‘Cinderella’ offers fun for whole family

Pass the Alka Seltzer: To start, I’d like to wish all of my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving. But before you overeat or have too much to drink, I’d appreciate if you read this column so you can be thinking Las Vegas as you stuff yourselves and wish your sister’s or brother’s kids didn’t have to make so much noise. Maybe next year, mom and dad won’t invite them.

A Family Affair: However, speaking of kids, the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre is presenting a new musical version of "Cinderella" at the Charleston Heights Art Center beginning Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. The production is suitable for kids as young as 4 or as old as 104 (we should be so lucky).

Performances continue on Dec. 6, 11, 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 7, 13 and 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are a more than reasonable: $7 for adults, $5 for teens and seniors, and $3 for children age 12 and younger. You can get them by phone or at the art center’s box office, 800 S. Brush St., Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. If you want more info, call (702) 229-6383. Should be a lot of fun and your kids will love it.

All In at the WPT: Now let me switch to some adult entertainment and no, I’m not talking porn. Beginning tomorrow (Nov. 28) the World Poker Tour (WPT) returns to Bellagio for the "Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic" and will run thru Friday, Dec. 19. The event, created by Bellagio to pay tribute to Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, consists of 10 No Limit Hold ‘em tournaments, seven super satellites and a Senior’s No Limit contest.

The entry fees for all tournaments range from $1,500-$5,000 and the WPT main event requires an entry fee of $15,000. The champion will receive the first place prize money as well as a $25,000 seat in the April 2009 WPT World Championship at Bellagio. Player registration is now available at Bellagio’s poker room.

The ClubWPT event, which premiered during the Festa al Lago VI tournament in October, will be held Wednesday, Dec. 17 and is open to all professional and amateur poker players. The entry fee is $500. For more info you can visit www.worldpokertour.com.

A treat for the eyes and tummies: If you like nature and want to get into the holiday spirit, let me recommend making a visit to ethel’s (formerly Ethel M’s chocolates) Cactus Garden, where every year for the past 15 years the cacti in this 3-acre garden are decorated with some 500,000 lights. This year, ethel’s has launched its Create Chocolate, Create Hope limited-edition collection to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

For those of you who have never been there before, take Sunset Road east to Mountain Vista and cross Mountain Vista to get onto Sunset Way and you’re there. Make sure you pick up some delicious chocolates as well.

Pick up a unique gift: The city of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services is inviting everyone to the Las Vegas Senior Center and the Mirabelli Community Center for their annual holiday craft sales. This is a great place to buy handmade ceramics, knitted and crocheted items, artwork, jewelry, quilts, holiday decorations, and a lot more -- for yourself or as a Christmas gift. The first sale takes place on Friday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Las Vegas Senior Center, 451 E. Bonanza Road. Admission is free. If you want directions or more info, call (702) 229-6454.

At Mirabelli Community Center, 6200 Hargrove Ave., the craft sale is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Everything offered for sale will be handmade, with nothing priced over $35. Admission here is also free and if you need directions or more info, call (702) 229-6359. Either of these sales are well worth visiting.

A message from Down Under: Got a letter from Dennis Perry of Sydney, Australia, who writes: “Hi Lenny. Have been making your column first point of call for many years when keeping up with all the news in Las Vegas. My wife and I have been coming to LV almost annually since the early 80s. In more recent years we have been elevated as honorary members of the "grey hair nomads."

“During our wonderful and always unforgettable visits to LV it has never ceased to amaze us on how the city has evolved, and continues to do so. It has been amazing to witness the costs of buffets and show ticket prices which have springboarded to new dizzy heights in more recent years.

“However, a holiday is not a vacation for us if we do not stay in Vegas when we travel to the States. We always make sure we find something new to discover when in town and have no difficulty doing so. For example, on our visit last month, amongst the new discoveries for us was when we caught a shuttle to Red Rock Casino. Very impressed with the decor and hospitality there.

“Thank you for keeping us in touch with weekly news in and around town. Enjoy your "must read" column, which always compels us to a "must come ". Hope on our next visit we can plan to see you "on the Strip” and once again discover more new exciting sounds, food, shows and scenes which are all part of the Vegas experience."

A heartfelt “Thank you!”: I will wrap up my column with this: Although I emailed all of you directly, I would like once again to thank the hundreds of readers who sent me emails offering condolences on the passing of my mother. I feel like I know many of you through the emails you’ve sent over the years telling me about your Las Vegas experiences or asking questions about our great city. I appreciate your support.

Good luck and I'll see you on the Strip. And don't forget to check out eNeon each Thursday by subscribing (free of charge) to the Review-Journal's weekly newsletter. 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.