One week before Valentine's Day and Las Vegas wants to make sure you have a choice on how you'll spend it. I like what Lake Las Vegas Resort is offering at MonteLago Village, with a choice of a horse and carriage ride, gondola cruise, live entertainment and find dining. What more do you want for a romantic evening?
You can start off with the horse and buggy ride ($10 for adults, five bucks for kids if it's going to be a family affair). Then you can sail off into the sunset on Lake Las Vegas while the gondolier serenades you and your sweetheart. You can make reservations by calling 877-4GONDOLA. I know that's eight digits, but it works.
From there, a short drive will take you to the Vineyard Restaurant where you can dine on a four-course meal over candlelight accompanied by the sweet sounds of live harp and flute melodies. This will cost you $150, but worth every penny. Call (702) 567-9410 for reservations. If this doesn't impress her, you're with the wrong woman.
Z PLEAZURE
If, on the other hand, you'd like a Valentine's Day a little more racy, "Zumanity," the sexy show at New York-New York, is offering its Z PleaZure Package. Actually, it's celebrating that special day's offer throughout the month of February. This $350 package includes two premium tickets to "Zumanity," two souvenir glasses for unlimited Zumanitini cocktails at the show, a Spa Deluxe room upgrade, breakfast in bed (up to $50) and two spa admissions, and it's yours for only $159 per couple. You have to book by Feb. 28 and use the package by March 31. Sounds like good deal and a lot of fun. You can reserve by calling 866-815-4365.
KRAVE NAKED HEARTS
Now if you want to get down and dirty this Valentine's Day, you might want to attend the Naked Hearts event at Krave nightclub. Naked Hearts is a very sexy event featuring live performances by cast members of Las Vegas production shows, including "Celine Dion in 'A New Day ...'," Chippendales, "Fantasy," "Folies Bergere," "An Evening at La Cage," Culture Shock, Missy Cochran Entertainment, MGM Grand Productions, The Vamps Girlie Revue and more.
Between acts, you can writhe on the dance floor with Las Vegas' most tempting bodies. That's if you're not too busy at the kissing booth or getting a chocolate massage. Tickets are only $20 and you can get tickets or reserve a booth by calling (702) 384-2899. The action starts at 11 p.m. and I don't have to tell you that you must be at least 21.
IN THE RING
Okay, enough of Valentine's Day. Let's move from the world of romance to the world of fisticuffs as world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito will defend his position against challenger Manuel "Shot Gun" Gomez of Laredo, Texas, on Top Rank's big "Real Warriors" Pay-Per-View championship card at the Aladdin Resort & Casino. It all takes place on Saturday, Feb. 18, with the first bell at 2 p.m.
The Margarito vs. Gomez battle will be one of three world title fights on this event. Brian Viloria, "The Hawaiian Punch," (don'cha love these nicknames) will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title and Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon of Puerto Rico will make a defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum-weight title. Tickets are priced at $200, $100 and $50 at the Aladdin Theatre Box Office, www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations. To charge by phone call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000.
VEGAS FANATIC
Been getting a lot of mail lately, so I better share some of it with you. This comes from Mike Anthony of North Bay, Ontario, who writes: "Hi Lenny ... read your column ... I am a Vegas fanatic, and have visited annually since 1999. We have started extending our stays from 4 day junkets to week long trips.
"We got married, just the two of us (my "better third" Colleen) at the Garden of Love this past September. As two Crazy Canucks in Sin City, that alone was a blast --- but the icing on the cake was running into my long lost favorite Elvis!! My new wife & I are HUGE (I'm talking triple-XXXL-size-jumpsuit-huge) Elvis fans. I had spent ten years in radio here in Ontario, Canada prior to entering municipal politics. Years earlier I had met Darren Lee on tour before he won a big Memphis competition in 1997, and eventually travelled to "rip the Strip" at the Stratosphere in American Superstars.
"I spotted him wrapping up a guest shot at a wedding at the chapel. Sure enough, he was as funny, friendly and gracious as ever ... and even remembered his visit to North Bay where I met him at our radio station!! We got front row seats at his show a few nights after our wedding and enjoyed a great 90 minute chat after the show. Truly a great guy, who has a long memory and a lot of talent!! Photos with him are the highlight of our wedding album.
"Keep writing, and know that lots of Canadians read your column to keep up on our favorite destination. In fact, we'd love to meet you sometime and buy you a lunch ... when I was a reporter, the free lunch ruled. Is that still the case?? Either way ... thanx, and drop a buck in a "Barkin Bucks" slot for me!" (Things haven't changed, Mike -- free lunch still rules).
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.
