Don's Big Band Ballroom Dance at the Riverside Resort with music performed by The Michael Hudson Invitation is back by popular demand on Thursday, May 29 starting at 5 p.m. in Don's Celebrity Theatre. Tickets are $15 with hors d'oeuvres and many chances to win door prizes included.

The Dream King of Rock n' Roll, Trent Carlini, will return to the Riverside in an Elvis celebration, May 30-June 7. Tickets are $24, call 800-227-3849.

By age five, Carlini was a Rock n' Roll fan, and at age ten, began playing guitar. When Elvis died in 1977, Carlini started devoting himself to recreating the style of the man who had influenced his life. In 1988, he was chosen to star in the Annual Birthday Tribute to the King at the Star Plaza Theater in Indiana. By popular demand, Carlini has been returning to his hometown of Chicago and headlining a tribute show each January.

In 1990, Carlini was chosen as "Entertainer with the Most King-Like Charisma" at the Global Record's Star Contest in Dallas, Texas. In 1992, "Legends In Concert" producer John Stuart saw a video of Carlini and brought him to Las Vegas, where he played the King in the show through 1996.

Carlini has played the King in Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, United States and Italy, where European media named him "The King of the Year 2000."

Harrah's will be giving away $5000 in total prize money during the SummerFiesta Slot Tournaments from June 9 through 13.

Entrants must be Total Reward members, which is free to join. Then they may enter the tournaments for $10 per person, per session or earn free entries by hitting any hand-paid jackpot on slots or video poker.

The tournament sessions are played daily, and the top ten scores of the day will play in the final session at 4 p.m. for $1000 cash. Players may enter and play as often as they like.

The prize pool for the finals ranges from $350 for first place to $50 for fourth through tenth place. No advance registration is required. Just stop by the banquet rooms tournament area between 9 a.m. through 3:30 p.m.

In June, the Pioneer will be giving away a seven day Mexican Riviera Cruise for two and $500 in spending cash. In July, the promotion will be the Six Pack Giveaway, where patrons can win six packs of Pepsi and Coors products all month long.

The MiShar production of the Broadway hit "Ain't Misbehavin" is scheduled from May 26 - June 1, and the condensed version of "South Pacific" is planned from June 22-July 2. Both MiShar shows are full of comedy, dance, and great music. Tickets are $13.95, call 800-243-6846.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

A new Starbucks is under construction at the Golden Nugget and should open this month.

The Lobster Bar is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. Guests can enjoy Surf and Turf including live Maine lobster, oysters, clams, crab legs and shrimp, rib eye and specialty filet carved nightly. Also featured is Tarzan's own lobster guacamole and shrimp salsa as well as a variety of beverages including specialty beers, flaming coffees and margaritas.

This is an innovative fundraising project for local transportation systems. The Southern Nevada Transit Coalition is compiling a Christmas in Laughlin CD that will feature holiday songs, poems and stories by area-wide locals. The CD is due to be completed by Thanksgiving, but the producer plans to showcase a live show this summer featuring the talent that he will be using on the CD. For information, call 702-298-4435.

On Sunday, May 25, the Avi will feature a free fireworks show put on by the famous Zambelli Brothers one hour after dusk.

During the day beginning at 11 a.m., the Kiwanis Krash Demolition Derby will take place. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children ages six to 17, and free for tots five and under. For information, call 800-430-0721.

The new Regency Casino is now offering a free small scale show called "Hey... Lady! A Musical Comedy" starring David Wolf and Kevin Ciaroni. The musical part of the production has Ciaroni presenting his take on Frank Sinatra, and Wolf providing comedy with his portrayal of Jerry Lewis. "Hey... Lady!" is taken from Lewis' signature line.

The show is actually a review of the music and comedy from the '50s to the '90s. The Regency is in the process of building a showroom for this show and future entertainment options.

Wolf's background includes doing stand-up comedy and being a member of the Center Stage Improv group in Los Angeles. He has also appeared on national television in such shows as "Street Smarts," "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "Good Morning L.A." When he did the Jerry Lewis telethon, he recreated the famous typewriter sketch with Lewis.

Ciaroni's career in music includes rock 'n' roll bands in the '60s, and solo acoustical work in the '70s and '80s. He's been presenting a Sinatra tribute for decades.

You can hear New Caribbean playing the sounds of the islands on the Mezzanine, Friday and Saturday from 6 to10 p.m. and Sunday and Monday from 5 to 9 p.m.

In The Lodge restaurant, there is easy listening music nightly with Nat Brown playing Thursday through Tuesday from 6 to10 p.m. and Doug Peterson at the same time on Wednesday.

CONTINUE ON TO...:
>THIS WEEK'S LAS VEGAS SEGMENT
>LAST WEEK'S LAUGHLIN SEGMENT
>VEGAS VIEWS FULL ARCHIVES
>Return to "Heard Around Town"
>Return to Las Vegas Leisure Guide