The 10,000-square-foot, DJ driven Tao Nightclub is open from 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Some of the highlights include an outside terrace with a Strip view, two rooms - The Temple and The Emperor's Ballroom - with varied music formats, and eight private sky-boxes. A chic ultra-lounge for 400 is open from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. For information, call 702-388-8338.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show is coming to the 7,000-seat Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts on Sunday, Nov. 20, with a spellbinding set and their biggest sound and light show to date, including lasers and original Floyd inflatables. Tickets are $38.50 and $28.50 plus applicable tax and service charges; call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show will explore every facet of Pink Floyd's long and diverse career. The production includes a note-for-note rendition of the Pink Floyd landmark album, "Dark Side Of The Moon," in it's entirety as well as many classic Pink Floyd tracks.

Comedian Carrot Top, after nine years of periodic headlining engagements at the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theater, will open a steady three-year gig at the Luxor on Nov. 24. He'll share the Atrium Theater with the topless revue "Fantasy," after the current show, "Toxic Audio," ends its engagement on Nov. 16. The 38-year-old comedian is highly recognizable for the 53 spots he starting making for AT&T four years ago.

George Carlin, the ever-edgy comedian, will return to the 900-seat Stardust showroom, Oct. 6-19. He's been a popular attraction on the Las Vegas Strip for more than three decades. Tickets are $54.50 plus tax, call 702-732-6325.

Kelly Clarkson canceled her Sept. 10 Aladdin concert and has rescheduled it for Dec. 10.

Tickets for "Hairspray" that will open next February at the Luxor with Tony Award winning actors Harvey Fierstein and Dick Latessa reprising their original Broadway roles are on sale now. "Hairspray" will be modified by the original creators to run 90 minutes without an intermission. Preview performances will run from Feb. 6-14, with tickets priced at $50 plus tax and handling fee. When the show premieres on Feb. 17, tickets will be $85 on the main floor an $85 on the mezzanine.

The discounted Sunday matinee for "We Will Rock You" at Paris Las Vegas has been eliminated. Instead the full-price show is being performed on Sunday evenings at 7 and 10 p.m.

The decadent 39th Annual Beaux Arts Ball will take place on Halloween night at Studio 54 inside the MGM. This Halloween event attracts the most creative, outrageous and sexist costumes anywhere. There are big cash prizes: Best Costume Overall $1,054; Best Group Costume (minimum three or more) $654; Sexiest $254; and Best Drag $254. The entire night benefits Golden Rainbow. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, call 702-384-2899. Doors open at 10:30 p.m.

The event with DJ Lisa Pittman will feature live performances by cast members from many shows including "Fantasy," "Folies Bergere," "Jubilee!," "La Cage," "We Will Rock You," and many more. The night will be hosted by Jimmy Emerson of "La Cage" and Bryan Cheatham of "Chippendales." This year's Beaux Arts King is Chris Nicholson of "Folies Bergere" and the Queen is Georgie Bernasek, the fire-eating showgirl of "Penn & Teller."

Fright Dome returns to the Circus Circus Adventuredome every Thursday through Sunday from 7 p.m. to midnight, Oct 7 through 31. Tickets are $29.95 and a Fast Pass is $41.95, call 702-794-3939.

Fright Dome features four Haunted Houses including the all-new Cell Block 13 and the Morgue of Misery, two Haunted Ride Films, the Jim Rose Circus Freak Show, 18 rides and attractions and five acres of fear and mayhem.

The Imperial Palace is hosting a weekend-long, Oct. 28-31, karaoke Halloween party at Tequila Joe's called "Scary-Okee." Costumes are encouraged but optional at the party, which will feature drink specials such as Purple People Eaters and Blood Shooters, karaoke, games like the Wheel of Terror and dancing. There's no admission fee.

"L.A. Nitelife" with James Bartholet named Tequila Joe's "Best Las Vegas Karaoke Bar" for 2005.

On Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. children 12 and under in costume can "Trick or Treat" at Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay for free.

Shark Reef, home to many of the ocean's deadlier creatures will be transformed into a haunted tropical reef. Rattling chains, creaking doors and hauntingly spooky music will replace the normal sounds of the ocean and the jungle. Visitors will walk through the dark and eerie decorated tunnels and children will receive treats.

The United Blood Services blood drive will take place from noon until 5 p.m. and guests donating or pledging to give blood will receive a complimentary entry to Shark Reef. Tickets are $15.95 for adults, $9.95 for children, and free for children four and under, call 702-632-4555.

The Sixth Annual Tea, Trends & Tranquility benefit for HELP of Southern Nevada will be held at Red Rock Country Club on Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m. The afternoon high tea will be provided by the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, with a fashion show presented by Dillard's at the Fashion Show Mall. Tickets are $90, call 702-369-HELP, ext. 238.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

SCORES has been rapidly expanding its adult entertainment empire with premier clubs in New York, Miami, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, and now Las Vegas and soon in Baltimore. SCORES took over the 25,000-square-foot Jaguars at 3355 Procyon Street and completely remodeled it into an elegant club. A private tour introduced us to the open grand entrance room that dramatically exposes the two-story facility. More intimate surroundings include the chic Grand Piano Bar on the first floor, and the second story sultry and masculine Grand Havana Room and the sophisticated Library Room. There is something to suit most everyone's taste and pocketbook and an intimate restaurant will be opening soon.

Paul Lee's Chinese Kitchen is a new 200-seat, open layout restaurant located at 2555 West Craig Road in North Las Vegas. Open daily for lunch and dinner, the menu has more than 40 entrees priced from $7.99 to $12.99 and melds traditional wok cooking with a contemporary take on Chinese food.

The first Paul Lee's Chinese Kitchen opened in the suburbs of Phoenix in 2004, and a new one is being planned for Henderson, Nev. Before opening to the public, the restaurant holds a ceremony in which three Chinese good luck coins are buried in cement under the restaurant's entryway. It's a feng shui tradition.

Founder Paul Fleming has created Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar with 25 locations in 14 states, and he's the P.F. in P.F. Chang's China Bistro. Co-founder and President Grey Carey was the chief operating officer during the launch phase of the Rainforest Café.

The Balboa Pizza Company (BPC) recently opened a 124-seat island and surf inspired restaurant in The District at Green Valley Ranch. Open daily 24 hours a day, the moderately-priced menu has create-your-own wedge pizza, gourmet chicken wings, chips with three special dipping sauces and Maui wowie fries mixed with peppers and onions.

There's a full bar with 15 video poker machines. BPC happy hours are 4 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., Monday through Friday. During these times, you can enjoy half-priced drafts, $2 off well drinks and $1 off house wines.

Five new dining hot-spots are planned at Desert Passage and they include the classic grill Max's Café, Brazilian-style Pampas Churrascaria, microbrewery Sin City Brewing Co., fresh and healthy Tacone Flavor Grill and famous pizza place Sbarro.

Max's Café is already open with its famous Max's 3-for-1 all-day happy hour specials at its fifth location. Offering classic bar and grill food, most lunch items are $3.99 and dinner choices are $6.99.

Pampas Churrascaria will open this winter. The restaurant takes its name from "churrasco," the South American method of grilling meat on a wood or charcoal fire, and Pampas, the region of high plains in southern Brazil where the finest cattle graze on the unique grasses of the land.

Sin City Brewing Co. will also open this winter. It will be the company's first microbrew bar. The Las Vegas-based microbrewery is being launched by long-time Gordon Biersch Director of Brewing Operations, Richard Johnson. The company will also feature a logo retail line.

Tacone Flavor Grill will open in early 2006 and offer healthy, hand-made menu items - like gourmet wrapped and grilled sandwiches - in a colorful environment.

Shopping center staple, Sbarro, will also open next year. Serving Italian food especially pizza, Sbarro is currently the largest shopping mall-based restaurant chain in the world.

The Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill in the MGM offers a casual stylish setting for a bachelor or bachelorette party with a contemporary twist on the culinary classic "bar & grill" concept.

Esteemed designer Tony Chi's hip contemporary environment complements the diverse menu that features appetizers such as truffled potato chips with blue cheese and skirt steak skewers. Private dining space is available for up to 18 guests. The Bar & Grill is open daily for lunch and dinner, call 702- 891-3000.

Celebrity items including some of John Lennon's processions such as his 1956 Austin Princess car driven in the movie "Imagine" and his famed white suit worn for the Beatles' "Abbey Road" crosswalk album cover are being auctioned off. The items will be displayed at the Aladdin from Oct. 24-29. Voom HD will televise the live auction from Las Vegas on Oct. 29. The items and auction are currently taking place online, visit www.juliensauctions.com.

The 23rd annual Michelin Championship at Las Vegas hosted by the Las Vegas Founders will be held Oct. 10-16, on two courses, TPC at The Canyon with the home course and Sunday play at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin. Jason Gore, who recently won his first PGA Tour victory by a stoke at the 84 Lumber Classic, and John Daly, who has five PGA Tour victories, have committed to play. For ticket information, call 702-242-3000.

"VEGAS magazine," the first national publication devoted to everything that is Las Vegas and the lifestyle it inspires, recently celebrated its first year anniversary with a big bash at the Rain Nightclub in the Palms. Some of the "Las Vegas" cast were on hand to launch the television show's Season Two DVD and soundtrack.

For the second year, Brighton Collectibles has chosen the Nevada Cancer Institute (NCI) as its charitable partner. Through October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month, $15 from the sale of every exclusive $50 Brighton Collectibles annual breast cancer bracelet will go to NCI. Las Vegas Brighton locations include The Forum Shops, Grand Canal Shoppes, Desert Passage, Fashion Show mall, The District at Green Valley and McCarran Airport.

Palazzo Palms, a ladies resort wear and accessories store at MonteLago Village Resort, Lake Las Vegas, is hosting the Second Annual "Breast Cancer Awareness Tea and Benefit Walk" on Saturday, Oct. 15. The Benefit Walk starts at 9 a.m. and will be followed by an English Tea. $25 donation includes a breast cancer awareness T-shirt.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Palazzo Palms will host a number of other activities including professional jewelry designer and artist, Deborah Kay Lund's "Trunk Show" and painting demonstrations courtesy of Barbara's Hand Painted Glass. There will also be door prizes. For information, call 702-366-0114.

Shoe designer to the stars, Giuseppe Zanotti, and Catholic Charities Meals on Wheels have partnered up to sponsor the second "Heels for Meals" fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 21, inside the Giuseppe Zanotti boutique at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. That day, 20 percent of every purchase will be a donation. Zanotti will be making a personal appearance from 1 - 3 p.m. to introduce his spring 2006 collection and meet and greet customers. He will hold a private function from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. For information, call 702-866-0055.

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