"Cheval" with its cast of 30 horses representing 17 breeds and 27 artists from around the world has been unveiled in a hand-painted canvas castle-inspired 69,513-square-foot big top located between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts and behind the Seven restaurant on the Strip. The $6 million show is pure enchantment transporting the viewer into a fairy tale land.

"Cheval" is the French word for horse, and according to the show's producer Gilles Ste-Croix, circuses originated in 1760 as a display of military horsemanship. Ste-Croix has been the director of creation for all the Cirque du Soleil productions since 1990 including the immensely successful water-themed "O" at Bellagio and airborne "Mystere" at Treasure Island.

This show grabs you from the moment you spot the world's largest hand-painted big-top canvas reaching 69 feet high and stretching over four masts. The tent seats 2,000 spectators and has a circus-style ring 46 feet in diameter as the show's focal point for the action. The first tent you pass through on the way to the arena is a stable where you see the star horses with nameplates on their stalls.

The show is visually enchanting from the baroque costumes and mood lighting to a seven-piece live band with ethereal vocalizations from an Enya-type female singer.

"Cheval" has a thin theme where physical comedian Christian Ferland plays the everyday guy who wants to be unafraid of horses and learn to ride. During the show he moves throughout the audience carrying his suitcase and many scenes where phenomenal horsemanship is displayed from acrobatics on the horses to the horses themselves following direction and changing patterns.

This show will run through Jan. 6, 2002 and then continue on to other cities including Los Angeles in January. Tickets range from $30 to $56, call 702-693-7722.

Music legend Barry Manilow will return to Mandalay Bay and perform four shows in the Storm Theatre, Dec. 13-15. Tickets are $55 and $75, call 702-632-7580.

Manilow has released 30 albums to date. His most recent album is a tribute, "Manilow Sings Sinatra," and it was nominated for two Grammy Awards. On Nov. 13, Manilow released his newest album "Here At The Mayflower," which features his first new material in more than 10 years.

Country artist Clint Black will wrap up the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo weekend, Dec. 11-13, by performing 10:30 p.m. shows at Paris Las Vegas. Tickets are $65, call 1-877-374-7469 or 702-946-4567.

Black was a member of country music's acclaimed Class of '89, which includde Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Travis Tritt. He has brought the music world a string of million-selling albums and more than 25 top-10 hits, all of them self penned.

No question, the holiday season is upon us and there are many activities around to put you in the right mood. Last week, two of the city's big light shows were mentioned: Opportunity Village's annual Magical Forest and the brand new Gift of Lights display at Sunset Park.

At the Fremont Street Experience downtown, a holiday tree display will be on view from Dec. 11-25, while a March of the Toy Soldiers procession is planned Dec. 12-15 and 17-22. Photos can be taken with Santa Claus from Dec. 11-25. A holiday light and sound show featuring 2.1 million lights on the Fremont Street Experience canopy will happen nightly from Dec. 11-25. Activities are free.

The eighth annual Light the Night free event at the Ethel M Chocolates cactus garden features more than 100,000 lights through Jan. 3, from 4:30 to 11 p.m. daily.

The Nevada Ballet Theatre will perform an all-new production of "The Nutcracker" at the Rio in the Samba Theatre from Dec. 20-23. Along with the cast of 109, the performances will feature new choreography, a full orchestra, new set and costume designs, and some magic effects by Lance Burton. Tickets range from $25 to $100, call 702-252-7776.

Since 1992, "The Colors of Christmas" tour has brought together a host of beloved award-winning artists, performing songs of the season as well as their own familiar hits, accompanied by a full orchestra and gospel choir. The holiday special will return to the Riviera on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

This year's four participating artists are Michael McDonald, Peabo Bryson, Sheena Easton and Oleta Adams. Tickets are $50 plus taxes and fees, call 702-794-9280.

McDonald was part of the first "Colors of Christmas" performance in 1992. The five-time Grammy Award winner has released "Blue Obsession," which marks his first album in seven years.

Bryson is making his tenth appearance in "The Colors of Christmas." He has the distinction of being the first artist in music history to have separate records topping four different charts. His most recent recording project was with the Windham Hill Label, "Unconditional Love."

Easton's career has spanned 21 years. She has received two Grammy's and was the first artist to have top five records on the Billboard charts.

Adams had a runaway success with her 1990 debut album "Circle of One" and the impassioned hit single "Get Here."

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Six-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Brain Boitano will star in the "Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular," a theatrical figure skating show for the whole family on Dec. 15. Tickets range from $25 up to $65, call 702-632-7580.

Boitano will be joined by World Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Kristi Yamaguchi, U.S. Champion and World Bronze Medallist Rudy Galindo, World and Olympic Champion Katia Gordeeva and World Champion Yuka Sato.

The worlds of skating and modern dance will combine forces during the two-hour special, when the American dance company, Pilobolus, joins the Olympic champions for special numbers.

Other guest stars slated to appear in solo and team production numbers include World Processional Champions Elena Leona and Andre Khvalko, American Open Champion Jason Dungjen, and the Russian acrobatic performers Vladimir Besedin and Alexei Plishuk.

Josef's Brasserie, located in Desert Passage at the Aladdin, opened in August 2000. The casual French 175-seat bistro has private dining, banquet facilities, and a private chef's table. The experience is headed up by signature chef an restaurateur Joseph Keller, who worked on the Master Chef PBS series with Julia Child and received the 1999 Tastemaker of the Year award from "Nations Restaurant News."

The French decor highlights murals of village scenes, antique mirrors and a cherry-wood bar. Josef's is open for lunch, dinner and late night, call 702-732-3000.

If you're looking for a touch of tradition on New Year's Eve, crooner Tony Bennett is booked at Paris Las Vegas from Dec. 29-31. The 75-year-old singer has worked the Strip since the late '50s and his marquee value is still huge.

Neil Diamond will take center stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 8 p.m. on Dec. 30 and $10 p.m. on Dec. 31. Tickets are $50, $85 and $150, call TicketMaster 702-474-4000.

Two and three-night packages including accommodations and two tickets to Diamond's performance are on sale starting at $699, call 1-800-929-1111.

Master magician David Copperfield will appear at the MGM Grand's 740-seat Hollywood Theatre with his new production show "PORTAL," at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. The first show is $97 inclusive and $150 for the late show with drinks, a balloon drop and party favors included, call 1-800-929-1111.

Another option is to dance the night away at the "Jewel of the Night" party in the Premier Ballroom at the MGM Grand. The classic rock and roll band, the Doobie Brothers, will perform. The event will feature a cocktail reception, a four-course dinner with wine and beverage service, dancers, production numbers, party favors, balloon drops and pyrotechnics. Two and three-night packages for two start at $1,099, call 1-800-9299-1111.

The legendary Motown quartet The Four Tops and the Village People will team up for performances in the Broadway Theatre at New York-New York with the exception of three dates Dec. 24, 25 and 29 when Rare Earth will perform as special guests replacing the Village People. The booking is from Dec. 24 through Jan. 6, 2002. Tickets are priced at $60 plus tax and handling charge, call 702-740-6815. The New Year's Eve show at 10:15 p.m. will be priced at $102 inclusive with a champagne toast and party favors included.

Casino mogul Steve Wynn has opened his multi-million dollar art gallery displaying his private collection inside the Wynn Resorts building. It is a structure on the grounds of the old Desert Inn hotel. Admission is $10 for adults land $6 for children ages 6-12. An audio tour is included with the admission price.

The Wynn Collection consists of works previously on view at the old Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art when he owned it. New paintings currently on view are Amedeo Modigliani's 1917 "Nude on a Couch" and Matisse's 1940 "The Persian Robe." Pablo Picasso's 1932 painting "Le Reve," which means "The Dream," is a portrait of the painter's mistress Marie-Therese Walter and now the name of Wynn's new hotel and casino scheduled to open in 2004.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has awarded the grand prize in its "Ultimate Las Vegas Shopping Spree Sweepstakes" to a Santa Ana resident. The winner won round-tip airfare for two, a four-day/three night hotel stay, limousine transfers to and from McCarran Airport, and a $5,000 shopping spree at the Fashion Show, Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas and Forum Shops at Caesars. The winner was one of 40,000 entries in the LVCVA's online sweepstakes. According to surveys, shopping is the number one activity they partake in while on vacation.

ABC Stores Inc., a Honolulu-based resort convenience store has opened store No. 62, its first mainland outlet, on Fremont Street. The 6,500-square-foot store is a block from the California Hotel and has a lot of lights. Besides

Las Vegas souvenirs and gifts, the ABC store sells Hawaiian items like Aloha shirts and chocolate macadamia nuts. The first ABC store opened in 1965 in Waikiki.

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