Spanish spitfire superstar Charo will be closing her international variety show "Bravo" at the Sahara on Sunday, Dec. 15. The good news is she'll resurface in mid-January at a new Latin nightclub / restaurant called Sevilla being built inside Desert Passage at the Aladdin.

Meanwhile, the Coasters, Drifters and Platters will make a trio bill nightly inside the 550-seat Congo Room from Dec. 27 through Jan. 6 and return again on Jan. 14, 2003.

Billed as the "World's Biggest New Year's Eve Dance Party" on Tuesday, Dec. 31, the dance-party light and sound show celebration will include performances by Love Shack, Dazz Band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and .38 Special. Tickets are $30, call 1-800-249-3559 or 702-678-5777.

Singing impressionist Bob Anderson, called "America's Greatest Singing Impressionist" by "People" magazine, is performing an old-fashioned Christmas Show in the Starlight Room at the Stardust through Dec. 24. He's sharing traditional holiday tunes in the voices of the stars, such as Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Nat King Cole, who made them famous. Tickets are $24.95 plus tax, call 702-617-5577.

The Indigo Lounge at Bally's was recently located to a larger space off the main casino floor and enlarged to 1,500 square feet. The classic lounge ambiance with plush sofa chairs and a comforting decor is rounded out with crooner Brian Evans and his five-piece band performing jazz classics and original songs Friday through Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 1 am. and on Wednesday from 6 p.m. until midnight.

The lounge seats 140 guests and there is no cover charge. It is open from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Tuscany Italian Cafe is a new 70-seat dining establishment located on the casino level at the Tropicana that will open tomorrow, Dec. 16. The restaurant is designed with warm peach tones complemented by vintage European light fixtures and photos of small Italian towns covering the walls. The eatery is furnished with a rustic checkerboard tile pattern reminiscent of Tuscan Villas.

The menu will feature a wide variety of Italian fare and include the opportunity of creating your own pasta dish with a noodle and sauce selection of your choosing. The hours of operation will be Friday through Tuesday from 5 to 11 p.m., call 702-739-2655 for reservations. The eatery will be closed from Dec. 22-26 for the holiday.

Jacky Cheung, Hong Kong's top male recording artist, will perform in concert at the Caesars Palace Pavilion on Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. and on Dec. 27 at 10 p.m. The high-energy show will feature Cheung singing in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese and English, and dancing. Tickets are $50, $75, and $100 plus tax and a $3 ticket-handling fee, call 1-800-445-4544 or 702-731-7865.

Cheung's debut album was in 1985 and he is acknowledged as Asia's best-selling artist. As an actor, Cheung won the Golden Horse Award in 1988 and 1990 for Best Supporting Actor.

Master illusionist Rick Thomas and his cast at the Tropicana are performing three special holiday shows at 2, 4 and 7 p.m. daily except Friday through Dec. 23. The shows highlight seasonal music, tigers and baby cubs wearing antlers, and dancing girls donning seasonal red attire. Ticket prices plus tax and surcharge remain the same. Table seating is $16.95 and booth seating is $21.95, call 702-739-2411.

"Ba-Da-Bing" is an interactive dinner show happening Thursday through Monday at 7 p.m. in a private dining room at Sazio, an Italian restaurant in The Orleans. The comedy dinner show features a zany cast of Mafia characters like Mr. Big and Vinnie "Trigger-Finger" Vermicelli.

The two-hour theatrical "who-dun-it" production includes a three-course sit-down dinner with the choice of one of three entrees. Scheduled to run through 2003, "Ba-Da-Bing" is offering a special holiday themed show now through Jan. 1, 2003. Tickets are $49.95, call 702-257-0297.

A new sign greeting visitors to downtown Las Vegas was recently unveiled on Las Vegas Boulevard and Fourth Street. The sign is a smaller and slightly different version of the famous city landmark at the south end of the Strip that reads "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada." The new 16-foot-tall refurbished sign cost $21,000 and reads "Welcome to Fabulous Downtown Las Vegas Nevada."

The Fashion Show mall's "Holiday Hopes and Dreams" show has Santa Claus landing his sleigh minus the reindeer on the foggy 80-foot-long runway in the Great Hall through Dec. 24. The nine-minute show includes a two-minute mini snowstorm, a 26-foot Christmas tree, two actors and eight helpers modeling the latest fashion from Neiman Marcus. The free show has the jolly bearded one arriving at 4, 5:30 and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 23. On Dec. 24, he will appear at noon and 2 p.m.

Every year the Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens reflects the visual wonder of the holidays with a spectacular display. Soaring to new heights this year, oversized ornaments finished in red, gold and silver provide the focal point. The three to eight foot objects can be found nestled in colorful planters and stacked up to the lobby ceiling to create a dramatic holiday tree. This display can be enjoyed through Jan. 4, 2003.

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The New Year's Eve VIP "It's Your Party!" at the Imperial Palace is $149. The cost includes a cocktail party, gourmet dinner with entertainment, souvenir gifts and the 10 p.m. "Legends in Concert" show featuring Lesley Gore, two drinks and party favors. Gore has charted over two dozen hits like "Judy's Turn to Cry," "You Don't Own Me" and her classic "It's My Party."

Another option is the room package for a required two night stay, Dec. 30 and 31, which includes the above offerings and a room for $249 per person, double occupancy, call 1-800-634-6441.

Cirque du Soleil's "O" at Bellagio will be performed at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. Tickets for the early show are $99 and $121 inclusive. The evening show includes a split of champagne and party favors for $118.50, $124 and $146 inclusive, call 1-888-488-7111 or 702-693-7722 for all shows at the MGM.

Illusionist David Copperfield will headline his "Portal" show at the MGM Grand in the Hollywood Theatre at 10:30 p.m. with unlimited drinks, a balloon drop and party favors. Tickets are $150 inclusive, call 1-800-929-1111.

Also at the MGM Grand, "EFX Alive" starring Rick Springfield will hold its final performance at 8 p.m. The $70 and $90 inclusive tickets will include a full-color show program, party favors, pyrotechnics, a balloon drop and two cocktails or a split of champagne.

The sexy French revue "La Femme" at the MGM Grand will showcase 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. shows for $59 inclusive.

Tickets for Siegfried & Roy's 10:15 p.m. show with a split of champagne, souvenir program, party favors and two drinks or Danny Gans' 8 p.m. show at The Mirage are $125, call 1-800-963-9634.

Both "Mystere" shows at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Treasure Island will include champagne, party favors and a souvenir program for $125 inclusive, call 1-800-392-1999.

The Golden Nugget downtown is offering three nights accommodations and two tickets to the New Year's Eve Party on Fremont Street for $493 per couple, call 1-800-634-3454.

The AMERICA restaurant at New York-New York is offering a party featuring a live band, The Press, with special guest sound alike stars The Blues Brothers. Tickets are $125 per person, which includes live entertainment, a buffet, an open bar and party favors, call 1-800-693-6763.

Longtime Las Vegas casino owner Jackie Gaughan has agreed to sell four of his five downtown gaming properties for $82 million to Barrick Gaming. The sale of the Gold Spike, Western Hotel, Las Vegas Club and the Plaza will put Barrick Gaming in control 1,830 hotel rooms. Gaughan will keep the El Cortez.

Bobby Vinton, who according to "Billboard Magazine" had more No. 1 hits than any other male vocalist including Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra during the first ten years of the rock era, will headline at the Orleans Showroom, Dec. 26-29. Tickets are $39.95, $49.95 and $59.95 plus tax, call 702-365-7075.

Vinton's hit songs like "Mr. Lonely" inspired during his army stint, "Roses Are Red," and "My Melody of Love" that was embraced by Polish American as their new national anthem, have become standards. Vinton's career includes him starring in two John Wayne movies entitled "Big Jake" and "The Train Robbers." Additionally his autobiography "The Polish Prince" was a best seller.

Sapphire on Industrial Road is being billed as the world's largest gentleman's club. The new $25 million club encompasses 71,000 square feet spread over several levels, and has VIP skyboxes, 40 private booths, several side lounges and a 400-seat showroom.

Following the MGM's and Caesars Palace's lead, Mandalay Bay will be the third megaresort with private international gambling salons for high rollers. The resort overhauled and expanded its baccarat parlor and invested $3.5 million in its new salons, which will feature table games only where the minimum bet will be $500 per hand. Players must have $500,000 in cash or credit to enter.

The five private salons will have a private bar, dining area and cashier window.

MGM Mirage and Florida-based developer Turnberry Associates are teaming up to build a luxury condominium / hotel complex on the site of the now-closed Grand Adventure theme park northeast of and adjacent to the MGM Grand. The joint venture is expected to break ground in the second quarter of 2004 and sales will begin next summer.

The first of possibly up to six towers will be built on three acres and feature one- and two-bedroom units priced from $350,000 to $1 million and penthouses running from $1.4 to $2.6 million. Each tower consisting of 578 upscale fully furnished units will feature crown molding, raised panel wood doors, granite countertops, and marble bathrooms. The towers will have a lounge and swimming pool.

The Las Vegas Bowl will have the UCLA Bruins playing against The Lobos team from New Mexico at Sam Boyd Stadium on Dec. 25. Tickets for the 1:30 p.m. game are $13, $33, $53 and $103, call 702-739-FANS or visit unlvtickets.com.

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