Susan Anton returned this weekend as the special guest in "The Great Radio City Spectacular" starring the Rockettes. She will headline through July 31, when the show will permanently close at the Flamingo Hilton.

Local resident Robert Goulet will illuminate The Orleans Showroom, June 29-July 2, when his rich baritone voice is enhanced by the accompaniment of an 18 piece orchestra.

Goulet took Broadway by storm in 1960 when he won the Theater World Award with his debut as Sir Lancelot in the original "Camelot" in 1960, that also starred Richard Burton and Julie Andrews.

The Robert Goulet Show will also feature Michael Goulet, Robert's son, who plays the bass guitar. Tickets are $39.95, $44.95 and $49.95 plus tax, call 702-365-7075.

It didn't take long for the new owner of the Mirage Resorts, the MGM Grand to sell 11 paintings from the Bellagio's art collection for $124 million. The whole collection was valued at $400 million. Steve Wynn, former Mirage Resorts chairman, owned half the collection and removed his portion when the company's sale was final and bought back three of the paintings the MGM sold.

The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is temporarily closed; however, the art collections on display at the Renoir and Picasso restaurants remain in tack. Plans call for the art gallery to reopen after an exhibition schedule in cooperation with art museums and art institutions is developed.

Meanwhile, Wynn has purchased the Desert Inn from Starwood Hotels & Resorts for $270 million. The 220-acre property includes an 18-acre golf course and 2,000 feet of Strip frontage.

Wynn plans to keep the 715-room Desert Inn open for the next four years while he develops and builds a new 3,000-room hotel focusing around gardens, courtyards, landscaping and natural light. He wants to improve upon his former masterpiece Bellagio and believes the days of the themed resort in Las Vegas are over. An art gallery where his personal art collection will be on display is planned for the new hotel. The fate of the Desert Inn hotel and the golf course are yet to be determined.

Wynn's new company is called Valvino Lamore, named after his Lithuanian immigrant grandfather who came to this country in 1914. He played Valvino in a vaudeville act that once had second billing to singer Al Jolson on Broadway.

Singer/magician Darren Romeo's popular afternoon show, "The Voice of Magic," at the Flamingo Las Vegas has been canceled. No doubt Romeo will resurface in time since his career is being managed by industry powerhouses: Kenneth Feld, Bernie Yuman and magicians Siegfried and Roy.

Funnyman Don Rickles will bring his notorious biting humor to the Crystal Showroom at The Desert Inn, July 6-9. Rickles has played top showrooms from Atlantic City to Las Vegas for over 35 years. His trademark insult style that evolved as he worked in nightclubs after his discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946, has earned him the nickname, "Mr. Warmth."

Rickles has been highly visible on television and in motion pictures. He appeared in Universal Pictures' "Casino" with Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone. Other cinematic accomplishments include roles in MGM's "Dirty Work" and two animated projects, the direct-to-video sequel "Toy Story" and Warner Brothers' "Quest For Camelot."

Rickles' opening act will be singer Denise Clemente. Tickets are $55. Cocktails, tax and gratuity are not included, call 800-634-6909 or 702-733-4566.

Comedian Bill Maher will perform two 9 p.m. shows in the 1,700-seat Mandalay Bay Theatre on June 30 and July 1. Tickets are $39.50 plus tax, call 877-632-7400 or 702-632-7580.

Maher is best known for his quick-witted, comedic talents as host of "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher." In 1993, Maher created a television forum for politicians, entertainers and journalists to discuss the most controversial topics of the day on the Comedy Network and the show won four CableACE Awards. "Politically Incorrect" is now in the post-"Nightline" time slot on ABC.

Harrah's has added Las Vegas lounge legend, Cook E. Jarr to its diverse entertainment lineup. On Fridays and Saturdays, from 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Harrah's transforms its second floor Comedy Cabaret into a Cook E-style lounge, complete with requisite rotating disco ball, multi-colored strobe lights and special effects. There's a two-drink minimum and no cover charge to see Cook E. Jarr.

Jarr has an unusual talent for creating fun, not only with his quirky humor and unique vocal impressions, but also with his amazing repertoire of songs. His flamboyant appearance and mannerisms enhance the party effect with `80s-style big hair, a double-breasted suit without a shirt, and numerous gold chains draped around his neck. He's the undisputed king of lounges in Las Vegas having been voted Best Lounge Performer at least 12 times by the local Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper since 1985.

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Motown legend Smokey Robinson, whose influence as a singer-songwriter for more than four decades has earned him 26 Top 40 hits, will headline at Caesars Palace, July 13-16.

Nobody except Motown founder Berry Gordy has been linked more closely with the Motown phenomenon than William "Smokey" Robinson, who served a dual role. Robinson was an in-house producer, songwriter and talent scout while leading his own group, the Miracles.

Robinson left the Miracles in 1972 and both continued successful careers. Robinson's individual hits included "Cruisin'" and "Being With You." Robinson remained an integral part of Motown until the company's sale to MCA in 1988, when he stepped down as vice-president. In 1990, he left the label and as an artist. His most recent album "Intimate," is the Grammy winner's first in eight years, and also marked his return to the Motown label in 1999.

Tickets to see Robinson at Caesars Palace are $60 and $65 with tax included, plus a $3 ticket-handling fee, call 800-445-4544 or 702-731-7333.

The new Summer Breeze Cafe at the Flamingo Las Vegas is tucked between the lush greenery and tropical gardens of the Garden Wedding Chapel and the blue waters of the Flamingo's Upper Pool. The existing Pool Grille, a fun and casual restaurant by day, is turned into an elegant Caribbean-style dining experience by night. There's indoor dining at plush booths and tables and outdoor eating at canopied tables.

The Caribbean-style food is plentiful and different. Here's a couple examples. The Lobster Medallion "Citronelle" is an appetizer featuring grilled lobster medallions served with lemon segments in a fava bean sauce. The garlic-crusted filet of Nassau Grouper is a main dish with pepper carib mash and wine tomato sauce.

Summer Breeze is open for dinner only from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, call 702-733-3333 for information.

The Rippingtons, featuring Russ Freeman, will perform at Sunset Station's outdoor amphitheater on Saturday, July 8. For the past decade, The Rippingtons have gathered fans with a sophisticated sound that combines jazz, pop, Latin and R&B. The group is one of f the most popular instrumental ensembles in the world. Originally, the band was conceived as a jazz band with a "revolving door" of players.

The current group released Freeman's tribute to Aldous Huxley, an album called "Brave New World." While Huxley's classic takes a dark view of the future, Freeman's album seeks out the future and celebrates it.

Tickets for The Rippingtons are$20, $25 and $30, call 702-547-7777.

Legendary rockers Cheap Trick will perform on Monday, July 3, at Mandalay Bay as part of the evening Bay Rock beach outdoor summer concert series. Concert-goers are invited to bring their blankets and sit on the beach or wade into the surf and listen to the music from the 1.6 million gallon wave pool. Tickets are $25 in advance and $28.50 the day of the show, call 702-474-4000.

Willie Nelson will perform at Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena on Sept. 2. By then, he'll have released three new albums through the summer. Tickets are $22.50, $28.50 and $37.50, call 800-286-7867 or 702-474-4000. Buffalo Bill's is located in Primm, NV off Interstate 15 at the Nevada/California border 40-minutes outside of Las Vegas.

Wayne Newton returned to the Stardust this week to kick-off a nine-week engagement through Aug. 15, in the 950-seat theater that bears his name. Newton plays the Stardust 40 weeks a year and is joined by the 20-piece Greg Macaluso Orchestra. Tickets are $49.95 with tax, tip and one beverage included, all 702-732-6325.

Top pastry professionals in three-man teams from the United States will converge in Beaver Creek, CO, June 22-26, for a weekend of demonstrations, dinners and competition. Executive pastry chefs, John Hui from Caesars Palace and Randy Sebastian, only 26 years old, from the Desert Inn along with Thomas Foster from Praml International make up one of 12 teams invited to compete for the prestigious award.

The competition theme is "An Artists Interpretation of Children's Toys and Games." The total prize fund is $125,000, with each team receiving a minimum of $5,000.

The comedy lineup at The Comedy Stop at the Tropicana this week, June 19-25, features Paul Venier, Mitch Fatel and Jimmy "J.J." Walker.

Venier has been a regular performer at all the New York City comedy clubs, appeared on television shows, and opened for many prominent headliners such as Jackie Mason, Jay Leno, Phyllis Diller and Howie Mandell, to name a few. He wrote a pilot for a sitcom called "Never A Dull Moment," in which he will play one of four main characters.

Fatel has appeared on David Letterman's show and has perfected his five-minute routine for his next appearance on the late night talk show. He created "Clint" his current persona, an oversexed nebbish who is described as "vulnerable, sweet, and perverted." The Disney Channel has signed Fatel to a holding contract while they search for a television vehicle for him.

Walker's fame came with the "Good Times" series in the late `70s. He currently tours the country 25 - 30 weeks a year doing his stand-up comedy and does at least one "Showtime" comedy special a year. Walker can be seen on game shows and late night TV. He is also writing scripts for television and movies.

The Comedy Stop shows are at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $17.50 per person with tax, gratuity and two drinks included, call 702-739-2714.

Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino has been selected by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the 36 best new hotels in the world. Of the 36 hotels that made the Conde Nast "Hot List," only four are located in the United States.

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