My column last weekend was naturally written prior to the horrifically traumatic events that took place on Tuesday, Sept. 11. As with the rest of the country, Las Vegas has had an outpouring of sympathy and concern. Some resorts have already donated big sums of money, residents immediately following the tragedy donated blood, and the casino / resorts extinguished all their non-essential exterior lights and marquees at 7:45 p.m. and for the remainder of the night on Friday, Sept. 14.

Many entertainers and shows are planning how they can offer help. For example, Catch A Rising Star and the Excalibur Hotel-Casino are presenting a benefit performance featuring five comedians tonight at 7:30 p.m. All the proceeds will go to the Red Cross.

The disaster also caused shows to be canceled including the Beach Boys concert scheduled last weekend to inaugurate the Stratosphere's new 3,700-seat amphitheater.

Lanky humorist Steven Wright will headline at Paris Las Vegas, Oct. 5-7. His deadpan one-liners like, "No matter what temperature the room is, it's always room temperature," have kept him on the top of the stand-up comedy heap for two decades.

Wright was discovered in 1982 when the executive producer of "The Tonight Show" checked out a bizarre Boston venue that was a combination Chinese restaurant and comedy club. His to-the-point shtick won him an appearance on Johnny Carson's late-night show and immediate approval.

Wright has also hosted "Saturday Night Live" and had roles alongside Madonna in "Desperately Seeking Susan," Mike Meyers in "So I Married an Axe Murderer," an most-recently, Albert Brooks and Andie MacDowell in "The Muse." He received a Grammy nomination for his stand-up album, "I Have a Pony."

Award winning Hawaiian sensations Brickwood Galuteria, Obrian Eselu, Amy Hanaialii Gilliom and special guests will perform in the Theatre Ballroom at the Golden Nugget on Wednesday, Sept. 26. Tickets are $25 with tax included, call 702-386-8100.

This week, the Tropicana released the fifth chip in its commemorative 2001 series. The limited edition $5 Fall Classic chip celebrates the World Series.

The Rio is dipping into the afternoon show market with "the man who can make anything talk," Ronn Lucas. He's appearing in Copacabana Showroom through Oct. 7, at 3 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Ticket's are $19.95 plus tax, call 702-777-7776.

Lucas has fun sidekicks like Scorch and Buffalo Billy. In his finale, he involves a live "dummy" selected right from the audience.

Lucas has won many awards, been named "world's best" ventriloquist by both the "New York Times" and the "London Times," and had his own top-rated television show in London for four years.

Joe Trammel aka "The Man of a Thousand Faces," has the dubious distinction of being the first man to ever perform in "Crazy Girls" at the Riviera as the show's 14th anniversary hits.

His 15-minute act in "Crazy Girls" appeals to non-English speaking audiences because it's visual physical comedy like Jerry Lewis used to do and it's built on pop culture. Trammel spoofs movies that have been seen all over the world and oversees the production of all the props he uses.

Trammel started his show business life as a five-year-old Elvis impersonator. Later, his involvement in martial arts earned him a Black Belt in Kenpo. He puts everything in his act including Red Moves. He was the Arizona State Champion in 1982 in Kenpo and he won the Karate Olympics in New Mexico the same year.

Next month's implosion at the Desert Inn is going ahead as scheduled, but it will be decidedly a low-profile event.

"Legends in Concert" at the Imperial Palace stays fresh by switching out its celebrity tributes. Daryl Wagner has returned to the award-winning production show playing the larger-than-life pianist, "Mr. Showmanship" Liberace.

Resembling the "King of Glitter," he mixes piano playing and tunes such as Liberace's signature song "I'll Be Seeing You." The Chicago native began piano lessons at age five. He studied piano at the Chicago Institute of Music, where he became a classical pianist and studied arranging, composition and musical direction. Eventually, he conducted orchestras.

Wagner also majored in theater at the University of Illinois and landed roles in summer stock and musicals.

The current lineup of superstar tributes in "Legends in Concert" includes Michael Jackson, Richie Valens, Liza Minnelli, Ricky Martin and Elvis. A live on-stage orchestra backs all the stars and the talent uses their own voices - no lip-syncing. Tickets are $34.50 for adults with tax, tip and two drinks included, call 1-888-777-7664 or 702-794-3261.

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Pianist / composer Rick Silanskas, known as "The Ambassador of Romance," is debuting his own special style of music on the Las Vegas Strip tonight at the Imperial Palace. He will do his show again on Sept. 30, Oct. 21 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. The Oct. 28 performance will be taped for television and air internationally in more than 20 countries on the Film & Arts Network and selected domestic markets in the United States. For reservations, call 1-800-777-7664 or 702-794-3261.

The Tropicana is running a "Showgirl Spin & Win" promotion with a free chance to win up to $1,000 cash and other prizes. Each day, the world-famous Tropicana showgirls hit the casino floor along with a master of ceremonies to select five Spin & Win players per drawing. Daily drawings are held at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. in the Celebration Lounge.

All 25 daily winners spin the winners wheel for one of the following prizes: $1,000, $250, $100, $50 cash, dinner for two at Calypso's or two tickets to the resort's three shows, the "Folies Bergere," "The Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas" and "The Comedy Stop."

The chances of being selected a Spin & Win participation are excellent, and every spinner is a guaranteed winner. Also, the contest drum is emptied after the final drawing each day. Winners need not be present to win and have 24 hours to redeem their prize. If a winner is present, they receive a $50 cash bonus in addition to the prize they win from the wheel. For contest details, call 702-735-2711.

Venus is a new lounge at the Venetian. It captures old Las Vegas with an upscale, chic look. It has an authentic tiki bar with hand-carved wooden fixtures. The dance floor has windows facing the Mirage volcano.

Hush is a sleek, upscale bar/lounge at Polo Towers connected to a second-floor roof area, complete with pool/Jacuzzis and a Strip view. Hush is slated to open Oct. 5.

Another upcoming lounge with a view will be The Ghostbar on the 55th floor of the new Palms hotel scheduled to open in November. It will have a floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor Ghost Deck overlooking the entire city.

Popular comedienne Wendy Liebman along with two fellow comedians will headline the Improv Comedy Club at Harrah's, Oct. 9-14. Tickets are $24.95 plus tax.

Liebman possesses a signature style that is best described as the one-liner with a subliminal afterthought. Her effectiveness lies largely in her unexpected timing by having the punch line invariably falling after the joke seems to be over. For example, "On the airplane I sat beside a man, and I just knew how much he wanted me_To Shut Up_ Because he was busy flying the plane."

Liebman spent six years honing her talent on stage throughout New England, while she continued to hold down a full-time job. She won the semi-finals of the Johnny Walker Comedy Competition in Boston and then went to

Los Angeles to compete in the finals. It was during this competition at the Improv in Los Angeles that Liebman was "discovered" by the talent coordinator of "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." Three months later, she moved to Los Angeles and her comedy career never slowed down.

The top 45 bull riders in the world and the toughest bulls in North America will compete in the Professional Bull Riders Eighth Annual Bud Light Cup World Championship at the Thomas & Mack Center, Oct. 25-28. Bull riders will vie for $1.5 million in prize money and the 2001 title.

Caesars Palace is the host hotel for event participants. Event tickets are available at Caesars Palace box offices, call 1-800-634-6698 or 702-731-7865. Tickets are $41.50 with parking, tax and a ticket-handling fee.

Caesars Palace will be the site of 10 p.m. post-event parties, Oct. 25-27. Entertainment will be by the Ricochet band presented by Wrangler on Oct. 25 and by Wild Horses presented by Sony on Oct. 26 and 27. Tickets will be $15.

The 600-foot "cloud" canopy structure that will hover above the Fashion Show mall that is currently undergoing a $350 million renovation will become an architectural icon for the Strip. The cloud will float 180 feet above a 72,000-square-foot plaza.

Adding to the visual interest on the outdoor plaza is a giant wall that will broadcast fashion events from inside the Fashion Show or from around the word. A massive LED screen will feature fashion and retail advertising that runs just below the cloud.

The high-tech fashion center will feature an 80-foot runway that can be lifted hydraulically into place to serve as a catwalk for fashion shows or as a stage for live events.

The Fashion Show is already the largest shopping center on the Strip and it will double in size to 1.9 million square feet when construction is completed in 2002. It will be anchored by eight department stores: Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth avenue, Bloomingdale's Home Store, Macy's Robinson-May, Dillard's and Lord & Taylor.

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