Sunday, February 11, 2001 PRIOR ISSUE   -   ARCHIVES
Shelly Berman, Kisses In Ice, Boy George, Jay Mohr, David Osbourne, Dynasty Forbidden City, CSI, Park Towers, London Resorts, More...

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by Jackie Brett

Seasoned comic, Shelly Berman, will headline The Improv comedy club at Harrah's, March 20-25. He has proven himself to be a funny comedian, talented actor, gifted writer and even a teacher.

Berman's film and television credits include "L.A. Law,"

"Friends," "The Best Man," with Henry Fonda and" Divorce American Style" with Debbie Reynolds.

As an accomplished writer, Berman has published three books. His impressive resume includes writings for CBS and NBC pilots as well as authoring and producing several plays. His comedy albums have garnered three gold records earning him a Grammy for a non-musical recording.

In the history of Carnegie Hall, Berman was the first comedian to perform his one-man stand-up routine. Sharing his wealth of knowledge with others, he's been teaching Humor Writing for 13 years within the Masters of Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California. Tickets to see Berman and two fellow funnymen Robert Kelly and opener David Gee at The Improv are $24.95 plus tax.

Metabolife will present "Katarina Witt's Kisses On Ice" show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, March 10. Tickets are $35, $50 and $65, call 702-632-7580 or 702-474-4000.

The show is an artistic and poetic presentation of figure skating and live music that portrays the most profound communication of love - a kiss.

Other special guest stars slated to appear with the two-time Olympic Gold medalist Witt include the following champions and medal winners: Brian Orser, Viktor Petrenko, Alexei Urmanov, Maya Usova and Evgeny Platov, Nicole Bobek, Surya Bonaly, Elisabeth Punsalan and Jarad Swallow, plus Elena Leonova and Andrej Khvalko.

Boy George, the lead singer of the 80s pop band Culture Club, is making a rare U.S. appearance at RA the Nightclub in the Luxor this week on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. George will be spinning records as a DJ while promoting his "Essential Mix" CD that incorporates the sounds of two-step, disco, techno, trance and progressive house.

During his exclusive Las Vegas DJ gig, clubbers will have the opportunity to win T-shirts, DCs and other giveaways. Admission is $20. RA the Nightclub was recently voted "one of the top three nightclubs in the world" by GQ Magazine.

Comedian, actor, NFL pregame entertainer and sports radio talk show host Jay Mohr will bring his humorous thoughts and act to Le Theater des Arts at Paris Las Vegas for three nights, Feb. 16-18. Tickets are $39.99, call 1-877-374-7469 or 702-946-4567.

Mohr first gained national attention as a cast member of "Saturday Night Live," and for his impersonations of celebrities. His movie breakthrough came in the role of the nemesis agent, opposite Tom Cruise in "Jerry Maguire." He next starred opposite Jennifer Aniston in "Picture Perfect" and Scott Wolf in "Go."

His move career is continuing full strength. He has a role in "Pay It Forward" with Oscar-winners Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt, which is currently in theaters. Mohr recently completed filming "Simone" starring Al Pacino. Last year, he filmed a futurist comedy called "Pluto Nash" starring Eddie Murphy, and also made a comedy entitled "Speaking of Sex" with Bill Murray, James Spider and Laura Flynn Boyle. Both movies are scheduled for release later this year.

North Star, million-selling, recording artist David Osborne, who entertains in Caesars Palace's Cafe Lago, has made a habit out of performing at the White House and for former presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton. He recently completed two holiday appearances at the While House for outgoing President and Mrs. Clinton.

Referencing his role as the "presidential pianist," Osborne jokes and calls himself a bipartisan pianist who plays in either key.

Osborne's piano stylings can be heard in Cafe Lago between 6 and 10 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, until 11 p.m. on Friday and between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

"To be or not to be?" is the question three proposed theme resorts will have to answer. All are intriguing ideas, but which of them will become reality. One embraces an Asian theme and two ironically are courting a London look.

The Asian-themed resort, tentatively named the Dynasty Forbidden City, would incorporate a 1,522-car, U-shaped parking structure, designed to resemble the Great Wall of China, wrapped around part of the building. The location designated for this project is at the far south end of Las Vegas Blvd. across from the Belz Factory Outlet mall.

One unusual feature being planned is an indoor Chinese pool and spa. Other proposed amenities are a 200-seat buffet, a 200-seat Chinese restaurant, five bars and lounges, and a conference area.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

One of the London-themed casino resorts would be situated on the old El Rancho site. Turnberry Associates, developer of a complex of four luxury condominium towers directly east of the proposed site, want to build a 44-story, 2,047-room resort with replicas of Big Ben and the majestic Tower Bridge. The property's porte cochere would be located off the Strip and next to the Wet `n Wild water theme park's parking lot.

The other London-themed resort may be built on the south end of the Strip across from Mandalay Bay and it also would feature Big Ben and the Tower Bridge.

The Everly Brothers, Phil and Don, will return to the Orleans, March 7-11. They are a duo that has endured more than 40 years of tremendous success. It all began in February 1957, when the Everly Brothers signed with Cadence Records and released "Bye, Bye Love," which sold over two million records and stayed in the top 10 for the next six months.

In January 1986, Don and Phil were two of the original inductees into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Tickets to see them at the Orleans are $34.95, $39.95 and $44.95 plus tax, call 702-365-7075.

The Silverton is giving away a three-day Mexican Riviera cruise every Friday and Saturday through Feb. 24. The drawings are held every hour from 5 to 8 p.m. Entry tickets can be earned at the tables and live keno, or by hitting a four-of-a-kind at video poker or a hand-paid jackpot on slots. Anyone joining the Silverton Players Club gets a free drawing ticket.

Places to play live poker seem to be vanishing; however, the Las Vegas Club downtown has recently opened a new poker room. Player specials include food comps, special room rates and a $10 bonus for a $100 buy-in.

It was previously announced that "Legends of Comedy" would be moving to another property; however, it will continue to play at the New Frontier with new showtimes and prices. The show relives the comedy masters of the past along with highlighting some of today's top comedians. The funny people honored in the show include George Burns, Jack Benny, Rodney Dangerfield, Jay Leno, Roseanne and Bill Cosby.

The new showtimes are 2 and 5:30 p.m. nightly except Sunday. Tickets for the 2 p.m. shows are $21.95 plus tax, and $26.95 plus tax for the 5:30 performances. For information, call 702-794-8240.

"Splash" at the Riviera is the only show in Las Vegas currently featuring an ice stage. Regular figure skating rinks are a minimum of 185' x 85'. The custom-designed ice rink that sits center stage in the Splash Theater is a mere 35' x 15'. That confined space of 500 square feet is what the world-class skating team of Irina Grigorian, Mikhail Panin and Cindy Landry-Davis use to perform truly unbelievable adagio dance routines and solo figure skating.

Panin and Landry-Davis dressed in wedding whites skate to the music from the hit-movie "Titanic." Their routine includes backflips, drapes, helicopters, and an awesome bounce spin, during which Landry-Davis' head comes within inches of the ice. Another duo routine has Grigorian and Panin performing "The Death Scene" from "Carmen."

Each skater takes a solo turn and finally, Grigorian delights audiences by highlighting her 1998 American Open Figure Skating Pro Championship Gold Medal winning routine of hula-hoops and fire on ice.

Beyond the sheer compactness of the ice rink, it's a challenge keeping the ice frozen with a 30-horsepower compressor backstage. Between shows, the ice is scraped down and smoothed off by hand.

Ratings are high for the new Thursday night show "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" filmed in Las Vegas. Following "Survivor II" isn't hurting the show's success either.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is in the process of trying to buy the 310-room World Trade Center hotel for $14.1 million. The hotel property is located in close proximity to the Convention Center. The LVCVA would demolish the hotel in order to make space for parking and warehouse needs.

It's looking like the Warner Bros. Studio store at the Forum Shops at Caesars may very likely close. This move will result from the company streamlining its operations.

Susan Molasky, the wife of the developer of the new luxury high-rise residential development called Park Towers at Hughes Center, went on a 10-day overseas shopping expedition that was intended for her to purchase antiques for their own new home in the exclusive housing project. Instead, her trip turned into a major shopping adventure for the whole building.

Molasky purchased several historic treasures that will be placed throughout the development exclusively for the enjoyment of its residents and their guests. Among her finds were several pairs of ancient urns, tapestries, furniture, art, accessories and more.

Additional pieces include a limestone statue of a court jester and a marble fountain with a detailed face of a faun, which is destined for the wine cellar.

Park Towers residential amenities include a Hollywood-style screening room, a day spa, fitness center, business and conference center, wine cellar, library and grand salon party room. Services include concierge and 24-hour valet.

While almost sold out, four Park Tower models are open for viewing only by appointment. There are five floor plans, ranging from 2,100 to 5,400 square feet and costing from $720,000 to $3.2 million.

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Editorial Content Copyright(c) 2000-2001 Jackie Brett; Internet Presentation Copyright(c) Las Vegas Leisure Guide