'NSYNC, the five-member all-male vocal group from Orlando, Fla., will bring their "Celebrity Tour 2002" to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, March 15, with special guest Ginuwine. Tickets are $50, $75 and $115 plus applicable service charges.

In less than three years, 'NSYNC has obtained global stardom. Their self-titled 1998 debut album sold more than 10 million copies. The follow-up album, "No Strings Attached," broke records and sold 2.4 million albums in its first week. The group's latest offering, "Celebrity," is a collection of pure dance music.

The legendary super-group, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, will bring their 35-city, three-month "Tour of America" to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, March 29. Tickets are $51, $76, $101 and $226.

"Tour of America" follows on the heels of last year's epic success. The three-hour 2000 show was seen by more than 500,000 North American fans.

Tickets to see 'NSYNC and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000. One dollar from each ticket for both shows will go to charity.

The Brown Derby at the MGM Grand will close soon and be replaced by Craft, a New York steakhouse. Bobby Barrett who performs in the lounge as a Frank Sinatra soundalike will temporarily move his act over to Neyla, a nearby Middle Eastern restaurant on Studio Row, and then return to the new restaurant when it opens.

Penn & Teller, named 2001 Magicians of the Year in Las Vegas, will return to the 1,500-seat Samba Theater at the Rio, Feb. 8-25. Tickets to witness the eccentric comedic magic pair are $55.

The award-winning duo have been together since 1975. They are the consummate tricksters who were recently named two of the funniest people alive in "Entertainment Weekly's - 50 Greatest Comedians Today" issue.

Jay White, who has been performing as Neil Diamond for 20 years, has opened a new show in the Le Bistro Theatre at the Riviera. He was in the "Legends In Concert" show at the Imperial Palace for nine years playing Diamond until 1997 when he decided to move on in his career. His show times are 7 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets are $24.95 plus fee and tax, call 702-794-9433.

White, who looks like the superstar, has achieved all the facets of Diamond himself, from the singer's vocal sound to his mannerisms and facial expressions. Many family members including Diamond's mother and son, and his band members have seen White perform and have commented positively on his uncanny likeness.

Comedy magician Fielding West will open his show "The Fielding West Show: Comedy, Tricks and Naked Chicks!" show in the Big Easy Showroom at the Bourbon Street Hotel & Casino on Feb. 14. His new show features shocking illusions, tongue-in-cheek renditions of classic magic and good-natured audience participation. His three scantily clad assistants make for pleasant diversions. West's show will be nightly except Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. Tickets will be $29.95 plus tax with two drinks included, call 702-737-7200.

Siegfried ∓ Roy's protege Darren Romeo will debut his new magic show on Feb. 14. Romeo, known as the "Voice of Magic," starred in the off-Broadway musical, "The Fantasticks," prior to coming to Las Vegas.

Comedian / ventriloquist Jeff Dunham will headline at the Monte Carlo, Feb. 15-17. Tickets are $30.25, call 702-730-7160.

Dunham's sidekicks include the elderly curmudgeon Walter, the endearing terror Peanut (a Woozle) and Jose, the self-deprecating jalapeno on a stick. He is the only two-time winner of the "Ventriloquist of the Year" award. The TNN Music City News Country Awards have also nominated him twice as "Comedian of the Year."

A Chinese New Year celebration will be held at New York - New York on Friday, Feb. 15, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The celebration complete with a Dragon parade, dancers, music and drinks will begin at the Brooklyn Bridge and make its way through the casino. The parade will include the Lion Dance that chases away the evil sprits and the Dragon Dance that bring happiness, health and good luck.

Les Brown's Band of Renown, enjoying newfound popularity under the leadership of the renowned bandleader's son, will appear in the Stardust Pavilion at the Stardust on Feb. 9. Admission for an evening of music and dancing is $15.

The orchestra has been a fixture on the American popular music scene since the 1930s. The elder Brown led his own band continuously since his days as a student at Duke University. The Guinness Book of World Records lists him as the leader of the longest musical organization in the history of pop music. He was 88 years old when he issued his last downbeat.

Les Brown, Jr. has been associated with the band since 1960 and eventually took the baton over following his father's death. He attended his father's alma mater and joined the band as a vocalist. Over the years, he assisted his father in the management of the band and in the production of recordings.

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"Las Vegas Life" magazine recently hosted the Third Annual Epicurean Awards at The Stirling Club and honored Las Vegas' best restaurants and chefs in 20 categories with elegant awards designed by Tiffany & Co. The program's host was singer Clint Holmes who stars in his own show at Harrah's. He began the festivities with an original ditty sung to the Billy Joel tune "We Didn't Start the Fire." Holmes' song was "We Didn't Start the Diet."

Winners were determined by the magazine's readers who completed ballots last October, November and December and they are featured in the February issue that's on the newsstands now. Winners this year include triple honors (Best Service, Best Restaurant on the Strip and Best Restaurant Overall) going to Commander's Palace At Desert Passage. Last year, the restaurant won the "Best New Restaurant on the Strip" category.

Alessandro Stratta of Renoir at The Mirage was honored for the second year as "Best Chef de Cuisine." Additional repeat winners this year include Rosemary's (Best Restaurant Off the Strip), Aureole (Best Wine List), Andre's (Best French), Prime (Best Steakhouse) and Circo (Best Desserts).

The remaining category winners were Aureole (Best American), Bally's Sterling Brunch (Best Brunch), Chinois (Best Chinese), Red Square (Best Cocktails), Lupo (Best Italian), Jack's Velvet Lounge at WB 16 (Best Lounge), Garduno's (Best Mexican), Roy's (Best News Restaurant off the Strip), Nobhill (Best New Restaurant on the Strip) and Aqua (Best Seafood).

The biggest honor of the night went to Wolfgang Puck, who was awarded the first ever Vanguard Award. The award has been created to honor an individual who stands out as an innovator, creator and trendsetter. The recipient is a person who has impacted the Las Vegas community with his talent and work.

Puck is considered the man who changed the way Las Vegas eats. In the early 1990s, he opened Spago Las Vegas at the upscale Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and introduced celebrity chefs to the area. Since then, many celebrity chefs have followed and Las Vegas is now known for its fine dining as well as its buffets.

One of the country's most recognizable stand-up comediennes, Rita Rudner, is now a successful author with her first novel "Tickled Pink." The book was released last November and already it is in its second printing as it climbs to the top of best-seller lists around the country.

"Tickled Pink" takes a comedic look at the lives of two women in the 1980s, one an aspiring stand-up comic and the other an aspiring supermodel.

Magicians of the Century Siegfried & Roy were surprise honorees at the recent 25th World Magic Seminar held at the Riviera. As founders of the annual magic convention, The Mirage stars were cited for their support of fellow magicians and for their contributions to the craft.

In addition to their honors, Siegfried & Roy presented their annual SARMOTI award to Roxanne as the convention's top up-and-coming magician and the Golden Lion's Head award to Bin Lin as the seminar's favorite magician as voted by all the convention attendees. Roxanne is from Germany, and Bin Lin is from China.

The 40-piece Alexander Calder exhibit that was originally scheduled to open at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art on Oct. 6 is now open through July 24. Tickets are $12, and $10 for students. For information, call 702-693-7722.

While waiting to be transported to Las Vegas, Calder's pieces unexpectedly got trapped in a warehouse four blocks from the World Trade Center rubble. Rare Calder pieces from his metal mobiles to a stone-and-wire toaster he made for his wife, Louisa, are comprising the exhibit.

Howard Stern will be broadcasting his show from the Hard Rock Hotel, Feb. 5-7. The show will air live from 4 - 8 p.m. each night from the hotel, and then be broadcast in the morning Wednesday through Friday on his affiliate stations around the country.

The historic Mount Charleston Lodge with 23 cozy log cabins featuring king size sleigh beds, double whirlpools bathes, fireplaces and private decks is offering Valentine's Day packages from Feb. 8 - 17.

The package includes a gourmet dinner for two, Godiva chocolates, and a red rose on the pillow for $300 on weekdays and $400 per couple on weekends and Valentine's Day. Another option is a gourmet dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on weekends for $70 per person, plus tax and gratuity, call 702-872-5408.

Turnberry Place, the $650 million luxury high-rise residential community located on Paradise Road near Sahara Avenue, has topped off its second tower. When it's completed, there will be four towers and 740 residences. Sales began at Turnberry Place in January 1999 and 395 residences have been sold.

Turnberry Place has ten floor plans ranging from 1,550 to 8,000 square feet and they cost from $500,000 to more than $5.25 million. A 2,825-square-foot model residence is open at 2777 Paradise Road.

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