Save the Date

Las Vegas casinos are starting to let us know who will be performing New Year's Eve and one of key tickets will be at the Palms Casino Resort's Pearl Concert Theater when Kanye West will perform to ring in 2008. West has canceled several performances because of his mother's sudden death recently from possible complications caused by cosmetic surgery. She was only 58.

Tickets for the concert are $153 and $203, plus any additional service fees. Additionally, there are a limited number of VIP tickets available. All tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 702-474-4000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. The Pearl Box Office is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily. Doors will open at 9:45 p.m. and show time is 10:45 p.m.

Over at the Venetian, you can enjoy the distinctive harmonies of the legendary music group, Earth, Wind & Fire, as they take the stage on New Year's Eve. The evening's celebration kicks off at 10 p.m. in the Venetian Ballroom. Tickets are now on sale and will set you back $199; $149; $129; and $89 inclusive of tax and service fees. You can get them at any Venetian Box Office, by calling 702-414-9000 you can visit www.venetian.com. Party favors will be distributed to ticket holders upon doors opening at 9 p.m.; while supplies last.

The Cannery Casino & Hotel kicks off the new year with a special New Year's Eve concert by Tony Orlando, who happens to be one of my favorite performers and a great guy as well. Be prepared to be entertained with his collection of classic as he leads you and all your rowdy friends in counting down the final seconds of 2007. The show will also include a special guest appearance by comedian Sammy Shore. The festivities will be held at the Club inside the Cannery beginning at 10:30 p.m.

Tickets to the event are being offered in a special dinner and a show package. Each package deal includes dinner at one of the Cannery's restaurants, a ticket to the concert and a complimentary champagne cocktail at the show. The package prices are as follows:

$140 per person for dinner at Waverly's Steakhouse and Gold Circle seating for the show; $88 per person for dinner at Vino's Italian Restaurant and reserved seat for show; $56 per person for dinner at the Gourmet Buffet and reserved seat for show. These are all great deals, especially for New Year's Eve in our town.

And things will be hoppin' at the Rio's Voodoo Lounge, but tickets aren't cheap, especially when there isn't a big-name headliner performing. Entertainment for the evening will be LF8 (Live band) inside the lounge, and DJ Joey Mazzola and DJ C-L.A. spinning on the outside patio decks. General admission tickets are $200 per person and VIP table packages start at $1,500 that include table, admission, and liquor with mixers. On the brighter side, you will be able to watch live fireworks from the Strip during countdown. Doors open at 8pm.

Or you may want to opt for another Rio Venue, the I-Bar Ultra Lounge. It's offering Open Bar packages at $125 per person and VIP table packages starting at $300 that include table, liquor with mixers and party favors. You can also enjoy watching flair bartenders putting a special spin on every cocktail and I-Girls tantalizing you with their dancing while giving you the perfect sophisticated cocktail. 360-degree plasma screens will project a live shot of the Las Vegas Strip during countdown.

DANCING INTO TOWN

One of my favorite TV shows, Dancing with the Stars, ABC's #1 rated show, is hitting the road this winter and bringing its most popular team of stars and professional dancers to The Orleans hotel on Sunday, December 30. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show range from $52.50 to $198.00 including tax and facility fee and can be purchased at the Orleans Arena Box Office.

Speaking of Dancing with the Stars, Wayne Newton, who was eliminated early on from the show this year, said he'll be joining the tour, which begins December 18, but he won't be dancing until he gets a clean bill of health. Newton, as you may have heard, recently canceled a number of performances around the country and had flown to Texas to meet with famed heart specialist, Dr. Michael DeBakey. The singer said, "I went into arrhythmia (which has to do with a change in the rhythm of the heart beat) but I'm fine and I'm told I can expect a full recovery." We wish him well.

SAMMY'S TOYS FOR TOTS

It will soon be Christmas (dare I use this word?), which means toys and Sammy's Woodfired Pizza will be hosting its fifth annual Las Vegas Toys for Tots program beginning November 23 and running through December 16. They want you to bring in new, unwrapped toys at any of their three Nevada locations. In return for your donation, you will get a coupon for a free giant Messy Sundae, and let me tell you, they are delicious and very messy. I often go to Sammy's simply for their sundaes, especially on a hot summer day.

Sammy's Woodfired Pizza has been committed to working with charities in Southern Nevada throughout the year including Las Vegas Children's History Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Clark County READS, AFAN, New Vista Communities, and many more. "We are pleased to partner again with the Toys For Tots program and help families in need this holiday season," said Sami Ladeki, founder of Ladeki Restaurant Group. Hats off to his group. There are a lot of kids out there who will really appreciate a toy for Christmas, so please make a donation.

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@netzero.net. Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.