Las Vegas Blvd. South between Sahara Avenue and Russell Road will close to vehicular traffic at 6:30 pm on Friday evening Dec. 31st and will only reopen at 3 AM after the revelers have dispersed and the street cleaners have done their jobs.

The Nevada Highway Patrol will begin shutting down the following onramps and exit ramps on I-15 at 5;30 PM, Tropicana Avenue, Flamingo Road and Spring Mountain Road.  The Harmon Overpass and all Strip pedestrian walkways will close at 6.

The overnight low is forecast to be in the 20s so be sure to bundle up.

With New Year's Eve kicking off a long-holiday weekend this year, it was announced that firework displays will return to famed Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas Events and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority  announced today that the New Year’s Eve celebration known as America’s Party: Las Vegas New Year 2011 will include a spectacular fireworks show fired from seven rooftop locations along the Las Vegas Strip.

The firing locations (from the south, heading north) include the following resort properties:  MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Aria, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island (TI), Venetian and the Stratosphere. 

Fireworks by Grucci of New York will again coordinate the pyrotechnic display.   Locally, Fireworks by Grucci has produced many of Las Vegas’ largest special events and grand openings, including the official Las Vegas Centennial celebration.

 In addition to designing the pyrotechnic display, Fireworks by Grucci will, once again, work directly with the Clark County Fire Department and Building Services to ensure both fire and structural safety guidelines.

The Fremont Street Experience will have live music with 13 Tribute bands performing under the canopy on Fremont Street.  Music from Green Day, Led Zeppelin, Heart and others will play well into the new year and keep an eye out, Mayor Goodman says he will be there, as he has for the last 12 years, intermingling with the crowds.



 Note:  Over the weekend, the information for the New Year's Eve Firework Displays will go up.  Stay Tuned!

Take a tour of holiday lights and decorations around the Las Vegas Valley. The area is divided into quadrants by using Sahara Avenue to divide north from south and Interstate 15 to divide east from west.

NORTHEAST

Address: 3164 Mclennan Ave., North Las Vegas, 89081
 Description: 5 - 11 p.m. Perfectly straight house lights and multiple yard decorations. Decorations are accompanied by music.

Address: 1343 Villa Park Court, Las Vegas, 89110
 Description: 4 - 10:30 p.m. Sun-Thurs; 4 - 11 p.m. Fri-Sat. 10,000 lights that are synchromized to music. Music can be heard on station 106.1 FM. Currently 14 various song/light shows are programmed.


NORTHWEST

Address: 8117 Chestnut Hollow Ave., Las Vegas, 89131
Description: Entire house decorated from top to bottom. Various lawn ornaments, blow ups, reindeer and santas! Lights galore!

Address: 6759 Rowena Circle, Las Vegas, 89131
Description: Anytime after 5:30 pm. Themed as the Peanuts visiting the North Pole!

Address: 6601 Brandywine Way, Las Vegas
Description: 7 - 10 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday; Monday-Tuesday, all day. My parents' home, always decorated every space you can imagine ... from the roof to the whole front yard! My Dad does this himself everyt year. He is 80 years old! Climbs up that roof, etc. Then goes to my sister's house & helps her! Every year! Needs to be recognized.

Address: 6313 Bristol Way, Las Vegas, 89107
Description: My sister's house says: Happy Birthday Jesus. Everyone seems to forget what Christmas really means & her display says it all ... a must see!

Address: 4205 Via Vaquero Ave., Las Vegas 89102
Description: 5 - 11 p.m. More than 25,000 lights, dancing characters, handmade Santa, lots of intricate details. Features Christmas music.

SOUTHWEST

Address: 7040 Darby Ave., Las Vegas, 89117
Description: 5 p.m. to at least 10 p.m., weekends until 11 p.m. Our display includes, of course, a Nativity scene, There is Santa in his sleigh with 9 flying reindeer suspended in air. Flying Sopwith Camel airplane with Snoopy. Mega tree. Animated polar bears and penguins. There are several lighted trees throughout the yard. We are approaching 100,000 lights.

Our lights are sound activated by controllers, with Christmas carols (Mannheim Steamroller, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Kitaro, David Arkenstone) playing through outside speakers and the lights flash to the tempo of the music. Animated pink flamingos, carousel. Large U.S. flag on the roof (9' x 13').

We also have the obligatory gaudy plastic figures; Mickey, Minnie, Santa, Mrs. Santa, choir people, elves, candy canes, snowman, Santa waving in a train, toy soldiers, drummers and windows have animated lighted figures. Sometimes Santa appears, especially Christmas Eve and hands out candy canes."

Address: 2757 Grande Valley, Las Vegas, 89135
Description: 5-10 p.m. My favorite TV show of all time is "Star Trek." The recent "Star Trek" movie was OK, but I much prefer the original cast. As a tribute to the show I have decorated my front yard to represent some of my favorite episodes with a holiday twist. Kirk and Spock in hand-to-hand combat armed with candy canes and dressed as elves, red, white and green animatronic tribbles and much much more. A true Trekkies holiday delight! Come one and all and join for a Romulan ale as we boldly go where no man has gone before!

Address: 10878 Milbank Ave, Las Vegas, 89135
Description: 4 to 10 p.m. daily. Tune your car radio to 103.9 FM. Thousands of LED lights set to music. THX opening, Carol of the Bells, Linus and Lucy, Jingle Bells, TSO Wizards of Winter. Picture on this web page is this house. Featuring 16 mini trees out front. Merry Christmas.

Address: 346 Maddalena, Las Vegas, 89183
Description: 6 - 8 p.m. My 14-year-old stepson Ryan Knepp loves Christmas decorations. With every dime he gets he buys blow-up decorations to place in the yard. Over the last month he has spent countless hours setting up his display.

He has about 40 blow ups plus countless lights and other displays. Last year he had blow ups stolen. He now attaches each one to plywood and puts a cable around all of them to prevent them from being stolen. He is very meticulous and makes sure every wire and string is just right. This 14-year-old does this all by himself and with his own money. Truly an inspiring story about Christmas and youth.

Address: 3308 Surfline Dr., Las Vegas 89117
Description: 5-11 p.m. Deer, trees, lights, music and lots more!

HENDERSON

Address: 3018 Scenic Valley Way, Henderson 89052
Description: 4:30 - 11:30 p.m. Lots of lights, inflatable airplane on roof, nativity scene, snow globe and lighted animals, angels and more. Live Santa appearing on Sundays.

OTHER EVENTS AROUND THE VALLEY:

Holiday Events Town Square
More info: townsquarelasvegas.com
Snow in the Square featuring snowflakes and holiday music will be featured through Dec. 23 in the park at Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Hours are 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 7 and 8 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.

Photos with Santa Claus will be available through Dec. 24. Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays. Pet photos will be available for dogs and cats only 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays.

The Holiday Nights & Lights community concert series featuring local choirs and music groups from Las Vegas area schools and community organizations will be at 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 23.

Ice Skating Rink
The rink is located on the Floating Stage at MonteLago Village, 15 Costa di Lago, Henderson. Hours are noon-9 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and 3-9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for children 12 and younger (564-4766).

 16th annual Bagel Ball
When: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 24
Where: Blush, Wynn
Tickets: $18 in advance for JCC members, $25 in advance for non-members, $35 at the door
More inf: 702-794-0090
Presented by the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada in cooperation with Blush Boutique Nightclub, the Bagel Ball is open to all adults (must be 21). Nightclub attire is suggested. Complimentary cocktails courtesy of Southern Wine & Spirits and hors d'oeurvres from Wynn Las Vegas' Society Cafe will be provided between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Attendees bringing a $5 grocery gift card will receive a free raffle ticket. Gift cards will be donated to the Jewish Family Service Agency Food Pantry which provides temporary assistance for nutritious food and hygiene products to Clark County residents. Other raffle tickets for a variety of fabulous prizes are available for $5 each. Proceeds also benefit the JFSA Food Pantry.

Complementing the Bagel Ball festivities, Wynn Las Vegas is offering several special deals. A "Taste of Wynn" full course dinner is available at Society Cafe before the Bagel Ball at a discounted price. Call 770-3463 for reservations. A discounted room rate of $119 is available to Bagel Ball attendees. For reservations, call (866) 770-7555 and ask for promotion code 8JCC1209. Reservations must be made by Dec. 17, 2010.

The Springs Preserve:

The Holiday Spectacular will transform the Springs Preserve into a winter wonderland. Bathed in the glow of thousands of colorful, eco-friendly LED lights, the family-friendly celebration will feature tasty treats, holiday arts and crafts, photos with Santa Claus, train and reindeer (pony) rides for the little ones – and snow! The merriment begins the first Saturday evening in December and runs December 4-5, 11-12 and 18-23, from 5 - 9 p.m.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children 5 to 12 and free for kids 4 and under. Visitors bringing canned or nonperishable food items will receive $1 off admission; food items will be donated to local charities including: Shade Tree Shelter, Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services of Southern Nevada, and the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. Springs Preserve members receive 50 percent off admission. Tickets will be available at the gate or may be purchased in advance at www.springspreserve.org. (Price does not include $1 per ticket fee when purchasing on-line.) All activities are included with the full admission price. The Holiday Spectacular is made possible in part through the generous contributions of MGM Resorts International.

Ethel M. Chocolates:

CITY OF LAS VEGAS ACTIVITIES


Ward 5 Tree Lighting and Holiday Movie (all ages)
Friday, Dec. 17, 5 to 8:30 p.m.; tree lighting 5 p.m.; movie at 6 p.m.
Fee and open to the public.
Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park, 720 Twin Lakes Drive. Join Councilman Ricki Y. Barlow and chorus singers to light the holiday tree in Lorenzi Park. Children from 14 elementary school in Ward 5 have been invited to decorate the tree from 2 to 4 p.m. with ornaments they make. After the lighting, caroling and carriage rides, enjoy the family film, “Christmas with the Kranks,” inside Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza, with hot cocoa, cookies, hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy, while supplies last. Please plan to bring your favorite lawn chair or blanket for the movie.

La Posada Festival Traditional Hispanic Holiday Event (all ages)
Saturday, Dec. 18, 5 to 8 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., (702) 229-1515.
Join Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese to celebrate the holidays with traditional Hispanic customs involving friends, family and the whole community. All are welcome to enjoy live entertainment, traditional Posada, food vendors, children’s raffle and a special visit from Santa Claus.

Nevada Ballet Theatre's "The Nutcracker"
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 18; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 19; 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 20; and 1 p.m. Dec. 24
Where: Paris Las Vegas' Les Theatre de Arts, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Tickets: Prices start at $50.50. Dinner packages available
More info/tickets: (877) 374-7469 or 946-4567 or www.nevadaballet.com.

"Liberace would fill a hotel, Sinatra would fill the town." 

Don Payne, former Manager of the Las Vegas News Bureau.

For over thirty-five years, Frank Sinatra's name on a hotel marquee was a guarantee of sold-out shows.  Just word that Sinatra was coming would spike airline reservations and hotel reservations.  In the era before the Internet and Youtube, if you wanted to see Sinatra in concert, Las Vegas was the place to be.

Las Vegas was good to Sinatra at time when he needed good luck badly.  In the early 1950s, when his voice was said to be shot and his love affair with Ava Gardner was on the rocks, Wilbur Clark hired the young singer when others wouldn't return his phone call.  He played the Desert Inn and once quipped:

"Wilbur Clark gave me my first job in Las Vegas. That was 1951. 

For six bucks you got a filet mignon dinner and me.".

Frank Sinatra, 1992  

As his fortunes improved, he moved from the Desert Inn to the Sands Hotel where he would film "Ocean's 11" and the Rat Pack on-stage antics would help put the Las Vegas Strip on the map. 

After a well-publicized brawl with Carl Cohen that resulted in broken windows and the loss of his two front teeth, Sinatra moved over to Caesars Palace where he continued to weave that old Sinatra magic.

It was major news when Steve Wynn managed to steal him away and bring him to Fremont Street to play the Golden Nugget.

There have been many entertainers who left their mark on the Las Vegas Strip but none who did it quite as stylish as the Chairman of the Board.

Happy Birthday, Frank!