The Edgewater unveiled its remodeled poker room at the beginning of March with the first noticeable change being more privacy. The resort enclosed the poker room by adding walls and tinted windows. This change reduced the noise from nearby slot machines while allowing passersby to view the poker games in progress without disturbing the players.

More players are being accommodated since the poker room now features six tables. There is less waiting time to join a game. A nice bonus for players is free cold cuts and hors d'oeuvres each evening between 5-7 p.m. Additionally, free poker lessons are offered daily at 2 and 6 p.m.

The Edgewater's poker room offers a variety of casino poker games including Omaha Hi Lo Split, Seven Card Stud and Texas Hold `Em, with games opening as players demand.

The new poker room continues featuring daily "Pineapple Tournaments" and ongoing "Hot Hands Cold Cash 2000" tournaments (held eight times this year with a "$10,000 Champions Challenge" in December).

Poker players can also enjoy "Daily High Hand Awards" and "Bad Beat" jackpots which add cash bonuses to regular poker play.

The Ramada Express is holding a four day St. Patrick's Celebration from March 15-18. Tickets to the party are $15.95 and can be purchased at the hotel. A ticket includes Irish food, two drinks, entertainment, a $5 collector's chip, and the chance to win cash and prizes.

A souvenir mug will be given to you for an Irish toast and you can fill it up twice. The $5 collector's gaming chip commemorating the event can be a keepsake or played on a table.

The Irish feast with corned beef, Irish soda bread, potato pancakes and leprechaun lime pie is served in the Pavilion from 5-9 p.m. The Blarney band will provide entertainment with singing and dancing.

The Ramada Expess will provide their version of the Blarney Stone for rubbing luck off the famed rock. Your drawing ticket may win cash and prizes. The evening is topped off with a souvenir photo taken with Miss Leprechaun.

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In keeping with the Irish theme, Dublin's Irish Cabaret is booked at the Ramada on March 18 and again March 21-23. This traditional cabaret show has enjoyed a 24 year run at Dublin's leading hotel, The Burlington. The show is touring America this year for the second time ever. Tickets are $17.50.

Dublin's Irish Cabaret features a strong cast of dancers, singers, and an Irish comedian, Noel V. Ginnity. The Mae Crean Dancers do a tribute to "Riverdance" and switch from traditional to contemporary to stylish modern dance. One dancer, Steven Byrne, was hand-picked by Michael Flatley to dance in the original "Riverdance - The Show." Bryne is currently being considered for Flatley's new show "Fleet of Flames 2000."

Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus will kick off the spring outdoor entertainment series at Harrah's on March 25 with an 8 p.m. show in the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater. Tickets are $22, call 1-800 HARRAHS or 702-298-4600.

Cyrus became an overnight sensation in 1992 when "Achy Breaky Heart" burst onto the airwaves. The song was on the album, "Some Gave All," which ranked as one of the 10 best selling albums of the 1990's and is the highest selling debut album in history. His new album is "Shot Full of Love."

It's bingo time at the Flamingo Hilton in the Silver Bullet Showroom every afternoon, Monday through Friday. One session is held each day, with nine games played during each session. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and games begin at 4 p.m. The cost is $3 per pack cash buy-in.

It will be "Erin Go Belle" at the Colorado Belle with St. Patrick's Day specials on Friday, March 17. You can begin the day at 10 a.m. by trying your hand at a perpetual slot tournament, (Wo) Man Vs. Machine. For a $10 entry fee, competitors get 10 minutes to rack up the best score they can. Prizes are awarded based on each individual's final score. Top prize is $1,000 offered each play session running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

From 4 to 6 p.m., the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner will be served for $4.99 in the Boiler Room Microbrewery and the Paddlewheel Restaurants.

In the Boiler Room from 4 to 10 p.m., a shot of Irish wiskey and a draft beer are $2.50. At 7 p.m., there's free live entertainment by The Dimes.

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