The Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform at the Hard Rock Hotel on Dec. 30 and 31. Tickets are $153 and $253 on Dec. 30 and $203 and $303 on New Year's Eve, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" will return to Las Vegas in November when it opens at the Venetian.

The renowned Platters with Monroe Powell as the lead singer are performing cocktail and dinner shows on The Strip at Club Seven located across the street from the Harley Davidson Cafe. The famed group made the music scene in 1955 with their first gold single, "Only You," for Mercury Records. The group went on to earn 16 gold records with hits like "The Great Pretender," "My Prayer" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes."

For trivia buffs, the Platters has only had three lead singers in its history: Tony Williams 1953-1960, Sonny Turner 1960-1970, and Monroe Powell 1970 to the present.

The $44.95 cocktail show includes two drinks. The 7 p.m. dinner show featuring a three-course meal and glass of house wine is $64.95 inclusive with seating at 5:30 p.m. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday through Wednesday with additional 9 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday.

This is good news for showgoers. Coca-Cola Tickets 2Nite opened last week in the atrium of the World of Coke attraction at the Showcase mall. The concept is similar to the discount ticket system in New York City's Broadway district. Participating producers start releasing unsold show tickets for half price through a computerized system as early as 2 p.m. until 9 or 10 p.m. The ticket sellers aren't pushing shows or making recommendations, they are simply selling show tickets that are being offered that day. This cost saving could help visitors see more shows.

The world's largest big top tent is currently going up on the south side of Bellagio to house the return performance of "Cheval" from Nov. 22-Jan. 4. The hand-painted round tent that will seat 1,500 spectators is multi-peaked and replicates a castle in France's Loire Valley.

The 90-minute performances will feature multiple acts, including equestrian vaulting, Garotcha, High School Dressage, The Carousel, Freestyle Dressage and Bohemio, a comedic horse who cleverly lets his trainer know who is really in charge. The show highlights 30 majestic horses of 15 distinctive breeds and 30 equestrian artists. Adult tickets run $49-$59, with senior and child discounts available, call 702-796-9999.

Soul singer India.Arie was a part of Andre Agassi's recent Las Vegas benefit concert and will return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena to do her own concert on Nov. 23. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55, call 1-800-929-1111 or 702-891-7777.

India.Arie explains that she put a dot in her name to make it recognizable and a trademark of sorts. Her first album, "Acoustic Soul," debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard national album chart following its March 2001 release and within six weeks, it was certified gold. India.Arie was personally invited by musical star Sade to open her 2001 tour.

"Voyage to India" is her second album. In 2002, India.Arie received Grammy nominations in seven categories, including Best New Artist and Record, Song and Album of the Year.

Comedian / actor Alan Thicke of "Growing Pains" sitcom fame, broadcast television personality John Daly and the pop band The Rembrandts have confirmed that they will attend the Odyssey Masters Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 16, in the newly completed Grand Ballroom at the JW Marriott. Ten top local chefs are teamed in pairs to present a five-course meal that costs $300 per person.

The celebs will help unveil The Audi / Odyssey Masterpiece, a 2003 Audi A4 Cabriolet painted by international artist Yuroz for a special project that will benefit The Leukemia & Lymhoma Society. The car will embark on a 12-month journey stopping at numerous events throughout the United States and people can purchase tickets to win it.

Audi presents the 3rd annual Las Vegas Odyssey 2002 is a four-day celebration of wine, food and art, scheduled Nov. 14-17. Tickets are on sale for a series of wine tastings, dinners and cooking demonstrations that go beyond the traditional. Individual event prices range from $75-$300 per person. For information or tickets, call 877-370-9182 or 702-257-2345 or visit www.lasvegasodyssey.com.

The Le Bistro Theatre at the Riviera houses multiple shows. The newest one is "Shock" featuring bizarre variety acts on Monday nights only at 10 p.m. The show is emceed by prop comic, Robert Strong, a self-described "Demented Comedy Magician," and popular college and network television act.

Other "Shock" performers include: David Smith "The Rubber Man," who is a 6'6" East Coast act, Lyra O'Donnabhair "The Razor Girl," who swallows five razor blades and does fire-eating, and Edward Robinson "Phoenix Blaze," a top sword swallower. These and other "unreal" acts will be featured. Tickets are $17.95 plus tax, call 702-794-9433.

"Ricci Martin: A Tribute to Dean Martin, His Son Remembers" was suppose to be closing at the Riviera, but instead, the show got an earlier time slot a couple nights a week. Shows are Saturday through Monday at 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets are $29.95 plus tax and fee.

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The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF), which is a competitive event attracting global entries, will return to Las Vegas, Nov. 19-24, and showcase 100 features, shorts, animations and documentaries. The festival is now hosting film events in three cities... New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The opening night party will take place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19, at Club Seven. Film screenings will take place exclusively at the Brenden Theaters at the Palms. After-parties will be held at some of Las Vegas' top nightclubs including the Ghost Bar, Rain and Studio 54. There will also be seminars. Tickets can be purchased from Ticketweb by calling 1-866-468-7619. Festival screenings at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. are free, Tuesday through Friday.

The acerbic comedian George Carlin, who uses razor sharp humor to point out hypocrisy in people's words and actions, will take center stage the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre, Nov. 7-13. In September, he was awarded "Comedian of the Year" at the first Las Vegas Comedy Festival. Carlin is the author of two best selling books, "Brain Droppings" and "Napalm and Silly Putty" and the star of 12 one-hour HBO specials. Tickets are $60 inclusive, call 1-800-929-1111 or 702-891-7777.

The Four Queens downtown has a Prime Rib special in Magnolia's Veranda Coffee Shop for $7.95. The complete dinner is available every evening from 4 p.m. to midnight.

The Westward Ho has 99-cent Shrimp Cocktail or Strawberry Shortcake available at the Snack Bar Deli and a mega-hot dog for $1.50.

The off-Strip Palace Station is continuing its half price ticket offer to the midnight comedy shows at Gabe Kaplan's Laugh Trax on Friday and Saturday nights. Regular tickets are $12.95 and the half-price offer is $6.50.

In January, the Blue Moon Resort will open with 47 rooms off Sahara Ave. and Interstate 15 without a casino. It will cater to gay men, sport a Southeast Asian d‚cor and feature a lagoon-style pool with waterfalls, whirlpool spas, outdoor fireplaces and a coffeehouse.

International Game Technology (IGT) is selling the MGM Mirage, the nation's second-largest casino company, 7,000 "cashless" slot machines that will be installed at nine of its casinos, including the Bellagio, MGM Grand and Treasure Island. The "EZ Pay" slot machines let gamblers use tickets instead of coins to wager. The company will also retrofit an undisclosed number of existing machines.

There's a new hit musical that premiered at Chicago's Royal George Theatre in September. "Comfortable Shoes" is written by Harrah's Las Vegas-headliner Clint Holmes and it's about his life.

Chicago television station WGN has a three-hour morning program about the show planned for Nov. 18. Holmes will be flying to the "Windy City" to perform in the special.

Internationally acclaimed fashion designer Custo Dalmau will be on hand to meet customers and autograph any Custo Barcelona piece that's purchased at the Capri store at Bellagio on Friday, Nov. 8, from noon to 2 p.m.

The Park Avenue 635 luxury condominiums are being built a block off the far South Strip. They are in the price range of $130,000 to $300,000 for one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans running from 800 square feet to just under 2,000 square feet. The complex's 8,200-square-foot private club is celebrating its grand opening and models are expected to be open in mid-December.

The Winning Steaks Bar and Grill inside Harrah's hosts a Monday night football party all during the NFL season. In conjunction with Jack Daniels and Budweiser, 28-ounce Bud or Bud light drafts are being served for $5 each, five bottles of either beer in a souvenir bucket are $15, and Jack Daniel's beverages in a logo souvenir cup are $3 each. Budweiser and Jack Daniels girls are on-hand from 6 to 9 p.m. to award customers with T-shirts, commemorative cups and autographed football memorabilia.

For the third year in a row, the Harley-Davidson Cafe on The Strip has ranked on the Top 100 Independent Restaurants list, compiled each year by "Restaurants and Institutions" magazine. The 2002 list ranks restaurants according to 2001 profits.

This year, the Harley-Davidson Cafe at number 45 is among 13 Las Vegas restaurants on the list. It is the only stand-alone Las Vegas restaurant.

The Bellagio is continuing to conduct a $540 buy-in 5 O'clock Friday Tournament series every week. Satellites with entry fees of $70 are held each week on Thursday and Friday at 11 a.m., with the actual Friday tournament starting at 5 p.m.

Later this year, the resort will hold the Bellagio 5-Diamond Poker tournament. It will start on Dec. 2 and wind up with a two-day $3,000 buy-in No Limit Texas Hold'em championship event on Dec. 11-12. Satellite play for this tournament will begin on Nov. 30. The Bellagio has already paid out more than $2.5 million in poker tournament prize money so far this year.

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