On Oct. 25, the Aladdin's new 400-seat CenterStage showroom will open. The multi-talented Hawaiian group Society of Seven will inaugurate the theater that is located on the mezzanine level, next to the Elements and Tremezzo restaurants. The SOS group has previously headlined at the Golden Nugget and the Las Vegas Hilton. For ticket information, call 702-785-5000 or toll free at 1-866-477-5267.

Kerry Simon, the renowned chef from Mercer Kitchen in New York and Prime at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, opened his new signature restaurant this week in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. After seven years opening restaurants around the globe with Jean George Vongerichten, Simon Kitchen & Bar is his first solo restaurant in Las Vegas with partner Elizabeth Blau, who was formerly Senior Vice President of restaurant development at MGM-Mirage.

This new 180-seat eatery with three private dining rooms features American classic cuisine served in a contemporary setting and relaxed atmosphere. Simon is basing himself full time in Las Vegas so he can personally oversee every element of his new place. Dinner is served nightly beginning at 5:30 p.m. with an average check estimated at $55.

The "skin-full" late-night adult revue, "Skintight," has just entered its third year at Harrah's. The upbeat show is choreographed by the award-winning Mistinguett and features male and female dancers performing racy, sexy routines to lively pop and rock 'n' roll beats.

The show has a new female lead Shannon O'Keefe, who was last seen starring in "Playboy's Wet and Wild Live." This very fine dancing beauty was also featured in "Playboy" magazine.

O'Keefe is joined by the magnetic male lead singer / dancer Darryl Ross, who has performed all over the world and been featured in a number of Playboy revues.

A brand new show segment features comic impressionist Tony D'Andrea, who has been a frequent opening act for Tom Jones and Ray Charles. He has also opened for such names as Howie Mandel, Suzanne Somers and Debbie Reynolds. Tickets are $39.95 plus tax.

There will be one 10 p.m. show of "1964 The Tribute" on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in the Cabaret Theatre at New York-New York. Tickets are $29.95 inclusive, call 1-800-693-6763 or 702-740-6815.

This show takes audiences on a musical journey through a legendary era in rock history and recreates early live Beatles '60s concerts, with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles and onstage banter.

The Orleans on West Tropicana has opened Spa Orleans & Fitness Center with eight treatment rooms each with a swimming pool view, three tanning beds, a steam room, jacuzzi, state-of-the-art fitness center and full service beauty and barber shops. Separate spa facilities are provided for men and women. Complimentary beverages are served to spa guests. The facility is open to the public daily and hours vary by season.

By his very nature, The Amazing Johnathan is a macabre, eccentric comic magician. To celebrate Halloween he goes even further by providing special scary holiday-themed shows, Oct. 22-27 and 29-31.

Before his performances, The Amazing Johnathan will run clips from his favorite scary movies to get people in the mood. As the show begins, one "un-lucky" fan will be cursed into a werewolf and prompted to attack whoever is in his way.

Other highlights, if you want to call them that, will be chainsaws chopping off body parts and his assistant Psychic Tanya losing a body part. Make note, his shows are for 18 years and older. Tickets are $40, call 1-866-946-5336 or 702-386-8100.

The Diamonds have a nostalgic concert scheduled at the Top Of The Riv on Nov. 2., at 9 p.m. It's been over 40 years since The Diamonds released an instant million selling hit called "Little Darlin'." A couple more of their hits include "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?," "Church Bells May Ring," "Silhouettes" and the line dance tune, "The Stroll." Tickets are $14.50 plus tax and fee, call 702-794-9433.

The successful risque musical comedy "Tease" that opened nine months ago at the Blue Note at Desert Passage and the Aladdin closed suddenly on Oct. 9, after a dispute with the landlord. The show is shopping for a new location.

Darren Romeo's afternoon show at The Mirage closed a week ago. Romeo, who has been billed as "The Voice of Magic" is already working on a new nighttime show that is slated to open in early 2003. He is backed by Siegfried and Roy.

The artistic herd of 120 "moovelous" bovine is making its area debut in Summerlin and at numerous city locations including along The Strip, in malls and at automobile dealerships.

At a recent press conference, Siegfried & Roy were on hand to unveil the "Moogicians of the Century" towering standup pair of cows. There is also a "Moo of My Dreams Showgirl" cow and a Las Vegas icon cow featuring a replica of the famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign at the far south end of The Strip.

The colorful cows will be auctioned off online in January and the proceeds will benefit the Andre Agassi Foundation, Opportunity Village and other local charities.

Fire-haired prop comedian Carrot Top has multiple engagements set at the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theater... Oct. 24-30, Nov. 14-20 and Dec. 5-23. Tickets are $35, call 1-800-929-1111.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

In a recent issues of "Travel + Leisure" magazine, it named the Four Seasons, Las Vegas' first AAA Five Diamond hotel, the "Best Business Hotel in Las Vegas" and ranked the hotel Spa highest in Las Vegas and number 13 overall in its Top Hotel Spas in the U.S. and Canada.

The Four Seasons has a full business center and offers wireless Internet access in all of its public spaces, as well as high speed Internet access in all guest rooms. Other appealing complimentary amenities include a selection of a daily newspaper delivered to the room, overnight shoeshine and use of the fitness facilities.

In March 2001, The Spa underwent a $2.1 million expansion to include 16 treatment rooms. It is open to non-hotel guests Monday through Thursday.

"Spirit of the Dance," which made its debut at the Golden Nugget on Aug. 19, will take a one-week hiatus, Nov. 4-10. During that week, the ballroom that acts as a showroom will be remodeled with a tiered-seating arrangement that will allow audiences a wider view of the popular dance production. This is a much-needed change because of all the hard-to-see foot action. Tickets are $45 inclusive.

Studio 54, the nightclub at the MGM Grand, will introduce a new element of nightlife expression when it debuts Dollhouse on Nov. 7. The new sinfully playful affair will be held every Thursday night from 10 p.m. until the early morning hours. Studio 54's barely clad "dolls" will serve as hosts and hostesses in place of cocktail servers. The playful atmosphere with closets within reach will allow guests to dress the real life dolls in a new version of "dress up."

A trio of country music stars who are longtime friends, Mark Chesnutt, Joe Diffie and Tracy Lawrence, are set to appear in the 40,000-square-foot Stardust Pavilion, Oct. 25-26, as part of the "Rockin' Roadhouse Tour," a cross-country odyssey taking the singers to 75 cities.

The idea for the tour that began in June was to jam together and share a band much like the Highwaymen did years ago. Tickets are $49.95 plus tax, call 1-888-217-9565.

The legendary Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, are in the middle of their current run at the Las Vegas Hilton. You can hear them sing their timeless classics, "You've Got That Lovin' Feeling" and "Unchained Melody" through Nov. 3. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55 plus tax.

The Smothers Brothers will bring on the laughs from Nov. 5-16 at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater. Their first national television appearance was in 1961 and their groundbreaking show, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," is still being remembered for how cutting-edge it was at the time. Tickets are $30 and $40 plus tax, call 702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361.

Siegfried & Roy joined their friend Wolfgang Puck on his famed television cooking show that airs on the Food Network. The Halloween-themed program was taped at the pair's home referred to as Jungle Palace. The show will be airing on Oct. 24, 27 and at midnight on Oct. 30.

When you see Rita Rudner's show at New York-New York, you always get to meet a member of her family... her shaggy dog. Now she and her husband, Martin Bergmann, have adopted a baby girl named Molly. It will be interesting to see if she becomes part of Rudner's extremely funny act.

Just a reminder, both Bloomingdale's and Nevada's first Nordstrom will open at the Fashion Show mall on Nov. 1.

A taste of Bavaria with authentic German beers is taking place at the Flamingo Las Vegas during the month-long Oktoberfest celebration running daily through Oct. 31. The Bavarian outdoor barbecue is located on the southwest corner of the Strip property and taking place from noon until 9 p.m. A strolling accordion player adds to the ethnic mood from noon to 5 p.m., while a disc jockey takes over from 5 to 9 p.m.

Flamingo visitors can also participate in prize giveaways as part of the "Connect, Spin & Win" game promotion running through Oct. 31. A free spin on the Connection Wheel runs noon to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are many prizes including cash, show tickets, and a VIP trip for two to Oktoberfest 2003 in Germany.

Patrons at the Bier Haus (located at the Sports Bar) can purchase two-for-one Lowenbrau beers and souvenir glass beer steins from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Grammy Award winner Lee Greenwood will headline at Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, Nev. on Friday, Oct. 25. Best known for his signature hit "God Bless The USA," Greenwood is touring again. In April 1996, he opened his own theater in the Smoky Mountains to be closer to his family. To date, he has recorded 31 albums including his latest CE "Inspirational Songs Featuring God Bless The USA."

Tickets are $22 plus a $2 service charge, call 1-800-FUN-STOP. Primm is only a 35-minute drive from Las Vegas.

The Imperial Palace has a "Halloween Harvest" room special, subject to availability, running Oct. 27-31. It is $14.50 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. This limited-time special includes a free dinner buffet, free $5 blackjack match play, free "Scratch Slotto" card, and a free car rental day on a three-day deal. The bonus is a vacation certificate good for one night free between Nov. 10 and Jan. 30 with a two-night stay. For details including certain restrictions, call 1-800-634-6441 or your travel agent and ask about the "Halloween Harvest" special offer.

The young, hip JetBlue Airways that was launched on Feb. 11, 2000, has introduced three to six daily fights between Las Vegas, the nation's seventh-largest air market, and the carrier's West Coast base in Long Beach, Calif. The low-cost passenger airline has 162 leather-covered seats on its new Airbus A320 aircraft and features live satellite television offering 24 channels of live programming at no extra charge.

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