The Flamingo Laughlin recently topped off the first phase of construction of its newest $7 million addition, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom and convention center. Construction began in May and is slated for completion in December.

The convention center was a part of the hotel's master plan when it was designed and built ten years ago. The center sits atop the roof of a low-rise structure on the north face of the hotel and the main entrance to the ballroom is on the second floor off the main casino. Two new escalators, which begin by the casino's poker pit, will take conventioneers and visitors to the ballroom entrance.

Once completed, the Flamingo Laughlin will use the new facility in three primary ways. It will be a site for mid-level conventions averaging 1,000 delegates. As a site to host casino events, the center will seat 1,200 for parties or 2,000 in theater-style seating for seminars or business functions. The center's first major event will be the New Year's Eve party. A third use will be a concert hall. The ballroom will feature 18-foot ceilings, stage and complete concert facilities. Thus, the hotel can operate year-round venues that might include professional boxing matches and concerts.

In the future, the center will also include space for a business center, fitness center and executive board rooms.

The new ballroom will be the resort's third major construction project since it opened in 1990. In 1993, 20,000 square feet of space was added to the Race and Sports book and riverwalk entrances were created. In 1997, the boat dock was added as were 120 guest room suites and existing rooms were remodeled.

The Dream Team of the Fifties - The Platters, The Drifters, and Cornell Gunther's Coasters will appear in a combo show at the Ramada Express, Aug. 26-28. Tickets are $22.50, call 1-800-243-6846.

The Platters journey back in time with million-selling hit songs like "Come With Me," "Twilight Time" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes." The quartet's elegant understated style has been a musical gift with signature tunes like "My Prayer" and "Harbor Lights."

The Drifters are four men in tuxedos with polished choreography who produced 29 hits and sold almost 50 million albums worldwide. The Drifters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. This was the year that The Beatles, The Supremes, Bob Dylan and The Beach Boys received the same honor.

Cornell Gunther's Coasters are the comedians of rock and roll with light-hearted, playful tunes like "Charlie Brown," "Yakety Yak," and "Poison Ivy."

The grand finale, with all three groups together on stage, takes you on a stroll back to the Fabulous Fifties.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

The Boiler Room Microbrewery at the Colorado Belle will again host Blues & Brews, a full weekend festival taking place Sept. 28-30. The festival will feature free live concerts from some of the region's best blues bands. Returning for Blues & Brews will be favorites John Earl and the Boogey Man Band of Las Vegas, the Blues News Blues Band from Tucson, AZ, the Las Vegas based Willie Jaye Band and California's Little Charlie and the Nightcats.

This year's festival will also include a charity Poker Run that will be held on Thursday, Sept. 28. All 100 percent of the entry fees will support local charities, and the Colorado Belle will match the total of all entry fees in cash prizes to the entrants with the best poker hands. Buy-ins for one hand are $10, and $25 for three hands.

On Friday, Sept. 29, the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Pageant participants will vie for the title and $500 in cash. You can have your picture taken with the pageant participants for $5.

Blues & Brews room packages are available and will increase on Sept. 1. Call 1-800-47-RIVER for details or visit www.coloradobelle.com.

Budd Friedman's Improv Comedy Club will headline in the Fiesta Showroom at Harrah's through Sept. 3. Tickets are $13.95 for Harrah's Total Rewards members and $15.95 for those whiteout a Total Rewards Cards, which you can sign up for free. The remaining lineup up is Michael Pace with two fellow comedians, Aug. 25-Sept. 3.

Kenny Rogers will delight audiences in the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater at Harrah's, Sept. 9-10. Tickets are $25 and $30.

"Country Music USA," a tribute artists show representing some of country music's biggest stars, is playing in Don's Celebrity Theatre at the Riverside at 8 p.m. daily through Sept. 30. The show includes tributes to such artists as Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Hank Williams Sr., Tim McGraw and Vince Gill. Tickets are $15, call 1-800-227-3849 or 702-298-2535.

There is also a free mini "sneak preview" show presented daily at 5 p.m. in the South Tower.

Sandy Anderson , who has been working as a tribute artist for 11 years, began by portraying Barbara Mandrell. A photographer soon told her she looked more like Dolly Parton and the transformation was easy. Anderson and Parton are both 5 « feet tall and other components making up the look are easily attainable.

In 1995, Anderson performed with Kenny Rogers in Las Vegas and sang "Islands in the Stream." She also did a Dolly Tribute in Parton's hometown, with her cousins and family members as backups singers and band. In addition, she has sung "Any Hair You Can Wear, I Can Wear Bigger," with Parton and had time to compare personal notes.

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