The show honoring Las Vegas' Golden Age "The Rat Pack Is Back" will open on March 25, at its new home, the 550-seat Congo Room at the Sahara. The show made its original debut at the Desert Inn last July and played to sell-out crowds. The original cast members are expected to be part of the show's resurgence at the Sahara.

"The Rat Pack Is Back" is a song, dance and comedy tribute to some of the performers who made Las Vegas the entertainment oasis it is today. From cocktail servers to showroom decor, the show will take audiences on a trip back in time.

Showtimes for "The Rat Pack Is Back" are 7:30 and 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with 8 p.m. shows on Wednesdays-Fridays and Sundays. Tickets are $34.95. For information, call 1-888-696-2121.

Effective today, the World of Coca-Cola Las Vegas will close its two-story, 28,000-square-foot museum chronicling the history of the Coca-Cola brand, located on the Strip at the Showcase mall. The attraction opened two-and-a-half years ago on July 7, 1997. This closure comes in the of wake of a major worldwide restructuring effort on behalf of the 113-year old company.

The good news is the Las Vegas retail outlet Everything Coca-Cola, which occupies the first two floors, will remain open and the 110-foot contour Coke-bottle elevator will stay in operation.

This is the second major tenant at the Showcase mall to close recently. The Official All-Star Cafe owned by Planet Hollywood closed in January. A spokesperson for the mall says a third phase is in the works and an announcement will be made soon naming a tenant to replace the All-Star restaurant.

A very bright and talented comedy magician Mac King has found a new home at Harrah's performing twice daily at 1 and 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, in the Comedy Cabaret on the second floor. King was doing very well with his one-man afternoon show at the Maxim before the casino and showroom were closed.

King has a truly engaging personality, original magic creations, visual gags, and superb sleigh-of-hand. It's his genuine childlike silliness; however, that catches audiences off guard especially his infamous "Cloak of Invisibility" routine. King puts on an ordinary yellow-hooded raincoat that possesses "extraordinary" powers that render him invisible. The insanity of the routine is captivating.

King's talent has been recognized by many television guest appearances including seven NBC specials. He's the only performer to have appeared on all five of NBC's "World's Greatest Magic" shows. Tickets for King's shows are $9.95 plus tax, call 800-392-9002.

Latin sensation, Luis Miguel will appear at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for one show on Saturday, April 29. Tickets are $30, $55, $75 and $150, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

Miguel recorded his first album at age 12 in 1982. By age 15, he won his first Grammy for a duet with Sheena Easton, "Me Gustas Tal Como Eres." In 1993, he produced his ninth album, "Aries" and won his second Grammy.

Other career highlights include being the first Latin singer to completely sell-out New York's Madison Square Garden, and also the first Latin artist to achieve four consecutive sold-out performances at the Universal Amphitheater. Miguel also had the honor of performing with Frank Sinatra on the duet "Come Fly With Me" for the album "Sinatra Duets II."

Effective March 1, the ticket price for Cirque du Soleil's "Mystere" at Treasure Island was increased to $75 plus tax. Tickets are sold up to one month in advance, call 800-392-1999 or 702-796-9999. The show featuring an international cast of 72 champion caliber artists has played to capacity crowds since its debut in 1993.

Bobby Vinton, the "Polish Prince," will return to the Riviera's Royale Pavilion with its new high-tech skybox viewing for two special shows on March 10 and 11. His opening act will be comedian Vic Dunlop. Tickets are $35 plus taxes and fee, call 702-794-9280 or click on www.theriviera.com.

Vinton's hit-making capability has been evident for the past 25 years with songs such as "Roses Are Red," "Blue Velvet" and "Mr. Lonely." The release of "My Melody Of Love" was embraced by Polish-Americans around the country and adopted as their new national anthem. After that, Vinton's autobiography, "The Polish Prince" was published.

A new pedestrian bridge connecting the Rio resort to the Las Vegas Strip is nearly complete. The new bridge costing the Rio $900,000 is a walkway that will take patrons over I-15 on-and-off-ramps and allow them to avoid traffic.

Sinbad will bring his clean comedy to the Las Vegas Hilton on March 17 and 18. His debut in the 1980s on the television show "Star Search" was a good career launching pad even though he never won. Seven appearances and being a finalist caught the eyes of veteran comedians Redd Foxx and Bill Cosby, and earned Sinbad roles on "The New Redd Foxx Show" and Cosby's "A Different World."

More television shows and movies followed. In 1997, Sinbad released a book, "Sinbad's Guide To Life (Because I Know Everything,)" published by Bantom Books. Tickets to Sinbad's shows are $45 and $55, call 800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

More comedy will prevail at The Desert Inn, March 1 6-19, when Dennis Miller headlines. Host to the Emmy and Cable Ace award-winning half hour talk show "Dennis Miller Live," Miller stays busy performing live shows, making television appearances and acting. His first book, a New York Times bestseller, was "The Rants," formatted after his five-minute rants on his talk show.

Tickets for Miller's 9 p.m. shows in the Crystal Showroom are $60. Cocktails, tax and gratuity are not included in the price, call 800-634-6906 or 702-733-4566.

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One of the original "Legends" is back. Sherie Rae Parker has returned to the award-winning "Legends In Concert" show at the Imperial Palace with her incredible portrayal of the Devine Miss M. In April 1983, Parker joined the original cast and since then has captivated audiences all over the world.

Parker joins the current cast featuring impersonations of Tom Jones, The Four Tops, Shania Twain, Liberace and Elvis Presley. "Legends In Concert" is presented nightly except Sunday at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $34.50, and $19.50 for children 12 and under, with two drinks, tax and tip included.

Sunset Station's nine-table poker room received a Four-Star Poker Room Award by readers of "Poker Digest Magazine" in its fifth annual poll, conducted by the Bad Poker Players Association, an organization of players that supports the game nationwide. Sunset Station is the only Nevada poker room, and just one of three nationally to be honored.

You can literally find talent hanging around in Las Vegas. Youlia Galenko, a Russian rhythmic gymnast who won a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics, spins and twirls from an aerial rope over patrons at the rumjungle inside Mandalay Bay. She takes the stage every Thursday through Saturday, and does a routine five times a night.

Air Vegas Airlines, the Las Vegas-based Grand Canyon charter air tour company, is expanding its air tour service on March 15, with the Grand Canyon Indian Country Adventure. The tour includes a flight over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and the west end of the Grand Canyon, a ground tour with Native American guides, and an authentic Native American Rustic Cookout overlooking the Canyon.

The two legendary tenors of Arabic music, Wadi Al-Safi and Sabah Fakrhi, will perform for the first time in the United States at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, March 11, for a benefit concert to support the American University of Beirut. The event will also feature Shaheen's fusion ensemble Qantara, and the nationally-acclaimed Adam Basma Middle Eastern Dance Company. Tickets are $50, $75, $150 and $250 for VIP, call 877-313-5758.

Fakhri's firm grounding in Arabic music theory and wide knowledge of Arabic poetry and literature have enabled him to document traditional Arabic music in a recent multi-part audio-visual series, titled "Nagham al-Ams" (Tunes of the Past), which consists of well over 150 vocal compositions in the traditional genres.

Al-Safi is one of the most prominent Lebanese and Arab composer singers of his time and is often described as the "Voice of Lebanon." He has composed over 3,000 songs.

The Lied Discovery Children's Museum, just blocks from the Fremont Street Experience at 833 Las Vegas Blvd. South, opened its new Early Childhood Pavilion and Desert Discovery Exhibition in mid-February. In development for three years, the 2,000-square-foot exhibition was built to meet the developmental needs of young children ages five and younger and other parents and caregivers.

Desert Discovery is a hands-on pavilion of fun and learning opportunities, which includes four play areas with a Nevada desert theme. The four multi-sensory areas - Boulder Mountain, Cactus Construction, Baby Oasis and Desert in the Dark serve the different developmental stages and needs of the five and younger age group. Also included in the Pavilion is the Parent Resource Room offering educational information and workshops.

Since the Lied Discovery Children's Museum's inception 10 years ago, it has reached out to children 6-12 with hands-on exhibits. The new area for 5 and younger kicks off the museum's renovation project which will be done over the next two to three years.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors, military and children age 2-17. Members and children one and younger are free, call 702-382-KIDS for information.

MGM Grand has entered into a partnership this year with the Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel team and team driver Doug Kalitta for the 2000 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Winston Drag Racing season which includes the April ... race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

MGM Grand and Kalitta Motorsports will generate an extensive marketing program that includes an impressive presence in the pit area as well as a broad collection of souvenir merchandise items. A replica of the 6,000-horsepower MGM Grand racing machine will be placed along the MGM Grand's Studio Walk, a 115,000-square-foot shopping promenade. Additional details will be forthcoming relating to exclusive offers for members of the MGM Grand Racing fan club.

A free Boulder Blues Series will continue at Boulder Station every Monday in March from 8 to 11 p.m. Some of the country's best blues entertainers are lined up to perform each Monday night. Blues singer and guitarist Kenny Neal is scheduled on March 13. Brain Auger, "The Godfather of Acid Jazz," is booked on March 29. The Nighthawks will bring their blend of blues, soul and rockabilly to The Railhead stage on March 27. For information, call 702-432-7575.

On Saturday, March 11, X-treme Radio will host the second annual "X-treme Toy Show" at the All American Sportpark, located at 121 E. Sunset across from McCarran Airport. The event offers a variety of interactive booths and displays, featuring the latest in technology, sports, collectibles and toys. Professional BMX and skateboard demonstrations will also take place. Last year the event drew over 10,000 people.

Admission to the "X-treme Toy Show" is free and will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beginning at 7 p.m., The Suicide Machines and Goldfinger will lead a live "X-treme music showcase. Unlimited ride passes for the All American Sportpark will be available that day at $5 off the regular price, which includes batting cages, race cars, rock climb and more. Call 702-317-7777 for information.

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