Long anticipated, magician Steve Wyrick's show at the Sahara has opened in a new custom made showroom modeled after an old airplane hangar, complete with broken out windows and old oil barrels. The room seats up to 860. Tickets are $34.95 plus tax and service charge.

The date. Oct. 18, has finally been set for the production show "De La Guarda" to open at the Rio. The Argentine-born show features aerialists performing overhead as the crowd stands throughout the show. The ads for the show read, "Theater That Falls From The Sky." Call 1-800-PLAYRIO for more information.

Another opening is set for Nov. 21, when impressionist Bill Acosta opens at the Flamingo after headlining at the Luxor for a couple years. Acosta's 10 p.m. topless show will be bigger at the Flamingo with the accompaniment of a live eight-piece band and 12 dancers.

Covering three floors, a 21,000-square-foot Spanish-influenced restaurant and club called the Sevilla will be one of the largest nightclubs on the Strip when it opens at the Desert Passage mall. The interior will be themed on the caves of Southern Spain.

The Denver businessman who opened the original Sevilla in his own city two years ago, hopes to open his new club by New Year's Eve.

During the day, Sevilla will be a 585-seat restaurant offering Spanish and Cuban cuisine. There will be a nightly dinner show covering the history of salsa music. At 9:30 p.m., the property will convert to a salsa and Latin music night club capable of holding 1,000 patrons. The Sevilla will also feature a 200-seat meeting and banquet room.

The 15th anniversary party last month for "An Evening at La Cage," the fifth longest running show in Las Vegas, was a reminder of just how great the show is. The show's star Frank Marino, whose stage persona is Joan Rivers, makes 17 costume changes during each 90-minute revue. His designer gowns or shall we say "creations," many of which are by Bob Mackie, command applause with every change.

Earlier this year Marino signed a 10-year contract worth $10 million, making him one of the highest paid female impersonators in the business. He has his own web site: www.frankmarino.com and fan club.

This is one show where a program is intriguing to purchase because it shows the so called "before and after" pictures. When you see the photos of the guys before they're made up, you have an even greater appreciation for the art form each man cultivates.

"La Cage" showtimes are 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. nightly except Tuesdays. Tickets are $22.25 plus taxes, call 800-634-3420 or 702-794-9433.

Illusionist Rick Thomas continues to shine in his 2 and 4 p.m. afternoon shows at the Tropicana in the main showroom. Entering his fourth year of steady business, Thomas delivers an evening show quality performance at affordable prices $16.95 and $21.95 per person, call 702-739-2222.

Thomas accompanied by some lovely assistants blends exotic animals, slight-of-hand tricks and big illusions. What stands out; however, is his own personality. He's a bit of a cross between Wayne Newton and Elvis with a touch of Liberace. Thomas is quite tall at 6'4" and was a former United States Ballroom Dance Champion which explains the element of dance incorporated into the show, along with his sense of wit.

When he introduces his two white tigers, he quips, "There are actually 100, but Siegfried & Roy own the other 98." It's easy to see why Thomas has found a home at the Tropicana for his hour-long show.

The art trend that Steve Wynn started at the Bellagio in 1998, will become more prominent when the world-renowned Solomon Guggenheim Foundation opens its sixth Guggenheim gallery branch at the Venetian. Joining the venture will be the State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg, Russia, a museum with origins dating from the 1750s. The two projects will showcase fine and popular art.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Art Museum is displaying Art Beyond Borders, an international touring art exhibition presented in cooperation with UNESCO and The International Museum of 20th Century Arts, through Nov. 13.

The exhibit features the works of more than 40 artists representing countries from Albania to Zimbabwe. Admission to the exhibit promoting peace and understanding through art is $3, $2 for seniors and $1 for students. For information and directions because the museum is about five miles from the Strip, call 702-360-8000.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

"Motor Trend" magazine will present the Motor Trend International Car Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 24-26. The automobile extravaganza will be the first of its kind in the city featuring the latest model cars, trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles, plus concept cars and reproduction models. More than 20 domestic and import manufacturers will present dramatic displays showcasing the latest in auto comfort, performance, safety and style.

The show also will feature exotic vehicles, NASCAR exhibits and family-oriented promotions, including a Beanie Day and a Kids Day.

Show hours will be 10 a.m.- 10 p.m. on Nov. 24 and 25, and until 6 p.m. on Nov. 26. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors (62 and over) and free for children 12 and under. Discount coupons can be downloaded from the official Auto Show website at www.autoshowusa.com.

The Kings of Comedy Tour with Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac and Cedric the Entertainer will appear at the MGM Grand Garden on Nov. 4. The open acts are the Queens of Comedy, featuring Adele Givens, Mo'nique and Sommore. Tickets are $39.75, $49.75 and $59.75, call TicketMaster at 702-474-4000.

Ground will be broken this month on a $650 million private monorail project that will link the MGM Grand with the Sahara Hotel. The four-mile monorail route will include five new stations along with the existing two stations that connect the MGM Grand and Bally's. A 36-car fleet of nine four-car driverless trains will be built. Completion is planned for January 2004.

Staying with building forecasts, a developer is planning to build 5 million square feet of showroom space for wholesale furniture in the downtown area. Las Vegas could become a "furniture hub," where furniture makers from around the world display their products to retailers. The first phase, still in the design stage, likely will be a 10 story building with 1-million square feet of space.

The Venetian has announced that it is evaluating the possibility of adding 1,000 additional guest rooms. The added rooms would give the all-suite Venetian mega-resort 4,036 rooms, placing it third behind the MGM Grand (5,034) and Luxor (4,404) in room count.

The "Blue Man Group - Live at Luxor" will add two new performances, extending the show schedule to 12 shows weekly as of Oct. 9. Show times are 10 p.m. nightly and at 7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday through Sunday.

The unusual production, featuring three enigmatic bald and blue characters that take the audience through a multi-sensory experience combining theater, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville, opened in the 1,200-seat Luxor Theater last March. Tickets are $55 and $65, call 800-557-7428 or 702-262-4400.

The music of the late trumpeter Harry James will be revived next Saturday Oct. 7, when the orchestra bearing his name plays dance music at the Stardust Ballroom from 7-10 p.m. The orchestra officially licensed by the James' estate is led by Art Depew, a one-time prot‚g‚ to James. Admission is $15.

Interesting note, James was a Las Vegas resident from 1960 until his death in 1983.

The rich history of Oktoberfest is being celebrated at the Monte Carlo Pub & Brewery this month with the introduction of its signature Oktoberfest brew and authentic German lunch and dinner specials. The Vienna style Lager is malty and amber-colored.

The Monte Carlo Pub & Brewery is open daily with entertainment beginning at 9 p.m. Bands start performing at 9:30 p.m. and there is no cover charge, call 1-800-311-8999 for information.

The sixth annual benefit dinner and auction, "Playhouse 2000 Goes Hollywood" will take place on Saturday, Oct. 14, at The Mirage. Very elaborate and imaginative child size playhouses are built for the auction and are on display in the malls around town for the two weeks leading up to the dinner. Some are designed like buildings while others may take on the shape of stagecoach, bus or bug. Tickets are $150 per person and help the Nevada Association for the Handicapped, call Angie Wallin at 702-870-7050 for reservations.

Comedian Pablo Francisco will headline at the Improv Comedy in Harrah's, Oct. 10-15. He's been a regular cast member on Fox's "Mad TV" and been seen on many other television shows. Francisco has also been the national spokesman for Churches Chicken and did a pre-movie commercial for Coca Cola, which was shown in more than 3,500 theaters. Tickets are $24.95 plus tax.

It never fails, the stars come out to see Siegfried & Roy's sold-out performances at the Mirage. Recent photos show the dynamic duo with Academy Award winning actor Anthony Hopkins, retired talk show host and author Mike Douglas, and singer Melissa Manchester. The show is approaching 5,000 performances.

Construction continues on the Terrible's hotel-casino going up at the corner of Flamingo and Paradise Roads. It's the site of the former Continental. The Herbst family bought the Continental and started renovating it after the Continental went bankrupt and closed in 1998.

There may be a change coming "At the Copa," which stars Sheena Easton and David Cassidy. Look for Easton to go her own way.

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