A little chilly and a lot windy as I write this column today, but it is November and how can you not love this cool weather? Of course, with the wind the leaves come tumbling down and my front and side lawns are almost knee-deep in them. I am just waiting for my neighbors to go to work so I can take my leaf blower and transfer the leaves from my lawn to theirs. Think they'll notice? Probably, since they have desert landscaping, but I'm willing to chance it. If caught, I'll plead insanity.
Now that I have a plan, let's get back to writing a column that I really don't want to do today. I'm tired and cranky. Stayed up until 4 this morning, went to bed, then awoke at 6, hoping the clock really read 16, until I realized the clock only goes up to 12. Bummer. Okay, I've bored you enough so let me tell you about the Imperial Palace's quarterly "Be A Legend" Celebrity Impersonator Karaoke Contest tomorrow, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
It is the only regular contest that gives you a chance to earn a spot in a Las Vegas show, if you win. More than 20 contestants will compete for the top prize of $750 and an audition for the hotel's award-winning show, "Legends In Concert." Contestants will be impersonating a variety of celebrities such as Britney Spears, Celine Dion, John Lennon, Elvis, Neil Diamond, Marilyn Monroe and more. The show is free, which makes it even better, and is held in the hotel's Strip-front karaoke club Tequila Joe's. Drop over as it should be a lot of fun.
UFC AT MGM
For all you fight fans, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is coming your way Nov. 19 at the MGM Grand. UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin and UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes lead the evening's line-up as they defend their titles at "UFC 56: Full Force." Tickets are a bit steep at $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Get them through any MGM Grand box office outlet, or call 702-474-4000.
MAX ART
The Art of Peter Max Gallery at The Forum Shops will host an in-gallery exhibition with the artist on Friday, Nov. 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 26, from 1 to 4 p.m. Beginning Monday, Nov. 21, you'll be able to see the paintings that will be on display during the event and available for purchase. For each painting purchased, Max inscribes a personal dedication and drawing on the back of the artwork. That's pretty cool. I love this guy's stuff. Now only if I could afford it.
Max has also been designated as the official artist of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, and will unveil the new image he created for the Games during the in-gallery exhibition. In addition, the gallery will debut a painting Max created to commemorate the 60th birthday of golf legend Jack Nicklaus. For more info, call (702) 644-7070 or email pmgalleryvegas@aol.com.
'TURKEY TIME'
This sounds like a fun event. "Turkey Time," a fundraiser to benefit First Night Boulder City, takes place this Saturday, Nov. 19, in Bicentennial Park behind City Hall,401 California Ave. There will be a 5K (3.1 miles) Turkey Run at 9 a.m., a Turkey Trot around Bicentennial Park at 10 a.m. and a Turkey Crawl at 11 a.m. for youngsters age 4 and under.
Entry fees are $12 for the Turkey Run, $12 for the Turkey Trot and $5 for the Turkey Crawl, so the price is right. All proceeds benefit First Night Boulder City, a family-oriented, non-alcoholic New Year's Eve Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, Dec. 31. The event is a grassroots effort by Boulder City residents who contribute their time and expertise to create the festival. Local churches, streets, sidewalks and businesses are transformed into showcases for the diverse talents of Boulder City's artistic, ethnic and cultural community. A First Night button, which you an buy for $5 at various locations throughout Boulder City and during "Turkey Time," lets you attend all activities and performances of your choice. For an application form for any of the "Turkey Time" activities, call 702-293-2034 or 702-293-2138.
DOMINO DOMINATION
I've never played dominos, but if you're a fan, the World Domino Tournament '05, will take place Nov. 18-20 at the Las Vegas Hilton, and will feature domino teams from the United States, Mexico, Spain, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The teams will compete for the $150,000 grand prize. Who would have ever thunk there'd be big bucks in dominos?
EAT, DRINK, GOLF
Golf alert. The Food & Beverage Directors Association of Las Vegas is hosting a fun event on Monday, Nov. 21 at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) at Summerlin. This is the place to be if you want to test your skills on the 18-hole championship golf course or just relax and have fun with fellow golf and culinary enthusiasts.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Food and Beverage Directors Association of Las Vegas' sponsored charities such as Opportunity Village, D.A.R.E. and scholarships for the culinary arts divisions of University of Nevada, Las Vegas, VoTech and other educational institutions, so you'd be helping a good cause as well.
Event registration opens at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast. The fun begins at 9 a.m. with a putting contest, and at 10 a.m. the tournament will begin with a shotgun start. The tournament will be composed of foursomes at each hole. Upon conclusion of the tournament, prizes will be awarded in the Tournament clubhouse for those who are closest to the pin, score a hole-in-one and individual low score in addition to a raffle drawing and trophy presentation.
It's open to the public, but will cost you $175 per person or $600 for a foursome. TPC at Summerlin is located in Las Vegas at 1700 Village Center Circle, just north of Summerlin Parkway and Town Center Drive. For more information, contact Lloyd Wentzell at 702-794-9602.
Good luck and I'll see you on the Strip. And don't forget to check out www.valleyblogs.com
If you have a question or a Las Vegas experience you would like to share with my readers, please e-mail me at lennylv@cox.net. Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.
