"Comedy Express-A Night of Laughs" is playing at the Ramada Express in the Pavilion Theater from Monday, March 7 through Thursday, March 10, at 8 p.m. (Nevada Time). The show features three stand-up comedians: Rich Ceisler, Jackie Flynn and PJ Thibodeau. Tickets are $15 and no one under 18 is admitted.

Ceisler uses wit and cynicism to entertain the audience with his hilarious point of view of identifiable situations from real-life anecdotes and observations.

Flynn is part of Boston's famous "Laugh Pack," joining the ranks of Jay Leno, Steven Wright, and Denis Leary. With strong roots in stand-up comedy, Flynn has emerged as one of the most talked about comics on the circuit today.

A high energy comic, PJ Thibodeau performs regularly in Las Vegas, New York, and Boston. His entertaining look at life from a simple man's point of view is a hit with audiences.

"Ragus Irish Dance Spectacular" is playing at Don Laughlin's Riverside, March 15-20. Inspired by the islanders of Inis in Galaway Bay, Ragus, which is Gaelic for urge or desire, is a show of fast moving, traditional music, song, and dance presented by young musicians, singers and dancers. It is the essential Irish experience by a group of torch-bearers of the traditional culture of the almost mythical islands of the West of Ireland. Tickets are $30, call 1-800-227-3849.

Ragus reached an international audience with their live video that showcased their tremendous talent, energy, and intuitive group dynamic on stage. Ragus encapsulates the newfound confidence in Irish heritage. It is a journey to the heart of the living tradition and an unparalleled cultural experience.

The Colorado Belle is offering a $6.75 entrée for a limited time in three different restaurants. The fine dining Orleans Room is featuring a classic Chicken Angelo dish. The award-winning Mark Twain's Chicken, Ribs & Steaks is marketing a barbecued pork sandwich. In the Mississippi Lounge, Laughlin's only fresh seafood bar, guests during Happy Hour can select from a pair of appetizer dishes, one hot and one cold, featuring shrimp, oysters and clams.

The Riverside has revised its buffet prices. Breakfast has gone from $5.99 to $6.99, lunch has changed from $6.99 to $7.49, and the dinner buffet is now $9.99 seven nights a week when it used to be $8.99.

The Colorado Belle will celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Thursday, March 17, with corned beef and cabbage meals at three restaurants - the Captain's Buffet, Paddlewheel Restaurant and Boiler Room Microbrewery. The occasion can be toasted at the Boiler Room with a drink special: a draft beer and shot of Irish whiskey for $3.50. Plus, St. Patrick's Day falls on Thirsty Thursday in the Boiler Room so 16-oz. draft beer is just 75¢ a glass.

At the Riverside, earn 50 points at a single rate on March 17 and receive a free St. Patrick's Day T-Shirt. Stop by the King of Clubs Players' Club booth for details.

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At the Ramada Express, the St. Patrick's Celebration will run from March 12 to 17. Chef Rafael will be serving Emerald Isle favorites on the dinner buffet for $5.99 with your Ramada Express Distinguished Players Club card or $6.99 without the card.

There's a $19.95 package that includes a $5 commemorative gaming chip, a green lei and party hat that qualifies you for random drawings in the $6,000 Pot Of Gold Cash give-away, two entries into a daily $1,000 slot tournament (first prize is $500 daily), A Kiss Me I'm Irish Button, and the Irish buffet. Call 1-800-343-4533 to get in on the green.

During the celebration, Victory Plaza will be turned into Murphy's Irish Pub from 5-9 p.m. (Nevada time) with games, beverages and music by Irish troubadour Pat O'Brien singing. There won't be a cover charge or minimum. The games will include pool tables, dart boards, and tables with eight fun games in one like foosball and table tennis. Murphy's Irish Pub will feature Killian's Irish Draft beer for $2 and Bushmill's Irish Whiskey.

The Flamingo won three first-place prizes in Laughlin's second annual Dessert Fest competition. Dessert Fest is a town-wide event that faces local pastry chefs and amateur chefs against each other in various categories of dessert.

The Flamingo received first place for "Best of Show," "Best Gourmet Cake," and "Best Booth" with a wide variety of decadent desserts. Some of the delicacies included a wild berry fruit bombe cake, which won the first place award for best gourmet cake, and a red, white and blue cheesecake.

Defending their title last year for "Best of Show," the Flamingo's winning booth was decorated in a patriotic theme, with various decorations and an amazing ice sculpture centerpiece designed as eagles and coins.

World War II historian Dave Kaufman will talk about the formation and activities of the U.S. Constabulary Forces as the featured speaker at the American Veterans Program on Tuesday, March 8, 1 p.m. in the Pavilion Theater at the Ramada Express Hotel Casino. The program is free to the public

Following the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 9, 1945, the U.S. Army was faced with the need to provide an organized and professional occupational force. U.S. GIs, both combat veterans (who wanted to go home) and undisciplined replacements, were the major obstacle to this goal in the U.S. Occupation Zone.

Due to the overall physical features of the area including geography, land size, and sheer numbers of people, there was an unusual need for highly mechanized units in the occupational forces in the U.S. Zone. On July 1, 1946, the U.S. Constabulary Forces, an elite and highly mobile mechanized security force unit was activated.

Kaufman, who lives in Chatsworth, Calif., is an author and current editor of "The Trading Post," the quarterly journal published by ASMIC (The American Society of Military Insignia Collectors).

On Thursday, March 10, at 1 p.m., TSgt Glenn R. Chapman (Ret.), USAF, author of "My Affair With Dragon Lady" will take the audience on a journey through his personal experience and anecdotes, beyond the "Top Secret" lines and into the world of high altitude reconnaissance and military intelligence.

He will tell about the people who were instrumental in the Lockheed U-2's development and follow one of America's most revolutionary surveillance aircraft called "Dragon Lady" from its first mission over the Soviet Union to its post-Cold War applications. He now lives in Tucson, Ariz.

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