CHER SET TO HEADLINE THE COLOSSEUM AT CAESARS PALACE

The legendary pop icon Cher has confirmed a long-lived rumor that she will headline in Las Vegas at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace beginning May 6.  The performance agreement, which is in partnership with AEG Live, includes approximately 200 shows over a span of three years.  Tickets for her 7:30 shows four nights a week from May 6-Aug. 31 are 95, $140, $175 and $250, call 1-866-510-CHER (2437).

The impressive spectacle with lighting and special effects will be designed exclusively for the 4,300-seat venue and feature the artist's countless chart-topping hits.  Choreography will be guided by Doriana Sanchez and breathtaking costumes will be designed by the world-renowned fashion icon, Bob Mackie.

Cher has been a world famous superstar for more than 40 years.  The Oscar and Emmy-winning performer has conquered every endeavor - concerts, recordings, Broadway, TV, movies, film directing and books.  She has released more than 25 albums and sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

COMEDIENNE ROSEANNE BARR ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT AT THE SAHARA

Emmy award-winning comedienne Roseanne Barr will bring her everyday humor and observations to the Sahara's 520-seat Congo Room beginning March 1.  Barr will perform at 9:30 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday.  Ticket prices start at $59.50, call 702-737-2515.

In 1985, Barr's first television appearance was on the Johnny Carson Show.  A few years later, she began taping her namesake show that ran for nine seasons, picking up four Emmys, two Golden Globes, and six People's Choice Awards.

She's also released two best-selling books, Roseanne: My Life as a Woman and My Lives; did a run playing the Wicked Witch of the West in a production of The Wizard of Oz; had a talk show The Roseanne Show; and has now extended herself into children's books and DVDs.

GOLD DIGGERS IS A NEW NIGHTLIFE SPOT AT THE GOLDEN NUGGET

Gold Diggers is a new nightlife offering at the Golden Nugget located on the second floor in the resort's new $60 million expansion area.  Opening at 4 p.m., the elongated environment has a long bar and a large dance floor and stage in the back for live bands or DJs.  In the front, the club opens onto a 180-degree, oversized balcony with fantastic views of the Fremont Street Experience, the Viva-Vision light show and First Street performance stage. 

Near the stairs going up to Gold Diggers is a new restaurant Red Sushi that is open from 5 p.m. to midnight.

BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE BRINGS THE TASTE OF TUSCANY TO TOWN SQUARE

BRIO Tuscan Grille, a concept by Bravo Development Incorporated, will open its first Las Vegas location at Town Square on Feb. 28.  Currently, there are 24 BRIO Tuscan Grille restaurants across the country. 

BRIO (meaning "lively" or "full of life") will be a casual, white-tablecloth restaurant serving authentic, northern Italian cuisine.  The subtitle "Tuscan Grille" is descriptive in the menu featuring wood-grilled and oven-roasted steaks, chops and seafood, similar to what one would find in an authentic ristorante in Tuscany. 

The 9,400-square-foot restaurant will boast a 35-foot replica of the façade of the Roman Coliseum; have an exhibition-style kitchen, indoor seating for 260, an outdoor terrace with seating for 200 and private party rooms.  The average check per person will be $15 for lunch and $24 for dinner. 

BRIO will feature a special Bellini Brunch from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as "Martini Night" on Thursdays.  The restaurant will also offer a home and office-catering menu for special events and occasions. 

SONRISA GRILL AND 3AMIGOS OPEN AT MONTELAGO VILLAGE

Sonrisa Grill, serving Mexican cuisine, seafood and 50 different tequila drinks, is opening in the MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas in mid-February.  The new restaurant will have an upper deck dining patio and an adjoining 3Amigos bar that will offer lighter tapas fare.

Sonrisa Grill places an emphasis on healthy cooking, replacing the usual lard found in Mexican dishes with soy oil, and offering many vegetarian entrees.   The new eatery will offer banquet facilities for parties of up to 50 people.  It will be open daily for lunch and dinner, call 702-568-6870.

COUNTRY STAR JOSH GRACIN PERFORMS AT SAM'S TOWN LIVE!

Country music star Josh Gracin will perform on Saturday, March 1, at 8 p.m. inside Sam's Town Live! at Sam's Town on Boulder Highway.  Tickets are $15 at www.tickets.com or the Sam's Town Live! Box Office.

Gracin also will be singing the National Anthem at 1 p.m. that day to kick off the Sam's Town 300 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

Originally from Michigan, Gracin was a finalist on American Idol's second season and the first performer to bring country music to the pop-oriented show.  He was also the first American Idol finalist who was an active duty member of the United States Marine Corps.  In 2004, Gracin released his self-titled debut album containing three Top 5 country hits.

SPORTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL 'EXTREME THING' SET FOR MARCH 29

Findlay Chevrolet's Extreme Thing 2008, sports and music festival will roar back for the 13th year, with a lineup featuring concerts, professional BMX and wrestling demonstrations and skate competitions. Extreme Thing, produced by Clark County Parks & Recreation and House of Blues Concerts, is Nevada's only premier action sports and music festival and is set for 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 at the Desert Breeze Skate Park, 8275 Spring Mountain Road at Durango Drive.  Tickets are $17 in advance, call 702-474-4000, or $20 day of show, if available.

Extreme Thing will feature bands Pennywise, Chiodos, hometown group Escape the Fate, Nonpoint, Streetlight Manifesto, Alesana and In This Moment along with a world class BMX Dirt Jump Competition hosted by local pro-rider Ricardo Laguna, professional wrestling by Adrenaline Unleashed and the Vegas AmJam Skate and BMX amateur competition. The XPOZ Zone will welcome seven to eight local bands performing in the smoke-free zone. 

Pennywise, this year's headliner, hails from Hermosa Beach and cracked into public consciousness in 1991.  Their most recent album, The Fuse, takes politics, societal issues and pop culture and puts them on the chopping block.

The sextet Chiodos is supporting Linkin Park during its 2008 North American Tour, and its sophomore album Bone Palace Ballet debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard charts last fall. 

QUICK CLIPS

The Monte Carlo, which has been closed since Jan. 25 because of a fire on the roof and top of the resort, plans to open 1,200 rooms, most of the resort's guest services and Lance Burton's show this weekend and 1,300 more rooms by Feb. 22.

Fred Booker Noe, master distiller and great grandson of Jim Beam, will visit the Twin Creeks restaurant at the Silverton for a special three-course dinner and bourbon pairing from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27.  Tickets are $85 per person.  Twin Creeks recently received a $3.7 million redesign,

Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian had two new lead cast members join the show on Feb. 11; noted Las Vegas actress Tina Walsh and experienced musical theatre performer Andrew Ragone.

Walsh is playing the role of Madame Giry.  She's known for her roles in the original Las Vegas' company of Mamma Mia! at Mandalay Bay and the MGM's long-running Strip production EFX.

Ragone has joined the cast as romantic lead Raoul.  He has recently been seen in the national tour of Evita, The Light In The Piazza, Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Follies, among others.

The Da Vinci Experience, an exclusive exhibit of Leonardo da Vinci's remarkable inventions and copies of his most famous paintings currently on display at the Henderson Events Plaza, will close out its temporary run on Sunday, March 2.  The replicas are organized in three viewing galleries: transportation, military and mechanical.  For information, call 267-4TIX.

The Big Buffet at Bally's will be closing for good so the space can be converted into convention space.

Trader Vic's at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood is now offering happy hour specials every Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.  The tropical fun includes several deals including: $1 Pork Sliders; $15 Buckets of domestic bottled beers; $5 Redbull and vodka cocktails; and two-for-one Mai Tai's.

Nevada Palace on Boulder Highway will close on Feb. 29 and be torn down.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY WEEKEND FESTIVITIES AT JW MARRIOTT

Once again, St. Patrick's Day celebrations over three days, March 15-17, will be hosted at J.C. Wooloughan's authentic Irish pub at the JW Marriott with plenty of live entertainment, giveaways and merchandise, food and drinks.

Saturday night will kick off the weekend festivities from 7 to 8 p.m. with $2 pints of Guinness, Harp and Smithwick's.  From 8 p.m. to midnight, there will be a sing-a-long with famed musician John Windsor and there's no cover charge.  Entertainment will also be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Edge Lounge and feature a performance from California's renowned U2 Tribute Band, Joshua Tree.  There will be a $10 cover charge. 

Sunday day will be a family affair with a traditional Irish Brunch in the Edge Lounge along with live music, dance and Joshua Tree performing. The cost is $28 and $14 for children 12 and under for either the 11:30 a.m. or 3 p.m. seating, call 702-869-7381.  For entertainment only, it's a $10 charge.  Sunday evening Thompson/O'Keefe will be on stage in J.C. Wooloughan's from 8 p.m. to midnight with no cover charge. On March 17, the pub will open at 10 a.m. for hardcore revelers and the party will launch at noon with bag pipes and an entertainment.  At 5 p.m., The Backyard will showcase vintage U2 concert footage and the Edge Lounge will host two feature acts; Modern Edge starting at 5 p.m. and Joshua Tree from 9 p.m. The cover charge for J.C. Wooloughan's and The Backyard is $10 and for all three party venues, the cover charge is $20, call 702-869-7725.

MORE TIDBITS

The nostalgic diner chain Johnny Rockets is planning to open more than a dozen valley stores over the next five years including one in the Fashion Show mall on the Strip, which is set to open in June, and one to follow in the Boulevard Mall near the Strip.  The California-based company now has the 1950s-themed restaurants in The Venetian and near the Hard Rock on Paradise Road.

The Meridian Luxury Suites, an exclusive resort oasis near the Strip, is running a contest this month to win a free two-night stay at the resort on March 16 and 17 for St. Patrick's Day, a $150 gift certificate for food and drink and car service to and from Nine Fine Irishmen at New York-New York on March 17.  There are two ways to enter.  Stay at the Meridian Luxury Suites through Feb. 29 or enter online at www.meridianlasvegas.com. 

The MGM Mirage has started selling its final condo tower at CityCenter, which is The Harmon featuring 207 ultraluxury condos on top of a 400-room boutique hotel in a 47-story tower.  The Harmon will feature a spa, a hair stylist Frederic Fekkai salon, a pool 100 feet above the Strip and a Mr. Chow restaurant.  Other CityCenter towers will include the Mandarin Oriental, the twin Veer towers, the Vdara Condo Hotel, and a 61-story hotel tower as part of a casino project.

Several Miracle Mile Shops restaurants and nightclubs including Trader Vic's, Lombardi's Romagna Mia, Pampas Churrascaria, Triq Ultra Lounge and Krave are acknowledged in Zagat's Best of Las Vegas 2008 guide.  Having recently opened in 2007, Trader Vic's and Triq Ultra Lounge have each been named "key newcomers" to Las Vegas in the 2008 guide.  

Four new stores have opened at The Forum Shops at Caesars:  American Apparel - The clothing company, known for its tight-fitting jersey T-shirts; Tory Burch featuring a lifestyle collection of sportswear and accessories for women; the jewelry store Tiffany & Co.; and the women's only merchandise store.