The legendary rock quartet known as the Rolling Stones, will return to Las Vegas with their extended World Tour 2002 / 2003 when they perform at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Feb. 8. Tickets are $125, $250 and $350, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

The tour's innovative concept showcases the band's diversity as musicians and performers with three different shows geared for playing stadiums, arenas and theatres/clubs. All shows feature a significant set of classic Rolling Stones hits as well as new songs.

The Rolling Stones are currently completing negotiations to release a retrospective CD of their greatest hits from 1963 to the present, along with the addition of a selection of new songs. Additional plans include a new book to be published by Chronicle Books in the United States in September 2003 covering a comprehensive history of the group.

"The Rio Las Vegas Christmas Spectacular," starring the "King of Confetti" comic Rip Taylor, is a full-scale production show with singing, dancing and comedy that will run from Dec. 14-25 in the 700-seat Scinta Showroom. There will be special matinee performances at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 and 22. Tickets are $24.95 plus tax, call 702-777-7776.

Jerry Lopez Band, the Rio Christmas dancers and a list of special guests will join Taylor, who appeared in the recent film, "Jackass The Movie." Taylor will display outrageous Christmas gifts collected over the years from his many celebrity friends and also do his famous "crying" segment.

Special guests will include Steve Connelly impersonating Elvis, the Latin group Los Huincas Gauchos, an aerial acrobatic female duo act Flight La Femme, and lead singer Traci Ault who formerly sang in Harrah's production show "Skintight."

The 38th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM) will move from Southern California for the first time and be broadcast live on May 31 at its new location, the 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center. The CBS Television special for the second year in a row will have ten-time ACM winner and star of her own television series Reba McEntire acting as host of the 2003 awards show.

Last year, audiences were introduced to the exquisite show "Cheval," which means "horse" in French. The producers aptly describe the show, which showcases 30 horses of 15 different breeds, as "imagination at full gallop!" Housed in the world's largest hand-painted Big Top tent in a lot off Harmon Ave. behind the nightclub Seven on the Strip, "Cheval" will continue through Jan. 5. Tickets for adults range from $44 to $59 and from $24 to $29 for children 12 and under, call 1-888-488-7111 or 702-796-9999.

Subtle changes were made this year to an already marvelous non-traditional circus-environment theatre experience. About 500 of the 2,000 seats were converted into an expanded bandstand and stage area. New acts have been added including jugglers via horseback who wield fire torches and Richard-style vaulting, where a rider at full gallop does somersaults, goes from the ground to the saddle, circles underneath the horse and hangs by a foot with his body dragging around the ring.

Prior to the performance, you can enjoy a close up look at the horses when you walk through the first tent, which houses the animals. Many of the horses have vast entertainment credits like Bohemio, the Comical horse. He is known as "The Al Pacino" of the horses for his appearances in more than 130 movies.

Styx, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Wayne Brady will grace the marquee at Paris this month. For tickets, call 1-877-374-7469 or 702-946-4567.

The rock group Styx will be doing 10:30 p.m. shows on Dec. 13 and 14. The band was recently featured in a highly-rated "VH1: Behind the Music" show and once their 2002 tour concludes, Styx will head back to the studio to record a new album. Tickets are $65 including tax.

The legendary Earth, Wind & Fire, best known for their hits like "Let's Groove" and "Got To Get You Into My Life," are slated to appear from Dec. 19-22. Tickets are $75 including tax.

Comedian / actor / singer Wayne Brady will headline on Dec. 27 and 28. Brady burst onto the national television scene with his role in ABC's hit comedy series, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" The improvisational actor has the ability to impersonate stars from James Brown to Tina Turner. Tickets are $65 with tax included.

Andy Warhol: The Celebrity Portraits exhibit will follow the Faberge Eggs exhibition at The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art when it closes on Jan. 26. Warhol's display of 56 celebrity paintings will run from Feb. 7-Sept. 7, and his friend Liza Minnelli will narrate the audio tour.

The final performance of "EFX Alive" at the MGM Grand will be Dec. 31, 2002. Over the show's seven-year run, it had four celebrity leads including Michael Crawford, David Cassidy, Tommy Tune, and the current star Rick Springfield.

The Tropicana will release a limited edition $5 Christmas chip for the holiday season beginning Dec. 10. It is the 17th and final chip to be released as part of the 2002 commemorative chip series.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Each year in Venice, Italians celebrate Carnevale, a colorful festival of traditional masks and costumes. This year The Venetian is hosting its first traditional Carnevale celebration from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily through Dec. 15.

The festivities for the public include food samplings from the world's finest chefs, Carnevale-inspired entertainment and masked characters, tarot card readings by fortune-teller Mystic Mona, arts, retail demonstrations, charity auctions, giveaways, a $2,500 hourly slot tournament, casino level drawings and special room rates. Guests can also receive $3 off admission at the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum or Guggenheim Las Vegas from 5 to 7 p.m.

Ralph Englestad, who purchased the 9-acre Flamingo Capri on the Strip in 1971 and built it into the 2,700-room property you see today, recently passed away at age 72. The resort is one of the largest hotels in the world and considered the second-largest independently owned hotel in existence. He also built and owns the hotel's sister property in Biloxi, Miss.

Guns N' Roses will rock the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Dec. 28. Their "Chinese Democracy" tour, which is the name of their forthcoming album, marks the band's first world tour in nearly nine years. Tickets are $25, $45, $65 and $85, call 1-877-632-7400 or 702-632-7580.

The "Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular" will return to the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Dec. 21 and feature Olympic gold-medallists Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi. Olympic gold-medal speed-skater Apolo Anton Ohno, Olympic medallist Nancy Kerrigan and another half dozen ice champions will join them. The event will also feature live musical performances by the Grammy nominated trio En Vogue. Tickets are $30, $45 and $64, call 702-632-7580.

Lance Burton's magic show at the Monte Carlo is closed through Dec. 25. From Dec. 26-30, he'll be doing 7 and 10 p.m. performances. On New Year's Eve, Burton will have a 7 p.m. show costing $59.95 with tax included. His show will be off on New Year's Day and return to its normal schedule on Jan. 2.

Admittedly the Opportunity Village's annual holiday fundraising Magical Forest attraction is a bit off the beaten path, but it's well worth the detour. The outdoor winter carnival, now in its 11th year, features more than 3 million lights, animated holiday displays, a carousel, a Santa pavilion, train rides on a 35-passenger Southern Nevada Historical Train Society choo-choo, costumed characters such as Ovie the Bear, and trees cleverly decorated by business and organizations.

Located at 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., the winter wonderland is open daily through Dec. 28 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Yearly about 200,000 people come out to see this magnificent festive display. Entrance tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children. Train tours, carrousel rides and photos with Santa are extra.

Entertainer Tony Sacca recently filmed his 17th annual benefit "Merry Christmas Las Vegas" television show at the Stratosphere with guest appearances by comic ventriloquist Ronn Lucas, singer Clint Holmes, the cast of "Sprit of The Dance," the legendary Checkmates - Sweet Louie and Sonny Charles, the Edwards Twins who do impersonations, comedian Sandy Hackett, singer Marlene Ricci, Helen Joy's Young Entertainers and international star Charo.

The special featuring the city's major headliners donating their talent will air in 180 markets nationally this month by both the America One and American Independent stations.

Additionally, Sacca, the "Entertainment Ambassador of Las Vegas," will be performing in concert at the Riviera's Le Bistro Theatre Dec. 14-16, 21-22 and 28-31. Tickets are $29.95.

Comedian David Brenner will be making people laugh at the Suncoast in the northwest part of the valley from Dec. 29 through 31. Tickets are $39.95, $44.95 and $49.95 plus tax, call 702-636-7075.

Prior to his now famous comedy career that includes 100 performances on the "Tonight Show," he wrote, produced and directed around 115 documentary films. His documentary work earned him nearly 30 industry awards and citations including an Emmy Award for, "OnCall: Dr. Amato."

As an author, he's written four books with intriguing titles: "Soft Pretzels With Mustard," "Revenge Is The Best Exercise," "Nobody Ever Sees You Eat Tuna Fish," and his latest one, "If God Wanted Us to Travel."

On Dec. 13, the House of Blues along with Infinity Broadcasting will host the "Shade Tree IV, A Night Of Hits" fundraising concert starring Gin Blossoms; host, British rocker John Waite; and singer / songwriter Lisa Loeb with an acoustic performance. Cost is $40, 702-632-7600.

Buffalo Bill's Resort in Primm, Nev. located 40-minutes from Las Vegas off I-15, recently unveiled The Vault - a 3-D hi-definition digital projection motion ride. The 24-seat theater is located in the attractions area and offers riders a five-minute escape into the realm of fantasy and adventure. Guests climb aboard one of six motion pods and become part of the action wearing a special pair of 3-D polarized glasses to enhance the experience. The Value currently offers 10 different ride scenarios at $5 each.

Jerry's Nugget in North Las Vegas will host a $50,000 Big Game bingo session next Sunday, Dec. 15, at 9 p.m. Customers must play a minimum $3 card and overall payouts will begin with 46 numbers winning $50,000 up to 50 numbers winning $5,000. A guaranteed $2,000 prize will be awarded.

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