Singing Styles

Seeing that this weekend is Mother's Day, you guys might want to take your wife out for a romantic evening and "A Romantic Evening of Popera" is just the ticket. This Saturday, May 10, four great voices that not only perform opera but sing contemporary pop music as well, will perform at The Club inside The Cannery.

Romina Arena, the only female Popera artist in the world, is often called the female Bocelli because of her powerful voice. I heard Romina perform several years ago and she was incredible. A few days later she invited me to lunch where I learned that she had almost not only lost her voice, but her life, when a jealous colleague slashed her throat. Hard to believe that she could recover from the attack and resume her singing career.

Her fellow singers will be Allesandro Safina, who is described as having great implicitness, intensity in style and intuitive understatement; Chris Riggins, whose music, as described by Opera News, is engaging and mesmerizing; and Marc Schreiner, who, I'm told, possesses a voice of unusual color and range and has a commanding athletic stage presence.

Tickets start at $29.95 plus tax and fees and can be purchased at the Cannery's ticket sales counter located at the front desk. You can also get them by calling (702) 617-5585 or (866) 287-4643 (toll free), or by visiting www.cannerycasinos.com.

PAMPERING FOR NEW MOMS

Here's a great gift for new mothers, as well as mothers-to-be. Canyon Ranch SpaClub at The Venetian is offering a new line of indulgent maternity services. I'll just mention the two treatments that new mothers can expect. The first is called the 4th Trimester Healing Hour (50 minutes, $140/$150). This treatment is designed for new mothers to experience within four months after delivery. It is a relaxing top-to-toe massage that will help realign and restore the body as it naturally adapts and returns to being one person again.

Or you might opt for the Tummy Tone-Up (50 minutes, $140/$150). This advanced "facial" for the tummy will help tone and tighten abdomen skin after delivery. The treatment includes intensive exfoliation and a gentle fruit acid peel followed by a triple application of three special creams to kick start the transformation. This is followed by an application of a luxurious firming and contouring mask to the whole torso that results in a tighter, smoother tummy. Your wife and new mom will really appreciate either of these two gifts, so go for it and show her how sensitive you are. I'm sure it will shock the hell out of her, but will score big points for you. For more info and to book an appointment, call 702-414-3610 or 877-220-2688.

RESCUE MISSION GOLF TOURNEY

There's a bunch of stuff going on to help some good causes, so let me start off with the 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament benefiting the Las Vegas Rescue Mission & Shelter of Hope. It takes place at 8 a.m. Friday, May 30, at Angel Park Golf Club, with registration beginning at 7. Proceeds from this year's event will be used to help fund Shelter of Hope programs that provide services to women and children.

Entry fee is $139 with an Early Bird Special for $129. Registration deadline is Thursday, May 15. Entry fee includes a post tournament luncheon, complimentary gift bag, raffle for great prizes, hole-in-one for a new car, longest drive contest and closest to the pin contest. Should be a lot of fun and it's for a great cause.

DRIVE FOR DONORS

DKMS Americas and Jillian's Las Vegas will host a donor drive to recruit potential life-saving donors for patients in need of a bone marrow transplant. The drive takes place this Saturday, May 10, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Jillian's, which is located downtown in the Neonopolis building. Registration only requires paperwork and simple swab of the inner cheek. Donations are requested to cover the $65 registration cost, but no one will be turned away. Tissue typing will be anonymously listed on the national registry, National Marrow Donor Center (NMDC).

There is a real need for people to register as every five minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer, such as leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma. Currently, only two in 10 patients will find a matching donor that could save their lives. Maybe you can increase this number. What could be more rewarding than saving someone's life?

BLOOD MOBILE STOP

Memphis Championship Barbecue will host a "Blood Mobile" with United Blood Services from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. this Saturday, May 10, in the parking lot at its 1401 S. Rainbow Blvd. location. Anyone who donates will get a complimentary lunch and receive a voucher valid for two tickets to "Trent Carlini: The Dream King" at the Sahara.

If you'd like to donate you can stop by at a convenient time or schedule an appointment by calling 702-228-8400, extension 241, or by visiting www.bloodhero.com and entering "Memphis" as the sponsor code. Volunteer blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.

SAVE YOUR SKIN

Listen up as this could save your life. In honor of Skin Cancer Detection And Prevention Month, Sunrise Health is hosting free skin cancer screenings this Saturday, May 10 at Sunrise Hospital, Mountain View Hospital, and Southern Hills Hospital. To make an appointment at any of the three locations, call 702-233-5300.

FREE SHOW FOR SENIORS

Here's some good news for our local seniors. Some of Las Vegas' great veteran entertainers will perform free in a variety show co-sponsored by Clark County and Seniors in Action at 2 p.m. Friday, May 9 at Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Dr.

Scheduled performers include performance organizer and singer Renee Lee along with the Encore Dancers; dancers Sal Angelica and Lois Layne; the Lohan School of Shao Lin with Betty Ann Sabala; solo singers Greta Lorworth, Michel Martel, Jim Hodge and Ann McCormack; the Tambourine Four; vaudeville veteran Nancy Long; and dancer Kitty Duarty.

Lee, the event's organizer, is a veteran performer on Broadway and currently performs professionally in Las Vegas. Lee performed in Hallelujah Hollywood at the MGM Grand here and was a principal in "Hello, Hollywood, Hello" at the MGM Grand in Reno. She also was a principal performer in "Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana. Seniors in Action is a local non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for seniors. If you want more info, call the Winchester Cultural Center at 702-455-7340 or visit the Web site at www.accessclarkcounty.com/parks.

2,000 FOR 'MAMMA MIA!'

Hats off to "Mamma Mia!" The longest running musical on the Strip celebrated 2,000 successful performances this past Sunday at the Mandalay Bay Theatre. The show is slated to run through January 2009. And if you like trivia, "Mamma Mia!" has used 600 yards of spandex and more than 150,000 sequins to create costumes for The Dynamos; 3,170 light bulbs have been replaced in the uniquely raked stage since production first began -- more than likely due to damage caused by the disco-era platforms of The Dynamos. The show's signature song, "Mamma Mia," has been sung more than 4,600 times over the lifetime of the show.

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 lennylasvegas@gmail.com Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.