The Holiday Season is upon us!! And it is a Great time to be in Las Vegas--good cheer and good weather are abounding throughout the city. Convention business is bustling with several monster conventions coming into town that have a couple of hundred thousand attendees. Holiday shows are starting to appear all over the city, and Christmas lights are being added to the neon. Thanksgiving has become a major event in town. Many people are taking advantage of the long weekend and spending in extra time in Vegas, and most restaurants have Thanksgiving offerings and specials, which will rival even the finest of home cooked meals. Las Vegas wants your business and has a lot of offer.

This past month has been a tumultuous one for some folks. There are several people out there that had a very bad October...now some people make mistakes, and some people make MISTAKES. Recently Steve Wynn was showing off his prize Picasso masterpiece, Le Reve (the basis and idea for his casino, and the name of the show inside the hotel,) when he accidentally poked a hole through it with his elbow. Wynn had just finalized the sale of the 1932 painting to an art collector for $139 million when the accident occurred...now, Wynn will keep the painting, get it repaired, and work to resell it. Ooops.

Another person that had a bad month is Greg Thompson and all of the people employed by Greg Thompson Productions. This past month, "Erocktica" closed its doors at the Rio with only two days notice, and then that same week, his show "Bareback" closed at Harrah’s without notice. Rumor is that all his shows at all Harrah’s properties closed...there are a lot of people out of work and a production company now fighting to survive.

Sahara Hotel & Casino announced today that their new comedy show "Redneck Comedy Live!" will close temporarily next week to enable the producer to make some content changes. The show was originally scheduled to run through the end of National Finals Rodeo week. Previews of this production were received tepidly when it opened at the Sahara Theater as one of the few stand-up comedy shows in Las Vegas open to all ages, and featuring four comedians sharing their perspective on life and all things "redneck" in a hip, down-home style. No re-opening date has been announced yet.

Cavalia, the spectacular equestrian odyssey, brings its magic to Las Vegas as part of the North American tour. Cavalia has been received with incredible enthusiasm by critics and public alike in every city it has visited since the tour began in 2003. The acclaimed show will be presented under its majestic White Big Top that will be located at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, starting November 16, 2006. Cavalia, a show unlike any other, is a lavish orchestration combining the equestrian and performing arts. The grand-scale extravaganza explores the relationship between humans and horses throughout history, while showcasing different disciplines. Acrobats, aerialists, dancers, musicians and riders share the stage with man’s greatest conquest: the horse.

Gordie Brown has opened his show in a brand new 740-seat theater at The Venetian on the Strip. Comparisons between Gordie and Danny Gans, who now headlines at The Mirage right across the boulevard, are inevitable, but having seen them both, it is the same art with two very different approaches.

It has finally been announced that Prince will take over the Masquerade Showroom, along with the adjacent restaurant, at the Rio. It’s not the usual type of headliner show that Las Vegas normally has. Prince will only be performing once a week and use the rest of the time to promote new bands that have been signed to his record label.

Triq Nightclub, Ultra-lounge, and soon-to-be the King of After Hours hot spots, will be opening up this December in the Aladdin. They are now looking for experienced female bartenders, bottle and cocktail servers, busboys, barbacks, porters, VIP hosts, security, ushers, and box office managers. They will be holding a JOB FAIR on Monday, November 6th and Tuesday, November 7th from 10am – 4pm in the Aladdin Ballroom – Mezzanine Level. Those interested in applying, please email staff@triqlv.com.

"Shag With A Twist" moves its "groovy" musical production to the Plaza Hotel in Downtown. Grab your martinis and head for Fremont Street! "Shag With A Twist" brings its retro-cool kitsch and vibrant vintage fun to the Plaza Hotel and Casino for an extended engagement. The move comes as the show recently completed a successful run at the Harmon Theater. Based on the iconic artwork of famed visual artist, Josh "Shag" Agle, "Shag With A Twist" delivers an unpretentious, feel-good musical production set at a swinging 1960s Tupperware party "This show is a perfect fit for the Plaza," said Dan Wilson, the Plaza’s General Manager. "It is fresh and original, full of fun and is a great match with the retro-theme that extends throughout our property."

One of my favorite attractions is opening up...Opportunity Village opens "The Magical Forest," November 24, 2005 - December 30, 2005. The Enchanted Carousel, the Forest Express Trains, live music, sweet treats, lavishly decorated trees, whimsical displays, millions of lights and visits with Santa Claus provide people of all ages with a winter wonderland each night during the holiday season. This season hold a truly magical surprise with new exciting attractions and a newly-expanded Magical Forest that Las Vegas has never seen before. Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people with intellectual disabilities by providing them with vocational training, employment and social recreation services that make their lives more productive and interesting. Once thought by society to be unemployable and unimportant in the community, people with severe disabilities are engaged, active residents who contribute to our society. Through Opportunity Village’s programs and services, hundreds of people with disabilities are learning vocational skills and being placed in jobs throughout the community.

November is a huge time for entertainment...I mean HUGE!! Because of the enormous number of shows and events that are coming to town, I’m reformatting the list for this month to help bring the information to you as clearly as possible.

The first week includes:
Howie Mandel
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Nov 1, 2006 - Nov 8
Say Anything w/ mewithoutyou, Piabald & Brazil
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 1
The Las Vegas November Festival
South Point Casino Hotel & Spa, Nov 1 - Nov 5, Free Admission
Michael Franks
Boulder Station Hotel-Casino, Nov 2
Professional Bull Riders World Finals
Thomas & Mack Center, Nov 2 - Nov 6
The Cramps
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 2
Angels & Airwaves
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Nov 3
Blue October
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 3
Brad Garrett
Mirage, Nov 3 - Nov 4
Great Las Vegas Craft Show
Cashman Center, Nov 3 - Nov 5
James Darren
Suncoast Hotel and Casino, Nov 3 - Nov 5
Jars of Clay with special guests Matt Wertz and Leigh Nash
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 3
Shawn Wayans
Venetian Resort - Hotel, Nov 3
Vanessa Williams
Orleans Hotel and Casino, Nov 3 - Nov 5
Aerosmith and Motley Crue
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Nov 4
Route of All Evil Tour
Devo
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Nov 4
Food & Wine Festival
South Point Casino Hotel & Spa, Nov 4 - Nov 5
Benefit Community Food Bank of Clark County
Foreigner
Tropicana Resort and Casino, Nov 4
Psychic Gary Spivey
Santa Fe Station Hotel Casino, Nov 4
Story of the Year w/ Anberlin, Greeley Estates & Monty Are I
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 4
Time Out for Women Tour
Cashman Center, Nov 4
Silverstein w/ Aiden, He Is Legend, and the Blackout Pact
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 5

The second week in November has:
Sugarcult w/ Pink Spiders, Meg & Dia and All Time Low
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 6
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Orleans Hotel and Casino, Nov 8
Bouncing Souls w/ Street Dogs, Whole Wheat Bread & left Alone
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 9
David Copperfield
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Nov 9 - Nov 29
Suzanne Somers
Orleans Hotel and Casino, Nov 9 - Nov 12
A Passion for Justice Production
Cashman Center, Nov 10
Air Supply
Suncoast Hotel and Casino, Nov 10 - Nov 12
IFSHA Friesian Grand Nationals
South Point Casino Hotel & Spa, Nov 10 - Nov 12
Equestrian Event
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts w/ Eagles of Death, More . . .
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 10
Nick Lachey
Luxor Hotel and Casino, Nov 10 - Nov 11
Patriot Party & Veteran's Day Parade w/ Aaron Tippin & Mark Farner
Fremont Street Experience, Nov 10 - Nov 12, Free
Veterans's Day Parade 11/11/06
Raul Malo
Boulder Station Hotel-Casino, Nov 10
The Who w/ Special Guest The Pretenders
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 10
Aviation Nation
Nellis Air Force Base, Nov 11 - Nov 12
Diamond Rio
Boulder Station Hotel-Casino, Nov 11
Edgar Winter
Cannery Casino & Hotel, Nov 11
Holiday Havoc: The Deftones, Papa Roach & Unwritten Law
Thomas & Mack Center, Nov 11
Lisa Marie Presley
Empire Ballroom, Nov 11
Lyfe Jennings w/ Shareefa and Algebra
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 11
Ray Romano
Mirage, Nov 11 - Nov 12
The Rolling Stones
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Nov 11
UFC Ultimate Fighter 4
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Nov 11
Sarah Geronimo Concert
Cashman Center, Nov 12
The Damned w/ Epoxies & the Adored
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 12
The Four Lads & the Diamonds: Moments to Remember
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort, Nov 12
The Fray w/ the Damnwells
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Nov 12

Week number three brings:
The Comedy Festival
Caesars Palace, Nov 14 - Nov 18
Cowboy Mounted Shooting Assn World Championship
South Point Casino Hotel & Spa, Nov 15 - Nov 19, Free Admission
The Gift of Lights - A Holiday Drive-thru Spectacular
Sunset Park, Nov 15 - Jan 1, $12/car; $2 discount w/ bag of clothes for Goodwill
Tom Dane
Suncoast Hotel and Casino, Nov 15 - Nov 16
Cavalia
Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Nov 16 - Dec 9
Olivia Newton-John
Luxor Hotel and Casino, Nov 16 - Nov 18
Craig Ferguson
Orleans Hotel and Casino, Nov 17 - Nov 19
Dana Carvey
Mirage, Nov 17 - Nov 18
M.O.C.C.A. - former members of Next Movement
Cannery Casino & Hotel, Nov 17
Marshall Tucker Band
Boulder Station Hotel-Casino, Nov 17
Spyro Gyra
Suncoast Hotel and Casino, Nov 17 - Nov 19
The Family Stone
Red Rock Resort Spa & Casino, Nov 17 - Nov 18, Free
Trace Adkins w/ Jason Aldene & Billy Currington
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 17
Barbra Streisand w/ Special Guest Il Divo
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Nov 18
BET Presents Ciara w/ Ali & Gipp
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 18
Clint Black
Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino, Nov 18
Diane Schurr
Boulder Station Hotel-Casino, Nov 18
Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone
Cannery Casino & Hotel, Nov 18
James Blunt
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Nov 18
Las Vegas Gun Show
Cashman Center, Nov 18 - Nov 19
Maxxis EnduroCross
Orleans Hotel and Casino, Nov 18
Pacquiao vs. Morales
Thomas & Mack Center, Nov 18
Roller Derby
Cashman Center, Nov 18
Atreyu w/ From First to Last, Every Time I Die & Chiodos
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 19

The fourth week of the month (which includes Thanksgiving,) has:
Blackest of the Black Feat, Danzig, Lacuna Coil, More . . .
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 21
Switchfoot w/ Moses Mayfield and Ryan Ferguson
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 22
Wayne Newton Holiday Show
Harrah's Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Nov 22 - Dec 31
THANKSGIVING
Nov 23
38th Annual Arabian Horse Show
South Point Casino Hotel & Spa, Nov 23 - Nov 26
Equestrian Event
Ann-Margret & Company
Orleans Hotel and Casino, Nov 23 - Nov 26
Liza Minnelli
Luxor Hotel and Casino, Nov 23 - Nov 25
Wayne Brady
Mirage, Nov 23 - Nov 24
Al di Meola
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 24
Anne Murray
Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino, Nov 24
Holiday Concert with Orchestra.
Craft Jamboree
Cashman Center, Nov 24 - Nov 26
Debbie Reynolds
Suncoast Hotel and Casino, Nov 24 - Nov 26,
Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational
Orleans Hotel and Casino, Nov 24 - Nov 25
Guy Lombardo Orchestra
Cannery Casino & Hotel, Nov 24 - Nov 25
John Eddie
Boulder Station Hotel-Casino, Nov 24 - Nov 25
Johnny Mathis
Las Vegas Hilton, Nov 24 - Nov 25
Stand Through the Eyes of a Child Production
Cashman Center, Nov 24 - Nov 26
Talib Kweli
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 24
She Wants Revenge w/ Pretty Girls Make Graves and Monsters
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 25
Smokey Robinson
Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa, Nov 25
The Dixie Chicks w/ Pete Yorn
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Nov 25
The Accidents and Accusations Tour

The last week in November, which includes the first weekend in December brings us:
...And You Will Know Us by The Trail of Dead w/ Blood Brothers
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 28
20th Annual Downtown Hoedown
Fremont Street Experience, Nov 29, Free
Deana Carter, Trick Pony, Little Texas & Richocet.
All American Rejects
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Nov 29
REO Speedwagon
Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino, Nov 29
Brad Paisley w/ very special guest Carrie Underwood
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 30
Time Well Wasted 2006 Tour
Country Christmas Western Gift Expo
Venetian Resort - Hotel – Casino, Nov 30 - Dec 10
Howie Mandel
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Nov 30 - Dec 6
NFR Cowboy Christmas Show
Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov 30 - Dec 9, Free
Queensryche
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Nov 30
Randy Travis
Golden Nugget, Nov 30 - Dec 3
World Series of Team Roping
South Point Casino Hotel, Nov 30 - Dec 3, Equestrian Event
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
Thomas & Mack Center, Nov 30 - Dec 9, NFR
Barenaked Ladies w/ Mike Doughty's Band
Aladdin, Dec 1, The B.L.A.M. Tour
Big & Rich
Las Vegas Hilton, Dec 1 - Dec 3
Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational
Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino, Dec 1 - Dec 2
Cowboy Marketplace Western Lifestyle Expo
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Dec 1 - Dec 9
Earl Klugh
Suncoast Hotel and Casino, Dec 1 - Dec 3
International Gem & Jewelry Show
Cashman Center, Dec 1 - Dec 3
Miss Rodeo America Rehearsal & Pageant
Orleans Hotel and Casino, Dec 1 - Dec 2, 2006
Rodney Adkins
Santa Fe Station Hotel Casino, Dec 1 - Dec 2
Snowjam - The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Show
Cashman Center, Dec 1 - Dec 3
Steve Holy
Boulder Station Hotel-Casino, Dec 1
Styx
Luxor Hotel and Casino, Dec 1 - Dec 2
Uncle Kracker & Shooter Jennings
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Dec 1
Billy Dean
Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino, Dec 2
Gary Allan w/ Jack Ingram
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Dec 2
Larry the Cable Guy
Orleans Hotel and Casino, Dec 2
Black Label Society w/ Black Stone Cherry
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Dec 3
Death Cab for Cutie
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Dec 3

For dates and times, be sure to log onto the Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide: lvol.com.

Igoshows.com is, of course, the place to read the reviews of all of the shows that are in town so that you can be better informed as to what you should expect from a certain production. The reviews are updated as needed to give you the knowledge you need to spend your entertainment dollars better.
You can always view the current newsletter HERE

You can contact Chuck through the Feedback Form on the following page: www.igoshows.com/feedback.html