For November 16, 2007                                                                                 

New Local Resort Destination Will Be The M Resort

The $1 billion M Resort will be built on approximately 80 acres of land at the southeast corner of St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard.  It will be situated 400 feet higher in elevation than the Strip's resort/casinos and will provide optimal views of the Las Vegas skyline from every room, suite and restaurant within the resort.

The 11-story resort will consist of 351 oversized guest rooms and 39 luxurious suites including 12 opulent corner suites and five loft suites.  The resort will provide 90,000 square feet of gaming and more than 40,000 square feet of meeting and conference space.  A variety of luxury amenities will include multiple restaurants and dining and entertainment options as well as a 20,000-square-foot state-of-the-art spa.  The design will incorporate a 100,000-square-foot canyon feature pool area with waterfalls.  The project, expected to be completed in the spring of 2009, will be the largest resort built within the city limits of Henderson.

Hilton Signs 'America's Got Talent' Star Terry Fator To 2008 Contract

Entertainer Terry Fator, who gained national popularity when he recently won NBC-TV's "America's Got Talent" show and promptly sold out his two October shows at the Las Vegas Hilton, has been signed by the hotel to a 2008 15-show schedule that's worth more than $1.5 million.  Fator will kick off his new deal with a special New Year's Eve show at 6 p.m.

Fator has spent 32 years honing his skills as a ventriloquist, celebrity impressionist, comedian and singer, but his key decision to blend those skills with his incredible ability to mimic famous singers put him over the top. 

Fator, with special guest Bobby Badfingers, will also perform Monday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.   His 2008 dates are:  Jan. 17-19, Feb. 22-24, March 28-30, April 28-30, and May 16-18.  Tickets are $49-$149, call 800-222-5361.  The $149 ticket price includes Golden Circle VIP seating and a special meet, greet, and photo with Fator prior to the show. 

BLT Burger To Open Spring 2008 At The Mirage

Chef Laurent Tourondel, recently named Restaurateur of the Year by "Bon Appétit" magazine, will mark his return to Las Vegas with BLT Burger slated to open in spring 2008 inside The Mirage in the area that was Siegfried & Roy's free-viewing tiger habitat. 

BLT Burger's hip and casual setting will feature a neutral color palette accented with red brick, golden upholstery and plenty of wood.  Table tops will be lacquered with large table numbers while the illuminated bar, decked in yellow-glazed lava stone, will have overhead flat-screen televisions for watching sporting events.  Rock 'n' roll music will pulse throughout the restaurant, creating an energetic environment for lunch, dinner or a late-night bite. BLT Burger is part of the successful BLT Restaurant Group that opened its first restaurant, BLT Steak, in New York City in March 2004. 

'Dancing With The Stars' Tour Stops At The Orleans Arena

"Dancing with the Stars," ABC's No. 1 rated unscripted show, will hit the road this winter and bring its most popular team of stars and professional dancers to the Orleans Arena on Sunday, Dec. 30, at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets range in price from $52.50 to $198.  For information call 702-284-7777.

The third "Dancing with the Stars" tour will feature a cast of the show's most popular competitors, combining established favorites from previous tours with newcomers from the show's current season.  Las Vegas audiences will be treated to an exciting new line-up of stars including: season two winner and special guest star Drew Lachey with Cheryl Burke, Sabrina Bryan with Mark Ballas; season three's Joey Lawrence with Edyta Sliwinska and Monique Coleman; professional dancers Karina Smirnoff, Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Alec Mazo and Brian Fortuna.

The two-hour show will feature a larger-than-life recreation of the TV show's actual stage and set design complete with cabaret-style VIP seating on the floor.  Each dance number will be accompanied by a live band, and the show will feature two huge video screens showcasing rehearsal footage, and exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews and outtakes.

'Ellen's Really Big Show' Premieres On TBS On Nov. 19

Recording artists Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Barry Manilow, Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, and Wayne Newton are among the stars on tap for "Ellen's Really Big Show" that will premiere on TBS Monday, Nov. 19, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), with an encore airing immediately following at 10:30 p.m.  The 90-minute variety special that was taped on Nov. 15 will also feature comedians Rhys Darby and Sean Cullen, singer Ryan Shaw and the African Children's Choir and a host of variety

acts, including magician Lance Burton, quick-change artists David & Dania (America's Got Talent), the Fab Four Beatles tribute band, Peking Acrobats, the Footworkingz dancers, the U.S.A. All-Star Jump Rope Team and many more.   

Kanye West Will Ring In 2008 At The Palms

Following his celebrated performance in the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, hip-hop artist Kanye West will return to the Palms to perform live at 10:45 p.m. on New Year's Eve inside the Pearl Concert Theater.  Tickets are $153 and $203, call 702-474-4000.

As a well-known producer, West crossed the line into being in front of the mic when he released his debut LP "College Dropout" under Roc-A-Fella Records.  West wrote, performed and produced his debut album.  West's latest album arrived with a cloud of controversy when rapper 50 Cent vowed to retire from his rap career if West's album outsold his latest release.  "Graduation" (2007) propelled to the top of the charts beating out 50's release.

Fremont Street Experience Features Doobie Brothers For New Year's Eve

Las Vegas' famed Fremont Street Experience downtown is ready for a big New Year's Eve celebration with headliners the Doobie Brothers and the Bangles and a selection of live bands at America's Party Live in Concert.  Guests, who must be 18 years of age, will be able to access the venue at 6:30 p.m. by any of the three gates.  Tickets are $60, call 877-834-2748 or visit www.vegasexperience.com.

The Grammy-winning Doobie Brothers are recognized as a pioneering musical ensemble that defined the sound of 1970s California by combining soulful vocals with elements of jazz, blues, folk, rock and gospel and 15 top-selling albums.  The all-girl quartet of the Bangles burst onto the Los Angeles music scene in the 1980s with a retro, jangle pop appeal.

The street will be packed with action while the Riders of the Thunderdome thrill with their Globe of Death motorcycle show and the giant Viva Vision screen dazzles with a light and sound extravaganza 90 feet above the street.  The five blocks that are transformed into the biggest private party in town and make up the Fremont Street Experience are home to 10 legendary casinos. 

Wayne Newton Brings His Holiday Show Back To Harrah's

Fresh from appearing on television's "Dancing with the Stars," Wayne Newton will return to the stage at Harrah's with his holiday show highlighting his classic hits, holiday tunes and a winter wonderland set.  The holiday show dates are Nov 22-24, 26-30, Dec 1, 3-7, 10-15 and 17-22.  Tickets are $86.35 and $113.85, call 702-369-5222.

The Reunited

Southern California blues-rock band Great White first took a bite out of the rock scene in 1984 and since then sold more than six million records.  The group reunited in January of this year for what marks the band's 25th anniversary.  Original members Jack Russell on vocals, Mark Kendall on lead Guitar, Audie Desbrow on drums, Michael Lardie on guitar/keyboards and Sean McNabb on bass hit the studio to mark this momentous occasion. The band released "Back To The

Rhythm" in July 2007.  Tickets are $10 for the 8 p.m. show in Club Madrid at Sunset Station in Henderson.

Quick Clips

"Hans Klok - The Beauty of Magic" featuring Pamela Anderson will hold the show's final performance on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The game show "BONK" is running Monday through Friday at 3 p.m. at Hooters through Dec. 3.  Tickets are $14.95 a ticket.

Mi Casa Grill Cantina inside the Silverton recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.

The Mexican restaurant boasts 65 tequilas to choose from.

The high-energy Japanese muscle musical "Matsuri" has closed at the Sahara.

It was a short run for The Vegas Grand Prix.  The event will not be returning to downtown Las Vegas in 2008.

Barry Manilow, who will headline again at the Las Vegas Hilton Nov. 27-30 and Dec. 1, and 27-30, is releasing his new five-disc DVD box set, "Barry Manilow:  The First Television Specials."  The set gathers together five of Manilow's early network television specials from 1977 to 1988.

For the seventh consecutive year, Bellagio received AAA's prestigious Five Diamond Award as did Julian Serrano's renowned restaurant, Picasso. Additionally, Le Cirque received the distinction for the fifth consecutive year, making Bellagio once again the only hotel in the United States to be home to two AAA Five Diamond restaurants. 

For the second consecutive year, AAA has awarded the new SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand and Joël Robuchon fine dining restaurant the highly coveted Five Diamond Award. Only five Las Vegas hotels and four restaurants earned these honors.

The White Chocolate Grill, a contemporary American restaurant that started in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2005, will open its first Nevada location on south Eastern Avenue on Monday, Dec. 3.  The new eatery will feature an exhibition kitchen, a hardwood grill, rotisserie oven and an in-house smoker, and serve up carved entrées, desserts and food made from scratch.

The White Chocolate Grill's 7,500-square-foot Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired contemporary interior design will feature rich wood finishes, European stone

and leather booth seating, soft lighting, stadium-style seating at the bar, and accommodate 250 guests in the dining room and outdoor patio.  Dining will be daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Las Vegas Hilton is home to the nation's first "Wheel of Fortune World," a room located across from the SuperBook that was the former site of the poker room boasts 36 "Wheel of Fortune" machines with denominations ranging from one cent to $100.  Most of the machines are linked up to the area-wide progressive. 

Strip House at Planet Hollywood has welcomed sommelier Nanci Pietras, who is a member of the International Sommelier Guild, to its expert staff. 

Station Casinos Holds Fourth Annual Toys For Tickets All-Star Jam

Station Casinos and KWNR will hold the Fourth Annual Toys for Tickets All-Star Jam on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. inside Ovation at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson. Free tickets for the country music event can be obtained through Dec.7, by visiting any Star Nursery in Las Vegas and donating a new, unopened toy that is valued at $10 or more

Last year's Toys for Tickets All-Star Jam collected approximately 3,500 toys and raised more than $50,000 in cash donations. The line-up included surprise performances from multiple headliners, including superstars Toby Keith, Phil Vassar, Emerson Drive, Chris Young, Rodney Atkins, Steve Holy, Lonestar, Charley Pride, Ira Dean of Trick Pony, Tommy Shaw of Styx and Max Carl of Grand Funk Railroad and formerly of 38 Special. 

Gold Coast Will Host NFR After-Parties And 'National Finals Tonight'

The off-Strip Gold Coast Showroom will be transformed into Billy Bob's Texas Las Vegas Outpost from Dec. 6 - 15, and host the ultimate rodeo after-party.  Billy Bob's Texas, located in the Fort Worth Stockyards, is known as "The World's Largest Honky Tonk," boasting 37 individual bar stations, country music's biggest stars, Live Pro Bull Riding and a Texas size-dance floor.  Starting at 9 p.m., the Gold Coast Showroom will host live bands straight from "The World's Largest Honky Tonk."

At 11 p.m. "National Finals Tonight" will begin and feature rodeo highlights and interviews with rodeo pros and celebs.  There will be special appearances by World Champion Tie-Down roper and all-around cowboy Joe Beaver, legendary rodeo announcers Bob Tallman and Boyd Polhamus, Miss Rodeo America and many more.  The show, which is free and open to the public, will be hosted by eight-time World Champion and Hall of Fame Cowboy Don Gay and TV Host Dan Miller. After midnight the bands will return and the dance floor will open up for line dancing and more fun.

Sam's Town Creates Holiday Wonderland At Mystic Falls Indoor Park

This holiday season from Nov. 23 through Dec. 31, it will be snowing inside the Mystic Falls Indoor Park at Sam's Town on Boulder Highway. The park will be transformed with tree-lined walkways covered in lights and holiday decorations throughout. The celebration's shimmering centerpiece will be the Winter Wonderland Spectacular, a new show with the sights and sounds of the season.  The show's festive scenes will feature special lighting, a dazzling water ballet, lasers, other special effects, and end with a glistening, gentle snowfall.

The Mystic Falls Winter Wonderland Spectacular is free and open to the public.  Shows will be daily at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. and are subject to change.

'The Gift Of Lights' Illuminiates The Holiday Spirit

The seventh annual "The Gift of Lights" drive-through holiday light show is open to the public and running through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008.  More than 350 holiday light displays and eight million lights illuminate this themed nighttime festival in Sunset Park off Eastern and Sunset.  Event hours are from 5 to 9 p.m., Sunday - Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on weekends and holidays.  Admission is $13 per vehicle.