Each year, thousands of revelers flock to Las Vegas to view multiple fireworks displays and party both on and off the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.

By: Joe Brown/Las Vegas Sun

At last, a Vegas show that restores your virginity.

Even the most rabid Beatlemaniacs might visit “The Beatles: Love” and feel as if they’re hearing these most-familiar songs for the first time.

“Love,” which opened at the Mirage in 2006, is the fifth of Cirque du Soleil’s six resident shows on the Strip, and it became instantly famous for its soundtrack, a clarified reimagining of the Beatles canon, and for its unparalleled sound design. I would have been happy to see this show with eyes closed: Cirque has created the ideal circumstance for listening to the Beatles’ music. Or any music.

Okay, I’ll stop now.

Ruffin, you may remember, was a fixture on The Strip as the owner of The Frontier, which he sold last year to Elad Properties for a cool $1.2 billion. Saying he was “bored,” Ruffin decided to come back into the Vegas game and was able to pay for his new toy with cash and other securities.

On one hand it’s a bit surprising that MGM Mirage would be willing to give up one of its properties but TI is not one of their premiere resorts and geographically it makes more sense than getting rid of something like Excalibur, which sits right in the middle of many of their other resorts like MGM Grand, Luxor, and New York-New York.

Word on the streets is that the main reason they decided to part with the place is that they needed the cash to be able to finish their $10 billion CityCenter resort, due to open next year.

As for Treasure Island, Ruffin says he doesn’t plan to make any changes. The hotel rooms just got a major makeover over the last year so there’s not much to do there, and the shows, restaurants, attractions, and the employees all appear to be safe for now. Even the tram to Mirage will stay put. Tinkering may be in order later on down the road.

So really, the only change you may see at the place is they will no longer be a part of the MGM Mirage players club.
http://vegas4visitors.com/column/index.htm

A spokesperson for Neonpolis says that a deal for another restaurant to go in its place is already set and an announcement on that should be coming soon.

But the big news for Neonopolis is that it appears the deal to bring the Star Trek Experience has been completed… maybe. More on the “maybe” in a moment.

The Star Trek Experience was a museum/theme park ride inside the Las Vegas Hilton. It ran for about a decade in that location, drawing legions of Final Frontier fans but closed this past September for reasons that were never made quite clear.

Rumors had been flying around that the attraction would warp-speed itself to Downtown Las Vegas but no formal announcement had been made. And it still hasn’t.

But in the story about the closure of Jillian’s, the developer of Neonopolis talked about Star Trek as if it was a done deal, saying it would be ready for opening in early 2009. It would include a restaurant, gift-shop, and museum plus a “4-D” theater and motion simulator rides, which sounds a lot like the old attraction.

It seems strange that a grand announcement didn’t accompany this news. This is the kind of thing one would expect would be accompanied by a press conference with showgirls and guys in Klingon costumes.

But regardless, it appears that the Experience will live-long and prosper in a new home by Spring of 2009.

Legends Leaving
One of the longest running shows in Las Vegas is getting a new home. After 25 years at the Imperial Palace, the celebrity impersonation show "Legends in Concert" will be moving next door to Harrah's. The production will be in the same showroom as comedian Rita Rudner although not at the same time obviously. Although that might be interesting too. Anyway, Rudner will continue to do more than 100 shows a year and Legends will play when she's not there, which amounts to 9-12 shows per week.

The reason for the move is murky at best. If things were different from an economy perspective, one might think it was a herald of wrecking balls aimed at the IP. Harrah's has been talking about tearing it down pretty much since the day they bought it a couple of years ago. But in these rough recession times, the chances that the company will be undertaking any major project are pretty much zero. Ditto for renovations that could necessitate shutting down the showroom.

So if the Imperial Palace is sticking around, why send it's consistently well-performing show somewhere else?

According to a story in the Las Vegas Review Journal, the producer of the show began negotiating for the move more than a year ago when it looked likely that the IP would be torn down. This was just the culmination of those negotiations.

There is no word as to what, if anything, will go into the showroom at Imperial Palace, nor is anyone discussing whether or not the Dealertainers - the celebrity impersonators who deal blackjack in the IP casino - will be moving to Harrah's as well.

The final show at Imperial Palace will be December 13 and the show will reopen at Harrah's on December 15.

Speaking of Impressionists
If you're in love with impressionist Terry Fator, set aside Valentine's Day 2009 for a first date. Tickets are now on sale for Fator's show, which will open at The Mirage on February 14, 2009 in previews. The grand opening is set for March 17, 2009.

Celebrity impersonator and ventriloquist Fator became a household name last year after winning NBC's "America's Got Talent" competition and will be replacing fellow star-aper Danny Gans who is moving across the street to Encore.

Tickets for Fator's show will run $59-$129, with the high-end prices getting you a meet and greet with the star. Performances will be Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30pm. You can get your tix at the Mirage box office, by calling 800-963-9634 or online at mirage.com.

Meanwhile, Danny Gans show at The Mirage has closed. He will debut at Encore on February 10, 2009.

Little Ho Peep
So what do you do when you have an artistic, energetic, inspiring show like "Stomp Out Loud" playing at your hotel? Well, you shut it down and replace it with a topless review about Little Bo Peep starring a soap star and a Spice Girl of course.

Peep Show is the name of the new production that will move into the space currently occupied by "Stomp" at Planet Hollywood. It will star Kelly Moncao (resume: Playboy, Dancing with the Stars, General Hospital) as a woman who falls asleep and dreams that she is Little Bo Peep who goes on a journey of sexual awakening guided by the Peep Diva played by Mel B. (resume: Spice Girls, Dancing with the Stars, workout videos).

I wish I was making this up, but it's all totally true.

Monaco and Mel are set for a 12-week run and producers say they are hoping for a series of stars to rotate through the cast after that.

Let's see… who else was on Dancing with the Stars? Hey! Cloris Leachman isn't doing anything.

The show will open March 30, 2009.

For years, casino companies created growth by building something new, turning The Strip into what one gaming executive called a "Casino Arms Race." But troubled times may be changing attitudes and it could result in a significantly fewer construction cranes hovering over the Las Vegas Strip for years to come.

Here is the status of the projects that were supposed to be coming to Sin City:

Sure Bets
Encore is the sequel to Wynn Las Vegas and it is on track to open in early 2009. Genius casino operator Steve Wynn timed things well, getting all of his financing and construction ducks in a row long before the economy went south so this one will open as planned. How the ultra-luxury, very expensive hotel will perform once it opens is an entirely different question.

The $9 billion CityCenter project has had a few financial hiccups in its outrageously expensive quest toward opening, but this one will open on schedule in late 2009. Filling the more than 7,000 rooms may be a challenge but they have more than a year to hope for a rebound in the national economy.

The new Octavius tower at Caesars Palace will definitely open next year as planned. It will add 600 rooms, a wedding chapel, and more.

Definitely with an Asterisk
Fontainebleau is proceeding as planned, rising high in the sky just north of The Riviera. It's 4,000 rooms and 100,000-square-foot casino are still on track to open in late 2009 but there have been rumors that the parent company behind this project is struggling. So while I think this one will open, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about a delay in the timetable.

M Resort is under construction on the far south side of town along Interstate 15. It too is set for a late 2009 debut and everything seems to be all-systems-go, but this is another project that seems vulnerable to the economic downturn, especially since it will be dependent on locals and traffic from Southern California, two groups that aren't going to casinos as often as they used to.

The condos at Planet Hollywood are rapidly approaching completion and I'm confident they will open as planned in 2009. But is anyone buying condos these days? Especially expensive ones right on the Las Vegas Strip?

The massive expansion at the Hard Rock is continuing apace, with new rooms, more casino space, new restaurants and entertainment venues, and more all still scheduled to be open by late 2009 or early 2010. But the parent company of the resort recently dropped out of the Echelon project citing financial concerns, so while I think the Hard Rock's future is secure, it still deserves an asterisk.

Question Marks
Construction on the $5 billion Stardust replacement called Echelon was halted earlier this year and the company in charge of the project has said that it won't start again until 2010 at the earliest. Since partners that were to contribute a couple of boutique hotels and a mall have dropped out, there are rumors that the partially constructed hotel may have to be at least partially de-constructed once a new plan is figured out.

Proving that the economic turmoil is a global problem, Israeli based Elad Properties is being vague at best about when they will move forward on their plans to build a $5 billion version of New York's famed Plaza hotel on the land once occupied by The Frontier. 2010 is rumored as being the absolute earliest that construction will begin but there are more rumors afoot that it could be even later than that.

The $3 billion Cosmopolitan hotel and casino under construction next door to Bellagio went through foreclosure a couple of months ago, and the exact details about who will manage the property are still uncertain. That hasn't stopped crews from working on it, but whether or not it will open in late 2009 or early 2010 as currently planned is highly questionable.

Steve Wynn's next big part of his master plan was going to be building a massive convention center and hotel complex on the land currently occupied by the golf course, with construction to begin as early as 2009. While the project will most likely get built eventually, the timetable is now in doubt.

The new owner of The Sahara had promised a top-to-bottom renovation of the property but nothing has happened yet. While some are questioning whether it ever will, I think this is one that has legs - it just might be awhile before we see any movement.

The Union Park development of 60 acres adjacent to Downtown Las Vegas is still in the planning phases but I think a lot of the specifics - like a major hotel-casino and several other boutique hotels and entertainment venues - are questionable.

In Limbo
Harrah's was going to unveil a master plan for its Strip casinos that could've involved tearing down at least two of them (maybe more) and major overhauls of the rest. We'll probably be waiting awhile for that unveiling so the Imperial Palace, Bill's, and Bally's are safe for awhile.

Also on hold (perhaps permanently) from Harrah’s is a plan to build a big sporting and event arena behind Bally’s that could’ve hosted a major-league hockey team.

Mandalay Bay had planned to build a condo tower in front of the main hotel. That project is on hold.

The partially constructed St. Regis condo tower in front of The Venetian will remain partially constructed for now. The project has been put on hold indefinitely.

A partnership to build a major hotel-casino complex on the empty lot across from The Sahara between MGM Mirage and South African company Kerzner International has been shelved.

Durango Station was going to be the next locals' joint from Station Casinos, set to start construction on the southwest side of town next year. The pause button has been pushed on this one.

Plans to build a second tower at Trump International have been put on hold.

The reopening of the Lady Lucky in Downtown Las Vegas is reportedly in jeopardy.

Just about every hotel company in town has said that they are cancelling or dramatically scaling back ALL of their plans to renovate or remodel their existing hotels. In other words, they hope you like the room decor now because it's going to be staying that way for awhile.

Not Happening
Plans to tear down most of the Tropicana and build a 10,000 room replacement have been cancelled.

A couple of companies were going to build an Elvis Presley themed resort next to Planet Hollywood. That project is dead.
http://vegas4visitors.com/column/archive/08_11_24.htm

Three scantily clad women cavorting in a bed may be a dream for many, but at Fantasy, the provocative, classy production at the Luxor, it is just one of the intriguing scenes that have made the revue one of the most popular on the Las Vegas Strip.

The number is performed to the song "Nasty Girls," by Vanity 6, and sets the mood for the playful dance routine, according to Anita Mann, the Emmy Award-winning producer of the show.

It is also a favorite number of the dancers such as Smithy and Dar because, as the latter says, "The audience isn't expecting it and it adds a nice surprise element to the show."

But, Fantasy is way more than just another female topless revue.

Live singing by Stephanie Jordan is the thread that weaves audience interaction with the performers and according to Mann, "helps break the fourth wall." In other words, the audience becomes part of what is happening onstage as compared to just viewing it.

There is also Sean Cooper, who Mann defines as a "song-and-dance man who also does comedy." Both Cooper and Jordan add to the fact that Fantasy is designed to be couples-friendly. There are five original songs in the show, including the sexy "Don't Stop" and "Goin' to Vegas."

"There is a lot of high energy in the performances," Mann said. And while being a great dancer is the first requirement for hiring someone, as a producer she avoids the "cookie-cutter" look to her cast.

"I like the ladies to be completely individual and stand out, not all look alike."

Fantasy
Where: Luxor
When: 10:30 p.m. Sun.-Fri.; 11 p.m. Sat.
Cost: $55 and up
http://lvshowbiz.com

It's not easy to be both bawdy and elegant, sassy and classy, funny and dramatic. But Bette Midler pulls it off with aplomb. An infinitely versatile, charismatic presence in pop culture for the past four decades, Midler will call the Colosseum at Caesars Palace home for the next two years.

The opening video sequence portends what's to come: An ominous, fast-moving tornado forms and builds strength in the desert's outreaches, stirring everything in its path, at first tumble weeds and then trees and finally even buildings. It reaches the Las Vegas Strip and Flamingo Road and the stately Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The dynamic natural force that is Bette Midler has arrived.

Midler is a joy to behold. Unexpected delights complement the powerful songs for which Midler is best-known –"Wind Beneath My Wings," "From a Distance" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."

The Harlettes, a 13-piece band and more than 20 dancers make Midler's vision of something big, something clever, something bold achieve full life.

Don't expect anything remotely Cirque du Soleil here; The Showgirl Must Go On is more old-school Vegas, with an energetic, engaging blend of song, dance and comedy.

Self-deprecating comedy allows the audience to grow more familiar with Midler and her many talents. Delores Delago, the wheelchair-using mermaid, brings smiles, and old, old Soph, a showgirl who has seen a few too many stages, also makes an appearance.

Her emotionally charged renditions of "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "Hello in There" contrast smartly with silly puns and jokes about when "drugs" became "medications."

Born and raised in Hawaii, Midler first captured the public's attention in 1967, when she landed a role as Tzeitel, the eldest daughter, in the smash Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Midler started building a career as a nightclub performer when her pianist Barry Manilow, now performing at the Las Vegas Hilton, produced her acclaimed first album, The Divine Miss M, in 1972. A self-titled album a year later also soared to the top of the charts.

She won a special Tony Award in 1974 for her work on Broadway. A starring role in The Rose in 1979 led to many additional honors and roles on the big screen, including the popular Beaches in 1988.

A vibrant rose that seems as if it should be getting ready to wilt, Midler blossoms again with this new challenge. With her knack for comedy and divine vocal talent, Showgirl is a sure Bette.

Bette Midler
Where: Caesars Palace
When: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4, 6-7 & 10-11
Cost: $93.95 and up
http://lvshowbiz.com

Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel will add heat to the cool Las Vegas nights with the opening of the highly anticipated ONE SIX Sky Lounge . Set atop the 16th floor of Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel, guests will experience affordable elegance with the appetizing cuisine, unique martini and cocktail menu, a fine selection of wines and a vibrant mix of music while taking in the awe-inspiring views of the famed Las Vegas Strip and downtown.
 
“ONE SIX Sky Lounge will provide our guests a nightlife experience like no other that currently exists on Boulder Highway,” said Sean Sullivan, general manager of Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel. “We are excited to welcome Las Vegas residents and visitors to a contemporary venue they would expect of Las Vegas, without the hassle of going to the Strip.”
 
Design & Décor
Eastside Cannery guests will be transported from the property’s industrial era theme to a sleek 11,000 square foot hotspot. Upon entering ONE SIX, revelers will immediately gravitate toward the expansive 1,700 square foot three-sided balcony, offering unique and breathtaking views of the famous Las Vegas skyline. The carefully crafted floor design will allow guests to take in the legendary panorama from any location within the venue, including the restrooms. Designed by the firm Yates-Silverman, ONE SIX is appointed with an eclectic blend of classic motifs and modern furnishings to create an intimate and upscale setting. The sky lounge features a romantic pairing of warm red hues offset by three large blue, cast glass columns lit from within. The chairs and chaises in the lounge area create an inviting atmosphere for relaxation and enjoyment of the cozy setting.

Food
ONE SIX will provide a retro revival of familiar favorites made from the best American ingredients served tapas style. The menu is divided into cold bites, hot bites and sweet treats. Featured items include the Ahi Tartar Trio, Beef Carpaccio, Coconut Shrimp Skewers and Mac and Cheese Fondue.
 
Drinks
ONE SIX offers an extensive menu of delicious and affordable specialty cocktails, including the Pinups, Sweet Lucy, The Carve and the 16 Sunset, most of which pay tribute to the other dining establishments at Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel. The refreshing Dazzle Cocktail will entice taste buds as it contains Skyy Passion Fruit, Pama Pomegranate, orange juice, champagne and berries. ONE SIX also offers a stylish feature bar with an impressive array of more than 100 premium wine selections.

ONE SIX Sky Lounge will be open at 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays with happy hour from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The happy hour will feature half-priced martinis and a free sampling of the hot and cold bites from the ONE SIX menu will be passed.

Even though these one-of-a-kind classes don’t begin until the new year, with the holiday season in full swing - there’s no better time to make a purchase. Certificates for SUSHI and SAKE 101, perfect for the aspiring chef, passionate gourmand or friend who has everything, are currently available at the all-new www.sushisamba.com.

Whether you are hungry for knowledge or just a good meal, reserve your spot now at SUSHI+SAKE 101. 

Slots Reviews By Gayle Mitchell

1) Gold N Jewels: Konami. 82-96%. 4 spins
This version offers a fourth bonus reel with 2X, 5X and 10X multipliers that will multiply the jackpot accordingly when a winning combination is displayed on the primary reels. For example, the top jackpot is yours when three Gold N Jewels symbols are lined up, however, if the fourth reel is a 10X payout, your winnings increase to $3000. Diamond logo symbols offer a jackpot if one is displayed of any of the five paylines with maximum bet in play. Additionally, if bonus symbols appear anywhere on the first and third reels, it starts the Gold N Jewels Bonus of 4 free spins. If you bet the max with this slot, you qualify for extra ‘sparkling’ bonus credits.
 
2) Golden Adventure: Atronic 86-98%. 2 spins
This slot adventure can be played in the basic mode, or go for that side bet and you Win Two Ways—left to right and right to left with a fifth reel. Golden Adventure Bonus is also activated with this side bet along with a choice of free spin or. Spin as Long As you Win feature. The free spin choice means doubled jackpots while SALAUW lasts until winning combos stop. Two additional bonus events occur when 3 treasure symbols land on the middle reels where your picks are Take Offer, Offers Left and Try Again. You can take a second chance, however the third offer must be accepted. The Vehicle Bonus symbols landing on the first, third and fifth reels allow a pick for a bonus award. The many features of this ‘golden’ slot make for an exciting adventure to be explored.
 
3) Tropical Paradise: Atronic. 88-92%. 3 spins
The mix for this tropical slot includes poker and expanding wild diamond symbols. Thus, when a diamond is displayed on an active payline, that particular reel becomes ‘all wild’ with the exception of 3 palm trees that activates the free spin bonus event. The count is 3, 4 or 5 palm trees equals 10, 20 or 30 spins along with a multiplier. Additional free spins can be re-triggered and increase to a max of 500 free spins. That’s a big Wow! Some versions can include the rapid hit schedule that swells the hit frequency and payouts. Obviously. the tropics present hot, hot action at this game.  

4) Bank Buster: Aristocrat. 90-92%. 2 spins
You get 5 popular features in 1 slot. Start with Hyperlink with bonus awards from the Bonus Bank series and toss in the games of K.G. Bird, Sun & Moon and Treasure King. As with many slots today, an ante bet qualifies for all these features plus a progressive jackpot. The 3 games mentioned all present free bonus spins with 2, 3, 4 or 5 scatter pay symbols activating 5, 10, 20, or 50 spins and double jackpots. Along the way, the Bank Buster random option can provide 6 possibilities leading to 4 progressive jackpots - Grand, Major, Minor and Mini. Want more rewards? There’s Pop Gun, Money Grab to catch some bank notes and Line Up where your matching picks equal extra credits and/or jackpots. Ok, here’s 3 more. Safe Crackers opens up for bonus credits, Cop Out where you are climbing for credits and Hot Cash offering a special payout table. As you can see, there are many opportunities to ‘bust the bank’ with this fast-paced game.
http://www.casinoplayersezine.com/email/issue126.htm#slot-review

2) A Prayer followed by a Church Donation
Ronald D Baney, a 63-year-old machinist from Machesney Pk. IL has a favorite slot – the popular Wheel of Fortune - and that’s his focus during his annual visits to Vegas. Planet Hollywood Casino provided the quarter slot and a big payday of $582,687. after a $50. investment.

“I was getting good vibes off this machine,” said the excited winner. “I felt as if something great was coming. I had been praying about it.” There are no plans for retirement, however Baney has allocated funds to pay off his daughter’s wedding and donate to his church.

3) $85 and a Birthday Win.
Pamela Selby Wilbourne, a 45 year old retail manager from Melbourne, FL was celebrating her mom’s birthday at the Horseshoe Casino in Tunica, MS. A quarter Wheel of Fortune progressive with a bet of $85. produced a win of $454,599.

“At first I would not let myself believe that I had won such a large amount because I didn’t want to get my hopes up,” said the winner until the verification. “Now, I am in plain shock. I never thought this could happen to me.” “I love playing the Wheel of Fortune machine because I enjoy the television show so much,” she said. “I guess my dedication as a show viewer has finally paid off.” The jackpot will help with her future retirement and a new car.

4) More than a QuarterMillion$ Win
Diane Lynn Bruck of Saskatchewan, SK. Canada choose a Tower of Power version of the QuarterMillion$ progressive slot at the Treasure Island Casino on the Vegas strip. After only 3 spins, her reward was a $457,371 payday. Bruck and her cousin were visiting Vegas when after a show; the decision was made to visit the slots playground. Bruck revealed her winning strategy—‘hit and run’—take some spins and move on if no reward.

5) 2 Hits in 4 Days
Normand Roberge, 44, from New Hampshire hit for $257,845. at a quarter Wheel of Fortune located at the Vegas McCarran Airport. After playing only $20. at his favorite machine, while awaiting his flight home, this happy player is the second jackpot hit in 4 days.

“I’ve always had a positive attitude about playing and believe someone has to hit it,” stated Roberge. There is no retirement in the future, however, another visit to Vegas is a certainty.

6) Deadwood is a Hit
John Gleissner, a retiree from Gillette, WY set out for Franklin Hotel and Casino in Deadwood after a year’s absence. ‘I love Deadwood, now.” was his exclamation after a jackpot hit of $304,118 at the Wheel of Fortune quarter slot. However, the win was not apparent at first after a bet of about $20. “I was down to about $3 and was going to quit when that was gone,” said Gleissner. “I thought the machine broke because it locked up on me and no bells rang,”

His future plans were not revealed beyond Monday–“Well, I’m staying here until Monday. Then I don’t know.”

People born in the Year of the Ox tend to be self-assured and inspirational

Chinese New Year Conservatory Facts:

15-foot-long ox comprised of 10,000 Alternanthera

Three 6-foot-tall giant pandas comprised of Helichrysum Icicles and Hemigraphis Erect  

18-foot-tall God of Wealth and Fortune

I-Ching coins are traditional money symbol

We are at the end of the year…thank god.  It has been a hell of a year.  We have two wars going on, a collapsed economy that is in total disarray, huge amounts of unemployment, and the lowest rated president and congress in history…we happily say good-bye to 2008, and we look ahead with tremendous hope to 2009 (even though economists say 2009 is going to be even worse than 2008, and we'll really have to wait until 2010 for any real recovery.)  This New Year does bring with it some new hope…most importantly is our new president.  Barack Obama campaigned and was elected on a platform of hope and change, and we now have an entire country looking towards the changes we all want him to bring.

The new year always brings new hope, it is a time of renewal…a time when we get to look back and see what we did right, and what we did wrong in our lives.  It's a time when we look ahead, and figure out how to make this year better than the previous one…but this year is far more encompassing…usually we want to achieve personal goals…lose weight, stop smoking and the like; but this year, we are all more concerned about things on a national and global level…we are all hurting, and we are all concerned…concerned about basic needs…

Las Vegas has been hit hard.  We have some of the highest foreclosure rates in the country.  We have some of the highest unemployment…and we have all of this because we are a tourist town.  We are the town for people to come and spend their disposable income…but what happens when people don't have disposable income?  Well…they don't come, and when they don't come, the Las Vegas economy bottoms out…

There is good news in all of this…because of the ills that are pervading the country, Las Vegas in offering some incredible deals…we are not going down without a fight…we are going to compete tooth and nail for your business…

It's 2009!!!  Happy New Year!!  

Not that I want to get nostalgic for 2008, but…  2008 had some interesting occurrences…

In the first part of the year, "Hats!" The musical, based on the Red Hat Society, opened at Harrah's.  This show has a very specific target audience, and as it turns out, it was a bit too specific…since it closed after three months.  Rita Rudner moved into the timeslot at the hotel.

Over at the Flamingo, Toni Braxton halted her performances in April due to health problems.  Even though there were several occasions which she had hoped to return, she never did…after a couple of months, Donny & Marie moved into the Flamingo.  They started off with a six-month contract, and their show was so great and popular that after two-weeks, they were extended to two-years.  Their show is still going very strong, and if they want to, they could extend their show a lot longer.

Over at Caesars inside the Colosseum, Bette Midler opened her show, "The Showgirl Must Go On," in February…followed by Cher opening her show there in May.

"The Producers" had been playing at the Paris Las Vegas, but they closed in February, exactly one year after their opening.

Gordie Brown had one of the more interesting years in Las Vegas…the year started off for him by having as his show close at the Venetian with the promise of getting a specially built theatre in the Palazzo hotel, which never materialized.  He was able to perform for several months at the V Theatre, and then he went on tour with Celine Dion.  At the conclusion of the tour, Brown was booked at the Golden Nugget (the same stage he began his return to Vegas after his long stint in Reno.)  This time, though, the Nugget has changed the name of the theatre to the Gordie Brown Theatre.

The Three Redneck Tenors…opened at the Luxor…and then closed.

Toxic Audio…opened at the V Theatre…and then closed.

Rosanne Barr…opened at the Sahara…and then closed.

Ronn Lucas moved his show from the Luxor to the Excalibur…and then closed.

The Real Deal…opened at the Venetian…and then closed.

Raw Talent Live…opened at the Sahara…and will closed Jan. 4th

The Steve Wyrick Theatre had a host of its own problems…

The Gazillion Bubble Show…opened and closed.

Tom Dane…opened and closed.

Wes Winters…opened and closed.

Other shows that closed, or are closing include:

Spamalot

The Second City

The Star Trek Experience

Ooh La La

The World's Greatest Magic Show

Mamma Mia!

Stomp Out Loud

…and the Guggenheim museum also closed…

The Amazing Jonathan burned his bridge at the Sahara and then reopened his show at the Harmon Theatre…Jonathan has burned a lot of bridges in this town and there are very few places for him to perform any more.

The Jersey Boys opened at the Palazzo Hotel…it has become my favorite show in Las Vegas.  It is just brilliant.

Nathan Burton moved his show to the Flamingo, and even got a hotel wrap.  All of us locals are very proud of Nathan's accomplishments.

Terry Fator, after winning America's Got Talent, performed one weekend a month at the Las Vegas Hilton…he did so well there that the Mirage picked him up for a full time gig…replacing the ever-brilliant Danny Gans—who is moving into the new Encore Hotel of Steve Wynn.

The tell-all book "The Secret Life of Siegfried and Roy" came out.  It promised a deep inside look at the duo and all of the guarded secrets that were never supposed to be spoken…it really went nowhere when it was revealed that the book was written by a disgruntled employee.

Kieth Barry had a good limited run at Planet Hollywood and hopes to be returning for a full time gig in '09.

When Stomp leaves Planet Hollywood, it will be replaced by a new musical, "Peepshow."

When Mamma Mia closes, it will be replaced by, "The Lion King."

"Scarlett: Princess of Magic" opened her show at the V Theatre in August, and then one month later was awarded, "The Female Magician of the Year."

Of course, the biggest entertainment story of the year was Criss Angel and the new Cirque production, "Believe."  The title and poster was first announced in April—with the promised opening date of September 12th.  In August, they announced that the opening would be delayed until October… In September, they announced that the opening would be delayed, and they gave no specific date for its opening…  The show finally opened on Halloween night and has been panned by every major reviewer in the country.

The show will close on January 6th for a couple of months while they try to fix all that is broken…

It is always interesting to look back at an entire year…it is amazing to see the things that you forgot.

CES convention will be the big news for January…it comes in the first part of the month.  It is a huge time in the city, and then, it is piggybacked by the Adult Entertainment convention…always interesting to see…

The entertainment this month ranges dramatically:

Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell
Orleans Hotel Jan 15 - Jan 18

Tom Jones
MGM Grand Jan 15 - Jan 28

Bill Medley w/ special guest McKenna Medley
South Point Casino Jan 16 - Jan 18

Led Zepagain - Led Zeppelin Tribute
Cannery Casino Jan 16 - Jan 17

Natalie Cole
Buffalo Bill's Jan 16

Secondhand Serenade w/ Meg & Dia, More . . .
Mandalay Bay Jan 16

Wes Winters
Suncoast Hotel Jan 16 - Jan 18

Boyz II Men
Buffalo Bill's Jan 17

Enuff Z' Nuff & Bulletboys
Santa Fe Station Jan 17

Keith Sweat
Silverton Jan 17

Lisa Lampanelli
Palms Casino Jan 17

Pennywise w/ the Circle Jerks and the Darlings
Mandalay Bay Jan 17

Reba McEntire with special guest Melissa Peterman
Orleans Hotel Jan 17

Roberta Flack, Jeffery Osborne, Midnight Star and Lakeside
Thomas & Mack Center Jan 18

The fourth week has:

Michael McDonald
Buffalo Bill's Jan 21

Tournament of Champions
Red Rock Casino Jan 21 - Jan 25

2009 Championship Bull Riding World Championship
South Point Casino Jan 23 - Jan 24

Art & Ink Tattoo Festival
South Point Casino Jan 23 - Jan 24

Bootleg 60's Sight & Sound Show
Suncoast Hotel Jan 23 - Jan 25

Fighter Pilot for a Day
Jan 23 - Jan 25

George Jones
Silverton Hotel Jan 23 - Jan 24,

Jay Leno
Mirage Jan 23 - Jan 24

Kenny G
Orleans Hotel Jan 23 - Jan 25

The Fab
Cannery Casino Jan 23 - Free

Wranglers Professional Hockey
Orleans Hotel Jan 23 - Jan 25

Al Di Meola
Santa Fe Station Jan 24

Eddie Money
Boulder Station Jan 24

Edwin McCain Trio
Mandalay Bay Jan 24

Rob Garrett's Tribute to Neil Diamond
Cannery Casino Jan 24

Willie Nelson
Buffalo Bill's Resort Jan 24

And the last week, into the first week of February has:

Molotov
Mandalay Bay Jan 27

Wranglers Professional Hockey
Orleans Hotel Jan 27

Drew Carey and the Improv All-Stars
MGM Grand Jan 29 - Feb 1

Crown Boxing
Orleans Hotel Jan 30

Disturbed
Palms Casino Jan 30

Jerry Seinfeld
Caesars Palace Jan 30 - Jan 31

John Caparulo
South Point Casino Jan 30 - Jan 31

Josh Turner w/ the Dirt Drifters
Mandalay Bay Jan 30

NOFX
Hard Rock Jan 30

The Las Vegas Tenors
Suncoast Hotel Jan 30 - Feb 1

The Smothers Brothers
Orleans Jan 30 - Feb 1

Wranglers Professional Hockey
Orleans Hotel Jan 30 - Jan 31

Badfish - A Tribute to Sublime
Mandalay Bay Jan 31

Great White
Sunset Station Jan 31

UFC 94: St. Pierre vs. Penn 2
MGM Grand Jan 31

Wranglers Professional Hockey
Orleans Hotel Feb 2

Elton John - The Red Piano
Caesars Palace Feb 3 - Feb 15

Little River Band
Buffalo Bill's Feb 3 - Feb 4

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

Spears is one of the top-selling artists of the last decade, and to date she has sold in excess of 62 million albums worldwide. Last year on Oct. 15, Spears' new single, "Womanizer," made a record-breaking jump to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and garnered first-week download sales of 286,000. This marked the biggest opening-week tally by a female artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking digital downloads in 2003.

BELLAGIO GALLERY NEW EXHIBIT.
The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA) will debut a new display, "Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol & Friends," on Jan. 23 and it will run through Sept. 8. Organized in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), the exhibition will feature important paintings and sculpture by major contemporary artists with a focus on the 1960s and '70s.

This exhibition will mark a transition by BGFA to showcase the next generation of artists beyond the late 19th and early 20th century masterworks found in previous displays.

Masterworks on display will include Frank Stella's "Sabra III" (1967), decorative, monumental canvas sections derived from the lines of a mechanical protractor curve; Roy Lichtenstein's "Mirror" (1971), a deadpan depiction of a mirror's surface that preposterously reflects its own schematized representation; and Sol LeWitt's "Floor Piece #4" (1976), one in a series of compositions based on the cube, his fundamental modular unit. Classic examples of Abstract Expressionism by Hans Hofmann and Clyfford Still, precursors to the '60's movements, will also be on view.

Open daily, admittance is $15 for general admission, $12 for seniors 65 and older, and $10 for students, teachers and military with valid ID, call calling 877-957-9777.

On Dec. 11, Viva McDonald’s held its grand opening on the Strip. The technology-inspired restaurant is the first of its kind and is the showcase location for the new McDonald's Channel featuring Discovery Communications content in short vignettes from Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and Science Channel. At 8,600 square feet, Viva McDonald's, which is open daily 24 hours a day, is the largest McDonald's restaurant in Nevada.

The exterior has four large video screens and a giant video marquee. Inside there is a 14-screen media ring suspended in the two-story, open ceiling dining room. Viva McDonald's also offers wireless Internet.

Viva McDonald’s has a state-of-the-art all-electric kitchen with six platen grills and a Low Oil Volume (LOV) fryer. The new eatery is selling McCafé beverages, McDonald’s new line of espresso coffees including mochas, cappuccinos and lattes and also Viva McDonald's branded merchandise.

With the opening of Viva McDonald's, it meant closing the 25-year-old existing McDonald's restaurant located right next door.

The pre-opening VIP party was a first with cocktails and catered food being served along with McDonald's popular fare and faux celebs like the Rat Pack trio, Elvis, Marilyn, Ronald McDonald and Harrah's comedy magician Mac King, who helped to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, in attendance.

The Stratosphere will host a regular Smooth Jazz Ladies Night featuring the William Moran Jazz Trio at the Romance Lounge on Level 107 on Wednesdays from 7-11 p.m., Jan. 7 - March 11. The Wednesday events will offer a fabulous view of the city, martinis at half-price for ladies and the first 75 ladies will receive a free glass of Moet & Chandon champagne. Ladies can register for giveaways that will include a designer purse, $100 gift certificate to Top of the World, $50 Romance Lounge gift certificate, and tickets for two to "Bite."
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/122108.htm