Two museums have opened their doors at the Venetian in a building designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The look created is the understated, clean, minimalist industrial warehouse theme. The museums make separate statements in their own areas of the hotel, but stand out from the Venetian and its Venice theme.

The new building makes a big impressive statement at the entrance with an open space dramatically filtering light through a skylight, and then you get to escape into little modules to enjoy the exhibits on a much smaller scale.

The new Guggenheim Hermitage Museum with a 7,660-square-foot gallery is showcasing collections from New York's Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, founded in 1937, and the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, which traces its origins to 1764.

The two institutions have widely divergent holdings, so their joint inaugural exhibition, "Masterpieces & Master Collectors: Impressionist & Early Modern Paintings From the Hermitage and Guggenheim Museums," spotlights a dream team of impressionist, postimpressionist and early modern masters. Where the two museums overlap or share styles is the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. The inaugural exhibit presents a selection of 45 key works.

The artwork is hung magnetically on Cor-Ten steel walls that are movable. The magnetic system had to be tested to make sure it wouldn't disrupt the chemical composition of the paintings. The look is gorgeous paintings floating within their frames.

The Guggenheim Las Vegas Museum is featuring "The Art of the Motorcycle" that will run for two yeas. The exhibit comes to Las Vegas after extensive stays at the Guggenheim in New York and its branch in Bilbao, Spain. The motorcycle show was chosen for its popularity and its design.

Architect Frank Gehry is responsible for the distinctive gravity-defying presentation, which includes metallic curtains and stainless steel sculptures that ripple and undulate.

The show features more than 120 vintage- and recent-model motorcycles displayed in a chronological approach. The order is motorcycles dating from the 1868 steam engine-powered bicycle designed by Michaux Perraux to the most recent technologically advanced models.

The idea for displaying the motorcycle as three-dimensional design objects came at the end of the last century. The museum was looking for exhibits that would embody the history of the past 100 years; objects that were icons and the motorcycle fit the bill.

Both museums are open daily from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. The cost is $15 for adults; $11 for students; $7 for children under age 12; and children under age six are free. For information, call 702-414-2440.

The suave balladeer Brian McKnight will headline at Paris on Nov. 2 and 3. Besides the singer label, McKnight's versatile musical talents include songwriter, arranger, producer and musician.

His debut album in 1992 had the smash hit "One Last Cry" that went platinum. In addition, his work on Vanessa William's "Comfort Zone" earned him acclaim. Later that year, Williams and McKnight recorded the Top 5 single "Love Is" which appeared on the "Beverly Hills 90210" soundtrack.

Tickets for McKnight's concerts are $65, call 1-877-374-7469 or 702-946-4567.

Desert Inn owner Steve Wynn, as a good will gesture, plans to open an art gallery next month on Nov. 13 in the hotel's old gift shop. The 1,000-square-foot gallery will house 11 of Wynn's personal paintings and be located in the hotel's St. Andrew's Tower, one of the buildings that Wynn intends to keep at the resort. "The Wynn Collection" will showcase masterpieces that for the most part were shown at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art during his tenure.

What's left of the Augusta Tower to the south will be imploded around 2 a.m. on Oct. 23. The new resort in the works will reportedly open in 30 to 32 months and be called Le Reve.

Penn & Teller will return to the Rio for another engagement in the 1,500-seat Samba Theater, Oct. 25-Nov. 11. Tickets are $45.

Penn Jillette and the single-named Teller are consummate tricksters who have been together since 1975. They were recently named out of 50 people, two of the funniest people alive in a story appearing in "Entertainment Weekly."

The famed comedy/magic duo's award winning theater show has been a long running hit on and off-Broadway and continues to sell out across America.

Teddy Pendergrass will perform at Texas Station in northwest Las Vegas on Oct. 27. It's a rescheduled show that was supposed to happen on Sept. 21. Tickets are $29 - $59, call 1-888-464-2468.

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The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino recently opened the new 132-seat Fiore Steakhouse, with an expanded menu. The new steakhouse's stunning decor utilizes rich, dark wood, subdued lighting, the simple elegance of crisp white linens and fragrant flowers. Also new to the Fiore experience is the rolling raw bar.

The Fiore Steakhouse is the recipient of a coveted "Wine Spectator" award. The wine selection is remarkable, featuring more than 500 wines, many of which are served by the glass. Guests continue to have the option of escaping to a serene cigar terrace that overlooks the Rio's tropical lagoon. For reservations, call 702-777-7923.

The 45-year-old Rosewood Grille restaurant next to the Venetian plans to build a parking garage and a 60,970-square-foot shopping center and to relocate the restaurant, famous for lobster, on the top floor. There are also plans to build a leg to the new building from the existing pedestrian bridge linking the Venetian to the Mirage and Treasure Island.

The Silverton off I-15 is holding its OktoBEERfest from 5 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday in October. They're offering $1 St. Pauli Girl beer, a $10.99 German buffet and entertainment by the Dummkopf's oompah band.

Lawry's The Prime Rib restaurant has scheduled "A Wedding in Transylvania," Halloween murder-mystery costume dinner performance at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31. Tickets are $65, call Nancy Marcellus at 702-893-2223.

In celebration of Halloween, the Tropicana is releasing on Oct. 20, limited edition Halloween gaming chips. The $5 and $25 chips are the sixth and seventh chips to be released as part of the 2001 commemorative chip series.

Good news for shoppers, the valley has its first Nordstrom Rack located at Silverado Ranch Plaza, 9851 S. Eastern Ave. The first Nordstrom department store will open at the Fashion Show mall in 2002.

Comedian Doug Stanhope will headline in KXTE's XXXtreme Comedy Showcase at the Riviera Comedy Club on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27, at 11:45 p.m. The ultimate road warrior, he has spent three years exclusively on the road playing every venue from strip joints to the Las Vegas Strip. In 1995, Stanhope was the regional winner of the Vail Comedy Competition and the grand prize winner of the San Francisco International Comedy competition.

Tickets for his adult-only shows at the Riviera are $14 plus tax, call 702-794-9433.

A Touch of Jazz Festival will feature the Yellowjackets, Everette Harp, Marion Meadows, Kevin Toney with Pamela Williams and Turning Point at the Hills Park amphitheaters on Oct. 20. Tickets are $40 for adults, visit Tickets.com.

The Castaways (formerly the Showboat) has a new promotion where you can enter a weekly drawing to win 52 weeks of free gas. Drawings are held every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Rules are posted at Club Castaways.

Studio 54's weekly nightclub event EDEN, the Erotically Delicious Entertainers Night, at the MGM Grand will celebrate its second birthday on Tuesday, Oct. 23. Studio 54 makes its official transition to EDEN at 2 a.m. every Tuesday night (Wednesday morning). Top EDEN deejays will be present for this event that features progressive electronic music.

Helping create the party atmosphere every week is combination chained aerialist adagio acts, wall walkers and a sinful presentation made to Adam by a snake laden Eve. The cover charge will be $10 for men and complimentary for women that night, call 702-891-7254 for information.

Greg Morton and two fellow comedians are headlining at The Comedy Stop at the Tropicana this week, Oct. 15 - 21. Morton has been hailed as the "young hyper Bill Cosby." He's a 32-year-old New York stand-up comic, who graduated in animation. He has many talents including that of a voice over artist for many well known cartoon characters, head animator for "Scoobie Doo" and "The New Flintstones" and director of four of today's most popular cartoons.

Tickets for The comedy Stop are $17.50 per person with tax, gratuity and two drinks included. Show times are 8 and 10:30 p.m. For information, call 702-739-2714.

J. C. Wooloughan Irish Pub in The Regent Las Vegas has dubbed itself an official Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Football Bar this season. The establishment is decorated with Steeler logo paraphernalia. During the games, Steeler giveaways add to the fun.

The Irish Pub is also a place to witness soccer through May 2002. Fans can catch live soccer championships via satellite on Saturday mornings at 7 a.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. For information, call 702-869-7725. The Regent is located about a 20-minute drive west of the Strip.

The second annual Odyssey 2001 four-day ultra lifestyles event that celebrates wine, food and art will take place in November. Master Chef Gustav Mauler, who owns the Spiedini and OXO restaurants at The Regent Las Vegas, is one of the chefs who are paired in the five-course Master Dinner, scheduled for Nov. 17. Ten chefs will prepare a one-of-a-kind dining and wine experience at The Venetian. The benefit event is $300 per person.

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