by Jackie Brett Send Me E-mail

Latin singer Juan Gabriel will perform at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Sunday, Nov. 14. Tickets range from $52.50 with tax included to $105, call 877-632-7400.

Singing for the past 30 years, Gabriel is considered one of Mexico's most successful vocalists. He's a six time Grammy nominee and has sold more than 30 million albums. In 1995, three of his songs reached the Top 40 of Billboard Magazine's "Hot Latin Tracks." He's the youngest of ten children and started writing music at age 13.

The Stratosphere and Molyneux Entertainment opened "BITE," an erotic rock and roll review about vampires last Friday. Show times are 10:30 p.m. nightly except Thursday. Tickets are $34.95 plus tax and handling fee, call 800-99-TOWER or 702-380-7711.

"BITE" is a topless review based on deliciously evil vampires with a simple story line of sin, sex and seduction. The show centers around the Lord Vampire and his search for the perfect female specimen that he will seduce and make the Queen of the Night. Aiding the Lord is his coven of sultry and nimble dancers, the Erotic Angels of Rock. Their story is told through the classic rock songs of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Throughout the show, audience members are chosen to become part of the erotic adventure.

To extend the experience, the property is co-branding in various areas such as BITE-themed drinks in the Crazy Armadillo.

While "BITE" is Molyneux Entertainment's first foray into Las Vegas, there are currently 14 productions running that have been created by the Molyneux team that has been producing since 1989.

The hit Off-Broadway show, "Dragapella," starring The Kinsey Sicks will return for the third time to Las Vegas for two shows at 10 p.m. on Aug. 26-27, in the David Brenner Theater at the Westin Casuarina. Tickets are $30 with tax included; call 702-822-6262.

"Dragapella" has played at the legendary Studio 54 in New York City and earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Lyrics and two Lucille Lortel nominations, including for Best Musical of 2001.

The Kinsey Sicks have been profiled on national television in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan, including on ABC, CBS and the CBC, and were the subjects of a lengthy cover feature in the arts section of the New York Times. They were recognized by the Hollywood Reporter as a breakout hit at the 2002 Montreal Comedy Festival. They have recorded four CDs: "Dragapella," "Boyz 2 Girlz," "Sicks in the City," and "I Want To Be A Republican."

The country band Asleep at the Wheel will bring its brand of western swing to The Hideaway Showroom inside the Silverton on Aug. 27. Tickets are $14.99, call 1-866-946-4373 or 702-914-8557.

Over the past 30 years, the band's ever-shifting lineup may have changed featuring 80 members to date, but their mission to keep traditional music alive and bring big band western swing to the popular masses has stayed the same.

The band has won nine Grammys to date including one this year for best Vocal Performance By A Duo or Group for "Cherokee Maiden" from their album, "Ride With Bob."

Recently, Asleep at the Wheel released "The Very Best of Asleep at the Wheel ," a compilation of 14 of the band's greatest dance tunes.

Gin Blossoms, the alt-rock group that dominated the early 90s airwaves, will take the stage at the Silverton on Aug. 28. Tickets are $19.99.

In 1993, the Gin Blossoms rocketed out of the college pop charts and into the mainstream with their first hit single, "Hey Jealousy," and breakthrough album, "New Miserable Experience." Their follow-up single, "Found Out About You," quickly caught on and solidified the band as pop rock stars.

In the summer of 1995, the Gin Blossoms, with new guitarist Scott Johnson, charted another major hit with the single "Till I Hear It From You" from the soundtrack of the film, "Empire Records." The song was followed by the band's final hit single, "Follow You Down." The Gin Blossoms broke up in 1997, but reunited in 2002 and hit the road in support of their DVD of live performances.

The Silverton is located three miles south of the Strip, off I-15 at Blue Diamond Rd., and is currently undergoing major renovations to both its interior and exterior.

If you're looking for a themed-Chinatown area, Las Vegas actually has one and it's located along Spring Mountain Road. The movement began with the Chinatown Plaza shopping center that features a design based on "Journey to the West," a mythological Chinese theme. Today a string of Asian-themed shops, restaurants and other businesses have extended the ethnic area east and west from the Chinatown Plaza for several blocks.

August 16 is the 27th Anniversary of Elvis death and also the date for an Elvis Séance at the Greek Isles. Master Escape Artist and acclaimed medium Dixie Dooley will attempt to contact the ghost of Elvis during a séance being held at 2:01 p.m. The time was chosen because 2, 0 and 1 were a few of Elvis' favorite numbers since he was a believer in numerology.

The Séance was conceived by Robert Allen and Dr. Scott Lewis who currently produce the show "Shock "at the Greek Isles hotel, once owned by Elvis' close friend Debbie Reynolds. The Séance is free and open to the public. Call 702-456-1200 for information.

Dixie Dooley currently is the star of his own show at the Riviera in the Le Bistro Theatre, Thursday-Saturday, at 8:30 p.m. Dooley has also conducted a Houdini Séance in Las Vegas for many years on Halloween.

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