Due to popular demand, Tina Turner has added a second show at the Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, Nov. 19. Tickets are $105.25, $75.25 and $39.75 plus applicable service charges, call TicketMaster at 702-474-4000.

Multi-platinum singer Kenny Loggins will headline the opening of Sam's Town Live!, the resort's new event's center, on Nov. 24 and 25. Tickets are $60 and $100, call 1-888-464-2468.

Future acts at Sam's Town Live! include: Tracy Lawrence (Dec. 1-3); BR5-49 (Dec. 4-6); Clay Walker (Dec. 7-9); Neal McCoy (Dec. 31); Gerald Levert (Jan. 12-13, 2001); and Credence Clearwater Revisited (Jan. 26-27).

Sam's Town Live! is a 1,100-seat, multi-use facility that will feature house concerts, sporting events, banquets and even a nightclub set to open after the first of the year. Seven hundred of the seats are on movable, telescoping seating units that create a clam-shaped arena.

Sam's Town Live! is part of the Boulder Strip property's $86 million expansion. Century 18 Sam's Town will be Century Theatres ninth movie theatre in Las Vegas when it opens on Nov. 17. Other additions include a new 600-seat rotisserie Firelight Buffet, 46,000 additional square feet of gaming area, a child-care center with an outdoor play area, plus a new 1,269-space valet parking garage.

Magician Steve Wyrick, after months of delays, recently unveiled his new grand illusion show at the Sahara in a multi-million-dollar theater specially built to his specifications. The new 860-seat custom-made showroom is modeled after an old abandoned airplane hangar, complete with broken out windows, metal walls and old oil barrels.

The 30-year old Texas native made his presence known in Las Vegas when he took over the tent-like theatre at the Lady Luck downtown after Melinda, The First Lady of Magic left it in early 1997 (she now has her show at the Venetian).

Wyrick began with a nine-month pact, after $2 million were spent on renovations to the showroom. He stayed 2 « years and did his last show downtown on Dec. 31, 1999.

Wyrick's show was suppose to open on Feb. 15 at the Sahara, but the building of the detailed showroom and new magic illusions caused the multitude of delays. Wyrick is a perfectionist who honed his talents early in his career by working the fair circuit and then the lucrative corporate market. Being self assured and composed at a young age, he started his career in 1989 by going to Branson, Mo., renting a 250-seat theatre for $5,000 a year, and starting his own show.

Since there are a lot of magic shows in town, Wyrick has set himself apart with the aeronautical theme and a mix of skilled close up magic and industrial-like jumbo illusions like the "whirling blades of death," were he's chained to a metal bed and has one minute to escape before he's shredded. An airplane, helicopter and car play roles in his show. In the animal department, he only showcases his adorable duck so he's not competing with the lion and tiger market.

Wyrick has an eight-year deal at the Sahara and a Steve Wyrick Magic Shop located next to his theatre. His shows are twice nightly at 7 and 10 p.m., Wednesday through Monday. Cost is $40.45, call 702-737-2515.

The holidays are approaching and Paris Las Vegas has schedule funnyman Don Rickles to perform three nights, Dec. 29-31, in Le Theater des Arts. Tickets for his 9 p.m. shows on Dec. 29 and 30 are $55, and $75 for his 10:30 p.m. New Year's Eve performance. For tickets call 1-800-237-7469 or 702-946-4567.

Rickles' career started in 1957 at a small Hollywood nightclub when Frank Sinatra wandered in one night. After successfully insulting Sinatra and making him laugh, Rickles became the "in" comic among the Hollywood stars, who became targets for his witty attacks.

Besides nightclub appearances, Rickles' talents have been utilized on television, in motion pictures, and in live stage productions. He also has had two best-selling comedy albums.

The Riviera has booked "Supremes' Mary Wilson" plus a tribute to Motown for New Year's Eve.

The Maloof family's new $260 million hotel-casino project being build on West Flamingo Road across the street from the Gold Coast will be called The Palms and hold its groundbreaking on Oct. 24. Completion is slated for December 2001.

The Palms will be a Santa Barbara-themed resort with 470 rooms and a 90,000-square-foot casino. Eventually plans call for an expansion to include a 40-story hotel tower and 2,000 rooms.

The renovated Continental hotel-casino on East Flamingo and Paradise roads will reopen on Nov. 21 as Terrible's Casino. The 20-year-old Continental closed last year. It's being transformed into a 400-room hotel and Tuscany-style resort with a swimming pool, table games and 750 slot machines. Most of the slots will use the "easy pay" ticket system similar to what the Suncoast, which opened last month in northwest Las Vegas, is using.

Under development at Harmon Ave. and Koval Lane, one block off the Strip, is the Fairfield Grand Desert Resort. It's a timeshare with 184 units.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Jay Leno will return to the MGM Grand for a limited engagement, Nov. 16-18, in the 1,700-seat "EFX" Theatre. Leno is in his eighth year as host on the Emmy Award-winning "The Tonight Show."

Leno has written a book entitled "Leading With My Chin" from HarperCollins. He's also published four versions of "Headlines," the compilation of books and desk calendars featuring his favorite funny newspaper headlines, and "Police Blotter," a book with more humorous newspaper clips involving police stories. Show tickets are $45 and $55 plus tax, call 1-800-929-1111 or 702-891-7777.

Comedian Bill Engvall, best-known for his "Here's Your Sign" signature routine, will perform at the Stardust in the Wayne Newton Theater on Oct. 28. This will be the fast-rising comic's first headline appearance on the Las Vegas Strip.

The former Dallas deejay achieved national fame in 1996 with the release of the "Here's Your Sign" album, which held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Magazine Comedy Chart for 15 consecutive weeks. Engvall's subsequent albums - "Dorkfish," "Here's Your Christmas Album" and "Now That's Awesome" - are also top-selling albums. Tickets for Engvall's show at the Stardust are $29.95 per person, including tax, tip and one beverage, call 702-732-6325.

Newton, the Stardust's regular star attraction is currently appearing through Oct. 26. He will resume his engagement on Oct. 30 and continue through Nov. 1.

The upcoming match between the undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis defending his crown on Nov. 11, against IBF #1 contender David Tua at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, is a boxing fan's dream.

Lennox captured the undisputed heavyweight championship on Nov. 13, 1999, when he decisioned Evander Holyfield. The 35-year-old London, England, native has stopped 14 opponents within two rounds and is recognized as one of the top-10 heavyweight champions of all-time.

Tua, the 27-year-old Aopo, Samoa native has stopped his last seven opponents. Tickets range from $50 up to $1,000, call 1-877-632-7400. The match will be broadcast live on TVKO.

Neil Sedaka will perform his many hits at the Orleans Showroom, Oct. 17-22. The superstar is a musician, singer and songwriter, who has enjoyed international success especially from 1963-65, when he recorded his hits in Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese and Hebrew. He made this move when the "British Invasion" and groups began replacing solo artists.

In the 1970s, Sedaka the songwriter returned to prominence with the album "Sedaka's Back" and his re-recorded hit ballad "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do." In the early nineties, Sedaka made the charts with duets "Laughter In The Rain," "Stupid Cupid" and "I Go Ape," that he recorded with his daughter Dara. Tickets for Sedaka's 7 p.m. shows are $29.95, $34.95 and $39.95 plus taxes, call 702-365-7075.

A recent reception was held downtown at Neonopolis' new leasing office. The $99 million entertainment retail center has encountered many setbacks especially when Mann Theatres pulled out of the project due to the bankruptcy of its parent company. When new tenants are all signed, construction is expected to take about 12 months.

Following on the heels of "Wine Spectator" and "Bon Appetit," "Gourmet" magazine has cited five Las Vegas restaurants in its "America's Best Restaurants 2000."

The October issue listed their top Las Vegas pick as Napa at the Rio, followed by LeCirque and Picasso at Bellagio. The fourth choice was Lotus of Siam at 953 E. Sahara Ave. The magazine said it is the best Thai restaurant in the United States. Number five was Renoir at The Mirage. Special nods went to Delmonico at The Venetian, which is a steakhouse, and Drai's at the Barbary Coast for being most romantic.

Replicas of golf holes from some of the most famous courses in the world will be brought to Southern Nevada as part of the Bear's Best Las Vegas golf course under construction in Summerlin. It will be a collection of 18 of architect Jack Nicklaus' finest holes. The course made up of duplication of the original holes is expected to be finished next summer and open sometime in the fall of 2001.

There will be four holes taken from Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Ariz., three from PGA West in Palm Springs, Calif., two each from Old Works in Anaconda, Mont., and Las Campanas in Santa Fe, N.M., and one each from seven other courses.

The Bureau of Land Management has the go ahead to sell Clark County 6,500 acres of land in Ivanpah Valley, which is a dry-lake bed about 30 miles south of Las Vegas. The deal will allow for a new airport with phase one to include two runways. The cost would be about $500 million with 2009 being the earliest opening date. Ultimately the airport could handle between 25 and 30 million passengers, as well as cargo.

Pinot Brasserie at the Venetian Hotel will begin wine maker's dinner on Oct. 24, with Ferrari Carano Vineyards and Winery. Dinner will be served from 6-9 p.m. at a prix fixe of $75, plus tax and gratuity, call 702-414-8881.

The Lance Burton Variety Club Golf Classic will be held on Monday, Oct. 23. Foursomes are still available for the event being held at Dragon Ridge Golf Club in Green Valley. Entry fees are $350 with lunch, an awards dinner, and Burton in attendance for photos at the start included, call 702-383-8466.

Burton is now in his fifth year of an 11-year run in his Lance Burton Theatre at the Monte Carlo.

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