As you all may have noticed over the past few years, Las Vegas has been steadily rebuilding its image of Sin City with hotter shows and even hotter clubs. Now we can add the Pussycat Dolls Casino at Caesars Palace that features a mixture of sexy slot machines, blackjack, craps and roulette tables, a Big Six wheel and merchandise area, all indicative of the brand's sexy burlesque look. Located directly across from the Pussycat Dolls Lounge inside PURE Nightclub, where the Las Vegas Pussycat Dolls perform five nights a week.
In order to capture the energy of the Pussycat Dolls Lounge, a portion of the table legs come complete with fishnet tights and stiletto heels. Sparkling pink fabric and leopard-print covered chairs, themed table felts adorned with the Pussycat Dolls logo and sexy dealers in custom-designed outfits all add to the sultry setting. The main attraction is seen in the center of the of the oval-shaped pit, as chandeliers illuminate two go-go dancers in bronzed cages. Very hip. Very hot.
Speaking of hot, MGM Grand's cabaret production La Femme has changed its name to Crazy Horse Paris.
YEAR OF THE BOAR
Here's something you don't want to miss. Bellagio is honoring the Chinese Year of the Boar in its Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, one of my favorite places to visit and to take people from out of town. The Gardens makes five changes each year, four for the changing of the seasons and one for the Chinese New Year. This year you'll find an animated swine playfully snorting and wiggling its nose and ears, while just steps away, an 18-foot-tall Chinese God of Wealth and Fortune smiles benevolently from atop a gleaming pile of golden coins. In the west garden, a 40-foot tall, six-tier pagoda with beautifully sculpted details finished in gold leaf represents a mountain of good 'chi.' The ancient art of Feng Shui can be found in practice throughout this dramatic exhibit -- from gentle waterfalls which ensure the flow of positive energy, to tranquil ponds filled with Koi, a symbol of good luck and everlasting fortune. The display will be there until March 3.
SPEED FREAKS
Attention all you NASCAR fans. On Friday, March 9, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty will appear in the flesh and in wax in Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Neon Garage. Earnhardt Jr. and Petty, the seven-time NASCAR champion, will unveil their wax figures at 2 p.m. The two figures will remain in the Neon Garage throughout the weekend. Once the NASCAR weekend is over, the two figures will go to their home at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at The Venetian. The figures will join those of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt and four-time champ Jeff Gordon in Madame Tussauds SPEED attraction. Tickets for the March 9-11 NASCAR weekend are available by calling 1-800-644-4444 or by logging on to www.lvms.com.
OSCAR PICKS
This Sunday, millions, maybe billions of people will be glued to their TV sets to watch the Academy Awards. Now most of you will be listening to the picks made by people like Leonard Maltin or Roger Ebert, but when you're in Vegas, the man you turn to is Jay Kornegay -- the Las Vegas Hilton's SuperBook odds-master, who each year sets the early line for this year's entries. You aren't allowed to bet at our sports books on the Oscars, but in case you know a bookie who will take the action, here are some of Kornegay's top picks. Best Picture: The Departed 5-2; Best Actor: Forest Whitaker, The Last King Of Scotland 6-5; Best Actress: Helen Mirren, The Queen Even; Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy, Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls 7-5; Best Director: Clint Eastwood, Letters From Iwo Jima 2-1.
MAIL BAG
I'll wrap up with this letter from Martha Caruana of Staten Island, NY, who writes, "Dear Lenny: I read your column every week and I just returned from Vegas since my sister resides in Henderson and I was on the Strip for New Year's Eve. The reason for this note is that while I was in Vegas my sister took me to the Red Rock Resort. I have to tell you that this is one of the classiest hotels I have seen in a long time. The ambiance with the surrounding mountains is just beautiful; the woods that were used and the chandeliers are unbelievable. I was just blown away with the cozy feeling that I felt while visiting this hotel. I can imagine what the rooms must be like.
"Between this resort and Green Valley Ranch, the Station casinos have two classy hotels. We also had a late breakfast in one of their restaurants and it was delicious and the service was also very good. One day when I hit it big (don't hold your breath, they don't call me Black Cloud for nothing) I hope to enjoy the amenities of these two excellent hotels. By the way, the Poker Room in Green Valley Ranch is done very nicely also." Hey, Martha, a testimonial like this should get you a comped room at one of the hotels at the very least.
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.
