After 11 years of headlining at Bally's, funnyman George Carlin will be moving down the street to the MGM Grand where he'll perform 14 weeks a year. His first gig is suppose to be Jan. 18, 2001.

One of the best holiday shows in Las Vegas last year will return again this year by popular demand. "The Colors of Christmas" at the Riviera has become a holiday tradition featuring four superstars united to sing traditional Christmas classics and to solo spotlight their hit singles. This year's lineup is Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, Bill Medley and Marilyn McCoo.

"The Colors of Christmas" will highlight a live full orchestra and Gospel choir in the Riviera's Royale Pavilion. Tickets are $40 plus applicable taxes, call 702-794-9280.

Another holiday option will be Brian Boltano's Holiday Skating Spectacular at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, Dec. 16. The show will feature Olympic Gold Medallists Brian Boltano, Kristi Yamaguchi and Dorothy Hamill. Tickets are $20, $35 and $50, call 1-877-632-7400 or 702-632-7580.

Kevin James, star of the Monday night CBS hit comedy "The King of Queens," will appear at the Las Vegas Hilton, Nov. 24-25. In his television series, Kevin stars as Doug Heffernan, a parcel delivery man in Queens, N.Y. After brief stints on "Everybody Loves Raymond," James signed a development deal with NBC to create his own show, and the pilot was ultimately bought by CBS. Tickets to see James at the Hilton are $35 and $45.

The Las Vegas Hilton will go country during the National Finals Rodeo with the following lineup: comedian Jeff Foxworthy, Nov. 30-Dec. 3; the "Boot Scootin' Boogie" duo Brooks and Dunn, Dec. 4-6; and country superstar Clint Black, Dec. 7-9. Tickets to see each of the three headliners are $45, $55 and $65, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

Foxworthy, known for his 1994 triple platinum release "You Might be a Redneck if_," is receiving praise for his fourth and latest latest release "Totally Committed." Larry the Cable Guy will open for all four of Foxworthy's shows.

Black's new album on the RCA label is "D'lectrified." This is the first album Black has produced on his own and is a collection of cover songs plus original works.

Film celebs will be in town for the CineVegas International Film Festival that will be held at Paris Las Vegas, Nov. 28-Dec. 3.

Word is "Forever Plaid" at the Flamingo is suppose to close in January. No doubt this successful little show will find a new Las Vegas home.

A new restaurant 8-O-8 (pronounced eight-oh-eight) opened this week at Caesars Palace with dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. nightly. The new eatery offers chef Jean-Marie Josselin's Hawaiian-themed fusion signature cuisine, which spotlights elements of Thai, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Italian and French fine dining. In addition, he serves his own blend of coffee. For reservations, call 702-731-7731.

The 100-seat 8-O-8 is set apart from the hotel's Court of Fountains by an Asian-inspired antique gate. Bronze fish sculptures and two aluminum schools of fish decorate the interior walls. The host stand and dining room interior are decorated with internally lit honey onyx, a semi-precious stone, and the exotic grain pattern of Tamo ash wood. Additionally, there's an exhibition kitchen and counter with stools and a private dining room for up to 10 guests secluded by glass walls laminated with rice paper.

Josselin is the founder and owner of A Pacific Cafe in Hawaii. His A Pacific Cafe Kauai (one of five in the Hawaiian Islands) has won several prestigious awards. "Conde Nast Traveler" named it one of the "50 choice restaurants around the country."

Journey and REO Speedwagon will perform at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Dec. 30. Tickets are $25, $35 and $50, call 702-632-7580.

Sheena Easton's year long commitment to co-star with David Cassidy in "At the Copa" at the Rio will be winding down early next year. Meanwhile, she's been busy recording her 15th album entitled "Fabulous." The 10-track disco dance album features eight-remakes and two new compositions: the ballad "You Never Gave Me The Chance" and a dance tune in the spirit of Donna Summer's "Last Dance" called "Get Here To Me."

"Fabulous" is currently being released in the U.K. and is expected to have a U.S. release next spring.

There's a variety of dining options at the Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort. Cafe Tajine now offers a weekend breakfast buffet, Friday Night Seafood buffet, and Thursday Italian buffet. The resort's signature restaurant, Japengo is now serving dinner seven nights a week from 6 to 11 p.m.

Japengo is fine dining featuring savory Pacific-Rim specialties and the restaurant's signature sushi bar with fresh fish flown in daily. For reservations, call 702-567-1234. There are other Japengo restaurants in LaJolla, CA, and the Park Hyatt in Chicago and Miami.

International superstar Jackie Chan has long been known as the biggest star in Asia. The multi-talented man - actor, director, martial artist, slapstick comic and singer - will return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 23. Chan's most recent movie is "Shanghai Noon."

The show at the MGM, "001 With Luv - Jackie Chan and Superstars in Concert," will feature ten other celebrities. Tickets range from $35 to $150 plus handling fee, call 1-800-929-1111 or 702-891-7777.

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Award winning Asian singing sensation and film star Leslie Cheung will make a rare concert appearance in Las Vegas on Dec. 23, at Caesars Palace in the Palace Ballroom. Cheung will be singing in Mandarin and Cantonese languages.

This year, Cheung has released two albums, "Leslie Untitled" and "The Best of Leslie Cheung." Tickets for his Christmas show are $80 and $238 plus a $3 ticket-handling fee, call 800-455-4544 or 702-731-7333.

The Bali Hai Golf Club is a new tropical paradise open at the south end of the Strip. The golf course has emerald green fairways, brilliant white sand, 4,000 palm trees and more than 100,000 tropical plants and flowers. White crushed granite is in the area where the rough would be on a typical golf course. There is virtually no rough on the course.

The 30,000-square-foot Bali Hai clubhouse, which will include a gourmet restaurant, will be completed next February.

Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay now offers self-guided audio tours. The tours offer more than 30 minutes of insights and information about everything from sea turtles to sandbar sharks. Visitors can explore the exhibits at their own pace.

The audio tour rental is $1 with regular admission. Ticket prices are $13.95 for adults and $9.95 for children ages 5 to 12, children 4 and under are admitted free. For information, call 702-632-4555.

Two of the most popular teen idols of the late 50's and 60's from South Philadelphia, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell will take to The Orleans Showroom stage, Nov. 24-26. Tickets are $39.95, $44.94 and $49.95 plus tax, call 702-365-7075.

Avalon's singing career included the smash hit "Venus," and he appeared in over 30 movies. Rydell's singing legacy earned him 34 top 40 records, which put him in the top five of all single artists from his era. He also had starring roles in such hit films as "Bye, Bye, Birdie" and plays such as "West Side Story."

Legendary entertainer Frankie Laine will make his first appearance at the new Suncoast Showroom with the Benny Hollman orchestra, Nov. 24-26. Tickets are $39.95, $42.95 and $49.95 plus tax, call 702-636-7075.

Laine was the first and most successful singer to be identified with title songs from motion pictures. To date, he has performed the title songs for seven motion pictures including "Blazing Saddles" in 1974. His recording of the "Rawhide" television series theme has become one of the most popular theme songs of all times. Laine has sold more than 100 million records and has 21 Gold Records.

Earlier in Laine's career at age 17, he left home to become a marathon dancer, which was a fad during the Depression Years. He stuck with it and with his partner set the all-time marathon dance record in Atlantic City. They danced for a total of 3,501 hours over 145 consecutive days and split a grand prize of $1,000 dollars.

Michael Colby's impression of Ricky Martin has gained an indefinite spot in the "American Superstars" full-scale production show at the Stratosphere's Broadway Showroom since his character debuted in May. Colby's voice ranges from Baritone to a High A. He also speaks English, Finnish and French and has many theater credits to his name.

The tribute show with a live band and 22-memeber cast also includes impersonations of Elvis, Gloria Estefan, Charlie Daniels, Madonna and Michael Jackson. Tickets are $26.95 for adults and $21.95 for children ages 5 to 12, call 1-800-99-TOWER (998-6937) or 702-380-7711.

Funnyman Johnny Dark along with comedians Stanley Ullman and Don Learned will work the Riviera Comedy Club, Nov. 20-26.

Dark has worked with top name entertainers, been on the major talk shows and appeared in many television series. His more recent television dramatic roles have been on "Silk Stockings," "Touched By An Angel" and "Equal Justice."

Dark's subject matter for his comedy comes from his personal point of view and he never relies on vulgarity or shock value to entertain audiences.

Tickets for the Riviera Comedy Club are $15.25 plus taxes and dinner combination packages are available for an extra $7 plus gratuity or $9.95. For information, call 702-794-9433.

Latino comic Willie Barcena, who began his comedy career more than six years ago, will entertain at The Improv Comedy Club at Harrah's with two fellow comedians, Nov. 21-26. Tickets are $24.95 plus tax.

Barcena was born in Mexico and raised in East Los Angeles. His comedy is rife with stories of humble beginnings as well as wry observations about life in general.

MGM Mirage recently sold three paintings at a Sotheby's auction for $10.7 million. Berthe Morisot's "Cache-Cache" fetched $4.4 million, a record for that artist. The painting ironically was purchased for $3.9 million by Mirage Resorts last year when Steve Wynn was the owner, a record at that time.

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