Las Vegas is truly amazing! Within a month, the city will be experiencing the re-opening of the Aladdin, the closing of the Desert Inn, and the closing of the Circus Maximus showroom at Caesars Palace.

Over the ensuing months, much will be written about the new Aladdin. Here's an interesting trivia note though, the Aladdin is the only Las Vegas property to be imploded and rebuilt under the same name. It was imploded April 27, 1998, with 232.7 pounds of explosives. See the ongoing LVLG feature on The Aladdin Hotel

The Desert Inn just a couple months ago celebrated its 50th anniversary. It was the firth hotel-casino to open on the Las Vegas Strip and it's rich in entertainment history. Another trivia note, Frank Sinatra's first live performance in Las Vegas was in the Painted Desert Room in 1951. The Desert Inn will be closed by the end of this month and word is Steve Wynn will not be renaming it the Desert Inn when he builds future resorts on the valuable Strip property.

The Circus Maximus showroom opened on Aug. 5, 1966, with Andy Williams. It will close on Sept. 3, with the couple who personify the great American songbook, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. The famed couple's first appeared as "Steve & Eydie" on Oct. 6, 1960, as part of the original cast of "The Tonight Show" starring Steve Allen. The two share a Grammy for their album "We Got Us," and Eydie won a second Grammy for her recording of "If He Walked into My Life." Tickets are $55, including tax, plus a $3 ticket-handling-fee, call 1-800-445-4544 or 702-731-7333.

Greg Thompson Productions will launch an all-new, late-night adult revue "Skintight" on Friday, Aug. 25, at Harrah's Main Showroom. Thompson who has developed successful shows in Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe, Reno and Laughlin has called on award-winning choreographer Mistinguett to create teasing sensual vignettes with an 11-member dance troupe. Mistinguett has just been named to the Broadway Round Table Choreogprher's Hall of Fame.

The show includes a Playboy Playmate. Showtimes are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 10:30 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m., and Saturday at midnight. Tickets are $39.95 plus tax, call 1-800-392-9002.

The Regent Las Vegas in northwest Las Vegas has introduced a nostalgic and novel afternoon and early evening entertainment show that will run for two months through mid-October. The new show, "When Lounge Shows Were King," stars crooner/comedian Sonny King and his pals in the intimate Addison Lounge and plays at 3 and 7 p.m. on Mondays, and 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The press preview reminded everyone how talented the 73 year old King is. His voice is strong and he loves to perform. King's legacy is the 28 years he spent working alongside Jimmy Durante. In attendance like the old days were many celebs including Robin "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" Leach, The Checkmates - Sonny Charles and Sweet Louie, Buddy Grecco, Freddie Bell, Steve Rossi, and Sandy Hackett.

King's pals include Lezlie Anders (wife of Buddy Grecco) and her big band sound and singing impressionist Rick Michel. Other pals who will show up during the run of the show will include Steve Rossi, Freddie Bell and Pete Barbutti.

The Regent is just 11 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. For complimentary show tickets, call 702-869-7194 or visit www.regentlasvegas.com. There is a two drink minimum and each drink is $5. (ed. note: At press time tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door - arrive by 6:30 for the 7pm show as it packs early).

Christina Aguilera, LeAnn Rimes and Seal are scheduled to perform at the third annual benefit concert for the Tiger Woods Foundation, Oct. 7, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. This will be one of Rimes first public appearances after having to postpone her summer concert tour because of a strained right vocal cord. Tickets are $20, $35 and $55.

The wickedly sexy revival of the classic Broadway musical "Cabaret" will play a limited engagement in the EFX Theatre at the MGM Grand, Aug. 30-Sept. 3. The show will star Miss America 1998 - Kate Shindle as Sally Bowles and Jon Peterson, a veteran of the British West End. Tickets range from $55 to $70, call 1-800-929-1111, 702-891-7777 or go online at www.ticketswest.com.

This month Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" celebrated its second anniversary at New York-New York. The cast will kick off Jerry Lewis' MDA Telethon over Labor Day weekend and perform other numbers.

Howie Mandel will headline at the Las Vegas Hilton, Sept. 1-3. He steady performs as many as 200 concert dates a year. His Emmy Award-nominated animated children series, "Bobby's World," ran eight seasons on FOX and now appears in syndication six days a week in 65 countries.

Mandel has also entered the computer age with a series of interactive animated CD-ROMS aimed at educating children while entertaining them. They include "Tuneland," "Lil' Howie's Great World Adventure," "Lil' Howie's Great Math Adventure" and "Lil' Howie's Great Reading Adventure." They were an instant success, and have won 36 awards and critical acclaim worldwide.

Tickets to see Mandel are $35, $45 and $55, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

The National Vitamin Company celebrated its 25th anniversary with the opening of a new 80,000-square-foot vitamin manufacturing facility in Las Vegas off I-15 at 7440 S. Industrial Road. The self-guided factory tour is free. Check out their website: www.nationalvitamin.com or call 1-888-346-6848.

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Comedian Robert Schimmel will appear at the Monte Carlo, Sept. 8-9, at 11 p.m. The new FOX Television family-oriented sitcom, "Schimmel," has been picked up fo the 2000-2001 season. In the show, Schimmel stars as a married father with two daughters.

Schimmel's first break came in 1996 when Rodney Dangerfield invited him to perform on his HBO "Young Comedians Special" which led to his critically-acclaimed Showtime specials, "Hard Core in the Big Apple" and "Robert Schimmel: Guilty as Charged."

Schimmel went on to become a staff writer on the hit series "In Living Color." You can link to his web page for sound bites and more information at www.wbr.com/robertschimmel/. Tickets for his Monte Carlo shows are $30 and $35, call 1-877-386-8224 or 702-730-7160.

Sunset Station's outdoor amphitheater has contemporary jazz artist Najee set for Sept. 1, Rick Springfield booked on Sept. 2, and comedian D.L. Hughley signed up on Sept. 3. Tickets range from $22.50 up to $45, call 702-547-7777 or visit tickets.com.

Ever since he debuted with "Najee's Theme" in 1987, he has enjoyed growing critical acclaim and record sales, leading up to his top-selling album, "Morning Tenderness," released in late 1998. Najee was raised in the Jamaican section of Queens, New York.

Rick Springfield gained fame as an actor during his stint on ABC's "General Hospital." Since 1968, he has recorded 12 albums including the multi-platinum, "Working Class Dog," and sold over 15 million records. In addition to "Jessie's Girl," Springfield has scored 17 Top 20 hits.

Comedian D.L. Hughley and funkster Morris Day and the Time will follow at Sunset Station's outdoor amphitheater on Sunday, Sept. 3. Hughley currently stars on the hit ABC sitcom "The Hughleys." He honed his skills working his way through the comedy club scene and television appearances. Tickets are $25, $35, and $45.

Influential rock band AC/DC will perform at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sept. 14. Formed in Australia in 1972, AC/DC rose to international prominence in 1979 with their release of "Highway to Hell," the group's first million-seller. In 1980, the band recorded "Back in Black," which proved to be their biggest hit album, selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. They made their 16th album, "Ballbreaker" in 1995, and "Stiff Upper Lip" followed this year. Tickets are $37 and $47, call 1-888-464-2468 or go on-line at www.tickets.com.

Sandy Hackett's Comedy Night is a regular Wednesday night feature at the Texas Station Armadillo Lounge in northwest Las Vegas at 7:30 p.m. The son of Buddy Hackett excels at producing comedy club venues. His guest lineup includes: Peter Anthony and Joannie Grassey on Sept. 16; Steve Rossi and Doug White on Sept. 23; and Bruce Michel and Tom Walleck are penciled in on Sept. 30. The tab is $9.95 plus tax.

The Liberace Museum is hosting its first traveling exhibition, "Red, Hot & Blue: A Salute to American Musicals," through Sept. 10. Named for Cole Porter's 1936 musical, "Red , Hot & Blue," the display with theater kiosks, vintage posters and photographs, showcases the stars who gave voice and vision to the American experience over the years.

Admission is free; however, tax-deductible donations to the non-profit Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts scholarship are appreciated. The exhibit is open daily in the new Temporary Exhibit Gallery adjacent to The Liberace Museum Store at 1775 E. Tropicana Ave. For more information and future exhibits, call 702-798-5595,et. 20, or email info@liberace.og.

Paris will celebrate its first anniversary on Sept. 1. In celebration, the Paris-themed resort will launch "Festival de la France," a French street festival with 12 food stations and entertainment. Admission is free, with food and beverage coupons sold at cashier stations. The festival will be held in the area between Paris and Bally's from 5 p.m. to midnight - Sept. 8, noon to 2 a.m. - Sept. 9, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Sept. 10.

In conjunction with the Aladdin's opening, the resort is introducing a $10 million "attention-getting" gaming chip. It's the largest denomination in the gaming industry and far larger in size than a standard chip. The $10 million "plaque," shaped like a playing card, is 7 inches long and 4 inches wide, with the words "London Club" and "$100 Million" inscribed in gold leaf. The plaque will only be issued by the resort's London Club, the high-end European-style gaming salon, but it will be negotiable anywhere in the casino. Plaques will also be available in denominations of $100,000, $500,0000, $1 million and $5 million.

Jazzy Cats of California will hold it Intentional Cat Show, Sept. 2 & 3, at Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission s $5 and $4 for seniors and children 6 and older.

The show is licensed by the International Cat Association and more than 500 cats, both pedigreed and household pets, will be featured along with vendors offering feline-oriented items. For information, call the show manager at 209-745-6302.

Thirteen Las Vegas properties received "Gold Key" awards from "Meetings & Conventions" magazine, an award recognizing the world's best meeting properties around the world. Winners are nominated and selected by the magazine's readers, The magazine presented the award to 174 hotels across the country. The Las Vegas resorts recognized are: Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mirage, Treasure Island, Bally's, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Hilton, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Four Seasons Las Vegas, Venetian, the soon-to-be-closed Desert Inn, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

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