If you're interested in pop culture's current people in the news such as Britney Spears, who visited Las Vegas and managed to get married and divorced within a day, this is the place for you.

There's always something new in Vegas and currently several new mega-resorts are under construction with completion dates set for 2005 and beyond. However, Vegas casino mogul, Sheldon Adelson, owner of The Venetian, branched out yesterday with the opening of his Macau based $240 million, 1-million-square-foot Sands Macau casino and entertainment complex.

The opening was not unlike those in Vegas with thousands of gamblers bursting through the doors anxious to plunk their money down in hopes of hitting a jackpot.

Basically a new city is being built on reclaimed land that was formerly a Portuguese colony. Dubbed the "Cotai Strip," the project is expected to cost between 5 and 10 billion bucks and will be rolled out in stages over a 10-year period.

Adelson's company will own the casinos and showrooms with accompanying hotels being built by several private developers in partnership with Adelson's holding company, The Las Vegas Sands.

At present no one is certain as to the effect this new gambling Mecca will have on Las Vegas but many industry analysts see the development as an extension of Las Vegas which will attract clientele who might otherwise not gamble at all.
Meanwhile life goes on in Vegas and it is still the place to go if one wants to see Elvis, several Elvises in fact, on a daily basis, at least as portrayed by impersonators.

The Imperial Palace now has a "Legends Pit," Las Vegas parlance for the area where table games are played. The games in this area are run by "Dealertainers" who imitate celebrity icons. So if you ever wanted to play Blackjack or craps with Joan Rivers or Brad Pitt this is the next best thing.

One never knows whom one may rub elbows here in Vegas and these past few days the town has hosted such diverse personages as Former Vice President al gore and wife Tipper who celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary at The Venetian.

Meanwhile Shannen Doherty, was seen dining at Morton's of Chicago, and Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees indulged in some Vegas R&R before starting a West Coast swing against the Angels as rock n roll legend Chuck Berry, ordered jambalaya, gumbo and peach cobbler at Big Mama's Rib Shack and Soul Food on West Bonanza.

Even the simple act of eating can bring unexpected surprises and entertainment in Vegas.

For the latest scoop on Vegas, including information about the "locals" check out the Las Vegas Review Journal.