Copperfield boasts dazzling new illusions including "Lottery," one of the most incredible predictions in the history of magic. During each performance, Copperfield transports himself and a member of the audience from the stage to a deserted island on the other side of the planet. His encore is a groundbreaking illusion where 13 members of the audience, chosen at random, vanish from the stage and reappear in the back of the theater. In the past, Copperfield has vanished the Statue of Liberty, walked through the Great Wall of China, flown through the air, and levitated himself across the Grand Canyon.

Loggins & Messina, one of the most successful duo's of the '70's, will hit the road in June for the first time in nearly 30 years. The "Sittin' In Again Reunion Tour," will arrive in Las Vegas at the 7,000-seat Aladdin Theatre for Performing Arts on Sunday, July 3. Tickets are $75, $55, and $45 plus tax and service fees, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

The 1972 release of (Kenny) Loggins & (Jim) Messina's "Sittin' In" originally intended as a one-off, was the smash hit debut that launched one of rock's most popular live shows, a series of gold and platinum records, Top 10 albums and over 16 million in record sales with songs like "Your Mama Don't Dance," "Vahevala," "Angry Eyes," and "Danny's Song."

In addition to performing some of their biggest hits, both Loggins and Messina will perform solo material and will feature a Sittin' In segment that will allow other musical guests to join them onstage. In conjunction with the tour, Columbia / Legacy is set to release "The Best: Loggins & Messina Sittin' In Again" on May 24.

Robert Plant and The Strange Sensation will kick off the Las Vegas Hilton Center Concert Series with a performance on Saturday, July 16. Plant, the legendary lead singer of Led Zeppelin, will make this his only Las Vegas stop on a major VH1 Classic U.S. tour that kicks off June 15. Tickets are $65-$110 plus tax and service charge and go on sale May 14, call 702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361.

Plant's new album, "Mighty Rearranger," will be out May 10, and it's his first collection of primarily original music in 12 years. Since the end of Led Zeppelin in 1980, Plant has recorded many solo projects and collaborated with a host of colorful accomplices.

The 70,000-square-foot Hilton Center with seating for up to 8,000 is under new ownership and has made entertainment a priority.

The poker room image used to be dark, dreary and clouded by smoke. The Bellagio's expanded smoke-free poker room has shattered that old-fashioned formula by creating an elegant modern venue worthy of today's transformed sport.

The room has a Murano hand-blown glass chandelier hanging overhead with intricate marble flooring paving the entryway. Throughout the room hangs artwork depicting past Bellagio tournaments and previous World Poker Tour events. Celebrity painter Leroy Neiman has been commissioned to create a painting representing the current high stakes poker greats battling it out.

Within its 7,000 square feet, the room features 40 tables and 'Bobby's Room,' the new two-table high-limit room named in honor of 1978 World Series of Poker Champion and Mirage Resorts President and Chief Executive Officer Bobby Baldwin. 'Bobby's Room' will host a variety of the highest action games and require players to buy-in for a minimum of $20,000.

The poker room, located next to the Race & Sports Book, offers guests 24-hour tableside dining, complimentary beverage service, safe deposit boxes, a full-service cashier cage with five windows and an overhead state-of-the-art music system, eight 32" television monitors and eleven 42" plasma screens, and an elevated five-table high-limit area. The games being offered include 7-card stud, Texas Hold 'em, Omaha Hi-Lo Split and No-limit Texas Hold 'em, plus daily tournaments.

Las Vegas will turn 100 years old on May 15. Numerous events are planned beginning with the Salute to Helldorado Days at the Fremont Street Experience, May 12-15 from Noon Midnight, featuring daily entertainment, the Western Village, Kangaroo Court and more like the Whiskerino Beard Growing Contest on May 12 at 6 p.m. The Helldorado Days parade will be held at 10 a.m. on May 14.

On Friday, May 13 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., the Fremont Street Experience will debut a new Viva Vision show "Lucky Vegas." At 9 p.m., there will be free shows by Paul Revere and the Raiders and Asleep at the Wheel. On May 14 at 10 a.m., there will be free concerts by Pam Tillis and Chubby Checker.

On May 15, hundreds of volunteers together with Sara Lee at Cashman Center Exhibit Hall A will construct a 130,720 pound cake that measures 102 feet long by 52 feet wide. From 2 - 5 p.m., visitors can take their picture in front of the World's Largest Birthday Cake and at 5:15 p.m. the cake will be cut and served.

The birthday will culminate from 6 - 10 p.m. when the Flying Elvi descend into Cashman Field, Kool and the Gang perform a free concert and the evening ends with a six-minute fireworks show by Grucci.

The third season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) ended last month with 26-year-old Tuan Le, of Los Angeles, capturing the 2005 WPT World Championship at Bellagio. Le won more than $2.8 million and earned a seat in next year's challenge. The tournament attracted 452 players totaling a prize pool of more than $11 million.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

The Cannery in North Las Vegas at the corner of Craig and Losee roads and KOOL 93.1 radio will present the Summer of Fun Festival featuring oldies pop bands... The Turtles, The Vogues, Ron Dante of The Archies, Andy Kim, and Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods on Saturday, May 28. Festival hours will be from noon to 10 p.m. and complimentary admission tickets are available at the Cannery's front desk ticket sales counter.

Collectively these nostalgic acts will perform some of the following hit tunes: "Happy Together" - The Turtles; "You're The One," and "Five O'clock World" - The Vogues; "Sugar, Sugar" - Ron Dante of The Archie's; "Rock Me Gently" - Andy Kim; and "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" - The Heywoods.

Macabre comic magician Amazing Johnathan has moved to the Sahara for an infinite engagement, appearing in the 550-seat Congo Room at 10 p.m. Amazing Johnathan has added new material but still showcases the same impulsive, bizarre humor and abrasive wit and his wacky assistant of more than five years, Psychic Tanya. The show has adult themes and language. Tickets are general admission $44.95 and VIP $54.95 plus taxes and fees, call 702-737-2515.

The resort's early Congo Room show features The Coasters, Drifters and Platters.

Lance Burton will participate on a series of audience-participation television programs to air on Discovery Channel premiering at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, June 5 to help decide who is the "Greatest American."

Hosted by Matt Lauer and produced by "Dateline" in conjunction with NBC News the show will aim to determine who America thinks is the greatest American of all-time - living or dead. America Online users participated in picking their diverse top 100 and to narrow it down there will be online voting and a toll-free phone line and text messaging so that anyone who wants can make their choices.

Each Sunday during June, the countdown will continue from a pre-determined list of the Top 100 Americans. Lance Burton has submitted his five picks that he will talk about in an interview format.

The Rampart Casino will present The Endless Summer Band starring original Beach Boy member Al Jardine in the Grand Ballroom on Thursday, May 26. Tickets are $29.95 plus tax and applicable fees.

The tribute band Rocky Mountain High: A John Denver Tribute will remember the classic folk singer's music in The Hideaway Theater at the Silverton on May 13 and 14. Tickets are $20, call 702-914-8557 or 1-866-946-4373.

Jim Curry, who bears a remarkable resemblance to the late singer, heads the band. In 1999, when Curry moved back to Colorado and was surrounded by fellow Denver fans, he decided to let his music career take center stage and landed the part of singing the voice of John Denver for the CBS made-for-TV movie, "Take Me Home, The John Denver Story."

International superstar funnymen Tony & Lloyd (Tony Arias and Lloyd Ziel) will repeat being hosts for Las Vegas-based HIV / AIDS charity Golden Rainbow's annual "Ribbon of Life" star-studded spectacular fundraising show on June 4 and 5 at the Rio.

The popular elegant Napoleon's Lounge at Paris Las Vegas has reinvented itself with the debut of dueling pianos. Donnie Kehr and David Mauk kicked off the high-energy entertainment experience and play six nights a week.

The highly acclaimed Lon Bronson All-Star Band, which is celebrating its 15th year as Las Vegas' longest-running band, released its new CD, "Live from the Golden Nugget" on May 1. The CD was recorded during a series of live performances in the hotel's showroom, where the band performs weekly at 10 p.m. on Mondays and Saturdays at midnight. There's a two-drink minimum and no cover charge. The CD is $19.99 plus tax and will be available for purchase at the Golden Nugget.

Icon of stage and screen, Ann-Margret, will be presented the "Centennial Award" at the 2005 CineVegas Film Festival, which runs June 10-18. This award was created in order to recognize a person who has played a role in shaping entertainment in Las Vegas. For information, call 702-992-7979.

As an actress, she has been in over 47 films including "Viva Las Vegas" and received two Academy Award Nominations, five Emmy Nominations, and five Golden Globes. As a singer, she has been nominated for a Grammy for her CD "God is Love: The Gospel Sessions," and as a stage performer, she has played to record crowds across the country since the 1970's.

The festival has named George Romero as its first Vanguard Director Award recipient for 2005. As part of the tribute, CineVegas will screen Romero's 1968 landmark film, "Night of the Living Dead," as well as clips from his latest work, "Land of the Dead," with Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo. He is considered by many to be the father of the modern horror film, a genre which he redefined.

Another award will go to actress Samantha Morton, who will receive a Half-Life Award in honor of the work she has done thus far in her film career. Morton has been acting since the age of 13 and began studying the craft in her native Nottingham, England. Her most memorable roles have included Woody Allen's 1999 "Sweet and Lowdown," for which she received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress; Steven Spielberg's 2002 hit "Minority Report," in which she starred opposite Tom Cruise; and Jim Sheridan's "In America," for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. In her honor, the Festival will be showing a 2002 film in which she stars titled "Morvern Callar."

The Riviera has released 500 American Poolplayers Association National Singles Championship commemorative $5 chips.

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