Improvements worth at least $3 million when the third phase is completed are happening at Don Laughlin's Riverside at the north end of Laughlin's Casino Drive.

The Pit Bar and the Riverview Restaurant, the second of the three phases is done, with a major overhaul and slight expansion of the River Bar scheduled to begin after this spring's 26th Laughlin River Run motorcycle celebration. The plain old windows of the River Bar will be replaced with long-armed deep blue beams and ceiling fans to accentuate the more memorable decor.

The former small Pit Bar had been enlarged three-fold and brightened up. It now includes a dozen video poker machines, instead of only three, along with a well lit display of alcoholic beverage containers and accessories.

Also lightened up was the Riverview Restaurant, the property's 24-hour full-service eatery, with an entirely new enlarged entrance featuring almost three dozen photos providing a history of the hotel-casino from when Don Laughlin bought the tiny facility and grew it into one of Laughlin's biggest resorts.

One photo taken on May 4, 1987, was when the original two-lane Laughlin Bridge was dedicated. It had to be widened to four lanes in 1991 and today those same four lanes carry an average of more than 40,000 vehicles a day. This includes about 2,000 big-rig trucks, as the Laughlin Bridge is part of the Hoover Dam bypass.

In the restaurant, most of the old heavy-looking brick has been replaced by lighter-toned wooden panels and a lighter carpet. However, the hotel's prime color blue was left in place along with a skylight over the middle of the dining floor. More interior lighting was installed to brighten up the atmosphere and new tables and chairs complete the ensemble.

Jackson Rivers, who was a former member of Marvin Gaye's band and touring partner of Joan Armatrading, is performing at the Regency. The snowbird is direct from Scotland by way of London. Rivers is not only an accomplished performer, he is an exceptional musical arranger who sings, plays guitar and wails on his saxophones (both tenor and alto) to background music previously taped. Rivers plays in the Upstairs Lounge, Wednesdays through Sundays, from 6 p.m. to midnight. There is no charge to catch him and the music.

Johnny Cash's Legendary Band, The Tennessee Three, will walk the line straight into the Fiesta Showroom, March 27 through April 7. The Tennessee Three is not a cover or tribute band but the band that backed the "Man in Black," Johnny Cash. Bob Wootton and WS Holland are the original men behind the unique sound that powered nearly every Johnny Cash stage performance or recording since 1960. Tickets to see the group nightly except April 1 and 2 start at $27.95, call 702-298-8510.

Wootton instituted the unique "boom-chicka-boom" guitar that classifies most of Cash's song. Holland holds the distinction as the first rock and roll drummer in music history.

In 2006, the band released album, The Sound Must Go On which features the hit, You Walked Tall (Each Time You Walked The Line). Their album We Still Miss Someone was nominated for six Grammy Awards. The Tennessee Three have toured throughout the United States, Ireland and Canada.

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The Aquarius is doing a $20 million room renovation that is scheduled for completion by May. The 1,907 rooms, which include 30 executive suites and 60 junior executive suites, are being completely transformed from the furniture and bathrooms to carpets and case goods, and even the hallways. Two floors are being taken out of service at a time with the Arizona Tower getting the makeover first followed by the California Tower.

The interior designer is Leo A. Daly, who has a ranking of third best "Top Designers / Architects" by Hotel Business magazine and clients ranging from Pueblo Sandia Casino in New Mexico to the White Pond Resort and Training Center in China.

The room renovations will include installing new 32" LCD flat panel televisions, lounge chairs, ottomans, designer lamps, TV chests, artwork, wall coverings, designer carpets and drapes. The bathrooms will be enhanced with cherry wood vanities with granite countertops, designer sinks and accessories.

Another addition that is becoming a current reality is the opening of a new full-blown Starbucks outlet adjacent to the gift shop and VIP lounge near the front lobby.

One advantage to visiting Laughlin is you can see name headlining acts at reasonable prices. This month the headliners include: The Smothers Brothers, Feb. 12-17, The Oak Ridge Boys, Feb. 19-24, and Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Feb. 26-March 2, at the Riverside; Patti Page on Feb. 23 at the Tropicana Express; Williams & Ree on Feb. 9 at the Avi; and Tony Orlando, Feb. 9-11, at Harrah's.

Harrah's Laughlin has a new promotion, Rollin' To Win, running through April 17. Harrah's guests may enter daily drawings for a chance to roll oversized dice to win Reel Rewards® Cash Coupons. Eligible promotion participants will also have an opportunity to return for a chance to win a share of $13,000 during the grand final on Thursday, April 17.

Harrah's guests may earn entries for the 5 p.m. daily (except Wednesdays) qualifying drawings for Rollin' To Win during the promotional period through March 16. Entries may be earned in a variety of ways from gaming and making purchases. Entries may also be obtained by sending a request along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the Special Events Department at Harrah's Laughlin postmarked by March 7.

Three daily drawing winners will be selected by a random drawing at 5 p.m. The three potential winners, in the order identified, will roll one oversized die. Each side of the die will correspond with a dollar-valued Reel Rewards® Cash Coupon. Three sides of the die will be worth $25 in Reel Rewards, two sides of the die will be worth $50 in Reel Rewards and one side will be worth $100 in Reel Rewards.

Each daily drawing winner will also receive an invitation to return for the Rollin' To Win grand finale drawing on April17, 2008. The Rollin' To Win final drawing invitation includes three complimentary nights from April 15-17; 50 entries for the Rollin' To Win grand finale drawing on April 17; and two entries into the $5,000 Cash Craze final drawing on April 17. In addition, each daily drawing winner will receive 1,000 Bonus Reward Credits.

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