The moment arrives without warning, and it surfaces whenever the mood strikes Gordie Brown. But there is a point in his show at the Golden Nugget when he speaks of the late Danny Gans, softly saying that Gans will be terribly missed and was one of the true pioneers among Las Vegas entertainers. Then Brown’s voice shifts to its power gear and sings the Louis Armstrong favored by Gans, “What a Wonderful World.”

Brown sang the song during a show last week, dropping it suddenly into his fast-paced repertoire just after a quickie Elvis Presley medley.

“I’m just doing it out of respect for Danny,” Brown says. “He really was a great entertainer and showman. I’ve done it only when the mood strikes me in the show, in different spots.”

Danny Gans' family never had an inkling that he had a serious health problem.

Not once?

"Never!" his son, Andrew, 19, said firmly, after Thursday's memorial for his father at the Encore Theater. It came as a complete shock, said Andrew in the first interview granted by a family member since Danny Gans' death.

"We knew he had high blood pressure but was taking something to control that, and he had to watch what he ate."

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/45836337.htm

Annie Duke has recruited 20 Joan Rivers impersonators to go head-to-head with poker players in a charity event next week at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Before beating Duke in Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" earlier this month, the trash-talking Rivers raised the hackles of the poker nation by referring to poker players as "white trash"and "mafia."

The event, which will feature Duke and longtime Rivers impersonator Frank Marino together on the red carpet, will benefit Duke's pet project, Refugees International.

Rivers sued Marino, the lead of "An Evening at La Cage" for 20-plus years, for $5 million in 1986 for impersonating her.

The case was settled out of court. "The only thing she was able to copyright was 'Can we talk?" said Marino.

The red carpet begins at 5 p.m. with a lineup of top poker pros.

The public can participate in the $200 buy-in, No-Limit Texas Hold 'em tourney.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/45619657.html

Kathi Glist was watching "America's Got Talent" when the contestant known as Queen Emily rocked the house with "Chain of Fools.

"Her first revelation was, "Who knows the original lyrics anymore?" In Glist's world, as co-producer of "Menopause The Musical," the Aretha Franklin classic is forever known as "Change of Life."

Her second thought was, "If she doesn't win, we've got to put her in the show." Emily (David) became the first star ever to receive special billing in any run of "Menopause" in the show's final five weeks at the Las Vegas Hilton, where it had run since early 2006.

Ticket sales perked up for Emily, who again will be onboard when the campy musical reopens at Luxor on Tuesday, sharing the Atrium showroom with Carrot Top and "Fantasy."

CJ'S TEXAS BARBEQUE
7865 W. Sahara Ave.; 233-0190

This is no-frills barbecue that might remind you of those Texas roadside places with the picnic tables and stock tanks of soft drinks and meats ordered by the pound and served on paper. The barbecue includes very good brisket, ribs and turkey; as for the sides, the macaroni and cheese was the best of the bunch. Oh, and we liked the Shiner Bock. (11/23/07)
Overall: B+ $

LA FOCACCIA
8975 S. Eastern Ave.; 650-9800

There were some minor problems with our entrees — spinach and ricotta ravioli with tomato sauce, browned butter and sage, and chicken pizzaola — but our starters were nothing short of spectacular, owing to La Focaccia's excellent focaccia. The focaccia in the bread basket, served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and focaccia-based bruschetta with its tomatoes and basil, roasted garlic and tapenade (and also the mozzarella and roasted red peppers) were so good, we plan to return for the pizzalike special focaccias. (4/24/09)
Overall: B+ $$

ORIGIN INDIA
4480 Paradise Road; 734-6342

I loved the service, atmosphere — even the ease of access and parking — at Origin India, but especially the food, of which we sampled the Dahi Ke Kebab (shrimp in garlic sauce), Lhasooni Jhinga (deep-fried patties of yogurt cheese), Murg Lehsooni Kebab (tandoori chicken with garlic), Gosht Dahiwala (lamb cooked with yogurt and a cashew sauce) and, for dessert, a carrot cigar. (10/6/06)
Overall: A $$

THE STERLING BRUNCH
Bally's Steakhouse, Bally's, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 967-7999

We thought the food at the venerable Sterling Brunch was as good as ever but were more than a little turned off by the clumsily engineered seating system differentiating high rollers from those who are not. But if you're the former or a highly tolerant member of the latter, and if you like roasted half-lobsters, lobster bisque, pepper-and-mint-crusted rack of lamb, desserts, salads, fruits and pastries, you'll probably feel right at home. (5/8/09)
Overall: A (if you're a high roller)  B- (if you're not ) $$$$
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/45836317.html

I expected flip-flops out of Jimmy Buffett. He sings about them, having blown out one on a pop top, so I thought he’d wear them last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. He didn’t. Buffett traipsed out in bare feet. I’ve known two other artists to have walked onstage sans footwear: genre-defying guitar great Ottmar Liebert, and the late Ronnie Van Zant of Lynryd Skynyrd. But it’s a safe bet neither wore bright-orange T-shirts and tangerine-splashed, dark-blue beach shorts to any gig they headlined.

Buffett did. No wardrobe changes for the star, either, even during the 15-minute intermission of a 2 ½-hour event that was equal parts beach party, rock concert and (for thousands of fans) costume contest.

More here:
http://lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2009/may/17/captain-buffett-its-not-entirely-wastin-away-again/

Recording superstar and Hilton headliner Barry Manilow says he faces two dilemmas, and he might not solve the more pressing one until he walks onstage this weekend. From Friday through Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, Barry plays host to the annual International Barry Manilow Fan Club Convention at the Hilton.

Thousands of fans are traveling here from across the U.S. and Canada and as far away as Britain and Australia. Barry knows they will be here to listen to his incredible collection of hits, but instead he wants to treat them to a special performance of his personal favorite album Here at the Mayflower, which critics have hailed as the finest album of his career.

More here:
http://lasvegassun.com/blogs/robin-leachs-las-vegas-celebrity-watch/2009/may/20/barry-manilow-discusses-fan-club-concert-and-hilto/

Happy Birthday and greetings from all of our Vegas DeLuxe readers to superstar singer Cher as she celebrates her 63rd birthday onstage tonight during her Caesars Palace concert at The Colosseum.

The legendary diva has maintained a low-key presence here in Las Vegas during her resident concert run and hasn’t been spotted at our Strip nightclubs. She has been seen a few times at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in the nearby Forum Shops at Caesars.

More here:
http://lasvegassun.com/blogs/robin-leachs-las-vegas-celebrity-watch/2009/may/20/cher-celebrate-63rd-birthday-onstage-tonight-caesa/

After a string of local deals, Cirque du Soleil has introduced a deal for everyone in honor of their 25th anniversary.

The quintessential Vegas shows are offering $25 tickets with the purchase of a regular price ticket. The deal is good on all Vegas shows – “O,” “Mystere,” “Love,” “KA,” “Believe” and “Zumanity.”

While tickets for most shows are available during the next few weeks, tickets for "O" are not available until August with the promotion.

The offer is valid on shows from now until Oct. 11, 2009 for available days and times in select seating areas. All tickets must be purchased in pairs.

For more information, visit the offer Web site.

Gang of (almost) doppelgangers.
‘Legends in Concert’ at Harrah’s a tribute revue with some real talent.

By Kate Silver/Las Vegas Magazine

Step into the Jubilee! Theatre at Bally's, and it's as though you've sashayed back to the 1950s, when the showgirl and Las Vegas entertainment were as intertwined as the feathers in her headdress.

Donn Arden's Jubilee! is a delightful tribute and celebration of a culture that is truly iconic to this town. There are beautiful women (with their, ahem, naturalness showing through many of the acts), handsome men, elaborate costumes, dazzling sets and a sense of history – not something you'll find in most Las Vegas shows.

The show is divided into four acts: "Showtime!," "Samson and Delilah," "Titanic" and "The Finale," which is a tribute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Audience members should learn to time their blinking properly: With 100 different sets and backdrops and nine to 11 costume changes per cast member per show, it's easy to miss snippets here and there.

Be sure and keep the eyes peeled during "Samson and Delilah." In addition to the men in studded thongs, you'll want to see the giant, steel-framed bull's head that was made even more famous by its appearance in Rocky IV. And the Titanic replica is equally impressive. The iceberg collision scene involves 5,000 gallons of water inundating the stage, as pyrotechnics engulf the giant ship.
http://lvshowbiz.com/feature4.html

The female Sandbar shark who gave birth resides in Shark Reef Aquarium’s 1.3-million-gallon Sunken Shipwreck exhibit with 11 other Sandbar sharks.  Once the pregnancy was confirmed by the facility’s animal care staff last October, she was transferred to the on-site Husbandry Center.  The shark pups were born five months later.

“This is a very rare occurrence,” said Adrienne Rowland, the facility’s director.  “To our knowledge, captive breeding and birthing in the United States for this species only has happened successfully at one other facility.”

While not endangered, Sandbar shark populations in the wild are declining partly because of overfishing.  These bottom-dwelling sharks are found in the shallow coastal waters in the temperate and tropical zones of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The Sandbar shark pups are currently on display in a special exhibit located in the Gallery section of Shark Reef Aquarium.   The shark pups will be available for viewing through July 6, at which time they will be moved to the Husbandry Center until they are mature enough to be introduced into one of the facility’s larger exhibits with sharks of the same species.

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is open daily from 10 a.m.  Ticket prices are $16.95 for adults and $10.95 for children; children four and under are free.  Nevada residents with a valid ID receive a discount on admission – $13.95 for adults and $8.95 for children five and older.

PEEPSHOW, the new, sophisticated, ultra-hot show premiered on April 18, 2009. A highly stylized, full-throttle production show that combines sexy striptease and celebrity with high-level production values and a dash of passion, PEEPSHOW is a collaboration between Tony award-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell and Las Vegas entertainment pacesetter BASE Entertainment.

Pop superstar and television personality Mel B. originates the role of the “Peep Diva,” alongside Kelly Monaco who takes the stage as “Bo Peep,” a timid girl who the Diva guides in her transformation into a confident, sensual woman. Alongside Mel B. & Kelly is a sizzling ensemble of sexy PEEPSHOW GIRLS, showstoppers from film, TV, Broadway and beyond who were handpicked to complete a highly-skilled, voluptuous cast unlike any other on The Strip. To top it off, the entire production is backed by a powerhouse all-female rock band playing today’s best-known hits and original songs created especially for PEEPSHOW.

PEEPSHOW performs at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 8:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Tickets range from $65 – $100 + tax, with a VIP package available at $165 + tax per person. The bottle service upgrade is available for purchase from the cocktail servers in the VIP cabaret seating. Tickets can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com, or through The Planet Hollywood Box Office at 702-785-5000 / 877-333-9474. For groups of 10 or more, please call 702-785-5394 / 866-633-0195 or Groups@BASEentertainment.com.  For more information please visit www.LasVegasPeepshow.com.

JERSEY BOYS Las Vegas, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, celebrates its first anniversary on The Las Vegas Strip at the Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino Sunday, May 3.

The show has become a staple of entertainment in Las Vegas, being named the number one show of 2008 by the Las Vegas Review-Journal after only six months of performances. In addition, just last month, JERSEY BOYS was named “Best Show” in Las Vegas by the staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, in the newspaper’s 28th annual “Best of Las Vegas” poll.

“Las Vegas has proven itself to be a great home for JERSEY BOYS during the last year,” said JERSEY BOYS producer Michael David. “We are honored that the community has fully embraced the show and we look forward to sharing this remarkable true story with Las Vegas audiences for a long time to come.”

In honor of the show’s first anniversary, the cast of JERSEY BOYS will present a medley of songs in a rare, live performance in support of Race for the Cure and its valued mission Saturday, May 2 at 9:50 a.m. on the 3rd Street Stage of the infamous Fremont Street Experience.

Be a part of the celebration May 3 and take in the unforgettable story of JERSEY BOYS in the unique, custom-built theatre that houses JERSEY BOYS Las Vegas. Adorned with special period influences and one-of-a-kind memorabilia from The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the JERSEY BOYS Theatre evokes fond memories of the 1960’s era and is currently the only place on the West Coast to see this runaway hit.

JERSEY BOYS performs at The Palazzo Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 7 p.m.; Tuesday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and dark on Wednesday. Ticket prices range from $65 to $135 plus tax and handling fees. The BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE VIP Package is available for $235 per person, plus tax.

JERSEY BOYS runs two hours (including a short break between Acts I & II).

JERSEY BOYS, which opened on Broadway to rave reviews on November 6, 2005, continues to be completely sold out and the hottest ticket on the Great White Way. JERSEY BOYS received the 2006 Tony Award® for Best Musical and the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Recording; that recording was certified Gold by the RIAA in February, and is regularly found at the top of the Billboard chart of best-selling show CDs.

JERSEY BOYS is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were thirty. The show features such hits as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” “Oh, What a Night,” and many more.

The Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino will host its second annual Grand Poker Series June 6 – July 5.

This month-long event will feature daily tournaments at noon in The Grand, the property’s luxurious events center, as well as hold cash games and much more, including special tournaments for seniors and ladies.

“We are pleased to bring back the Grand Poker Series for its second year,” said John Colville, director of Golden Nugget poker. “Players were extremely pleased with the first series and we want to make it bigger and better this year, while still delivering the level of play and customer service our poker players expect.”

The inaugural Grand Poker Series in 2008 hosted more than 15,000 players from across the globe, handing out in excess of $1.2 million in total prize money and raised more than $250,000 for charity through two celebrity charity tournaments.

Tournament games such as Hold ‘em, Omaha, H.O.R.S.E. and Seven Card Stud, including pot limit, no limit and limit, will be held, as well as two bracelet tournaments. There will also be Super Sunday events which will feature a variety of No Limit Hold ‘em tournaments with various buy-ins, daily cash giveaways totaling $1,000, and a $1,080 seat giveaway into the series’ July 4th Grand Finale tournament.

The series will also host two daily No Limit Hold ‘em Bank Roll Builder Tournaments. These $125 buy-in tournaments begin at 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. Additionally, the series will continue the Golden Nugget’s very popular daily $65 No Limit Hold ‘em tournaments at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.

On July 1, the series will hold the Susie and Howard Lederer Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament benefiting The Boys and Girls Club, where first place will win the unprecedented opportunity to star on NBC’s hit poker program Poker After Dark. The tournament is open to the public and the winner will receive a $20,000 seat on the top-rated, late-night poker program, giving them the opportunity to win $120,000 in cash. Players can even win a seat into the charity tournament by playing in any noon Grand Poker Series tournament June 6 through 30. The $20,000 Poker After Dark seat will be donated by Full Tilt Poker.net and additional prizes will be donated by the Golden Nugget and other sponsors. No poker tournament has ever awarded a seat on a nationally televised 6-seat poker program with the chance to become poker’s next television star.

Players can register for the Grand Poker Series by calling 800-777-4658, ext. 8164, emailing poker@goldennugget.com or stop by the Golden Nugget Poker Room.

“There’s going to be some tough battles in the ring this weekend as some of the best amateur fighters from Mexico and the United States fight for national pride,” said Barry Meyer, president of Tuff-N-Uff. “The United States fighters are going to see a big challenge from the scrappy Mexican MMA talent.”

Keeping to the tradition of showcasing the future stars of MMA, Larry Mir will also take to the Tuff-N-Uff ring to follow in the footsteps of his brother Frank Mir’s mixed martial arts fame. He will square off against Sammual Varrin from LA Fitness in Oceanside, Calif.

“It’s great to see Larry follow in the footsteps of Frank Mir by starting his climb to stardom at Tuff-N-Uff,” Meyer said. “We are known for showcasing the best up-and-coming talent in MMA and we are happy to have Larry on the fight card.”

Former Playboy Model Latasha Marzolla will also make her highly awaited entrance to the Tuff-N-Uff ring this weekend squaring off against a strong local favorite, Christy Tada. Marzolla, the 2004 Playboy Model of the Year, brings strong MMA credentials to the ring after a 6-3 career in K-1 kickboxing with 1 KO. Tada, a scrappy Hawaiian fighter, is well known in the Tuff-N-Uff MMA circuit and looks forward to continuing her success against Marzolla.

For MMA fans looking for more action, Tuff-N-Uff will also host its first open invitational on the same day starting at noon. Tickets for the open invitational are $10 each and will only be sold at the door. The doors open at 11 a.m. and the event takes place all day from noon to 5 p.m.

Tuff-N-Uff has other firsts planned in what are destined to be amateur MMA events for the record book. On July 10, Tuff-N-Uff will host “Tuff Girls,” an all-female event hosting some of the top up and coming female MMA fighters in the world. Other events are currently planned for August 22, September 18 and October 24.

Tickets for the USA vs. Mexico event are currently on sale and priced starting at only $25. To purchase tickets, please call The Orleans Hotel & Casino box office at 888-365-7111 or visit the event website at www.tuffnuff.net. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the first bout set to begin at 8 p.m.

Fans can pick up 2 for 1 coupons at any Las Vegas Terrible Herbst convenience stores and gas stations, Las Vegas Nutrition Centers and On The Mat fight shops, bringing the cost down to $12.50 for both shows.

For more information, please check out Tuff-N-Uff on the web at www.tuffnuff.net.

Special Edition: Rumor Control: BY Rick Garman

Thousands expected to ante up $10,000 when Main Event begins July 3.

By HOWARD STUTZ/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Peter Eastgate did the math. The odds aren't in his favor.

In November, the Danish-born Eastgate became the World Series of Poker's youngest-ever champion, besting a field of 6,844 players to win $9.15 million in the tournament's No-limit Hold'em Main Event.

World Series of Poker officials expect at least the same number of entries to ante up $10,000 when this year's Main Event begins July 3.

Even at 22, with his poker career in its infancy, Eastgate knows winning the game's ultimate prize for a second time is a long shot.

More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/business/46354787.html

Those who play casinos regularly keep things light.

By COREY LEVITAN/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Few jobs in a Las Vegas casino are more important than stand-up comedian. Ever since Rose Marie was hired to tickle the opening-night crowd at the Flamingo in December 1946, it has fallen almost entirely on this person's talent to reverse negativity — to make the guest forget all about that recent bet on 13 red that effectively condemns junior to community college.

We asked top Strip comedians, and others who play here regularly, to tell us their favorite joke about the town that pays such a large portion of their bills.

This is clearly not your parents' Italian restaurant; ueberchef Mario Batali and partner Joe Bastianich skip the Sinatra in favor of the screamin' guitar and breathe fresh air into their fare, such as a roasted beet salad, prosciutto San Daniele Riserva, orechiette with sweet sausage and rapini, grilled lamb chop with eggplant, roasted cherry tomatoes and a limoncello and poppy seed torta. (9/28/07)
Overall: A- $$$$

CATFISH ALLEY
3620 E. Flamingo Road; 450-3474

It's pretty much all fried, all the time at Catfish Alley, but that's OK (as long as your cardiologist doesn't mind), because they sure know how to fry. We loved the fried green beans and the corn nuggets — crisp-coated lumps of creamed corn — and also the hush puppies, catfish, fried shrimp and baked beans. (5/1/09)
Overall: A- $

KILROY'S
1021 S. Buffalo Drive (also at 4340 S. Grand Canyon Drive); 363-4933

Kilroy's reputation as the home of top-notch burgers is time-honored but there's no resting on laurels here; they continue to bring it each and every day. Don't be scared off by the poker-bar location because the dining room is blissfully smoke-free — all the better to enjoy such half-pound all-American delights as The Bleu Baron with blue cheese and a mountain of onion straws, the Three Cheese Mushroom Burger with jack, Cheddar and Swiss and plenty of gently sauteed 'shrooms, a side of crisp shoestring fries and cups of decent enough baked beans and cole slaw. (5/11/09)
Overall: A $
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/46453717.html

Christopher Kenney’s job description is “Mistress of Sensuality” in Cirque du Soleil’s “Zumanity” at New York-New York. The description really belongs to his drag creation and other self, Edie, an impossibly tall, black-haired throwback to 1960s chanteuses with long, slender (and large-kneed) legs. Kenney developed those legs as a professional ballet dancer in Oregon, before creating Edie in 2000 in New York City. Kenney — and Edie — joined “Zumanity” as its hostess in January 2008.

“Zumanity” is more pan-sexual than the usual Vegas topless revue or male strip show. How do you make the audience comfortable?

Edie adds a finesse to it. She makes it accessible, so it’s not scary. I’m kind of scooping everybody up and taking them with me, so everyone is “us” — not “us” and “them.”

More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/29/mistress-sensuality-makes-zumanity-accessible/

Guitar great Carlos Santana launched his residency in Las Vegas last night with the first performance of his new show Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits. The music legend has a two-year contract of performances at The Rogue Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.

The show opened with a surprise guest group of percussionists from The Lion King at Mandalay Bay, who made their way through the crowd drumming and then onto the stage, where they joined Carlos and his band, reports our contributing photographer Erik Kabik. It turned into a percussion jam that led into the classic tune “Soul Sacrifice,” followed by an uplifting “Everybody’s Everything,” which featured a heavy showcase of his horn section.

Santana immediately launched into his soaring guitar solos and leads that he’s so well known for that seem to transcend the music itself.

Said Erik: “I liken Santana and his style to such jazz greats as John Coltrane and Miles Davis or rock guitarists Jerry Garcia and Jimi Hendrix. Like Santana, their soloing style seemed to be channeled from a higher place and took them into a trance-like state during their delivery of the music. Santana always seems to take his art to the next level and plays with intention and emotion, and he appears to be having a good time, always stopping to enjoy the grooves of his band and take it all in for himself, as well.”

His band mates of many years Chester Thompson on the keyboards, Raul Rekow on congas and the other members of the band were in top form for this opening night show. Song after song, the band delved deep into its 40-year archive of music. The most notable tunes were a rendition of John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme,” plus “Incident at Neshbur, “Jingo” and the crowd-pleasers “Smooth,” “I Ain’t Got Nobody That I Can Depend On” and the great Abraxas album tunes “Black Magic Woman” and “Oyo Coma Va.”

Erik summed up: “It was a highly charged set of music from one of the greatest guitar players of all time. He sounds as fresh on his leads as ever and has that signature attack and tonality that sets him apart the minute you hear his fingers touch the strings. It was a great premiere for what is sure to be a legendary run of shows over the next two years in Vegas.”

There are no ifs, ands or butts about this story: The Crazy Girls are on the move across America. Don’t misunderstand: They are still appearing in their topless show at the Riviera, but now a Crazy Girls Cafe is coming to a neighborhood near you!

Producer-owner Norbert Aleman is in New Orleans today getting ready to unveil the first Crazy Girls Cafe in the French Quarter. Then he has ambitious plans set for a string of them from as nearby as Reno — the second outpost — to as far away as Atlantic City, N.J.

Norbert tells me that his dancers will strut their stuff atop the bar and customer tables at each place, and there’ll be a gorgeous female singer who’ll play mistress to oversee the party hijinx.

“It’s a fun, wild concept that marries fabulous food with delicious drinks and an outrageous party feel,” Norbert told me. “It’s priced right so people will want to shake off the economic blues with a real fun night out without feeling pained when the check arrives.”

Norbert expects to have 10 of them open over the next 12 months under terms of a deal he has made with a Las Vegas gaming entertainment company.

There's more than just the heat headed to Las Vegas for the summer season. The season's kick-off starts with the Fremont Street Experience and the Summer of '69: Vegas or Bust. Fremont Experience has put together an outstanding plan that includes performances that started on Memorial Day and run all the way through Labor Day week-end. What a great way to celebrate and great for the Fremont Street Experience, too.The line-up for Summer of '69 includes performances by The Guess Who, Jefferson Starship, The 5th Dimension and even Three Dog Night, just to mention a few. Bring back memories? You bet. Let's face it,the music from forty years ago was pretty good…, and I should know!

For those of you who missed Mamma Mia at Mandalay Bay and for those of you that still remember all the music of the Swedish band ABBA, here's your chance to reunite with that special sound. It's the Ultimate ABBA Concert. The Las Vegas Hilton introduces both locals and visitors alike to what has been acclaimed the greatest tribute band around when Abbacadabra appears for three nights only starting June 12.Call the Hilton's box office (702) 732-5755 for ticket information. The familiar sounds, the dancing, the swaying and all that feel-good attitude will take everyone to the ABBA experience we all love. Abbacadabra is managed by Mirage Tribute Bands which is headed up by Jerry Greenberg and James Elliot. Greenberg signed ABBA in 1974 to their first U.S. deal when he was president of Atlantic Records and says he knows ABBA inside and out. In addition, Elliot says Abbacadabra is like watching the real deal. Guess you might say these guys have the inside track on the sights and sounds Abbacadabra brings to their audiences.

Carmen Electra will make a guest appearance at MGM's Crazy Horse Paris for one week beginning July 8th. Another line-up change is Holly Madison's replacement of Kelly Monoco in Peepshow at Planet Hollywood, beginning June 7. One of the original plansfor the show was to change some of the leads every 3 months.

The words were eloquent as friends spoke at the Memorial Service for Danny Gans at the Encore on Thursday. This was by invitation only but Danny's longtime manager, Chip Lightman thought it only appropriate to offer a limited number of invitations to Danny's fans on his website. His 3 children, who idolized him, spoke eloquently at the service, wore his favorite colors, and son, Andrew, his father's signatuare"spectator" shoes and red socks. Other tributes came from Mayor Oscar Goodman, Steve Wynn, and an especially emotional send-off by Donnie Osmond. George Wallace, on a lighter side, was both touching and funny. Other attendees were Clint and Kelly Holmes, Rita Rudner, and The Scintas, to name a few. All in all, a beautiful farewell to a fine gentlemen.

Steve Tyrell, who is referred to as the Ultimate Vocalist, will be appearing at the Golden Nugget starting June 12. Not only is Steve known for hisvocals he's also been key to production and collaboration of hits by such artists as Linda Rondstadt, Rod Stewart, Ray Charles and Dolly Parton to name a few.. His visits to Las Vegas have become few and far between and Steve's fans are glad to see him return for this limited engagement.

The Luxor is going to be offering some special deals to introduce the latest addition to their lineup, Menopause the Musical.. Menopause will be sharing the showroom with Carrot Top and Fantasy. and Paige O'Hara will be sharing the spotlight with Queen Emily of America's Got Talent. fame. As of this writing, Menopause will be presented at 4:30 PM. If they add any more shows the Luxor would have created a tenement. The Luxor's huge east facadeis also becoming the base for the promotion of selected feature films.
http://reportonvegas.com/

This open-to-the-public car wash includes exteriors only with a $5 on-site cash donation. There will also be a food booth sponsored by McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon, and an old-fashioned, fun-filled dunk tank. Should be a lot of fun and plenty of eye candy to ogle.

More Show Dates For Bette
Good news for Bette Midler fans. Her hit show at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace, The Showgirl Must Go On, has added 36 new dates for this year — from Aug. 11-Sept. 6, Oct. 14-25 and Nov. 3-15. Tickets for all are now on sale. If you haven’t seen it already, make it a point to do so as Midler’s 90-minute extravaganza flaunts plenty of girls and gags and features an enchanting repertoire of her greatest hits, with some of Midler’s favorite characters like Delores Delago – the wheelchair-bound mermaid – and Soph, the oldest living showgirl in Las Vegas. Great fun, great music and lots of energy. A real feel-good event.

Palazzo Introduces Farmer’s Market
How would you like to get your fresh produce at a Farmer’s Market in the Palazzo? Your wish will come true as Celebrity Chef Mario Batali makes it a reality on June 3 from Noon to 6 p.m. where local farmers will set up the Farmer’s Market at the Palazzo Waterfall Atrium, providing fresh produce for guests and restaurant chefs to purchase and sample.

Additionally, biodynamic wines presented by restaurateur/winemaker Joe Bastianich will be available to taste. Products such as tomatoes, cucumbers, honey, organic juices, and artisan bread will entice you to indulge in the greener side of Vegas as you walk through the beautiful waterfall atrium. The Farmer’s Market will celebrate Chef Batali’s three certified-green restaurants by the Green Restaurant Association: Carnevino at The Palazzo and B&B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco at The Venetian.

Batali said, “I hope that this will be just the beginning for all of our friends in Las Vegas to help preserve our planet for the generations to come and to participate in long term goal oriented decision making in all of our businesses.”

The Farmer’s Market will consist of displays dedicated to produce with seven local farmers throughout the space selling items such as local quail, chicken and duck eggs, apricots, peaches, figs, golden tomatoes, local desert honey, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, white peaches, local herbs, tomatoes, asparagus, bread, a variety of lettuces and fresh juice from a local orchard.  The displays will be placed throughout the atrium space.

To conclude the festive event, an exclusive “Green” three course, prix fixe dinner menu will be available at Carnevino at The Palazzo. Priced at $45 a person, with dishes such as Emerald Lettuce Steak House Wedge with Sweet Garlic and Carne Cruda with “The Farm” quail egg. You don’t want to miss this menu and the price is right. For reservations, call Carnevino directly at 702-789-4141.

As we head into summer and many locals are figuring out what to do with their kids — or if you‘re visiting, wondering what you might see that‘s a little bit different, let me recommend any one or all three of the following: Haunted Vegas Tour, Vegas Mob Tour and Las Vegas Séance.

All are the brainchildren of Robert Allen, a comedian who graced Las Vegas stages for almost 25 years before retiring in 1999.

“I had spent more than 30 years working in 28 shows and it was time to do something else,” he says. “I started off with producing a show called Shock! but I think we were a little ahead of our time and couldn’t seem to find the right audience for it, plus I couldn’t find a good room that would take it. So that was the end of that, but in the meantime, I had an interest in the paranormal — ghosts and parapsychology — and had, for many years, been going on ghost tours in different cities around the country.

“My wife and I were talking one day and thought it would be wonderful if we could do a ghost tour in Vegas. So I went on the Internet and found that Redd Foxx’s house was haunted, Liberace’s restaurant in the Plaza was haunted and Bugsy Siegel’s monument was haunted. I said, ‘Hey, not only do we have ghosts, but they’re famous’.”

And so the Haunted Vegas Tour was born. Allen says he bought a van and for the first year, “a big night was three or four people. Then it sort of took off and now we’re doing 30 to 50 people a night. The tour is offered six days a week — every day but Friday — and it runs two and a half hours. We have flat screen TVs on the bus that show actual ghost photos, and we take you to a haunted location and let you go ghost hunting. So it’s not a Halloween ride in any respect. It has to do with parapsychology and actual documented ghost stories from the History Channel. Everything you see has been recorded on Haunted Nevada, which was one of the History Channel’s stories.”

The tour is now in its fourth year. It leaves at 9:30 p.m. each night from the Royal Resort at 99 Convention Center Dr. and costs $56.25 per person.

People taking the haunted tour were responsible for Allen’s next venture. “While we were doing the Haunted Tour, people would always be asking us if the Mob was still here. There remains a big fascination with that and after hearing this for some two years, my wife said, ‘If they’re asking for it, why not give it to them?’

Allen began looking into Las Vegas Mob stories — Tony Spilotro, Bugsy Siegel etc. and decided to give it a try. “Like the Haunted Tour, the Vegas Mob Tour started out with a little van and for a while only had two or three people, but now it’s up to 20 to 30 a night.” As with the Haunted Tour, it runs every night but Friday and leaves at 6 p.m. from the Royal Resort as well. It also runs two and a half hours. “The bus has flat screen TVs where we show Bugsy’s morgue shots, the car bombing of Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, autopsy pictures, and lots of great footage.”

Allen’s consultants are an “ex-FBI agent who arrested the Hole-in-the-Wall gang, and Frank Cullotta, who was Tony Spilotro’s hit man.” Spilotro was the Chicago Mob’s man who oversaw their Las Vegas operations. “Both men have given me authorization to use their stories, so its all authentic. We don’t make up anything.”

To provide some relief to his tours, Allen employs four tour guides, who are all entertainers of various forms — magicians, comedians etc. “They dress up as mobsters for the Mob Tour and as undertakers with top hats for the Haunted Tour. In fact, one of our guys who conducts the Haunted Tour is a licensed mortician, so that brings a lot of questions from those taking the tour. Although are tours are serious, these guys bring some entertainment while we go from one venue to the next.”

Allen opened a new show this year called Las Vegas Séance which is a 7-day a week, 30-person live séance beginning at 10 p.m. All he would say is that it is held at a secret location that is actually haunted. Like the other tours, it starts from the Royal Resort and the ticket price of $56.25 is the same for each tour.
http://www.lennyslasvegas.com/

While unknown to America, Human Nature, made up of brothers, Andrew and Michael Tierney, and high school friends, Toby Allen and Phil Burton, has toured with top names in the music business including Celine Dion and Michael Jackson. They have 23 platinum records and five No. 1 albums.

Human Nature's clean cut young men have been together for 20 years and met Robinson in Los Angeles a couple years ago when they recorded "Get Ready" with the legend.

The Imperial Palace's 653-seat showroom was remodeled during the few months that it was closed. The room boasts a new sound system, while the stage has a new set and lighting designs. Human Nature has signed a one-year contract.

HOLLY MADISON JOINS "PEEPSHOW" AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD
"Peepshow," the new striptease spectacular at Planet Hollywood, has announced blonde bombshell Holly Madison will join the cast on June 22 and be replacing "General Hospital's" Kelly Monaco, a "Dancing with the Stars" champion.

With a plan to feature rotating headliners, Madison, who appeared on this season's "Dancing with the Stars," will be strapping on her dancing stilettos and taking over the role of "Bo Peep," a modern woman who has yet to find her own confidence and sexuality.

Model Madison is best known for appearing as one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends on the reality TV series "The Girls Next Door" and modeling for "Playboy."

DISNEY'S 'THE LION KING' HAS EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY AT MANDALAY PLACE An exhibit that celebrates the inspiration and reveals the evolution of the groundbreaking Disney's "The Lion King" production is now on display indefinitely at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place. The award-winning Broadway phenomenon is playing now at the Mandalay Bay Theatre.

"The Lion King" exhibit features historical photographs, imagery from "The Lion King" productions around the world, and maquette models designed by Tonyr Award-winning director Julie Taymor that served as prototypes for the countless costumes and puppets developed for the show.

As visitors stroll through the shop area, they can experience a behind-the-scenes tour that shares the making of "The Lion King," including its choreography, costumes, puppets, masks, music, journey from film to stage and more. Since its Broadway opening on Nov. 13, 1997, "The Lion King" has been seen by 45 million people in 11 countries.

STATOSPHERE LAUNCHES THE BACK ALLEY BAR The Stratosphere has launched the Back Alley Bar, a new casual party bar with live music Thursday through Sunday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., daily drink specials, 12 beers on tap, street tacos and casual food, and the "Back Alley Babes," who are Daisy Duke-clad dancing beverage servers. The Back Alley Bar in the north casino area features specialty cocktails and teas, which are $9.

1. Room Rates – Golden Gate et al. – - $19 and up
Room rates continue to top the Top Ten, down 30% and more off the traditional averages through June and barreling into the big summer-discount season. This is the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the Las Vegas Advisor that rates have bridged the gap between our traditional number-one room deals months (December and July).

2. Steak Dinner – Ellis Island – 24 hours – $6.95
The complete steak dinner at Ellis Island is the best-value meal deal in a city full of good-value meal deals. It’s a 10-ounce filet-cut sirloin, which comes with salad, garlic green beans, choice of potato, and fresh microbrewed beer, all for $6.95.

3. Shrimp Cocktail – Golden Gate – 11 am-2 am – 99¢
All you have to do is show a players club card to get the shrimp at the old 99-cent price; otherwise, you pay $1.99. Sure, the extra step (if you’re not already a member) is a little inconvenient, but a coupl of sign-up bennies mitigate the five-minute detour. More important, the shrimp are bigger and better than ever.

4. Buffet – M Resort – Daily – $8.95-$25.95
We finally tried M Resort’s Studio B Buffet and all we can say is “Wow!” This spread sets a new standard for buffets in the Buffet Capital of the World. Yes, the lines are still a problem, but once you’re inside, the huge turnover of patrons ensures that the fresh food keeps coming and coming and coming. The freshness, quality, and variety (when was the last time you saw a chocolate souffle at a buffet?), along with prices that are among the lowest for a Las Vegas superbuffet, dictate that M’s Studio B take over the best-buffet position on the list.

5. Prime Rib – South Point – 24 hours – $12.95
The prime rib deal at South Point is a stunner. It's advertised as 10 ounces, but that’s underestimating it by about half. Plus, it’s served 24 hours a day in the coffee shop, with your choice of soup or salad, potato, and rolls if you ask. If you have a hankerin' for a prime rib special, it's worth the trip down to South Point.

6. Fontana Bar – Bellagio – Daily – $6
The $6 charge at the Fontana Lounge is the cost of a beer to satisfy the one-drink minimum and see the show in Las Vegas’ classiest lounge, which overlooks the dancing fountains and the center Strip, and has live music from 10 pm on weekdays and earlier on weekends.

7. Lunch Comp – Crown & Anchor – Daily – $20 Buy-in
Rooms might be priced at rock bottom (see #1), but games and comps seem to be tightening. Bucking the trend is the long-time lunch comp at the Crown & Anchor pubs. The free lunch with a $20 video poker buy-in has appeared in the Top Ten in months past, but we revisited it recently and it’s still going strong. Plus, if you miss lunch, the $20 buy-in entitles you to a free appetizer (including the great chicken fingers) from 3 pm to midnight. And all the while, you’re also drinking comped premium draft beers from around the world. It’s ironic that the best comp in Comp City is now available outside the casinos (locations are at 1350 E. Tropicana and 4775 Spring Mountain).

8. Show Discounts – Cirque du Soleil – Daily – Five Shows
New this month is Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever appearance in the Top Ten. But in a nutshell, you can buy one ticket to any of the five Las Vegas Cirque shows (Mystère, O, KÀ, Zumanity, and LOVE) and get a second ticket for $25. We’ve never seen anything like this for any Cirque show and all indications are that you can save a bundle.

9. Beer – Casino Royale – Daily – $1
The $1 beer special at Casino Royale is back. You can find a lot of dollar beer deals around town, but Casino Royale serves bottled Michelob around the clock right in the heart of center Strip. Or you can opt for $1 margaritas (traditional or strawberry served in 12-ounce plastic glasses).