Another run of bad luck at video poker after hitting for $1,400, plus facing surgery, has not made me a happy camper, but that doesn't mean I can't bring you good news and what better than to tell you that you will have a chance to meet comedian Rita Rudner this Saturday, Oct. 14, at The Forum Shops at Caesars.
The very funny lady will be signing copies of her new and fourth book, "Turning the Tables," and posing for photos with you from 3 to 4 p.m. I'm sure this will be reserved only for those of you who buy the book. "Turning the Tables" is a story of revenge that takes place in Heaven, a fictional Las Vegas casino (you wanna believe it with a name like that). The book is described as a wild romp through the corrupt and sexy landscape that defines the country's hottest city.
Voted "Best Comedian in Las Vegas" in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Best of Las Vegas poll for the past five years, we have seen Rudner go from a one-month booking at the MGM Grand in 2000 to a permanent engagement at New York-New York's $1.2 million Cabaret Theatre built exclusively for her. She ended her five-year run there this past August and is now performing at Harrah's. So if you're a fan, and would like to get a copy of her book and a photo with her to show off to all your friends, now's your chance.
HALLOWEEN RUN FOR CANCER
Are you, your family, and even your pet, in good shape? If so, you won't want to miss out on one of our town's most fun and lavish charity runs -- the Four Seasons Halloween Run for Cancer Research on Saturday, Oct. 21. The run begins at 7 a.m. in the northeast parking lot of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. All proceeds from event registration fees and raffle will go to the UNLV Cancer Research Center. Entry fee is $25 for individuals, $15 for ages 12 and under and $20 for seniors 55 and older. No mention of what your dog will have to pay.
If you do take part, you get a commemorative T-shirt and a Four Seasons catered breakfast buffet. The festivities include a 400-yard Mini Monster Dash, a costume contest
for pets and children, face painting, carnival games, a bounce house, live music and a bake sale featuring some great goodies by the hotel's executive pastry chef Jean Luc Daul. In addition, live music will be provided by Conched Out, fronted by Las Vegas entertainers Tommy Rocker and Mike O'Brian.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in each age bracket of the 5K and all children participating in the Mini Monster Dash will receive an award. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase for a chance to win a variety of prizes. All in all, it's a real fun time and you'll be supporting a great cause. To register, call the Four Seasons 702-632-5333.
GOING TO THE DOGS
Ever wonder how the cops get to train their K-9 units? Pretty amazing when you watch them perform their duties, isn't it? Now you'll get a chance to see them perform and compete as Siegfried & Roy continue with their sponsorship of the 16th Annual K-9 Trials this Sunday, Oct. 15, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Orleans Arena. The event is free and open to the public.
The K-9 Trials is the largest benefit for the Friends for Las Vegas Police K-9s, bringing more than 40 K-9 units from across the country to compete in a series of maneuvers. The event is an incredible demonstration of the fierce bond between officers and their dogs. The money raised by the event stays in Las Vegas and supports the Friends for Las Vegas Police K-9s.
"We are honored to be involved with such an extraordinary organization," said Siegfried. "Their boundless efforts and loyalty to protect our community are forever appreciated"
"It is a great privilege to be involved with the event again this year," added Roy. "We encourage everyone to support the foundation."
The Friends for Las Vegas Police K-9s provides assistance to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Canine Heroes, who risk their lives to protect Las Vegas and surrounding community. Very limited funding is available to the K-9 officers and their four-legged partners during their active duty and none after their police work is over, as officers absorb the entire cost of their dog's care. If you would like to support the Friends for Las Vegas Police K-9's, you can send a check to "Friends for Las Vegas Police K-9's," 4187 Pleasant Road, Las Vegas 89108, or call 702-229-3441. They do one helluva job, so let's give them our support.
STAR FOR SIEGFRIED & ROY
Speaking of Siegfried and Roy, the two Las Vegas legends were presented with their own star last week in front of the Siegfried & Roy statue at The Mirage, where they performed for more than 13 years before Roy was seriously mauled by a tiger during one of their performances. At the ceremony, they said: "Our passion and love affair with Las Vegas began the first day we arrived over 30 years ago. The residents and visitors of what immediately became our hometown have allowed us to live our dreams and our fantasies. We have fulfilled our destiny of carrying on the traditions of magicians and magic."
The Las Vegas Walk of Stars was developed in cooperation with Clark County, which sanctioned four miles of sidewalk to the east and west of Las Vegas Boulevard South between Sahara and Russell. Similar to the "Palm Springs Walk of Stars," located along the sidewalks of Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, Calif., the Las Vegas project honors people of prominence in a variety of fields including entertainment, sports, literary, humanitarian, civic, military and pioneers. Each star is a three-feet-square slab of polished granite weighing 180 lbs. and inlaid with the recipient's name and specialty.
Other recipients (with location of star and when they were received) are: Wayne Newton, Frontier Hotel, October 26, 2004; Liberace, Riviera Hotel, February 01, 2005; Frank Marino, Riviera Hotel, February 01, 2005; Rich Little, New York-New York, February 15, 2005; Line Renaud, Paris Hotel, October 24, 2005; Dick Jensen, Frontier Hotel, November 05, 2005; Mel Larson, Circus Circus, January 09, 200; Toni Hart, MGM Hotel, April 27, 2006; Chester Simms, Flamingo Hotel, May 06, 2006; John Stuart, New York-New York, May 30, 2006; Richard MacDonald, New York-New York, June 07, 2006; and Wayne Allyn Root, New York-New York, August 15, 2006. When you're in town or on the Strip, take a look.
LENNY TALKS!
And last, but far from least, is the news that I will be hosting my own talk radio show every Friday night from 7 to 8 p.m. on KLAV-AM 1230, beginning this Friday, October 13. My guests this week are Michael Johns, one of the stars of "Hypnosis Gone Wild," opening at the Harmon Theater Oct. 22, and magician Nathan Burton, star of Nathan Burton's Comedy Magic at the V Theatre in the Aladdin.
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.
