California-based country singer, Dwight Yoakam will be headlining at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater, Aug. 31-Sept. 2. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

Known for his trademark painted-on, knee-blown jeans and low-riding cowboy hat often shadowing his eyes, award-wining Yoakam has solidified his position as one of the top musical performers in America. His latest album is "Last Chance for a Thousand Years: Dwight Yoakam's Greatest Hits for the 90s." He's also a credited actor capturing new fans with his commanding role in Billy Bob Thornton's Oscar-winning "Sling Blade."

James Taylor will sing at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Oct. 13. Tickets are $35, $55 and $75, call Ticketmaster at 702-632-7580.

It will be rock 'n roll time at the Stardust when Little Anthony and the Imperials team up with Sonny Turner, former lead singer of the Platters in the 1960s, for three nights of classic sounds. The engagement, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, will mark the second Stardust reunion for the headliners in the 920-seat Wayne Newton Theater. Tickets are $27.95 plus tax and tip with one beverage included, call 702-732-6325.

Brooklyn-born Anthony Gourdine was dubbed "Little Anthony" by legendary radio personality Alan Freed. At the Stardust, Gourdine will be reunited with his singing partners from the early years: Clarence Collins, Ernest Wright and Sammy Strain. Collins, Wright and Gourdine have known each other since elementary school, and as teenagers sang together on street corners in New York. At the age of 13, Collins formed a group called the Chesters and in 1957 convinced his two friends to join him. Soon after, they changed their name to the Imperials. Strain, also a native New Yorker, joined the group in 1961.

Rick Springfield has returned to his star position in "EFX Alive" at the MGM Grand after breaking his arm in an accident where he took a 30-foot free fall during a performance.

Seven has opened in the 22,000-square-foot restaurant space, formerly home to the Country Star American Music Grill on the Strip. The place will become a giant nightclub after 11 p.m. with plans to stay open until 5 a.m. on weekends.

Irish singer Maura O'Connell has some exciting things happening in her career. She will appear in Martin Scorsese's upcoming film, "Gangs of New York," with Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. She plays an Irish street singer in the gritty Five Points district of pre-civil war Manhattan in the mid-19th century. O'Connell also has a new album coming out this winter on Sugar Hill Records called "Walls and Windows."

Meanwhile, Grammy Award-nominated singer, Maura O'Connell will perform a benefit concert for the US-Ireland Alliance on Sept. 13 at the outdoor Hills Park in Summerlin theater. Palace Station is offering a special package that includes rooms, breakfast, and transportation to the event. For information, contact Palace Station at 1-800-544-2411 and ask for the US-Ireland Alliance Rate. Tickets to the concert may be purchased by calling 1-888-464-2468.

The incredible high-roller suites at the Las Vegas Hilton range from the one-bedroom Napa suite that goes for $1,800 a night up to the magnificent 15,400 square foot, three bedroom Verona Sky Villa that rents for $15,000 a night. While the price may seem high, imagine renting the suite for private parties. For information about utilizing the incredibly opulent suites for parties, call 702-732-5391.

The largest of the Las Vegas Hilton's three Sky Villas is the Verona, which incorporates old-world Venice into every detail, from imported Italian marble floors, to hand-painted ceilings to the original sculptures, tapestries and paintings that adorn the walls.

Featured on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," the palatial Verona has three bedrooms, a secluded master retreat overlooking the private, outdoor pool and garden, a sculpted observation deck and a koi pond. The place is awesome!

Tony Orlando will "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" in the Riviera's Royale Pavilion on Sept. 1 and 2 over Labor Day weekend. Tickets are $34.50 plus taxes and fee, call 702-794-9280.

Orlando was born and raised in New York City. He began hitting the national charts at age 16 with "Halfway To Paradise" and "Bless You" as the first vocal artist to sign with Epic Records.

He was next coaxed into making a demo entitled "Candida" for his friends at Bell Records. The record was released under the name of the record promotion director's daughter, Dawn. The song skyrocketed to No. 1. "Knock Three Times" followed and it went to No. 1 and was the top song of 1971, selling over six million copies worldwide. The song was featured in the hit movie, "Now And Then."

Along with Thelma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, "Tony Orlando and Dawn" became an international sensation. In 1973, the homing song "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree," became the No. 1 song for the year. The trio, Orlando and Dawn, hosted a national weekly variety show on CBS from 1971 to 1974.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

The much-delayed downtown Neonopolis entertainment project has its first official tenant lined up. The national chain La Salsa, famous for its strawberry margaritas "by the yard," has signed a lease to open a 2,162-square-foot Mexican restaurant. The $99 million Neonopolis project will include 11 movie theatres and at least 30 shops and restaurants.

Sam's restaurant at Bellagio is now Nectar, a nightly dining experience featuring an American-inspired menu created by Chef John Schenk. At Nectar's entry is a lounge and raw bar serving a variety of iced shellfish along with an extensive array of specialty cocktails and microbrews.

The 22-year-old Maxim hotel shut its doors earlier this month. The 795-room hotel, located east of the Strip on Flamingo Road, has been a victim of bankruptcy with no foreseeable plans for it to reopen.

The inaugural Las Vegas BikeFest, a rally for motorcycle enthusiasts, will be held at the Fremont Street Experience, Sept. 13-16. For more information, call 702-450-7662.

Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas will host its second annual fundraising event benefiting the UNLV Cancer Institute with two events in November, a 5K Fun Run and Walk and a Dinner Gala. For more information, call the Terry Fox hotline at Four Seasons 702-632-5164.

The first event, the 5K Fun Run and Walk will be held on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 7 a.m. at Sun City anthem n Henderson. The registration fee includes a Four Seasons catered breakfast buffet where awards and prizes will be presented. Massage therapists will be on hand for complimentary mini-massages to ease aching muscles.

The second event is the Dinner Gala on Friday, Nov. 16 in the Four Seasons Hotel Ballroom with a special performance by Clint Holmes. The lavish dinner will feature signature chefs from Four Seasons and Mandalay Bay restaurants and a silent auction including exotic trips to Four Seasons around the world. The evening is priced at $250 per person.

A little history, Terry Fox was a young Canadian who lost his leg to cancer when he was 18 years old. In 1980, Fox ran his "Marathon of Hope" to raise awareness of and funds for cancer research. He ran across Canada using an artificial leg, running 26 miles each day. After 143 days and 3,339 miles, Fox was forced to quit as the cancer had spread through his body. Every year, each of the 50 Four Seasons hotels and resorts worldwide, in 19 countries, hosts a run in honor of Terry Fox. To date, over $250 million has been raised for cancer research.

An estimated 30 million people own recreational vehicles (RVs) and three million American make RVs their permanent home. To accommodate this lifestyle of living, Paradise Coach Resorts is being developed on 40 acres of land west of U.S. 95 at Wagon Wheel Road.

The $40 million development will have 381 landscaped lots, an 18,000-square-foot European style clubhouse, a nine-hole putting course, tennis courts, swimming pools, a shuffleboard court and a fully equipped spa and gym. A portion of the project should be open in November.

Unlike other RV parks, campers at Paradise Coach Resorts don't pay a nightly hookup fee. Instead, the lots are selling for $75,000 to $125,000 with each owner holding the deed to the land. Lots range in size form 37 to 59 feet wide and 75 to 80 feet long and are equipped with 20-, 30- and 50-amp electric service, telephone and Internet modem access, cable television and water and sewer lines. If the lots seem expensive, remember that the owners pay $500,000 and more for their rigs.

Another RV development encompasses 40 acres of land at Blue Diamond and Decatur Boulevard. Construction is under way on the 200-space, first phase of the RV park.

Sam's Town Live! has a continuous lineup of entertainment on the books. September's bookings include Lonestar on Sept. 7 and 8, Creedence Clearwater Revisited on Sept. 15, and Billy Gilman & Jessica Andrews on Sept. 22. The entertainment hotline number is 702-450-8300 and ticket information is available by calling 1-888-464-2468.

As a reminder, "Bela Tabak's Riders of the Thunderdome" will present their world record-setting stunt during the Sept. 1, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. performances of "Splash" at the Riviera. The stunt features five motorcycles racing at 40-plus mph within a 14' 3" diameter cage of metal mesh.

The 7:30 show will be a covered performance and allow children as young as five years of age to attend. The 10:30 p.m. show will be topless and for adults.

The Palms resort scheduled to open on Flamingo Road in December has added a couple of restaurants to those already announced. Both will be operated by Max Restaurants, which owns Max's Cafes upscale deli-cafes in San Francisco.

Sunrise Cafe will be open 24 hours a day and the Festival Market Buffet will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in its open kitchen.

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