their imitators, this one at MGM Grand is the one that consistently stands out in my head as being the most innovative, most thrilling, and most awe-inducing. You will want to accuse your own eyes of seeing things they can't possibly be seeing, as the Cirque acrobats weave their martial-arts magic into a epic journey of war and reunion. Beautiful on all levels.
6. Penn & Teller
   In many ways this is the anti-magic show, taking the fundamentals of illusion and exposing them for what they are: tricks, cons, deceits. But the magic behind Penn & Teller's show at The Rio is how they still manage to amaze you even when they are telling you exactly what's behind the smoke and mirrors. It's like a really entertaining class on prestidigitation.
7. Mac King
   The complete opposite of Penn & Teller's show is this delightful afternoon production at Harrah's. Mac King eschews grandiosity in favor of up-close magic that taps into the kid inside of us all who still wants to believe that you can make a gold fish appear in glass of water just by wishing hard enough.
8. Mystere
   The first Cirque du Soleil production in Vegas (at Treasure Island) is still one of the best and definitely my choice if you've never see a Cirque show. At turns breath-taking, emotional, and laugh-out-loud funny, this production full of acrobatic derring-do captures the essential magic behind what this talented group does in a way that many of their subsequent productions have failed to do.
9. Barry Manilow
   He writes the songs, you know. Manilow's show at the Las Vegas Hilton goes a long way toward explaining why he is one of the best-selling music artists of all time and why his touring shows consistently sell out. He is a consummate entertainer in the best sense of the word.
10. Le Reve
    When it first opened I was less than impressed with this show at Wynn Las Vegas, calling it (like many others did) a Cirque rip-off and not a very good one. But they have changed many of the fundamentals of the production and even the theater in which it is presented and in doing so they have made it over into a dark, eerie, evocative dreamscape that is hard not to be captivated by.

But it is possible to still get good seats at a good show without having to take out a second loan on your house, which you probably couldn't get these days anyway.

Granted, few of the shows on the following list are actually "cheap." There aren't too many in town that could accurately be described as such and most of the ones that could be aren't really worth seeing. And it is also true, you can often get much cheaper tickets for the expensive shows but the seats you get will often make you feel like you are being left out of the entertainment.

So what I focused on for this Recession Edition list are the shows that provide maximum fun for the lowest price without sacrificing the overall experience of seeing them.

1. Mac King
   I gave comedy magician Mac King's show at Harrah's a spot on my main Top 10 list without even considering the fact that the tickets are an almost unbelievable bargain at around $30 per person. You'll definitely feel like you got your money's worth here.
2. Rita Rudner
   Hovering around the $60 mark, the tickets for Rudner's hilarious stand-up comedy show at Harrah's aren't exactly cheap but will get you more overall entertainment value than just about any other $60 ticket you can get in this town.
3. Lance Burton
   For about $66 you can get really good seats at master illusionist Lance Burton's entertaining show at Monte Carlo. This is the absolute best show for fans of traditional big-scale magic but it's also great for the skeptics in the crowd since Burton's effacing charm can break down even the most cynical of walls.
4. Legends in Concert
   When it moves to its new home at Harrah's, the ticket prices may go up but while it has been at Imperial Palace you can get good seats to the best tribute show in town for just a hair over $50. While the overall entertainment value will be totally dependent upon the caliber of impersonators they have on whatever night you happen to be seeing the show, you can be guaranteed that you probably won't find any better faux-celebrities on any other stage in town.
5. Folies Bergere
   This show has been running at the Tropicana for nearly 50 years and is one of the few remaining traditional showgirl productions in town. But it's more than just a musty throwback, it's a parade of great dancing, amazing costumes, and yes, plenty of beautiful women. And at around $40 it's a bargain to boot.
6. Louie Anderson
   Comedian Anderson's genial show at the Excalibur will cost you about the same as a ticket to Rita Rudner's show up the street – about $60. It's really just a matter of taste in terms of which one you should choose, but Anderson's stand-up is very funny so your laugh-per-dollar ratio is high here.
7. Mystere
   This Cirque production at Treasure Island is the one and only show on this list where I will say it's okay to get the cheap seats. At a remarkably low $60 (going up to $69 in 2009), you may not be able to catch every last bit of the action but you'll see most of it and more than enough to blow you away.
8. Nathan Burton
   For under $40 you can get a great afternoon of entertainment at The Flamingo with comedy-magician Burton. His show is sort of a hybrid between make you laugh and make you gasp, and while I think Mac King does a similar tight-rope walk better, Burton's show is still one of the best values in town.
9. Thunder From Down Under
   For around $45 the women in the house (and even a few men) can get a night full of frivolity with the beefcake atExcalibur. Their show is more loose and wild than Chippendales and cheaper, too.
10. Tournament of Kings
    Dinner and a show for $60? And a show with horsies?! And fair maidens and jousting and grog?! Come on! Okay, this show at Excalibur is exactly what you'd expect from a medieval dinner theater show (which is to say, kinda cheesy) but it's undeniably fun and the food ain't too bad either.

1. Mirage Volcano
   When it first opened in 1989 this fire and light show literally stopped traffic on The Strip. It was overshadowed by some bigger and wilder attractions but a $25 million overhaul has returned this mountain to the top of the heap with a fiery fury that may very well stop traffic all over again.
2. Springs Preserve
   When one thinks of Vegas, one rarely thinks of nature and history, but the Springs Preserve manages to turn dry subjects into must-see attractions. Take some time to get away from the hustle and bustle and get educated while you are entertained.
3. Bellagio Conservatory
   Although some of the extreme-floral exhibits at this indoor garden are more amazing than others, they are all amazing on some level. The holiday and Chinese New Year's arrangements are usually the best of the bunch but no matter what time of year you happen to be visiting you should take some time to see what's happening here.
4. Fountains of Bellagio
   It doesn't matter how many times you have seen this water and light show, it can still induce tingles when the cannons shoot geysers hundreds of feet in the air. It's like a liquid ballet and remains one of the most iconic Las Vegas attractions.
5. Fremont Street Experience
   One of the greatest things about the light and sound extravaganza in Downtown Vegas is how they keep adding to the repertoire of shows. Recent add-ons have included a tribute to the rock band Queen and a biker’s paradise called “Born 2B Wild” all playing across the five-football-field long sky canopy.
6. Liberace Museum
   This tribute to the iconic performer is not as outrageously entertaining as he was on stage, but it comes as close as you’re going to get to reliving a bygone Vegas era.
7. Mirage Dolphin Habitat
   The Mirage is changing a lot; the volcano got a makeover, the white tigers are gone… but this lovely bit of soul therapy is still going strong. Lose a bundle at the blackjack table? Go spend some time with the dolphins – you’ll feel better, trust me.
8. Neon Graveyard
   Now open to the public for scheduled tours, the place where old Las Vegas neon signs go to die – and eventually be reborn – is a wonderful museum to the city’s one true art form.
9. Lied Discovery Children's Museum
   Of course it’s designed for children – it has that word in its title after all – and if you are bringing yours with you when you come to Vegas you absolutely should bring them here. But this challenging, inventive, and interactive museum is almost as much fun for grown-ups so you can have a good time too.
10. Atomic Testing Museum
    I’ve been to a lot of museums (or interpretive centers as they are often called these days) and this is one of the best, relating a difficult to understand chapter in American history (the above ground nuclear testing in the Nevada desert) in a way that makes it easily accessible, relatable, and entertaining.

1. Caesars Palace
   Caesars has an unbeatable list of offerings: a wide variety of stunningly appointed rooms, world-class entertainment and the facilities in which to properly showcase them, an almost epic list of high-caliber dining options, exciting nightlife, a gorgeous pool, a delightfully rambling casino providing experiences both luxurious and intimate, exceptionally friendly service, more retail than any one person could ever need, and a price point that while certainly not cheap, is not as expensive as other hotels in its category. The fact that they've done this by updating a classic hotel instead of tearing it down and starting over is merely icing on the cake.
2. Red Rock Resort
   I've said it before and I'll say it again: if this hotel was located on The Strip it would be the best in town. The rooms are luxurious, the casino has a great energy, and the restaurants, entertainment, and recreation options are all top of the line. You have to drive a bit to get there, but it's totally worth it.
3. Planet Hollywood
   More proof that you don't have to tear down a hotel to make it relevant. The updated Planet Hollywood's casino is great sexy fun and the rooms, each one distinct from the next, turns the act of staying there into a memorable event.
4. Mirage
   Another hotel updated to a new level… sensing a theme here? The recent room remodeling has turned relatively staid affairs into modern marvels; the coolest rooms in town even if the bathrooms are on the small side. A new casino, new restaurants, new entertainment, and even a new volcano have made The Mirage a competitor again.
5. Mandalay Bay
   I always felt that this hotel was good but a little bland in comparison to some of its showier competitors. While I still feel that way about the casino, the rest of the hotel has gotten a big kick in the rear with stunning rooms, updated entertainment and restaurant offerings, a revamped pool area, and much more.
6. THEhotel
   Take everything that Mandalay Bay has to offer and add bigger rooms and a sense of luxurious intimacy and you've got THEhotel. Then why doesn't it beat its parent hotel on this list? It all comes down to the cost, which is usually higher. Having said that, the upgraded experience is probably worth the extra bucks you need to spend.
7. Wynn Las Vegas
   There are lots of luxurious hotels in Las Vegas but Wynn is the only one I consider to be a true luxury hotel. The level of service, amenities, and appointments here far exceed what is offered by the competition, so much so that the very large bill you'll get at check out doesn't seem completely out of line.
8. Golden Nugget
   Remember what I was saying above about old hotels being reborn? The rebirth of the Golden Nugget is nothing short of a miracle, with a warmly energetic casino, the best pool area in Downtown (and competitive with some on The Strip), some really good restaurants, and nice rooms, all at a fraction of what you'll pay at lesser hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard. 60 year old hotels usually don't look this good.
9. Green Valley Ranch
   What's probably most important about this hotel is that most of the places that are higher on the list copied the blueprint created by Green Valley Ranch. With elegantly appointed rooms, a very comfortable casino, great restaurants, a gorgeous pool area, and much more, GVR set a standard for Strip hotels and it isn't even located on The Strip.
10. Treasure Island
    I'll forgive the dreadful Sirens of TI show out front because of everything else they've done right inside. New rooms are simple yet so inviting that you don't want to leave, they have one of the best shows in town, there's terrific nightlife and dining options, and a fun casino that keeps the good times rolling.

1. South Point
   Although it is marketed firmly toward locals, the offerings at this hotel are competitive with most of the places that the tourists flock to. The rooms are large and very comfortable, the casino is a much improved from when it opened, the entertainment offerings (movies! bowling! horses!) are almost endless, and the price would be a bargain if they had half the stuff they do.
2. Bally's
   Bally's is often overlooked, despite its prime real estate in the heart of The Strip. That's too bad because no other hotel in the area offers the amount of stuff they do in a package this nicely maintained at these kinds of prices.
3. Palace Station
   What if you had a hotel that did everything a true locals' hotel does – comfortable rooms, plenty of low-cost dining and entertainment options, a big casino with low limits, and affordable prices – and put it just a couple of blocks from The Strip? Well, you'd have Palace Station.
4. Golden Nugget
   The best hotel in Downtown Las Vegas is also a top pick for the budget minded. You'll save a lot of money by staying here but you won't sacrifice much in the way of service, amenities, facilities, or fun.
5. Eastside Cannery
   The hotels on Boulder Highway are affordable and comfortable but not much more than that for the most part. The new as of 2008 Eastside Cannery, however, goes way beyond the bar set by its neighbors with stylish accommodations, a technologically advance casino, interesting dining and entertainment options, and more. And it does it all without charging higher prices. Win-Win.
6. Four Queens
   It takes a lot less to remain competitive in the Downtown market, but the recent changes at The Four Queens have done more than just make it competitive, they have turned it into a hotel worth considering no matter what your budget constraints might be.
7. El Cortez
   As the oldest continually operating hotel-casino in Las Vegas (under the same name), the El Cortez underwent a major transformation over the last couple of years, turning a smoky, out-of-date dive into a clean, comfortable, dare-I-say stylish, and almost unbelievably affordable alternative for the cost conscious traveler.
8. Main Street Station
   Long a Downtown favorite, the best thing about Main Street Station is the atmosphere: comfortable, intimate, warm, inviting. This is the kind of hotel where you can feel "at home," which can make all the difference in the world when you're worrying about how to effectively spend fewer dollars.
9. Santa Fe Station
   Another former "dive" reborn into a modern marvel. This offers everything the Station Casinos chain is known for, with tons of low-cost entertainment and dining options and comfortable, well-appointed rooms. The bargain basement prices could make you almost suspicious, but fear not – it really is that good of a deal.
10. Stratosphere
    Although certainly not the nicest hotel on The Strip, The Stratosphere is almost alone in its mission to provide very affordable, albeit simple, accommodations in an entertaining overall package. Most cheaper hotels on The Strip fall into the "you get what you pay for" category, but this one makes you feel like you got a bargain