This may be a Las Vegas first having two major production shows close on the same night. The shows are closing tonight at Mandalay Bay and New York-New York.

"STORM" at Mandalay Bay is closing after a 15-month run. The show opened in the 1,600-seat theater on April 18, 2001. The talk is that the Broadway hit "Mama Mia!" that debuted in London in 1999 may be the new show. The production is based on the songs of the pop group Abba and features 22 tunes.

"Michel Flatley's Lord of the Dance" is ending a successful four-year run at New York-New York after 1,560 performances. When Flatley brought the Irish step dancing show to Las Vegas, it had been touring the world for several years.

After closing in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas "Lord of the Dance" troupe will continue performing, first in Canada, then it will join two other troupes touring the Untied States and the world.

Elton John, Martina McBride, Dennis Miller and Carlos Santana will be among the celebrities who will perform in the 7th Annual Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children on Sept. 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. In addition to the concert, there will be a gourmet black-tie dinner, a raffle and both live and silent auctions.

Tickets for the event are $35, $65 and $85. They will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Aug. 10 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office and select Ticketmaster locations.

Paul McCartney will return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Oct. 26, six months after two successful Las Vegas shows that were part of his 19-city "Driving USA" tour. Ticket prices for the MGM concert are $125, $225 and $300, call 702-891-7777 or purchase on line at mgmgrand.com.

McCartney will begin his 20-city "Back in the U.S." tour on Sept. 21 in Milwaukee and end Oct. 29 in Phoenix. Dubbed "The Feelgood Factory," McCartney's show will include 36 of his biggest hits with the Beatles, Wings and from his solo career.

Don "Mr. Warmth" Rickles, who has been a mainstay on Las Vegas Strip marquees for almost four decades, has signed an extension of his current two-year Stardust contract taking him through 2003.

Rickles popularity stems from his quick wit that launched his career in the 1950s when he began making hilarious observations about people in his audiences including some of the biggest names in show business. A couple of his most prominent targets and frequent viewers were Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

A Las Vegas icon, Rickles' career also includes serious and comedic acting roles on top-rated network TV shows and major motion pictures like "Casino" and "Toy Story 2."

The "American Superstars" show at the Stratosphere recently celebrated its sixth anniversary in the Broadway Showroom. The impersonation show's milestone coincides with extensive set enhancements, new musical numbers, new costuming and the addition of a new patriotic finale.

The show closes with the entire cast performing to James Brown's "Living In America." All the cast members have a singing part with the Superstars Dancers backing the cast. Each cast member wears a red, white or blue costume and the dancers don ostrich feathers in all three colors.

The "American Superstars" cast brings to life superstars Elvis, Ricky Martin, Madonna, Christine Aguilera, and Michael Jackson. Johnny Potash who has been with the show since its beginning imitates Charlie Daniels complete with magnificent fiddle playing. He garners the biggest round of solo applause.

Tickets are $32.95 for adults and $25.25 for children ages 5 to 12, call 1-800-99-TOWER.

For the fifth consecutive year, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series will race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the first weekend in March. The speedway is accepting renewals from 2002 ticket buyers. The remaining tickets will go on sale, Sept. 16.

The UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 will be held on Sunday, March 2. The NASCAR Busch Series race and the Sam's Town 300 races take place the day before. Qualifying for each event will be on Friday, Feb. 28.

A new late-night improvisational revue called "Boo" featuring short sketches will open on Aug. 1 following Rita Rudner's show in the New York-New York cabaret venue. The $29.95 ticket price will include a ride on the Manhattan Express roller coaster.

America's oldest and largest touring crafts marketplace will visit 15 cities beginning in Las Vegas, Aug. 23-25. The Las Vegas Harvest Festival will attract over 250 exhibitors to Cashman Center where the marketplace will be reminiscent of early 19th century villages.

General admission to the Harvest Festival will be $7.50; however, you can receive $1 off the admission with a newspaper coupon, a flyer or by donating a can of food for Safe Nest. Tickets for seniors 62 and older will be $6.50 and $4.50 for children ages 6-12. For information, call 1-800-321-1213 or visit www.harvestfestival.com.

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This fall, "Splash" at the Riviera will continue its never-ending evolution by changing dance routines and introducing a completely new "America" grand finale.

"Splash" has been running 17 years. Over the past three years, the show's reinvention has included a $1.2 million renovation that included everything from new opening and closing numbers to the replacement of the show's signature 20,000 gallon tank with a 35' x 15' ice rink, as well as a new logo and costumes.

Beginning, Aug. 18, the dark nights for the Tropicana's "Folies Bergere" will be on Sunday instead of Thursday. To make the transition, the show will be dark on Thursday, Aug. 15 and Sunday, Aug. 18. Also, the "Folies Bergere" will be dark on Sept. 12, because a bridal show will be using the Tiffany Theatre.

Canadian born singer Gordon Lightfoot will return to The Orleans, Aug. 8-11. His big success began in the '70s with "If You Could Read My Mind" and peaked in 1974 with "Sundown" holding the No. 1 album position for three weeks.

In November of 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior and Gordon wrote and recorded the hit tune "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald" over an intense three-day period.

The "Bay Rock" summer beach concert series at the Mandalay Bay Beach Stage is continuing next month with Heart on Aug. 2, David Sanborn on Aug. 3, Lynyrd Skynyrd on Aug. 10 and Foreigner on Aug. 31. Concert-goers are invited to bring their blankets and sit on the beach or wade into the surf while they listen to the music. For information, call 1-877-632-7580.

Teen idol, Frankie Avalon and special guest, comedian Steve Rossi will take over the Suncoast Showroom, Aug. 10 and 11. Tickets are $34.95, $39.95 and $44.95 plus tax, call 702-636-7075.

Avalon was the reigning teen idol from 1958-1960. In 1957, he made a gradual transition from singer to actor, starring in a supporting role in films such as "Guns of the Tumberland" and "The Alamo." In the early '60s, there was a nationwide surfing craze and Hollywood produced a number of movies with Annette Funicello, "Beach Party," "Muscle Beach" and "Beach Blanket Bingo."

In addition to his musical career, Avalon owns a company, "Frankie Avalon Products" that sells a line of health supplements and skin care products.

Rossi was part of the famous comedy duo of "Allen & Rossi." He's appeared with many superstars including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. and more recently had a part in the film "The Mexican" starring Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt.

Earlier this month the ABC pilot "Letters From a Nut," inspired by the three "Nut" books filmed in town. The Vegas segment had a costumed shrimp character playing blackjack at the Tropicana's swim-up tables.

A Henderson developer plans to break ground next month on a $10 million, 3.6-acre, water-themed shopping center at Eastern Avenue and Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson. The Aqua Center with 40,000 square feet of retail space will include a South American grill, a sushi and dim sum bar, an international news cafe, and a European bakery. It will also feature a farmer's market with a wine cave and vendor peddling fresh produce. Completion is scheduled for early next year.

The Shops at Green Valley Ranch is another lifestyle center that will combine 175,000 square feet of high-end store and restaurant space. It will break ground within the next few months at Interstate 215 and Green Valley Parkway.

The newest golf course set to open at the 2,600-acre Lake Las Vegas community will be The Falls Golf Club. Slated to open in September, it will be a public facility. The terrain of the 7,250-yard, par-72 course will range from mountainous landscape to the desert floor with views of the resort's private 320-acre lake.

To complement the development's numerous golf courses, residents and nonresidents can enroll in an on-site golf school or sign up for a golf / hotel package.

The Nicklaus / Flick Game Improvement School offers daily private lessons and group clinics. Meantime, the 496-room Hyatt Regency offers a package that includes a one-night stay at the hotel and two rounds of golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club for $249, Sunday through Saturday.

Harrah's has a Motorsports E-mail promotion running through Dec. 31. You can enter your email address for an opportunity to win a new car or a trip to a racing event by logging onto their web site. On Sept. 15, there will be a drawing for a trip for two to the Daytona 500 in 2003. On Nov. 15, the drawing prize will be a trip for two to the Indy 500 in 2003. The Grand Prize drawing on Jan. 15, 2003, will be for a 2002 Mercedes C230.

Super Summer Theatre is celebrating its 27th year of presenting Broadway plays outside at night at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park located approximately 18 miles west of Las Vegas. The last play for the season "Annie," will run Thursday through Saturday from Aug. 7-24. Tickets range from $7 and $8. For information, call 702-594-PLAY or visit the Web site (website closed).

Las Vegas has a local entry in CBS's "Big Brother 3," a reality show involving 12 houseguests under 24-hour surveillance by cameras and microphones. Keeping the Vegas name out there is a 35-year-old buxom blonde and mother of five named Tonya Paoni.

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