Woke up to some good news today. Tom Jones, one of my favorite singers and definitely one of my favorite people, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He is now Sir Tom. Must be quite a thrill for this son of as Welsh coal miner and it is certainly well-deserved. Jones has performed in Las Vegas for some 35 years and is one of the town's most beloved entertainers. Congrats from all of us, Tom.
CARD SHARKS
If any of you think poker is losing some of its interest, think again. FOX Sports Net is converting three of the movie theaters at Neonopolis into the Pokerdome, where about 200 people will be able to watch weekly tournaments. Players' cards will be shown live on televisions in the arena, and the players will sit behind a soundproof, one-way glass, so they can't see or hear fans' reactions.
Until now, those who go to casinos and watch tournaments live have had to wait for the showdown when players reveal their cards, or have had to take a poker player's often-suspect word on the quality of his or her hand. That's all going to change come May 20 with the first Texas hold 'em tournament at the Pokerdome. As of this writing, plans are for free admission and no alcohol to be served.
The tournament will be broadcast the following day on FOX Sports Net, so you might even get your mug on TV. Some 44 tournaments are planned for this year alone and each weekly event, held every Saturday night, will consist of one table of players who have qualified online at Mansionpoker.net, which is co-sponsoring the television series. A few fun features will include players wearing monitors so the audience can track their heart rates, and cameras "rabbit hunting," revealing cards that would have come if a player hadn't folded.
I hope it's a success as Neonopolis has really struggled since it opened downtown on Fremont Street in 2002. Our downtown needs all it can get to draw more people and has been doing a pretty good job of it under the watchful eye of Hizzoner, Mayor Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas' biggest and most exuberant cheerleader.
SAILING FOR A CAUSE
If you're into boats, you won't want to miss the Leukemia Cup Regatta, organized by the Southern Nevada Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and hosted by the Nevada Yacht Club April 8-9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Mead. The fourth-annual event will include boat race competitions between more than 40 boats, a live and silent auction dinner, entertainment and an awards ceremony.
Following the races on Saturday, April 8, there will be an evening dinner with live and silent auctions and music by Tommy Rocker and his band, as well as other local entertainment. The event will take place at the Boulder Creek Golf Club beginning with cocktails at 5 p.m. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 9 at the Water Safety Building at Lake Mead, there will be a barbecue and awards ceremony announcing the Regatta race winners and the fundraising winner of the Leukemia Cup.
This is a fun event and you will be helping a very worthwhile cause. There are more than 747,465 people with blood cancers in the United States alone, and 58,000 will die this year from these diseases, so the need for a cure is critical. A spokesman for the event, said, "Sailors experience the thrill of the competition and at the same time, they help save lives." To purchase tickets or to register for The Regatta, call (702) 436-4220.
STAR-STUDDED CONDOS
Seems the new condos going up on or near the Strip are a magnet for the stars. Pamela Anderson has reportedly just bought a condo at a $1 billion luxury high-rise under construction just west of the Las Vegas Strip. It's a 2-bedroom penthouse unit with more than 2,000 square feet and views of the Strip facing north, south and east. Not too shabby.
Actors Leonardo DeCaprio and Tobey Maguire are also reported to have bought into the development, the first tower of which is expected to be complete by midsummer. Mine won't be ready until 2050 or until I win Megabucks -- whichever comes first.
THUG LIFE
Guess who's being immortalized in wax at Madame Tussaud's at the Venetian? None other than Tupac Shakur, referred to as "the rap world's greatest figure," a dubious honor at best. And get this. The new sculpture will be part of the "Tupac Eternal" exhibit that will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 5, at a special ceremony beginning at 11 a.m.
The sculpture will be based on the image of a shirtless Tupac sporting a bandana and proudly displaying his tattoos. Hey, just the kind of guy you want your daughter to date.
The finished effigy has taken months to complete, involving more than 700 hours of work and over 330 pounds of clay. Now I'm going to tell you what I was told, and between you and me, I don't believe it for a minute -- Tupac Shakur has consistently been the celebrity most requested to receive a wax tribute from Madame Tussauds Las Vegas museum. Where did all these requests come from -- gangstas? The unveiling comes nearly 10 years after Shakur was gunned down in our town after attending a Mike Tyson fight at the MGM Grand.
LIFE IS A CABARET
Okay, let's move about as far away from rap music as possible and talk about "Cabaret," winner of 12 Tony Awards, that will begin a five-week run March 30 at the 300-seat Starbright Theatre, 2225 Thomas Ryan Blvd. in Summerlin. Tickets are only $25, and you can get them by calling UNLV at (702) 895-2787, at the Starbright Theatre box office, UNLV Box Office and select Prestige Travel locations. The show will be dark Sunday, April 16 and every Monday and Tuesday through it's completion April 30.
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.
