There's more longevity celebrations going on in town. "Jubilee" at Bally's is proudly enjoying its 20th anniversary at the hotel. It and the "Folies" production show at the Tropicana are the only two old Las Vegas-style extravaganza shows remaining and "Jubliee" highlights much bigger special effects especially with the sinking of the Titanic.

"Melinda - The First Lady of Magic" has done an excellent job of being the main headlining show out surviving other shows (Robert Goulet's show closed prematurely a couple weeks ago) in the Venetian's showroom. Her magic show is packed with illusions and dancing and enhanced by her spectacular beauty and personality.

A new interactive dinner theatre show called "Ba-Da-Bing" has opened in an air-conditioned rooftop tent at the Alexis Park, an off-Strip property at 375 Harmon Ave. Tickets with dinner and gratuity included are $49.95 plus tax, call 702-367-0920 or visit www.badabingshow.com.

"Ba-Da-Bing" is a surprise birthday party for Mr. Big, the Godfather of Las Vegas, hosted by his right hand man Rick Jaguar, his girlfriend Anita Double, and the flamboyant pianist Gino Cappuccino. The audience participates in solving who Mr. Big is while they are seated at one of Mr. Big's goombas' family tables. His goombas include the Manicotti, Rigatoni and Vermicelli Families.

Comedienne/impressionist Bethany Owen appears as a different guest of Mr. Big. Using selections from her one-woman show, she may play Monroe, Streisand, Garland and Cher, just to name a few.

Steve Rossi of "Allen and Rossi" fame appears as Mr. Big's favorite comedian.

The premiere showing of "Keep 'Em Guessing - When life becomes a DRAG" starring female impersonator Toni James will be held in the 1,600-seat showroom at the Las Vegas Hilton on Monday, Aug. 20, at 8 p.m. and be a benefit for Golden Rainbow Charities. The show has twirlers, dancers, featured acts and comedy along with the challenge of figuring out which cast members are boys and which ones are girls. The producers are using this opportunity to shop the show by inviting entertainment directors to see it and by filming it. Events like this one are always worth the price of admission, cost is $35, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

Britney Spears will appear at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in November and make it the site for her upcoming HBO concert special. "People" magazine said she'll be joined onstage by Cher.

Lorna Luft is scheduled to appear with Don Rickles in the Wayne Newton Theater at the Stardust, Sept. 6-9, and 12-15. Tickets with one beverage included are $49.95 plus tax and tip.

Eric Clapton will perform at the Thomas & Mack Center on Aug. 13. Tickets are $47 and $77, call 1-888-464-2468.

Chelsea Property Group that has had success with 27 shopping malls in 15 states and Japan will build a high-end outlet mall called Las Vegas Premium Outlets. The $80 million project will be built on 39 acres of land at the corner of Bonneville Avenue and Grand Central Parkway downtown. The groundbreaking for the proposed 100-store mall is scheduled for October this year with plans to open by Thanksgiving 2002. The retail stores will include Giorgio Armani, Versace, Polo, Ralph Lauren and Chanel.

Tammie Rankin, a former Miss Teen Nevada and current showgirl in "Crazy Girls Fantasy Revue" at the Riviera, is one of five personalities who will be featured on the Arts & Entertainment Channel's premiere show "After Dark" on Sunday, Aug. 19. The new show is a first of a series on people who live by night and the 24-hour city of Las Vegas was a good starting point. For the "After Dark" story, Rankin was followed around town for two nights.

Rankin's career as a dancer is even more remarkable because she survived a car accident in May 1997 that fractured her pelvis. Pins were inserted to hold it together. After three months in bed, she used a walker for months to get around. Today, she still goes periodically for physical therapy. Rankin is working on her undergraduate degree and pans to get a masters in industrial psychology.

Tickets to see Rankin in "Crazy Girls" are $21.95 plus tax, call 1-800-634-3420 or 702-794-9433.

One of the biggest questions in Las Vegas is what will Steve Wynn do next with the 220-acre Desert Inn that he purchased for $270 million from Starwood Hotels & Resorts last summer. The 50-year old resort has been closed since last August.

Wynn has acquired county permits to start demolition of the property's low-rise buildings, including the 29,500-square-fooot casino and the property's offices. He plans to get a permit to implode the Augusta tower in October and to do so in a low-key manner. By the end of this year, Wynn should be unveiling the resort he intends to build and open in the year 2005.

Stars are forever taking in Siegfried & Roy's famous magic show at The Mirage. Their most current visitors were Billy Crystal, who stars as a publicist in the Las Vegas-shot film "America's Sweethearts," and Oscar nominee for "The Green Mile," Michael Clarke Duncan, who is in the just released remake of "Planet of The Apes" playing the planet's largest gorilla.

It used to be Elvis who had a new imitator every other week opening in a lounge or showroom in Las Vegas. Now it's Frank and his pals. The newest tribute experience "Our Way with Frank and Friends" starts tomorrow night in the lounge at the Tropicana with three guys playing Frank, Sammy and Dean and continues through Aug. 19. They're performing Friday through Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Comedy-magician Amazing Jonathan is scheduled to perform 10 p.m. shows nightly except Monday in the Golden Nugget's Theatre Ballroom through Oct. 31. If you've never seen him perform, be prepared. He's very funny but often his humor is crud and his magic tricks are outlandish. His shows are truly one-of-a-kind.

Comedian Sinbad will make his move to Paris Las Vegas, Aug. 17-19. Tickets are $55, call 1-877-374-7469 or 702-946-4567.

In 1983, the former University of Denver basketball player began doing stand-up comedy in small clubs across the country and managed to gain attention when he appeared on "Star Search" in the 1980s. Never winning, he appeared on the show seven times and became a finalist. Noticed by veteran comedians Redd Foxx and Bill Cosby, he earned roles on "The New Redd Foxx Show" and Cosby's "A Different World."

Since then, Sinbad has hosted the late-night talk show "Vibe," starred in feature films like "Good Burger," "Necessary Roughness," "Coneheads" and "Houseguest," and was executive produced for and starred in Fox Television's "The Sinbad Show" and HBO's "Sinbad's Summer Jam Weekend" series.

In addition, Sinbad has also released a book, "Sinbad's Guide To Life (Because I Know Everything)," published by Bantom Books Hardcover in 1997.

The all-female cutting edge pop band, the Go-Go's will appear at the Mandalay Beach outdoor stage on Saturday, Aug. 18. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the show, call 702-632-7580.

Formed in the late 70's in the midst of the Los Angeles punk explosion, the Go-Go's launched their successful career in the early 80's. Their debut album, "Beauty and the Beat," produced "Our Lips are Sealed" and also sold more than two million albums while spending six weeks at #1.

Most recently, the Go-Go's released "God Bless the Go-Go's," their first studio album since their break up in 1984.

Harrah's corporate-wide Total Rewards promotion aptly called "Treasure Hunt" features a corporate-wide scavenger treasure hunt that will be held at the Rio Secco Golf Course in Las Vegas, beginning on Nov. 9. To participate, players must use their Total Rewards card when playing regular slots and video poker machines at any Harrah's properties.

If you're a late night party person, there are some serious after-hours clubs to visit. But remember, prices, hours of operation and admission policies are subject to change at a moment's notice.

Baby's at the Hard Rock Hotel is a European-style club that's open Thursday through Saturday at 11 p.m. Cover charge is $15 for men and free to women, call 702-693-5555.

Club Rio at the Rio All-Suites Resort is a big-city disco with top-40 music. It's open Wednesday through Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Cover charge is $10 for men and $5 for women, call 702-247-7977.

Drai's After Hours in the basement level at the Barbary Coast is very classy. Located in the elegant restaurant, it features the latest progressive and house music on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 2 a.m. Cover charge is $20, call 702-737-0555.

Drink and Eat Too located at 200 E. Harmon has Latin, techno and top-40 music on Saturday nights beginning at 10 p.m. Cover charge is $10 for women and $20 for men, call 702-796-5519.

House of Blues at Mandalay Bay has specialty nights Thursday through Sunday. Cover charge is $10 to $15, call 702-632-7607.

The NightClub at the Las Vegas Hilton starts the dancing around 10 p.m. nightly and it's free, call 702-732-5422.

Ra at the Luxor encourages fashionable attire and plays techno, house, trance and top-40 music. Cover charge depends on the event and the weekend. Hotel guests get in free on weekdays before midnight. Ra opens at 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, call 702-262-4000.

Rumjungle at Mandalay Bay features Latin House, Caribbean and African beats. It opens at 11 p.m., Thursday through Sunday with a $20 cover, call 702-632-7408.

The newest is the Shadow Bar at Caesars Palace. It's a high-class drinking place where ladies dance behind a screen creating sexy shadows. It's open 24 hours daily with no cover charge and no drink minimum, call 702-731-7110.

Studio 54 at the MGM Grand is a remake of its New York namesake spinning '70s, '80s music and progresses to progressive beats later in the night. It opens at 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The cover charge is $10 for men Tuesday through Thursday and $20 on Friday and Saturday. Women are admitted free, call 702-891-7252.

Vamp at Paris Las Vegas is a Paris-style nightclub with a live DJ playing vocal house and retro mixes. Fashion shows play on video screens and lasers and strobes flash off the ultra-modern d‚cor. Vamp is open on Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Cover charge is $15, call 702-946-7000.

CONTINUE ON TO...:
>THIS WEEK'S LAUGHLIN SEGMENT
>LAST WEEK'S LAS VEGAS SEGMENT
>VEGAS VIEWS FULL ARCHIVES
>Return to "Heard Around Town"
>Return to Las Vegas Leisure Guide