The highly anticipated first phase of the Fashion Show mall's $1 billion expansion has at last opened. The project has added nearly 900,000 square feet of retail space to the 22-year-old mall and also kicked off a new era in retailing that is further enhancing Las Vegas' status as one of the world's top shopping destinations.

The two new anchor stores are Nordstrom's 200,000-square-foot store and the 100,000-square-foot Bloomingdale's Home store. In addition, existing anchors Neiman Marcus, Macy's and Robinsons-May have each significantly expanded their current sites. Dillard's and Saks Fifth Avenue have relocated into larger stores. Next fall when Lord & Taylor moves into the space formerly housing Dillard's, the Fashion Show will become the only retail center in the United States with eight anchor tenants under one roof.

This year on Saturday, Dec. 28, "Colors Of The Holiday Season" will star Oleta Adams, Peabo Bryson, Jon Secada and Jody Watley in the Riviera's Royale Pavilion. The show has become a holiday tradition with four superstar performers uniting to sing traditional holiday classics and do solo spotlights of their hit singles. The concert features a live full orchestra and a Gospel choir. Tickets are $50 plus tax and fee, call 702-794-9280.

Adams is best known for her hit single "Get Here." In February 1992, Bryson became the first artist in history to have separate records on top of four different charts. That same year, he teamed up with Epic artist Celine Dion to record the theme for the top grossing Disney film, "Beauty And The Beast."

Cuba-born Secada had his third EMI album, "Amore," in 1995 earn him a second Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance. Watley's debut single, "Looking For A New Love," was a smash hit with an instant catch phrase, "Hasta La Vista... Baby."

Award-winning chef Joe Romano recently opened JW's Tavern at the Rio in a ground floor Masquerade Village location that used to be an Italian restaurant. Romano worked for many years as Charlie Palmer's right hand man at New York's famous Aureole restaurant and opened another Aureole in Las Vegas in 1999.

JW's Tavern serves casual American comfort-style food and drinks in an ambience rich with traditional pub culture. The menu features more than 100 beers with 12 handpicked on tap and 90 by the bottle. Some of the food items include chicken pot pie, fish and chips, cheddar baked macaroni and cheese and apple cabbage slaw.

The warm tavern setting includes a bar area and a separate dining room. JW's is open daily from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Dueling piano players perform Thursday through Monday from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

A coffee station is located adjacent to JW's Tavern, where assorted espresso drinks, blended beverages and fruit smoothies are available. In addition, sandwiches and salads are offered as well as an extensive pasty menu.

Damon Wayans, star of the hit show, "My Wife and Kids," will take center stage at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater, Nov. 29 and 30, at 10:30 p.m. Tickets for his adult-only show are $45 and $55 plus tax, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

The award winning "My Wife and Kids" sitcom was co-created by Wayans who also serves as executive producer. Wayans became a household name when he starred on the Emmy-award winning series "In Living Color" for three seasons. He has also starred in numerous films including "Beverly Hills Cop."

The California Pizza Kitchen dining restaurant chain and home of the Original BBQ Chicken pizza has opened its second Las Vegas eatery in the new phase of the Fashion Show mall expansion. The contemporary ambiance features an open-style kitchen, light wood decor and fun pizza box art on the walls.

The 4,000-square-foot restaurant located in the Great Hall area next to Bloomingdale's Home store can accommodate 156 guests with indoor and patio-like seating. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. on Sunday.

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. featuring premium hearth-baked pizza was founded in 1985. The chain operates 144 restaurants. The first one in Las Vegas opened in The Mirage and is still there. There was one in the Golden Nugget but it closed.

The "American Superstars" show at the Stratosphere has added a ZZ Top act that emulates the hard rockin' Texas band to its line up of musical celebrity tributes. Prior to joining the show, the group had already formed the tribute act ZZ Topping.

The individual members have impressive credits. Kevin Curry on guitar portraying Billy Gibbons has played with Steve Lukather of TOTO, Ugly Kid Joe and Yes. Dan Stover on bass playing Dusty Hill performed 12 years as a founding member of Permanent Wave, a highly successful tribute to rock legends RUSH, and performed locally with Yellow Brick Road. Craig Aaron Small on drums cast as Frank Beard has been with bands that have opened for Merle Haggard, Tim McGraw, Rick Trevino and Colin Raye.

Some of the other cast members in "American Superstars" portray Elvis, Christina Aguilera, Charlie Daniels, Madonna, Ricky Martin and Michael Jackson. Tickets are $32.95 for adults and $25.25 for children ages 5 to 12, call 1-800-99-TOWER or 702-380-7777.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Siegfried & Roy's conservation efforts have produced three new members into their Royal White Tiger family. The cubs' Snow-White Tiger father is Vishnu from Guadalajara, Mexico, and their mother is White-Stripped Tiger Orissa from Stukenbrock, Germany. The cubs are the first multi-birth Royal White Tigers born in Las Vegas and bring the number of these animals to 38 under the two magicians' care.

"We started 21 years ago with a handful of White Tigers... today we are fortunate that the world has more than 200 of them and these three are the reassurance that they will thrive in this century," said Roy.

The cubs have not been named and the illusionists plan to hold a contest in Las Vegas so the people can share in the excitement and name them.

The second annual "The Gift of Lights," a drive-through holiday light festival running from Nov. 15-Jan. 5, will take place just a few miles from The Strip at Sunset Park on the corner of Eastern and Sunset. Last year was a good start with 50 light displays and this year there will be more than 75 with additional animated displays, an extra lighted-tunnel, and more decorative lighting throughout the park.

General admission for "The Gift of Lights" is $10 per vehicle or $8 when you donate a bag of "gently used clothing" for Goodwill of Southern Nevada. The holiday event opens at 5 p.m. and closes at 9 p.m. on weeknights and 10 p.m. on weekends. For information, call 702-451-1641.

Country superstar Wynonna and her special guest Maryellen Hooper will headline at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater, Nov. 22-23. Tickets are $45 and $55 plus tax, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

Wynonna has had major success as both a solo artist and as one half of the Judds with her mother Naomi. Since going solo in 1992, Wynonna has sold more than nine million albums and accumulated 13 top ten hits. Her most recent single was a remake of the Elvis classic "Burning Love," which was featured in the Disney flick, "Lilo and Stitch." Wynonna is currently producing her next album.

Brian Boitano's Skating Spectacular will happen on Dec. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. His show will star Kristi Yamaguchi and special guest performers Apollo Ohno and Nancy Kerrigan. Another highlight will be a performance by En Vogue. Tickets are $30, $45 and $65, call 702-632-7580.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held recently for the $1.85 billion Le Reve mega-resort that is expected to open in April 2005 and create 8,000 jobs. Le Reve is French for "The Dream." Steve Wynn who built the Golden Nugget downtown, The Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio, is masterminding this dream project that everyone is expecting to be a world landmark.

When the property opens, it will have 2,700 hotel rooms, a 111,000-square-foot casino, 18 restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, an art gallery, and The Strip's first full-service Ferrari and Maserati dealership.

Longtime "Carol Burnett Show" comedy stalwarts Tim Conway and Harvey Korman will become Stardust showroom headliners next year instead of keeping their names on the Las Vegas Hilton's marquee. The pair will appear in a series of exclusive engagements during 2003 and make their Stardust debut April 2-5, with comedy impressionist Louise DuArt as a featured act.

Conway and Korman formulated and introduced their concert show in 1999 as a short-term project that blossomed immediately into a hit formula. Both men won four Emmy Awards for their participation on Burnett's show. Last year they joined her as hosts of a CBS special that featured clips and outtakes from the popular series. The nostalgic reunion proved to be the fourth most-watched show of the season, attracting more than 30 million viewers.

The fourth annual Holiday Village will be unveiled at the Four Seasons on Nov. 29 and continue through the New Year. The Village will feature 20 gingerbread real estate properties that can be purchased from $250 to $750. The proceeds benefit the Terry Fox Foundation to find a cancer cure. The houses/lots with the owner's name are built to last and may be taken home on Jan. 3.

In addition, the Four Seasons will offer a selection of homemade seasonal specialty baked gift items such as Christmas cookies, pudding or Stollen that will be on sale at The Verandah restaurant.

In celebration of the holiday, the Tropicana will release a limited edition $5 Thanksgiving chip on Nov. 20. The Thanksgiving chip is the 15th chip to be released as part of the 2002 commemorative chip series.

Emmy Award-winning comedian Dana Carvey will perform at Paris Las Vegas, Nov. 15-16, and comedian/actor/singer Wayne Brady will take the stage on Nov. 22-23. Tickets for each show are $65 with tax included, call 1-877-374-7469 or 702-946-4567.

Carvey, a seven-year member of "Saturday Night Live," is known for his impressions and memorable characters like the Church Lady, Hans, and Garth. He starred in a few films including the blockbuster "Wayne's World."

Brady can impersonate just about anyone. Last summer, he starred in his own prime time variety show titled "The Wayne Brady Show."

"The Magic of Rick Thomas" show at the Tropicana will be dark from Nov. 15 to 23. Next month, the "Folies Bergere" spectacular will take off from Dec. 12 through Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and also on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31.

CONTINUE ON TO...:
>THIS WEEK'S LAUGHLIN SEGMENT
>LAST WEEK'S LAS VEGAS SEGMENT
>VEGAS VIEWS FULL ARCHIVES
>Return to "Heard Around Town"
>Return to Las Vegas Leisure Guide