Apple began taking preorders for its state-of-the-art iPad today. The morning began with a closed online store featuring a sticky note stating that the network server would be up in the coming hours and orders would be taken for the April 3, 2010 delivery of this sophisticated, cross-medium device.

Marketed as the conjunction between the ever-popular iPhone and Apple's widely used laptop computers, the ten inch tall device weighs less than two pounds and offers Wi-Fi and touch screen access. Prices begin at under $500 and move to just under $900 for the fully loaded model. With ten hours of consistent run-time, the iPad also hosts a full line of apps and accessories.

When one thinks of Las Vegas, images of glitter and neon come to mind, not cowboy hats and fringe! But now there seems to be a resurgence of country-themed entertainment on the Strip that disappeared a decade ago along with early 90s.

It shouldn't come as such a big surprise that these new country nightclubs and bars are opening up after the recent success of country stars in Vegas, like Garth Brooks. Country has crossed over into the mainstream (Hi, Taylor Swift!) and now its crossing over to Sin City as well.

Revolver Saloon and Dance Hall
4949 N Rancho Dr
(In Santa Fe Station)
Las Vegas, NV 89130
Phone: 702-515-4390

The 10,000-square-foot space is filled with typical country décor: cowhide tabletops, a six-foot mirrored armadillo (Delilah), and of course, a mechanical bull available for the brave to attempt to conquer. Country music dominates the club's sound, but there's also some Top 40 mixed in for customers to line-dance to.

Country bars like Revolver cater to a highly ignored crowd on the Strip: those that want to drink and dance without needing to pay for the right to sit down.

Chad Pallas, director of nightlife for Stations Casino, says, "With the economy the way it is, there are people disenchanted with the Strip pricing and the experience."

The dance floor is surrounded by several tables, all gratis to customers along with service. Guests also have the option of upgrading their Revolver experience by reserving a table and getting bottle service ($250 for four people).You can also swap for a $250 bar tab instead of the bottle service.

Revolver is open from 7pm until 3am Wednesdays through Saturdays. Thursdays are local's night where customers with local IDs get in for $2 and Bud and Bud lights are only $2 until midnight. Beginning on March 18, Wednesdays will be ladies night where girls get in for the great price of $1 and pay only the same amount per drink. Dukes night on Saturdays also features free drinks for all ladies in Western attire.

When there aren't any specials going on, cover is $5 for women and $10 for men ($5 with military ID). The dress code is casual-hilbilly chic and athletic attire is prohibited.

Gilley's Saloon, Dance Hall, and Bar-B-Que
3120 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: 702-515-8434

Opening April 16 is Gilley's Saloon, Dance Hall and Bar-B-Que. The space is located next to the Siren's Cove and is a revamp of the original country hangout at the old Frontier Resort & Casino, which featured the dancing cowgirls Gilley's Girls and mud-wrestling.

The new incarnation will have retractable glass for outdoor seating, custom saddle seats at the bar, and a mechanical bull. Gilley's will be open for lunch and dinner with live entertainment Thursday through Saturday.

PBR Rock Bar
3667 S Las Vegas Blvd
(In Planet Hollywood)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.pbrrockbar.com 

Another new honky-tonk venue opening is the PBR Rock Bar, which is replacing the old Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood. So far, the Rock Bar has remained fairly mysterious. When it was first announced, no one knew whether its acronym stood for Pabst Blue Ribbon or Professional Bull Riders (it's the latter,if you couldn't guess).

The bar is slated to soft open in May and officially open sometime early this summer. By checking out the other PBR bar in Kansas City I can already tell this place is going to be seriously country. If the Las Vegas addition is anything like its sister venue, then PBR Rock Bar will feature live country and southern rock along with mechanical bull riding, girls in chaps with booty shorts, and free appetizers with cheap drinks during Happy Hour. There is also the "Power Hour" on Fridays where you can get anything for $3, as well as ladies night on Thursdays where girls enter free of charge and get drinks for $2.

So which of these new country clubs is catching your eye and which one pains your achy breaky heart?

Remember that tear-jerking episode of Sex & the City where Smith shaved his head as a gesture to show his support of Samantha when she got cancer? That's kind of what's going on this weekend as part of the global fundraising effort by St. Baldrick's, an organization that's leading the fight against childhood cancer.

St. Baldrick's was founded only a decade ago by 17 people in Pasadena who didn't want to waste their St. Patrick's Day getting day drunk. Instead, they vowed to raise $17,000 on March 17. The event more than surpassed expectations, raising $104,000.

Now the St. Baldrick's Foundation has raised and donated more funding towards childhood cancer research grants than any other organization besides the United States Government. The event has spread to 24 countries and all 50 US states. They have raised over a total of $74 million with more than 130,000 volunteers shaving their heads in solidarity with children battling cancer and peers donating to the cause.

This year in Las Vegas, many local celebrities are getting in on the act as well. Barry Dakake of N9NE Steakhouse along with multiple N9NE Group staff members are participating, including President Andy Belmonti, Rain General Manager Ian Clement, and bartender Johnny O'Donnell.

Yesterday, Nove Italiano's chef Geno Bernardo received a mohawk, Nove logo, and a green tint to his locks before he says goodbye to them tomorrow at McMullan's Irish Pub, this year's St. Baldrick's headquarters. It is at the bar that St. Baldrick's main event will be held Saturday from 2 pm until 3 am when more than 300 volunteers are expected to participate in the shave-a-thon.

McMullan's isn't the only Irish pub in the area to join the fight. Fado Irish Pub in Henderson and Nine Fine Irishmen in New York-New York are showing their support of the cause at this year's event. Depending on weather conditions, some Strip shaving will occur for the first time on New York-New York's Brooklyn Bridge.

Brian McMullan, Las Vegas publican said, "Over 72,000 heads were shaved last year, raising some $50 million, and we know here in Las Vegas, we will certainly add to that this year with even more volunteers willing to go unadorned."

There's no doubt that McMullan was right about Las Vegas' dedication to the cause. To date, Vegas locals have raised more than $350,000 for St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Cirque du Soleil has also put forth their effort into helping the battle against childhood cancer with the advance fundraiser by Cirque du SoBald at Rain. The fundraiser, Circus Couture 2010: Incognito, consisted of a fashion show and art auction with all proceeds benefiting St. Baldrick's and the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases of Las Vegas. There were also performances by dancers, acrobats, and aerialists incorporated into the event. Circus Couture's organizers have already decided to do the fundraiser again next year but on a larger scale, hoping the beat the 600 or so attendees and the $30,000 they raised. And that's without even losing a strand of hair!

The Las Vegas event at McMullan's is touted as one of St. Baldrick's "Top Events" on their website with a goal of $200,000. So far, we've already got $145,750.92 and I believe we can top the objective 200k. Just get down to McMullan's, Fado, or Nine Fine Irishmen tomorrow to support a great cause and say "Sayonara!" to those strands!

People are everywhere in Las Vegas. Everywhere. It can be overwhelming. Especially since the majority of these folks are strangers and tourists. There are real obstacles in the way of making a real connection with someone in this city. That's where RentAFriend.com comes in.

RentAFriend is exactly what it sounds like. It's a website where people can "shop" for "friends" in their area to hang out with. The activity is up to you and your new pal and the hourly rates vary from person to person. You can hire a friend to see a movie with you, go out for ice cream, give personal advice, act as a wingman, pick out presents for your grandchildren, or to even go hiking with. Pretty much anything you could do with a real friend, you can do with your rental.

The site already has 108,000 friends listed and though it may be free to list yourself, to contact a friend costs $24.95 a month. At only five months old, the site already as 1,200 paying members. Not too shabby.

Founder Scott Rosenbaum makes sure to clarify that RentAFriend is a friends-only site, not friends-with-benefits. Physical contact is actually prohibited during outings to deter RentAFriend from becoming used as a dating site. It also stops me from making any of the Dollhouse references I had prepared.

And I wasn't kidding earlier when I mentioned how hard it was to make friends in Vegas. Matt Wray, a former UNLV researcher, learned that just being in Clark County doubles your risk of suicide. He also found that when people leave Las Vegas, their suicide risk decreases, demonstrating that there really is something very sad lurking beneath the neon lights of the Strip.

This could be due to the 1.2 million people who moved into Clark County in the past 15 years, causing an influx of residents without any strong community ties or roots in the city. This was very bad news for Vegas since, as University of Chicago psychologist John Cacioppo learned, loneliness is contagious and spreads through three degrees of separation.

Cacioppo even warns against relying on sites like RentAFriend as a remedy to loneliness, saying it can be harmful by dissuading the person from making real, non-paid friends. Many people who use RentAFriend though aren't so much isolated souls as they are people who need help in some activity. This can range from being a spotter at the gym, a partner for lessons, a local to show them around town, or even a fake parent to fool school administrators at a discipline hearing.

And there are a myriad of interesting friends to choose from in the Las Vegas area. One of my favorites is "Mountain Man." He is a 66 year old with an "above average" body who lists "Prom Dates" and "Teacher Manners" under his many, many activities which he's available for. Mountain Man sells himself by saying, "Rent a friend with a ‘Gold Mine' and a ‘Treasure Chest' filled with an infinite amount of wealth and love to share. A world traveler, a great companion, or a business partner - you decide!"

There are also more traditional friends, like Kellie who describes herself as "a huge hugger" and Marie who "just [loves] having fun. And shopping." 19 year-old Sarah says that "Laughing and playing soccer are my favorite hobbies. So give me a chance and I'll change your life!"

Whether you're just looking to kill time, have some company at the movies, or pull a Debra Messing in The Wedding Date, the RentAFriend website is definitely worth a visit.

Today, the Las Vegas pool wars officially kicked off with the opening of George Maloof's Palms Pool & Bungalows. His infamous Ditch Friday parties will start up again May 7.

The other Strip splash spots aren't prepared to let Maloof take all the glory. MGM Grand has some heavy artillery in their canon to fire back with. After the their pool, Wet Republic, opens on March 12, reality star and new mother Kendra Wilkinson will host the complex's first big event on March 27, before the official grand opening on April 17. Then a week later, another E! starlet and mother Kourtney Kardashian will hold her birthday party at the pool, hosted by sisters Kim and Khloe.

There are also tons of new contenders vying for pool prominence as well, including multiple within the new HRH Tower at the Hard Rock Hotel (one of which features topless bathing). There's also Steve Wynn's 45,000-square-foot Encore Beach Club, which advertises eight bungalows, each featuring their own hot tub. The complex also includes a terraced balcony with 34 oversized cabanas lining the private area of the new pool.

And how could we right about anything without a mention of Las Vegas' newest celebrity, CityCenter? It should come as no surprise that the mega-complex is set to crash the pool party scene. Aria boasts three pools at its Liquid Pool Lounge, one of which shoots multiple fountains into the air. How badass is that?

Plus, there are multiple hot tubs, 35 daybeds, 16 private cabanas, 85 hand-woven mega chaise lounges, and 40-inch TVs. There's even a 50-seat restaurant on-site with a full menu in addition to the usual pool food.

And don't worry, cooling misters line every wall so you can show off your hot bod without actually getting too hot yourself.

Liquid is also surrounded by the glass buildings of CityCenter whose reflective rays are sure to help put the "T" in your "GTL." (That's gym, tanning, laundry for those of you with lives who didn't watch Jersey Shore.)

Liquid is slated to soft-open March 18 before the grand opening April 8 with guest DJ Tiesto.

And don't forget about old favorites such as Bare at the Mirage, Tao Beach at the Venetian, Azure at the Palazzo, Voodoo Beach at Rio, and the expanded Venus Pool Club at Caesars Palace. They aren't prepared to let some noobs come and take away all their summer-time social splendor.

With all these deluxe spots perfect for a dip and a daiquiri, the pool wars this summer should be heating up pretty rapidly. Let's just hope the weather follows suit.

What was once Club Rio, Prince's 3121, and most recently ND's Fuego, is being redone yet again. The new Crown Nightclub is set to soft-open mid-May at the Rio before its grand opening around June 1. The club plans to become a Vegas hotspot for both concerts and nightlife.

Once Latin-themed Fuego closed last June, club veteran Darin Feinstein saw an opportunity and seized it. Feinstein, Crown's owner and operator, had purchased LA's Viper Room from Johnny Depp in 2005 which he ran for three years until he began focusing on vegashotspots.com, a Vegas hosting company which he is also an owner of.

Feinstein is revamping the space with new sound and lighting so that Crown will be able to accommodate concerts for 900 to 1,800 people from 8 to 11pm, at which time Crown will shift to a nightclub until the early morning.

The concert space will be open to a variety of acts, from A-list talent, old school throwbacks like ZZ Top, or even cover acts. Feinstein also plans on incorporated full-production festival shows like July's Audiotistic Festival. He also sees an opportunity to showcase large scale performers the day before or after a bigger show, where Crown can provide a concert with a higher level of intimacy.

Luckily for Feinstein, ND's Fuego left the space in pristine condition, with new upgrades made to the stage, VIP seating, furnishings, and retail area before they went bankrupt. That means that little needs to be done to the room before the May opening. Feinstein does hope to ad new go-go spots, accents, and furnishing to Crown later on.

Crown Nightclub is slated to be open Thursday through Monday with a gay night, two mainstream club nights featuring celebrities, and in keeping with the previous theme, a Latin night.

They say "crime pays," but this week at the California Homicide Investigators Association Conference, it's totally free.

The Los Angeles Police Department is hosting the 2010 annual conference for CHIA from March 2-5 at the Palms. While all the education, training, and networking opportunities are limited to those actually involved in CHIA, the conference didn't forget to bring a little something for the natives.

CHIA is providing a unique "Behind-The-Scenes" experience where the public gets to see a few of the most notorious homicides and seedy occurrences which have shaken up the Los Angeles crime scene over the past 100 years. The Key West Ballroom in the Palms Casino will undergo a dark metamorphosis to become a multimedia museum of these gritty incidents. Attendees will get to see photographs and videos of the crime scenes along with actual evidence, some of which will be making its first debut in the public eye.

The LAPD has partnered with the Los Angeles Police Historical Society in this endeavor and  they're bringing with them vintage vehicles, memorabilia, photographs, documents, and crime scene artifacts to help give the museum context and atmosphere.

Some of the most illustrious exhibits featured will be evidence and records related to the deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Robert Kennedy, along with the murder of the LAPD officers in the 1963 "Onion Field" case. Also on display will be evidence, pictures, and video from cases including Charles Manson, O.J. Simpson, the Black Dahlia, and the Symbionese Liberation Army shootout. They will also present a bullet-riddled police car and the suspect getaway vehicle from the most infamous bank-robbery-and-shootout in North Hollywood.

This is a unique opportunity for the public. LAPD Homicide Detective Dennis Kilcoyne stated how, "Homicide investigators very rarely invite people under the crime scene tape and into the murder scene; this may be as close as some will ever get."

The event is open to the public today and tomorrow from 10 am until 7 pm, free of charge. But if you're looking for a little more hands on investigator action and are willing to drop a little dough, Las Vegas still has you covered.

Since September 2009, Vegas has been the home for the first ever permanent and interactive CSI experience. CSI is one of the most successful series in television history and has prompted a multitude of spin-offs and bootleggers, but the original (and best) is grounded right here in Las Vegas. It makes perfect sense that after touring the country, and even the world, they'd want to set up a fixed shop on the Strip.

"Our show is based on Las Vegas and it's totally obvious that it has to be in Las Vegas. The idea is to have it as a permanent landmark," said Christoph Rahofer, president and CEO of EMS Exhibits.

Luckily for them, MGM Grand was more than happy to give them a home.

"The name CSI is so strong that it was like, immediately, we knew we wanted to do it," MGM Grand Vice President of Operations John Shigley said.

CSI: The Experience, allows you to take the lead as you try and solve murders guided by cast members and real-life CSI techs. A video by Gil Grissom (who cares if he left the show, he'll always remain in our hearts) starts you off with instructions before you choose from one of the three crime scenes. Your options are "A House Collided," involving a car which has crashed into a house and a dead driver; "Who Got Served," which has a dead waitress by a dumpster at a shady Vegas motel; and "No Bones About It," where you need to figure out who the array of bones in the desert belonged to and how they got to there.

Just like real CSI workers (from what I can tell from TV), you take notes and examine the crime scenes with a flashlight, looking for clues. Then you go through a series of interactive stations so you can analyze blood splatter, DNA, finger prints, or whatever else you might have found. One of the things I'm most excited about/nervous of is when you actually get to examine the "body," though I hear it's not as gory as in the show (thank God).

The entire experience should run about an hour before you're able to identify the killer and get your CSI: Diploma. Tickets are $30 to investigate one of the crime scenes and $26 to return and do another. It sounds like a totally good deal to me, because when else can you examine a bullet or use one of those awesome UV lights? Bottom line: $30 to play Catherine or Warren (RIP!) for a day--worth it! Plus, you can purchase a certificate with a photo of yourself taken at the exhibit where you get to wear a CSI vest and pose in front of a green screen. The dork inside of me is almost too excited to be contained. I wonder if they can Photoshop in Greg so it looks like we're holding hands? He's my favorite and he sure is dreamy.

Nothing's been easy for the headliner of the new show, Divas Las Vegas. This year marks the 25th year as a Vegas headliner for the person who has been called "the hardest-working showgirl on the Strip." Those 25 years make for over half of 45 year-old Frank Marino's life spent entertaining Las Vegas audiences in drag. And as you can probably guess, being the Queen of Vegas is a whole lotta work.

"The only that that came naturally for me in this job is that I was born with a small foot, so I fit in a woman's shoe and I can buy one anywhere."

"Everything else is hard. I'm Italian, so I have that blue-black beard I get 5 o'clock shadow in 15 minutes."

Too keep up his feminine appearances, Marino has spent the past quarter of a century shaving his face up to four times a day, keeping his family jewels well protected from searching eyes, and donning nails, wigs, gowns, and sexy high heels.

The effort it takes for Marino to transform into his stage persona can be a totally drag (get it?) when it comes to making appearances out of his nightly gig.

"I mean, it's not as easy as just calling Lance Burton and he shows up with some doves up his sleeve. You call Clint Holmes, he gets dressed nice at home, he goes, does the function, and then he can continue his day. I wish I could just show up like Clint. People don't understand that this takes hours and hours."

Marino spent nearly 24-year as ringmistress of An Evening at La Cage at the Riviera, but the show was unexpectedly cancelled last year. After briefly considering retirement, a nice option kept open by Marino's conservative budgeting, he decided that his reign as a Vegas queen wasn't over yet. Unfortunately, it wasn't all glitter and sunshine coming back.

"You're gone five minutes, they forget who you are. I didn't have to get Botox and a nose job-the door hit me in the face so many times it would have flattened itself out."

Then, fate struck. While at Terry Fator's opening night, Marino met Harrah's president Don Marrandino who eventually set it up so that Marino did a one-off performance over Labor Day weekend. The show went so well, it was decided that Divas would be the late show at the Imperial Palace, after Matsuri and Human Nature.

Divas Las Vegas includes many drag impersonations of celebrity icons including Celine, Cher, Beyonce, and Diana. Though, Marino prefers not to play the impersonator himself. He does open the show as the MC, doing a sharp Joan Rivers impression-one for which Rivers sued him for $5 million in $1986.

"Thank God she settled," Marino jokes, "'cause I was about $80 short."

Marino believes that Las Vegas is probably the only city where a drag show like his could be successful on this large of a scale. He does say that his audience is more varied than would be assumed.

"Here's what happens. The men come in, reluctantly, with their wives who have seen me on Oprah or some talk show. You see him holding her hand very tightly. By the time Britney and Cher come out, he's let go of her hand, and by the end of the show his wife is hitting him on the shoulder, saying ‘you're paying too much attention to these performers!'

"I'm not selling audiences a lifestyle. I'm selling a form of entertainment, an art form that goes way back to Kabuki and Shakespeare and Milton Berle and Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire."

Unlike Robin Williams, Marino doesn't just stick to using drag as a comedy shtick. Divas ends with a powerful ballad of Charles Aznavours "What Makes A Man a Man?" while a drag entertainer removes his makeup and regales the audience with tales of his banal offstage life.

Marino's life offstage in reality is also pretty mundane. Though his working wardrobe includes more than 1,000 gowns, including 50-or-so custom-designed outfits by Bob Mackie, Marino's real life wardrobe is strictly removed of flash.

"In my house, there's not one piece of drag. There's not an eyelash, a nail or a feather. If a robber broke into my house to steal something, they would think they were at Elton John's house. I have so many boy clothes. I get in different moods."

After a strong six-year run in Las Vegas, illusionist Dirk Arthur announced his departure from the Tropicana on March 12.

"I couldn't have imagined six years later we would be leaving the Tropicana. It has been a tremendous run and a very lucrative engagement for both the show and the property. I am grateful for the Tropicana's partnership over the years and during that time have added 10 illusions to the magic show and seven exotic large cats."

These seven cats in Dirk's show Xtreme Magic include leopards, Bengali tigers, and snow tigers.

The illusionist has one of the largest collections of rare performing exotic cats. He even has five white tigers at home, a species that has been extinct in the wild since the 1960s and only number approximately 500 to 600 in the world.

"I look forward to the next stage my cats and I will perform on and promise to keep everyone posted on the development of Saber, my 3-month-old white tiger cub who has recently been introduced to the Las Vegas community, as well as where they can see us next."

The Tropicana is currently undergoing a makeover which has lead to the closing of Folies Bergere last year after 49 years. The only show remaining there now is Wayne Newton's Once Before I Go.

Cirque du Soleil is constantly changing, all the while remaining a stable part of Las Vegas entertainment. The most recent change to the acrobatic aggregation is the opening of Viva Elvis, which debuted last Friday.

Advance word of the show was anything but adulatory. This wasn't helped by the constant changes made to the show right up until the opening day, leading many to believe it wasn't up to standards. In the end though, fans loved it and Viva Elvis is poised to become yet another Las Vegas hit for the company.

The close involvement was Priscilla Presley was probably vital to Viva Elvis' success. She flew to Cirque du Soleil's headquarters in Montreal to sit in on readings, script sessions, and was present at many rehearsals and previews.

Viva Elvis is a tribute to the King of Rock ‘n Roll but chose to steer away from the typical Strip impersonators. Instead, they opted for using Elvis' own voice on the soundtrack as well as home videos of him to keep the show personal. It is those films which bring Priscilla to the emotional edge of what must be a very hard and moving experience.

"I think the home movies, the footage of him going into the Army, saying goodbye to his mother. They are the most touching. They are the scenes that make me cry...To see it in this show and how it is depicted, it is quite emotional."

At the opening gala for the show, another surprise change was announced for Cirque. Viva Elvis writer and director Vincent Paterson announced his retirement after opening night. He didn't cite an exact reason but it can be speculated that the show's constant evolution and divergence from his original vision was a little too taxing.

Only a few hours before making the announcement, Vincent told a reporter, "I think we are all just a little bit exhausted. We feel really good about what we have done and that all the hard work paid off and tickets are being sold. There are very few directors that get 100 percent of everything they want. The producers come in, and they give their opinion. Then the press comes in, and they give their opinion. Then the Elvis Presley Enterprises people come. Priscilla had her own opinions and requests, too. Everyone has been extremely helpful, but in a situation where you have a lot of partners involved, you have to respect everyone's opinion.

It's unlikely that we'll ever know what led Vincent to retire, since former Cirque du Soleil workers seem to have a code of silence when it comes to critiquing the conglomerate.

Take Franco Dragone, for instance. Franco created Mystere, O, Le Reve, and Celine Dion's A New Day, plus many more. He was the driving creative force of Cirque du Soleil, responsible for six of their shows including the one that catapulted the empire to Vegas domination.

Unfortunately, Franco left after O when Cirque founder and owner Guy Laliberte began focusing on brand expansion, prompting Franco to fear losing creative control and leave.

Franco takes pains to avoid criticizing his "former family," yet his feelings towards Cirque certainly reflects in his language when he refers to them as an "operational corporation" and "a great production machine."

Though when he finds himself flirting with insult, Franco is quick to clarify: "I will not reprimand...It is absolutely vital to develop. One day you reach the summit of the mountain. I don't know where is the summit is yet of the Cirque shows."

The closest Franco gets to truly discussing his views on the modern, expansionist Cirque is when he states, "The danger when you do too many shows is that you think that with the costumes, light money, and tricks and performers, you do a show. I think it's more subtle than this."

The audiences will soon have a chance to further explore these notions themselves since Guy announced yet another huge change for Cirque du Soleil at the Viva Elvis gala.

"There are a lot of projects on the line, and there should be some good announcements soon. Tonight, we're focusing on Elvis, but yes, we have plans for more Cirque shows for Las Vegas, for other places around the world and maybe somewhere another planet! I saw them all from space-there are a lot of places yet for Cirque. We could eventually have nine shows in Vegas. So long as each on is distinctive, it will be OK."

Guy's ambition can be quite overwhelming and one can definitely sympathize with this impeding "danger" which Franco refers to.

This appetite for global takeover could also play a part in the recently reported renovation of the Criss Angel and Cirque collaboration Believe. Beginning this week, the dancers will only be appearing in one sequence, "Homage," which honors the countless rabbits who have died in magic tricks. Then in mid-April seven new illusions will be added to the show, resulting in the conclusion of the dancers' run with the Believe.

Is this because Cirque stretched itself too thin and that their work with Believe wasn't deemed up to par?

There's so much going on with Cirque du Soleil that it's hard to keep track of it. And with Guy's eagerness for more, more, more I worry that soon there's going to be nothing left of Vegas (and the world) except Cirque du Soleil.

I've always struggled with labeling myself as a feminist. I'm very fervent about equal rights across genders, yet I can't help but love it when a guy holds the door for me, or when my friends and I get to get into clubs for free, where we're then showered with drinks (all gratis, of course).

I'm too poor to adhere to feminism in the traditional sense of the word, which is why First Food & Bar, a new female-centric weekly, intrigues me so much.

Beginning March 4, First Ladies Retail Therapy Thursdays will take over First Food & Bar, when women will arrive and receive their First Lady card. This custom membership card allows the ladies to enjoy $5 specialty drinks and cocktails all night, plus gift bags! And not just gift bags full of knock-off candy or useless knick-knacks--these little treats are provided by partner Dior Cosmetics.

I know, I know - women are more than their clothes and makeup, and we should be promoting intellectual stimulation, not consumer--but it's free Dior! I still own some Wet ‘N Wild eyeliner for christsakes and have a case of Natty Ice in my fridge. I'm in no place to be turning down free anything.

And that's the problem. I love retail therapy, I do. But sometimes I hate how much buying a new shirt or lipstick really does cheer me up. I feel like I'm every single stereotyped and one-dimensional girl from romantic-comedies. I just want to shout to the clerk, "Yes! I am buying this stuff because a boy didn't call me! And later I am going to go home and eat ice cream with my girlfriends. But you know what I'm going to do after that? Read! And watch Discovery Channel and sci-fi films and talk about things besides shoes and boys!"

I'm not condemning the First Ladies initiative, or anyone else who indulges in the joys of shopping and style. Not at all. Though, there is one aspect of the party which I find counterintuitive to a weekly dedicated to celebrating the female. Chosen "influential" First Ladies will be privileged to be Chef Sammy DeMarco's personal guests for the night. That means that these elite few will be favored with comped dinners and personal attention.

"You'll feel like you're belonging to something rather than just coming in for a drink," says DeMarco. What he forgets is that in making those select few feel like they "belong," he's excluding everyone else. What is it that qualifies these women as better than the rest of the club and deserving of such preferential treatment? What could be a nice membership coalition of women who want to go out and treat themselves to a cocktail is then turned into a female-against-female competition where only the "influential" are favored with the posh full-benefits of the party.

Feminism is all about choice, but we need to be careful what we choose. Taking pride in your appearance is great, and free stuff is always welcome. We just need to be careful that the choices we make allow for our identity to remain intact outside of looks, and to be sure to not promote the destructive female caste-system.

Have you ever wanted to feel cool and be invited to a secret party? Well, here's your chance: Tiger Beer is throwing a huge Lunar New Year bash at secret location in Chinatown this Friday, February 26.

Besides the free Tiger Beer and Asia Dog hotdogs - Tittsworth, Justine D, Egg Foo Young, and Tiny Pants will be spinning records all night for you to dance your ass off to.

It's free entry with RSVP to www.tigeroftheyear.com and the location details will be revealed at the last minute. So lay out your party dress, familiarize yourself with the lunar calendar, and get ready to rage ...

Not even a month after it was confirmed that Matt Goss would make the move from the Palms to Caesars Palace, it was announced that the Pussycat Dolls would be leaving Pure in Caesars heading over to Paris.

PCD founder and choreographer Robin Antin is also the producer of Matt Goss' new venture (which debuts March 12 at Cleopatra's Barge). So what exactly does she have in store for us with these two new shows?

While not hugely known outside of the UK, Matt Goss has quickly made himself one of the hottest names in Vegas performers. Backed by a live band and surrounded by a scantily clad dance troupe dubbed the Dirty Virgins (trained by Antin, of course), Goss gives the audience a sexy, throwback performance set to drive the ladies crazy.

Caesars Palace president Gary Selesner has such faith in Goss as a headliner, they've decided to renovate Cleopatra's Barge to give it more of a retro feeling befitting the singer before renaming it The Gossy Room at Cleopatra's Barge.

Or maybe it's just his trust in Antin who previously worked with Caesars in creating the Pussycat Dolls Lounge inside Pure and the Pussycat Dolls Casino. Antin was even the one to bring Goss to Selesner's attention in the first place. "She said, ‘You've got to go over there and see this guy,' " Selesner remembers.

Goss is very candid about the inspiration and hope he's drawn from other Vegas lounge performers who went on to perform for larger crowds, including Frank Sinatra.

"He did that his whole career. This show can play a lot bigger. I do understand what it's like to play in front of thousands of people, and I'd love to play The Colosseum on New Yea's Eve, something like that."

At his current venue, The Gossy Room, there is a 165-seat capacity and is hoping to expand to 250 by spring. Ticket prices are higher than his last gig at the Palms: $40, all -inclusive.

Matt Goss Live From Caesars Palace Produced by Robin Antin will run 70-minutes beginning at 10pm Fridays and Saturdays and hopes to live up to Caesar's high-standards of late-night entertainment.

That shouldn't be too much of a challenge for Goss, who has been a successful singer since the late ‘80s when he was lead singer of the UK boy band Bros. The group had 11 Top 40 singles and three Top 20 albums in the UK.

Goss' success is due in part to the amount of emotion he puts into every performance, whether he's singing a Stevie Wonder cover or a reggae "Hotel California."

"I'm a sensitive soul and singer/songwriter. My personal life is in my songs."

"My whole life has resonance within my performance and my lyrics and beyond. That's who I am and I want to stay that way."

I doubt Goss and Antin will have any trouble filling those seats at The Gossy Room, even with the hiked up prices. The man has style, a voice, and a face-oh, that face. I still can't believe he's 41-years old.

And while the gorgeous Goss is coming to Caesars Palace, what of the Pussycat Dolls who are leaving what has been their Vegas home for years?

The good news for fans of the Dolls at Caesars, who include Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, is that while the girls themselves might be departing, the brand is actually expanding.

The sexy dancers are moving at the end of the month to their own space in the new Chateau nightclub, which is replacing the now-defunct Risque. The PCD lounge at Chateau will be around the same size space they had at Pure, "But this time it gives me much more to play with because we're starting the designs now from scratch. It will have a really fun French feeling," said Antin.

Chateau will open next New Year's Eve, but what does the move mean for Pure in Caesars Palace?

Michael Gilmartin, director of public relations for Pure Management Group, has stated that, "We are going in a totally different direction with the space, although it will still be a big brand with some great names behind it."

"It's a great new concept that we have to keep well under wraps for a while, but it does combine technology and music. Hopefully, we can make that announcement in the next month or so."

And while the Pussycat Doll dancers are leaving, the brand has planned an expansion in the space at Caesars. A new entertainment bar is being added to the existing PCD casino and lingerie store. The glamour gal bartenders and shot girls are also getting brand new sparkly, and of course sexy, costumes.

There will be entertainment at the bar, just not of the burlesque/bathtub dancing variety. Plans for a major star to headline the fall opening for the new venue are in the works.

As to the new Pussycat Dolls show, Antin said, "We're in a new decade with 2010, so we have to keep changing. We are thrilled. I am really excited. We are in full design mode. I am inspired by all of this change. It's so great!"

Antin also assures us that there won't be any overlay between her two projects with PCD and Matt Goss.

"I'm not mixing the two. They are separate entities."

The most revered heads-up poker tournament is returning to Vegas next month. On March 4, 64 of the world's top poker players will be in the Caesars Palace Poker Tournament Room to compete in the bracket-style, head-to-head format in hopes of wining the $1.5 million in combined prize money.

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship consists of some of the most talented poker players competing in a series of one-on-one matches of No Limit Texas Hold'em matches with the unique, single-elimination format inspired by the NCAA basketball's championship tournament. The only difference is that for Heads-Up, the finals are best of three. The first-place winner is rewarded with half a million dollars while second-place goes home with $250,000. Not too shabby, if you ask me.

The tournament will be broadcast over six April and May shows on NBC and will feature some of the top names in poker, including Chris Ferguson, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Joe Cada and last year's finalists Vanessa Rousso and Huckleberry Seed. With a name like that, it's no wonder Huck's here. He'd need a poker face just to introduce himself without laughing.

But in all seriousness, in addition to having a memorable nomenclature, Huck is also a memorable poker player as well. He was last year's champion and is the only player in the all of Heads-Up history to cash in all five years of the event.

"It takes a lot of skill and mental toughness to get through a field of such exceptional players. But I look forward to defending my title and trying to win it again," said Huck.

Leeann Tweeden will return as host and sideline reporter while Craig Hummer and Ali Nejad will cover the commentary for the televised broadcasts.

GoDaddy.com, the domain name registrar most famously known for their sexed-up advertisements, will once again be the presenting sponsor.

"We're excited to bring this annual tradition back to Caesars Palace," said Jon Miller, executive vice president of NBC Sports. "The National Heads-Up Poker Championship's compelling poker action has become a must-see for the casual and hardcore poker fan alike."

The pairs for the first-round will be chosen at random during the Draw Party at Pure on March 4 with the competition commencing the next day at noon. The viewing gallery for the tournament will run on a first-come, first-served basis so don't' be late!

Since the implantation of state and local smoking bans, a lot people have forgotten that secondhand smoke is still a serious issue for many at the workplace. So far, Nevadan casinos have been protected from the bans, citing that it's good for the economy since many gamblers smoke. But what about the health of their employees who are subjected to the smoky game rooms for hours a day for several days a week?

The answer to this question has remained rather mum, since many casinos workers who have become ill from smoke inhalation don't want to risk losing their jobs which they depend so heavily on.

Some casinos are doing their best to maintain a healthy atmosphere for their workers by installing high-tech air filtration systems which aim to imbibe the majority of the smoke and replace it with clean, scented air. Yet, job applicants at the casinos are still notified that they will be working in a smoke-filled environment, air filtration system or not.

Even though secondhand smoke has been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a cancer-causing substance which results in thousands of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers each year, little is being done beyond air filtration systems to protect casino workers. The state Legislature doesn't want to rock the boat and risk losing gaming revenue or become an enemy of the industry.

Wynn dealer Kanie Kastroll has taken it upon herself to stand up for the casino workers by pursuing the first class-action lawsuit about secondhand smoke against Nevada casinos in almost a decade.

While Kastroll knows her odds aren't good (she is a casino dealer, it comes with the job), there is some potential for success.

Because of the increase in smoking bans throughout the United States, including a partial one passed by Nevada voters in 2006, the area has become "a changing ballgame right now," says Howard Cole, an Las Vegas attorney and casino consultant on secondhand smoke liability.

He acknowledges that, "Secondhand smoke is a legitimate concern. And this is still a developing area of law."

Kastroll and her lawyer, Jay Edelson, are counting on other casino employees to break the code of silence and help seek justice for the damage they've inhaled.

"I've been getting calls from people across Las Vegas and Atlantic City. These suits are not going to go away...There will be others after them willing to go the distance against these powerful forces," Edelson says.

One of these people speaking out is 61-year old Cheryl Rose. Rose, a nonsmoker, had worked in a casino for 22 years, starting out as a slot attendant and working her way up to slot director. In 2008, Rose was diagnosed with State 4 lung cancer, a result of all those years doing the simple and necessary act of breathing while at work.

Rose has dedicated the remaining years in her life to reforming the gaming industry and attempting to ban smoking in casinos. She is not suing her former employer. Rose refuses to even name the casino in respect for all they did for her career, even after she was fired in February 2008.

"This was a good company to work for," Rose assures. "They offered me opportunities I never thought were possible."

Rose recently appeared in a public service announcement for Smoke-Free Gaming, an anti-smoking advocacy and support network, and participated in a rally at the Global Gaming Expo in November. She is doing all she can to spread the message before she runs out of time. Unfortunately for her, the cancer seems to be spreading faster. Things like this, and people like Rose, are the reason Kastroll is risking her own job and livelihood to ban smoking in casinos.

While Kastroll is believed to be the first casino worker in the state to sue over secondhand smoke while currently employed, many others are not that lucky.

Stephanie Steinberg, operator Smoke-Free Gaming, states how, "People who complain about smoke are written up and could lose their jobs." This is just not a risk many citizens can take in this economy.

"I ask them, ‘Why do you continue to work there if you have lung cancer?' And the answer is always the same. They say they need their jobs-and the health insurance-more than ever."

Those employees who do develop smoking related issues on the job have little option other than to remain in the casinos for the insurance, since health problems brought on by secondhand smoke are not covered by Nevada's workers' compensations, unlike asbestos, anthrax, and other hazardous, but rarer, substances.

Though Kastroll has everything to lose, she couldn't remain silent after hearing of another dealer developing cancer and encountering a study released last year by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on the risks of secondhand smoke in casinos.

The negligence by the casino bosses is also a huge part of the issue. Kastroll claims in the lawsuit that dealers who requested to be moved to nonsmoking tables were denied by the Wynn. Steinberg alleges that even a dealer who was seven months pregnant was refused a nonsmoking table.

"The pit boss told me he doesn't give people ‘special treatment,' " Steinberg remembers.

While some dealers want to allow smoking because they believe a ban would reduce the business and thus, their tips, Kastroll begs them to wonder if the money is truly more important than their health. This viewpoint is reflected in the aim of her lawsuit, which is not a monetary settlement, but an improved work environment.

MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman says that everyone is just trying to do the best they can in such a tricky situation.

"I think the industry is trying to do what's right amid conflicting policy directives," he says. "We're in a customer service business, and this is an activity that many customers enjoy very much. We all strive to be good and responsible employers...but this is also an economic issue."

A stance to which Kastroll strikes back asking, "But what price can you put on someone's health? On someone's life?"

America's first legal male prostitute, or "prostidude," has been revealed. While some media sources are providing him anonymity, referring to him only as his working name "Markus," I agree with Steve Freiss. This is not a privilege he deserves when the picture he has circulating through the media is the same one as his Facebook profile picture. His name is Patrick L. Norton and he has made history.

Patrick, 25, is an ex-marine college dropout who left a floundering career in porn to become America's first legal gigolo. Once the Shady Lady Ranch won the state and county approval they needed to begin hiring prostidudes, Patrick was hired and has since become a focal point for controversy. He's received much flack from his female counterparts for refusing to take on male clients, but that's the least of his problems. Patrick recently came under much fire for his interview in Details Magazine where he compared his role in the sex business to that of Rosa Parks in the civil rights movement.

"Basically this is the first time in the economy of the United States that a male has actually stood up and said, ‘I want to do this for a living' and be protected under law to do it. It's just the same as when Rosa Parks decided to sit at the front instead of the back. She was proclaiming her rights as a disadvantaged, African-American older woman. And I'm doing the same."

Patrick has since been forbidden to do any interviews by Jim and Bobbi Davis, owners of the ranch, who stated that the interviews were "bad for business".

Arie Mack Moore, owner of the Angel's Ladies Brothel, believes hiring Patrick in general is bad for business. "It won't be successful. You can't have both (male and female prostitutes) in the same building or adjacent to each other, in my opinion." Moore goes on to state that his business has increased since Patrick moved onto the ranch.

"Cuddles," a prostitute at Angel's Ladies cited Patrick's refusal to see gay males as central to the failure she predicts for the prostidude. "How can you just turn down services because of what someone's preferences is? It comes with the territory. It comes with the business."

Maybe Patrick's unwillingness to perform at the same standards most female sex workers are often held to goes along with the different role he sees male gigolos working.

"I think for a male, if you want to be successful in this type of venture, you're not a prostitute. You're a surrogate lover. You encompass everything that's required of you-not only emotionally, physically-but psychologically. Because women are wired differently. They're much more sensitive creatures. You actually have to enjoy what you do. You can't necessarily say, ‘Oh, it's just a job.' You actually have to say it's a passion."

I really wish that Patrick could refrain from belittling female prostitutes in defense of his career. They are now his co-workers and peers and by separating himself from them so much he is surely setting himself up for failure.

More interestingly though (and more cliché), is how Patrick figures that prostitution became his "passion."

"When I was 7, my father and mother applied for a divorce, and I was pretty much left sensory deprived for my whole adolescent and formative years...Then once I reached adulthood, I didn't have any sexual relationships...I think it's more of a prerequisite for what I'm fixin' to do. You're striving to make up for lost time basically...Psychologically, Freud always said that every man inherently has an innate desire to copulate or have some sort of relation with his mother-regardless of whether he wants to admit it or not. I think this engenders what it means to be a gigolo. A gigolo is looking for a surrogate mother."

To sum up, Patrick's parents were divorced and he didn't lose his V card until he was 23 so he decided to act as a "surrogate lover" for women so he could find a "surrogate mother"...that he slept with...for money. Does anyone else see some holes in this story? I'm all about legalizing prostitution and opening it up to both genders, but this guy is kind of ruining it for me.

Patrick continued to spew to Details about how "I view myself as an artist" and "I think gay people are very put-together. I think they're very classy, well-organized people. They have great personalities."

I would just like to ask Patrick to please refrain from simplifying and generalizing all gay people down to a simple stereotype in the future? I'm sure other male prostidudes wouldn't want me to believe that all of them are egotistical prostidouches, contrary to what Patrick might make me believe.

The interview with Details actually gets worse too. It's as though you can feel the self-importance oozing out of every word when Patrick described what separates a gigolo from an average man, "He must have the heart of a saint, the mind of a philosopher, and the skills of the devil."

If the Shady Lady Ranch wants the venture to succeed they need to work on getting a higher class of men and keeping them far, far away from reporters and photographers. Please.

Vegas is the home to many very odd competitions. The latest to hit the Strip? The North American Body Painting Championships.

This weekend at the Flamingo, the public is invited to watch as artists from 25 different countries compete to win some of the $24,000 in cash prizes and accompanying trophies.

The artists are split up by medium. There are those who work with brush and sponge and then those who chose airbrush. There are 70 allotted spots for contestants in each category and the themes of competition are the same for both. The prelimary round is "Around the World," in which anything goes. The 25 standouts from the sponge and brush category and 15 from airbrush move on to the finals, themed "Evolution," during which anything that has evolved "from the caveman to Wall Street, from computers to test tube babies," is fair game. The competition painting time for each round is six hours, after which the artists and models will go to the main stage where a professional panel will determine the winners.

All the entries will be judged based on the following categories: originality, creativity, design flow, use of color, application, and total design.

After parties and Master's Nights will keep the celebration going after judging has closed. Friday night, Mark Reid and his creations are at the Voodoo Lounge in the Rio and Vargas is taking over Jet in the Mirage on Saturday.

The 19-year body painting veteran Vargas is best known for his interpretations of World Cup soccer uniforms on stunning models, which was collected into a 2006 calendar.

On working with people, he commented, "They're giving you their canvas. You have to give some kind of respect and consideration. That's the difference between just putting on paint and dressing them with art. In my case, I dress them with art."

If this weekend's festivities leave you itching for more body paint, a new iPhone App was revealed at the Championship this weekend. Body Painting 1.0 is an application designed specifically to utilize the iPhone's touch interface, enabling users to turn any of their friends into beautifully painted canvases of fairy tale, sci-fi, or other famous creatures.

The application is pre-loaded with original artwork by master body paint artists. The apprentice painter can then select a certain work and use the iPhone camera to take a photo of their friend. The onscreen character silhouette will ensure that your photo is aligned just right. Then, users may select colors, effects and props to create a custom art work.

Body Painting 1.0 will be available in early March for $2.99 in the Entertainment category in the App store.

Las Vegas was the American epicenter for New Year's Eve and now, a month and a half later, Vegas once prepares to usher in another new year like no where else in the country can.

Chinese New Year is one of the most important periods for Las Vegas business. Last weekend, thousands of international and domestic visitors are heading to the Strip for the celebration this weekend.

Since Chinese New Year fell on the same weekend as Valentine's Day and President's Day this year, the potential number of travelers (and the money they may spend) was expected to drastically increase.

"We're seeing a really strong Valentine's Day weekend with volume up to 10 to 11 percent (over last year), partially because it's over the three-day weekend this year and it also includes Chinese New Year," said Vegas.com Marketing Director Dan Hippler.

The casinos were preparing for weeks, adorning their property with traditional Chinese New Year decorations including citrus trees, lush gardens, and red and gold lanterns. The marquees along the Strip are even filled with Chinese greetings to welcome international guests.

The celebration will last until the end of February, meaning there will be an increase in longer stays for many of the globe trekkers.

That's great news for the casinos since Chinese New Year usually attracts higher-end clientele who are more gambling-centric.

"If you look at us from purely a head point, the ethnic Asian customer base is mainly coming from Southern California, Texas and the East Coast," said Greg Shulman, Vice President of International Marketing for the Bellagio. "Our higher-end customers typically come from the Far East, mainly Hong Kong, Mainland China and we get some VIP guests from Taiwan as well."

Each casino has planned their own special way to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. Five of the MGM Mirage properties are hosting the ceremonial lion's dance, which is meant to remove the evil spirits of the past year and bring good luck for the upcoming one.

The Las Vegas Sands and Harrah's Entertainment also have the traditional dance scheduled and Caesars Palace is marking its 35^th anniversary of Chinese Celebrations this year.

The Bellagio Conservatory has been taken over by bamboo and Chinese symbols, all guided by the practice of Feng Shui. They have even included a statue of the Chinese god of prosperity, Cai Shen.

MGM Mirage properties have even prepared special menus at their Asian restaurants and have gotten Hong Kong pop and film star Sam Hui to perform along with a 3,000 guest gala at Aria next week.

The hotel company for the Mandarin Oriental was founded in Hong Kong in the 1960s, so it's no surprise that Chinese New Year is a very busy time for them.

"In terms of business, we are absolutely full," said Mandarin Oriental General Manager Rajesh Jhingon. "We have some very high-profile guests staying with us that we of course can't discuss."

Good Units
356 West 58th Street
Manhattan, New York  10019
212-554-6000

EVENT CANCELED DUE TO SNOW

What better time to throw the opening party for your new venue/night spot than Fashion Week, are we right? And what a party it's going to be.

The venue itself has been transformed from humble gym into nightlife contender by none other than Robert McKinley, who is responsible for such revered haunts Surf Lodge, Cain Luxe, and GoldBar. The final touches are still underway, but people are chomping at the bit to get a peek at the Hudson's new basement neighbor. The consensus seems to be that this place is going for something different. For now, let's call it a sophisticated basement party vibe. 

Of course you want to hear about the party now: Giant Step is bringing in Amanda Blank, Daniel Merriweather, and Ebony Jones for a little, you know, light entertaining. If that weren't enough, DJ Moni will be spinning all the danceable ear candy you could want. It's free to get in, but RSVP is required. Not bad for a Wednesday night.

Photo taken by Steve Lewis of BlackBookMag.com

Las Vegas has a very complicated relationship with the arts, which is no surprise, really. Does anyone actually expect an art scene to flourish in the city of neon lights and Lucite heels?

The art museum has closed along with a number of galleries, but Las Vegas artists haven't given up yet. Along with Emergency Arts, the "hospital for art," there are many other recent additions looking to rejuvenate the Las Vegas art scene.

Still, it's going to be a difficult road ahead for those attempting to resuscitate the arts, especially with the unreliable (and some would say untrustworthy) Mayor Oscar Goodman.

At a recent town meeting, Goodman defended his relationship with the arts, claiming Vegas has spent "tons of money" on the arts district and that "We don't want to hear that we're not supportive of the arts."

But these statements were very hypocritical to his previous position. Just last year, Goodman told the Las Vegas Sun, ""I don't see a museum for art as necessary downtown. The masters are on the Strip. There's also a round-trip plane fare to Los Angeles. It's not necessary to have an art museum. I want a mob museum."

The complicated politics and bureaucracy of Vegas have also severely hindered any possibility of the arts district blossoming. There's the high degree of difficulty in getting business licenses and permits, along with restrictions and standards placed on sites designated as "galleries." Many artists are opening up galleries under different titles (such as "studio") or simply moving somewhere else.

Scott Adams, Las Vegas' chief urban development officer, claims that the agency is very willing to aid the arts district. The Visual Improvement Project has been put in place to match property owners dollar-for-dollar on visual improvements to their building for up to $50,000, which would cover a major overhaul or even a simple repainting.

Adams also foresees a huge boost to the arts district once the economy stabilizes and all the current projects in the area are completed. That includes a new park behind the Arts Factory, a new arts district sign and inlayed sidewalks, benches, and trees to make the area itself more visually appealing. They even plan on finally adding some sculptures to the Sculpture Park!

With all the drama surrounding Vegas and art, there is a surprising location for an art scene reanimation that is taking place right now: CityCenter. Inside the walls of this haven of excess and consumerism are some truly provoking and inspiring art installations.

The walls are not adorned with "tacky, hotel knock-offs," but real, original art. A Nancy Rubins' sculpture is situated nonchalantly near the slot machine floor, a colorful Frank Stella welcomes visitors behind registration at Vdara, while a Julian Schnabel hangs in a connecting corridor. CityCenter is creating a message for itself that contrasts the "Do without thinking. Do Vegas right now" motto that the rest of the Strip represents. CityCenter is attempting to draw people in with their reputation of class and forward thinking, making it a perfect partner to showcase that art does belong in Vegas.

Probably the most exciting thing CityCenter has done when it comes to art is the new LED installation in the valet car pick-up for Aria.

A series of some 200 aphorisms scroll across a 280-fool long, 18-foot-tall LED wall, imparting such knowledge on visitors as, "It's important to stay clean on all levels," "Overeating should be criminal," and "If you live simply, there is nothing to worry about."

The installation comes to Aria from conceptual artist Jenny Holzer, who was paid millions of dollars to create this work entitled "Vegas." What sets this piece apart from the rest of the art at CityCenter is the potential that it can be read as insulting to the very city it was created for. "Vegas" prompts viewers to think about how they're spending their money and to question the very lifestyle which they came to Vegas to enjoy.

There are many truisms that can't be read as offensive towards Vegas though. In fact many of them can even be interpreted as endorsing typical Las Vegas fare, such as "It's crucial to have an active fantasy life" and "If you have many desires, your life will be interesting."

Michele Quinn, who has been in charge of the public art effort for MGM Grand, sought out Holzer to create the LED installation for the dark subterranean valet area and was surprised at the reaction her radical idea got from the CityCenter committee. Quinn said she received very minor pushback from the committee when she submitted to them the list of maxims Holzer had planned to incorporate in the piece.  In fact, the committee only asked to remove one or two of the adages, for the reason of them being "too political."

This installation goes against everything Vegas is about. Questioning, thinking, simplicity, and morals--that's not going to rope in tourists from across the globe! But it won't scare them away either.

Holzer's piece in CityCenter is groundbreaking in such that it proves Las Vegas and the arts can not only coexist, but that they can both flourish without compromising either of their morals (or lack there of). Maybe there is a future for art here in Vegas after all?