It is sad, but true, the famous Desert Inn is closed permanently after turning 50 years old. The golf course is scheduled to remain open until September 2001.

Tonight the Circus Maximus Showroom in Caesars Palace closes in order to make room for high roller suites.

Breck Wall and Patrick Maes' afternoon slapstick revue, "Bottoms Up" opened to great VIP fanfare in the Flamingo Hilton Showroom at the end of August. In true show business fashion, some of their fellow entertainment well- wishers included: Siegfried and Roy, comedian Marty Allen, David Cassidy, Sheena Easton, impersonators Bill Acosta and Bob Anderson, magician Steve Wyrick, singer Frankie Randall and casts from "American Superstars," "Lasting Impressions" starring Acosta, "Boy-lesque" starring Kenny Kerr, "Crazy Girls," and "La Cage" starring Frank Marino.

Wall and his partner Maes have been producing "Bottoms Up" for the past 38 years and original cast members David Harris and Sue Motsinger are still in the production. The topless musical comedy show is fast-paced and tongue-in-cheek with lots of sight gags and black outs. It's modernized burlesque worth seeing! Tickets for the 2 and 4 p.m. adult shows are $12.95, call 702-733-3333.

The 7,000-seat Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts was the only part of the former Aladdin resort left standing after the implosion in April 1998. However, a $25 million makeover has given the 24 year old, 112,000-square-foot theatre a new exterior and interior face.

The eight- month renovation project included rebuilding the interior from top to bottom. The theater was gutted and given both cosmetic changes such as new seats and structural ones. Windows were removed and replaced by acoustical panels. The stage curtain was removed and a new overhead speaker system was installed.

The Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts is now located the middle of the Desert Passage mall. The lobby area has been expanded, concession areas have been relocated and new restrooms were added upstairs.

Concert and Broadway musicals will be the focus for the theatre's entertainment policy. Enrique Iglesias opened the giant concert theatre last month. Future bookings include: The Guess Who - Sept. 9; Iron Maiden, Queensryche, Halford - Sept. 17; Scorpions - Sept. 23; Counting Crows, Live - Oct. 2; and Jo Dee Messina, SheDaisy - Oct. 6.

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will make a return visit to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m. He's on tour promoting his latest release with 15 tracks called "Buffett Live, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays." Tickets are $25, $37.59, $65 and $150 not including applicable service charges, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000 or go on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.

To kick off Buffett's show, MGM Grand Adventures will once again host "Parrot's Paradise," a free outdoor block party on Sept. 29, from noon to 7 p.m. The entire theme park will transform into an all-day exotic beach party with continuous live entertainment on three separate stages and outrageous tropical-themed games, while parrot heads eat cheeseburgers in parrot-dise and sip margaritas.

There will be the sounds of a Caribbean steel-drum-band and Clint Carvalho will feature his exotic bird show. Meanwhile, local band Conched Out featuring Tommy Rocker and 97.1 The Point on-air personality Mike O'Brian will also perform. For more information, call 702-891-7979.

Comedienne Rita Rudner has again extended her "Laugh the Night Away with Rita Rudner" shows at the newly-renovated Cabaret Theatre at the MGM Grand through Nov. 27. Tickets are $39.95 including tax and handling charge and will go to $44.90 on Sept. 22, call 1-800-929-1111 or 702-891-7777.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra, celebrating its 62nd consecutive year of performing on tour, will provide dance music and entertainment at the Stardust on Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. Admission is $15.

The 17-piece band performs under license from the Glenn Miller Estate and provides his classic tunes such as "Moonlight Serenade," "In The Mood," "Little Brown Jug," "Tuxedo Junction" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo."

The orchestra is directed by Larry O'Brien, who , like Miller, is an accomplished trombonist. He's led the band since 1988. Also performing will be the Moonlight Serenades, a quartet that sings tunes made famous by Miller's vocal group, the Mondernaires.

Currently at renewed heights of popularity, the Righteous Brothers will return to The Orleans, Sept. 13-24. Tickets are $44.95, $49.95 and $54.95 plus tax, call 702-465-7075.

When the Righteous Brothers visited last April, they were honored for their extraordinary contribution to the music industry while celebrating the fact that BMI announced "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," was the most played song on American radio and television. The song recently passed the historic eight million performance plateau.

During this engagement on Friday, Sept. 22, in the main showroom at the Tropicana, the Righteous Brothers will be inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame.

Siegfried & Roy's White Lion conservation program reached a milestone on Aug. 28, when three of their 19 White Lions - Mystery, Secret and Hope - turned what is considered the age of maturity...five years old.

"As magicians, we make things disappear," said Roy. "As conservationists, our goal is to make these creatures reappear."

The "Secret Garden" at the Mirage is where the Magicians of the Century's Royal White Tigers, magical White Lions, black panthers, snow leopard, golden tigers, lep-jag, 4-ton elephant named "Gildah" and lagoons and pools filled with bottlenose dolphins play and capture the hearts of Las Vegas visitors.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

The "Sexiest Bachelor in America" competition with representatives for all 50 states will be taped at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 12. The scheduled air date for the pageant is Oct. 12.

The Four Queens introduced two Pai Gow Tile games with $5 minimum and $500 maximum as the table limits, making it the only downtown casino with the ancient Chinese game. It's a game of skill and luck played with 32 special domino-like tiles. For more information, call Mark Karoll at 702-387-5175.

Canadian born and raised comedian / writer / actor Jeremy Hotz will revisit The Improv Comedy Club at Harrah's Las Vegas, Sept. 19-24, along with two fellow comedians. Tickets are $24.95 plus tax, call 1-800-392-9002 or 702-369-5111.

Hotz's career began as a staff writer for the "Jon Stewart Show," and he was nominated for a "Gemini Award" for his writing and starring in "Whatever Happened to Jeremy Hotz?" Comedy Central honored him with the starring role in the mini series "Married Life." He also had a role in the feature film "Speed II."

The Triple 7 Restaurant and Brewery located at Main Street Station downtown has been awarded a bronze medal in the "World Beer Cup" during ceremonies held in New York City. The award which was the only medal given to a Nevada brewery, was a third-place "bronze" for the Triple 7's Royal Red Lager in the Vienna-style Lager category. The competion included 1,127 entries from 371 breweries representing 39 nations.

Changes at the Riviera include the closing of Bingo on Aug. 31, and the Rik'Shaw restaurant on Aug. 27. The restaurant will be converted into an upscale lounge.

It's time for football season again and the Riviera beginning Sept. 4, will host "Monday Night Football Parties" every Monday night in the Le Bistro Lounge throughout the football season. There will be special appearances by the "Bud Girls" and free giveaways throughout the game. Bud and Bud Light drafts will be offered for a dollar, as well as nachos and hot dogs for a buck. For further details, call 702-794-9351.

Singer-songwriter Don McLean will appear at Boulder Station's newly expanded Railhead on Saturday, Sept. 9. Tickets are $22.50, $27.50 and $32.50 plus tax, call 702-432-7575.

In the 39th year of his recording career, McLean remains one of the most popular singer-songwriters in pop history. He has completed 12 world tours and recorded over twice that many records. His classic "American Pie," was a hit three decades ago.

Today, McLean continues to perform around the country and is working on several new recording projects, among them, a new album of McLean originals, a children's album, and a Marty Robbins tribute, "Don McLean Sings Marty Robbins." In March of this year, PBS featured a concert special entitled, "Don McLean: Starry, Starry Night."

Caesars Palace has donated 90 hairpieces worn by its cocktail goddesses to Candlelighters For Childhood Cancer of Southern Nevada. The famous cone-shaped hairpiece and ponytail, part of the original 1966 Caesars Palace toga costume that has won awards and been recognized worldwide in photographs, feature films and television shows, has been retired from the official uniforms as the beauties update their look for the new millennium.

The last comedic angry man, Pat Cooper, and special singing guest star Patti Prince will perform at 7 and 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 22, at Sunset Station in Henderson. Tickets are $17.50, $22.50 and $27.50 plus tax, call 702-547-7777.

The MGM and Don King Productions, Inc. will present championship boxing on Saturday, Sept. 16, in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Showtime Championship Boxing will televise the evening's festivities. Multiple bouts will be featured including two-time WBA Middleweight Champion William Joppy vs. former WBC Champion Hacine Cherifi of France.

The popular free Boulder Blues series will return to the Boulder Station's newly expanded Railhead this month. However, instead of taking place on Mondays, the series will be every Thursday, from 8 to 11 p.m., call 702-432-7575.

This month's lineup is: The Spencer Davis Group on Sept. 7; the Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings on Sept. 14; singer/guitarist Long John Hunter on Sept. 21; and guitarist Walter Trout on Sept. 28.

The Regent Las Vegas, located 11 miles northwest of the Las Vegas Strip, has opened a high limit, high action Table Games Salon Prive. The Salon located on the casino floor near the round bar opens at 4 p.m. daily and features live games: Blackjack, Baccarat, European Routlette, mini Baccarat and Pai Gow Poker.

Two new food venues were also added to The Regent resort in late August, OXO - a steak and seafood restaurant and Teuscher Swiss Chocolate shop & cafe.

Texas Station in North Las Vegas has closed the Stockyard Steakhouse and the Guadalajara Mexican Restaurants. An upscale steakhouse and oyster bar will take their place.

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