The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe recently broke ground for the second phase of its $500 million, world-class golf resort and conference center. The 4,000-acre Paiute Resort located off US 95 North in the northwest area of Las Vegas presently contains two Pete Dye-designed championship golf courses, a 50,000-square-foot clubhouse and banquet facility. These amenities were completed over the past five years.

Phase Two, which will open in 2002, will make The Paiute Resort a complete destination that will blend very naturally into the desert valley landscape.

Amenities will include a total of 300 luxury accommodations (30 hotel rooms and 270 individual casitas); a 30,000-square-foot spa and wellness center; 16,000-square-foot casino; 70,000 square feet of resort retail space in a village configuration; 37,000 square feet devoted to gourmet restaurants and resort-style cafes; a mission chapel; two additional championship golf courses, a golf academy, tennis and equestrian centers.

The 35,000-square-foot main building will have a bar, restaurant, large open veranda and 30 hotel suites between 480-680 square feet. Free standing casitas, ranging in size from 650 to 1,200 square feet, will boast courtyard entries, living area with self-contained bar and fireplace, large master bedrooms and baths and nearby patios. Casitas will be connected to the main building via a cobblestone walkway landscaped with native tees, shrubs and waterscapes.

The 16,000-sqaure-foot "boutique" caino will retain the southwestern decor and inlcude table games, slots, a sports book, lounge, bar and restaurant.

The international music and dance revue, "Nebulae - The Lifeforce" has moved into the C2K Theatre inside the Venetian Resort. The cast of 60 plus has been assembled from the Far East, Eastern and Western Europe.

The show is very upbeat and pulsating in a showroom with a balcony that can double as a nightclub. The room seats between 800 to 1,000 depending on configuration. The company has inked a three-year "four wall" or lease agreement with C2K.

The show has one set which is the deck of a spaceship with a view into the galaxy from the spaceship's window. The show is ever changing and colorful with frequent costume changes and lasers. Interspersed in the performance are two show-stealing specialty acts. One is an extraordinary tightrope walker and the other is an aerial artist who flies from the stage over the audience.

The award-winning stars of the show are Tatiana and Elena Zaytseva. These ladies are gorgeous blonde twins who have made albums and videos in both Eastern and Central Europe since the mid-1980's, and starred in two Russian motion pictures. In "Nabulae," the sisters perform an English version of their best-known song, "Sister, Sister."

Other featured acts are "DAANA" and Sergey Izbash. "DAANA" is a Backstreet Boys-style trio that was conceived in Asia five years ago. The group has released two music videos and one CD. Izbash has numerous awards including the International Award "Hit of the Year." He's released three music videos and two solo CD's.

Much of the current show actually played at The Mirage for a week last December but it was called "Moscow 2000." Showtimes are 8:30 p.m., Saturday - Tuesday, and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Ticket prices range from $49.50 - $90.00, call 1-888-NEBULAE or 702-253-5461.

Mandalay Bay has opened Las Vegas' newest family attraction "Shark Reef," a stand-alone 90,000-square-foot underwater experience. The experience features dangerous and unusual aquatic animals and fish from the world's tropical waters. It's one of North America's largest displays of sharks and other sea predators. The environment is a journey through an ancient temple that has been slowly claimed by the sea.

Aquarists in scuba gear conduct their work during the hours "Shark Reef" is open to the public, which are 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily. A high-tech underwater communications system allows divers inside the aquarium exhibits to talk aobut the animals and displays.

Informational screens utilizing the newest "flat-panel" television technology sense visitors as they approach and display short informational programs on the animals and fish in the nearby areas.

"Shark Reef" at Mandalay Bay was developed in consultation with the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre of Vancouver, one of the world's most respected marine facilities.

Restaurateur Franco Nuschese, owner of Tre Visi Italian Cafe and La Scala Ristorante Italiano at the MGM Grand has sold the restaurant leases to John Tunney and Anthony Capetola. Tunney and Capetola own The Carltun in East Meadow, Long Island and the Temple Bar and Grill at Caesars Palace in Atlantic City, NJ.

Tre Visi and La Scala, which opened along Studio Walk at the MGM in December 1995, closed July 5. Details on the new restaurant will come at a later date.

Rhythm and blues legends Ben E. King, Lloyd Price, Gene Chandler and Jerry Butler will bring their signature sounds of the `60s to the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre, July 20-26. Tickets are $50 plus tax, call 702-891-7777.

King first made his musical mark when he and the Drifters recorded "Save the Last Dance for Me." His career was forever changed with the release of his solo hit "Spanish Harlem." It became one of the biggest songs of 1961. King's remake of "Stand by Me" might be his biggest hit.

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Price's ""Lawdy Miss Clawdy" became the first R&B single to reach the top of both the Billboard pop and R&B music charts.

Butler founded the Impressions with music featuring a balance of gospel and pop. Their debut single, "Your Precious Love," sold more than 900,000 copies and soared to No. 11 on the charts in 1958. Butler moved on to a successful solo career.

Chandler launched his career in 1962 with the release of "Duke of Earl." Audiences purchased more than 1 million copies of the hit in less than a month.

This is interesting. Officials with the New York-based Guggenheim Museum and The Venetian are negotiating to bring the art museum's most successful show ever to the Strip, "The Art of the Motorcycle." The proper display area is what needs to be negotiated.

"The Art of the Motorcycle" broke all attendance records for the Guggenheim when it opened in 1998. The exhibition attracted 5,000 people a day and more than 300,000 over its 75-day run. The motorcycle exhibit includes everything from a steam-powered Micheaux-Perreaux of 1868 to latter-day Harley-Davidsons.

Master vocal impressionist Bill Acosta has provided the voice for two characters on The Disney Channel's "Dinner Time," which is a series of short vignettes exploring the lives of numerous historical figures. The vignettes are about three minutes in length and can currently be seen on Toon Disney Channel in-between programs.

Acosta provided the voices for Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and Shwanee Indian chief, Tecumseh (1768-1813).

Acosta does his one-man show, "Lasting Impressions," in the 350-seat Pharaoh's Theater on the Luxor's attractions level. Tickets are $39.95 including tax, call 702-262-4400.

Country superstar Clint Black will headline at the Star of the Desert Arena at Buffalo Bill's Resort in Primm, NV, on Thursday, Aug. 24. Tickets are $32.50, $45 and $55. Two tickets and a room start at $79. Primm is located off I-15 at the Nevada/California border about 40 minutes outside Las Vegas.

Tickets are on sale for the live concert performance by Pearl Jam and special guest Supergrass on Sunday, Oct. 22. Advance tickets are $28, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000 or purchase on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.

Sibling rivalry will invade The Orleans Showroom, July 25-30, when the legendary Smothers Brothers take the stage. Tom and Dick Smothers began their careers as a folk duo performing straightforward tunes. But it was their between-song banter that gradually made them famous.

The duo has made a mark after more than 40 years in show business, as quite possibly the longest-lived comedy team in history. Their irreverent musical humor and sly satire that once found them controversial midway through their careers is today pure joy and entertainment for the masses.

Tickets to see the Smothers Brothers are $24.95, $29.95 and $34.95 plus tax, call 702-365-7075.

Blue Man Group recently made their eighth appearance on late night television. The bald and blue trio appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

The critically acclaimed Blue Man Group is a multi-media theatrical performance that features three bald and blue characters, backed by at tribal rock band. The trio goes through a series of routines or vignettes which offer a humorous look at pop culture, science and the art world. It is interactive, funny and fun.

Tickets for "Blue Man Group: Live at Luxor" are $55 and $65, call 702-262-4400 or 800-557-7428. For more information, visit www.blueman.com.

Comedian/actor Howie Mandel will headline at Caesars Palace, July 20-23. Mandel's versatile talent has earned him recognition in numerous venues.

One element of his stardom came from his starring role on the award-winning television series "St. Elsewhere." Another was his Emmy Award-nominated animated children's series, "Bobby's World." Mandel served as the series creator and executive producer, was involved with the show's writing, and also performed the voices of Bobby, Bobby's dad and other characters. The show ran for eight seasons on FOX and now appears in syndication six days a week in 65 countries. He also hosted "The Howie Mandel Show," which was a year-long daily talk show.

The Raspyni Brothers, Barry Friedman and Dan Holzman, will be Mandel's opening act. They have taken their twisted brand of vaudevillian humor around the world, juggling dangerous weapons and everyday objects while keeping up a playful comic banter.

Tickets to see Mandel and The Raspyni Brothers are $55 including tax, plus a $3 ticket-handling fee, call 800-445-4544 or 702-731-7333.

Comedic juggler Nino Frediani has rejoined the cast of "The Great Radio City Spectacular," starring the Rockettes, and will be there to say good-bye when the cast and crew take their final bows on Monday, July 31.

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