Treasure Island will add Khotan™ to its fine-dining options beginning August 10, featuring Pan-Asian cuisine, outdoor seating with views of the Strip and Sirens Cove, and ultra-chic indoor dining nooks for parties of two to 20. The menu offers delectable entrees influenced by Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Indonesian traditional and contemporary cuisine.

Khotan, which means “City of Jade,” will also contain the largest collection of jade and ivory antiquities in the United States. On loan from Treasure Island Owner Phil Ruffin’s private collection, the 20-plus pieces will include two five-foot hand-carved jade jars and a 35,000-year old ivory tusk adorned with an intricately designed Asian village.

Watch Out All Poker Players:
Vinnie Favorito To Compete In 2009 World Series Of Poker® Main Event Tournament Comedian and celebrity roaster Vinnie Favorito will bring his racy and quick-witted comedy to the poker table as he competes in this year’s World Series of Poker® Main Event.

The force-to-be-reckoned-with Favorito will be one of over 6,000 other expected poker players at the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event at the Rio® All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Monday, July 6. The WSOP Main Event has four starting days this year, July 3 through 6, with Favorito choosing to play on the last day, Day 1D on July 6.  This marks Favorito’s third time participating in the tournament in Las Vegas.

“Everyone should know I’m bringing my A-game,” says Favorito. “I let everyone get a taste of what they’d be up against in previous years… This time, I’m showing no mercy!”

Favorito exercised his passion for poker when he was selected to be the host of “The Real Deal!,” a poker-themed stage show held at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in 2008. The show gave audience members the chance to win prizes and cash playing against the world’s best professional poker players including Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth Jr., Gavin Smith and Jennifer Harman, just to name a few. Favorito familiarized himself with the game and gained lasting relationships with some of the best in poker. His knack for reading others in his comedy show will play in his favor as he takes the poker table by storm on Monday, July 6.

Comedian, celebrity roaster and radio talk show host Vinnie Favorito is a veteran in the comedy world. Known for his quick-witted insults and outstanding improvisational skills, Favorito has roasted many well-known celebrities including Jerry Springer, Pat O’Brien, Larry Flynt and Magic Johnson. Favorito performs inside the 220-seat Bugsy’s Cabaret at the Flamingo Las Vegas nightly at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49.95 and $59.95 (plus tax and fees) and can be purchased at the Flamingo box office by phone at (702) 733-3333 or online at www.flamingoslasvegas.com.

The Limp Bizkit concert scheduled for Friday, July 10 at Mandalay Bay Beach has been cancelled. Tickets can be refunded at place of purchase.

Terry Fator & His Cast of Thousands will celebrate its 100^th show July 31 at The Mirage. The celebrity impressionist, singer, comedian and ventriloquist opened his hilarious show to rave reviews March 14, 2009. It is a great show and it will keep you laughing. To experience it for yourself, call The Mirage at (702) 792-7777. Tickets are priced at $59, $79, $99 and $129, excluding tax and fees.

For the 12th straight year the region’s finest competitive eaters will converge at New York-New York Hotel & Casino for the highly anticipated Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championship. The contest will be held Thursday, May 7 at 3 p.m. on the Brooklyn Bridge at New York-New York. A special employee contest as well as “Heroes” competition for charity are scheduled for 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

The main event is an official qualifying round of the Nathan’s Famous worldwide hot dog eating circuit. The winner will earn the right to represent the United States in the 93rd Annual Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest Saturday, July 4 in Coney Island, N.Y. Interested competitors must be 18 years of age or older and must pre-register by visiting www.nathansfamous.com.

“It’s true that a few big names will be on hand to compete in this event, but I know first hand that Nevada residents are equipped with the horse sense and capacity to achieve great things,” said Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating. “There’s a strong likelihood we’ll witness a huge upset in Las Vegas.”

Two-time defending champion Joey Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., is scheduled to return to Coney Island as he goes for his third consecutive title. In 2008, he devoured 59 Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and buns in the 12-minute contest but needed an additional 50 seconds in overtime to defeat long-time nemesis and former champion Takeru Kobayashi. In 2007, Chestnut won the July 4 contest, ending Kobayashi’s six-year reign, as he downed a world record 66 hot dogs and buns. Prior to Chestnut’s victory, from 2000 to 2006 the event was won by either Kobayashi or another Japanese competitor.

The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest has been held each year on July 4 since 1916. In addition to Las Vegas, regional qualifying competitions are taking place in 14 U.S. cities including San Francisco, Boston, Tampa, Biloxi, Miss. and Norfolk, Va. The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest is sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) and Major League Eating, the governing bodies of stomach-centric sport worldwide.

 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on May 23 at the Palms Pool & Bungalows has been cancelled. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.

New York-New York offers a variety of exhilarating nightlife – all under one roof, for one low price. With the purchase of the new $25 Value Passport, guests can party all night at a variety of venues, without breaking the bank. Deals offered with the Passport include one premium specialty cocktail at Center Bar; a pint of beer at Pour 24; a ride on The Roller Coaster at New York-New York; a pint or cocktail at Nine Fine Irishmen; admission and a brew at The Bar at Times Square; and VIP line pass admission into ROK Vegas. The Value Passport is available at the New York-New York Box Office.

Effective March 30 Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce at Mandalay Bay will be closed. A new bar & lounge is slated to open in late summer.

The Las Vegas Hilton will host its annual “Hoop Central” March 19-22. Basketball fans will be able to watch all the exciting Hoop Madness in the Hilton ballrooms on giant screens. There will be plenty of room (900 seats) and “Hoop Central” will offer food and drink specials, satellite betting stations, and a smoke-free environment. Admission is free! The SuperBook will also be offering a special during the first round of the tournament. With every $25 parlay card wager, fans can receive a free “Madness” shirt (while supplies last, limit of 2 per person). Shirt offer is only available in the SuperBook

Celebrate The Luck O’ The Irish This St. Patrick’s Day
At Hawaiian Tropic Zone Inside Miracle Mile Shops
On March 17, Hawaiian Tropic Zone invites lads, ladies and leprechauns to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with sinfully delicious drink specials, enticing giveaways and a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Ring Girl search.

In honor of the day of the Irish, visitors can choose from a variety of liquid libations including green beer, $5 Guinness drafts, $5 Irish Car Bombs and $5 shots of Jameson Irish whiskey. In addition, Hawaiian Tropic Zone features the Lucky Leprechaun shot for $3, an irresistible three-layer blend of Bailey’s Irish Cream Mint, Irish whiskey and cream de menthe.

Beginning at 11 p.m., Hawaiian Tropic Zone hosts a MMA Ring Girl search for the Xplosion V: Coach’s Best MMA fight scheduled to be held at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Friday, March 20. Contenders will take to the catwalk and strut their stuff with official ring cards for the chance to become an official MMA Ring Girl for a day. The top five contestants will be determined by the crowd of onlookers and the final three will be chosen by Hawaiian Tropic Zone’s guest judges. The three winners will be featured ring girls for the Xplosion V: Coach’s Best MMA fight with first place receiving an additional $500 in prize money.

To register, women must sign up at the door by 11 p.m. on the night of the event. Those participating in the MMA Ring Girl search are encouraged to come dressed to impress in their sexiest outfit or bikini.

Additionally, Hawaiian Tropic Zone will give away three sets of tickets to the Xplosion V: Coach’s Best MMA fight to the first three patrons at the door with the most holiday spirit. 3Wishes.com, known for sexy lingerie and costumes, will offer gift bags to the first 100 ladies geared up in green as DJ Koko takes over the turn tables with an electrifying hip-hop and top 40 mash up.