The Hard Rock, in honor of its 10th anniversary, has announced plans for a $1 billion expansion. The expansion will include a 24-acre apartment complex, as well as an expansion to the concert venue, The Joint.

The South Coast Hotel & Casino, being constructed on 60 acres in the southern part of Las Vegas, has expanded even before it's opened. The hotel is adding 700 rooms, bringing its total up to 1,350. The hotel will open in early 2006.

On Apr. 20, the Riviera held a Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting, marking the 50-year anniversary of this casino.

On May 20, the Rio will host a grand opening ceremony for its recent $39 million expansion of the Rio Pavilion Convention Center. The expansion brings the total amount of meeting space to 160,000-sq.-ft., making it the eighth largest hotel meeting space in the nation.

The Plaza, downtown, will soon introduce Hispanic-themed slot machines, and will have more Spanish-speaking dealers, in an attempt to attract more Hispanic customers.

Security pros at Wynn Las Vegas went all the way to Europe to acquire eight security dogs to augment its security force. The two Labrador retrievers and six German shepherds are specially trained in detecting dangerous materials.

Dining
Neros at Caesars is undergoing remodeling, and the popular restaurant will be closed until Aug. 1.

The Nevada Restaurant Association has named Tom Kaplan, of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, this year's "Restaurateur of the Year."

Spas
Spa Vita di Lago, at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, has been named one of America's top spas in the Mobil Travel Guide's "America's Best Hotel & Resort Spas." Spa Vita di Lago is the only off-Strip spa to receive Mobil stars.

Nightlife
On May 3, the Rio airlifted into place a new outdoor staircase that connects the 50th and 51st floors at the hotel's Voodoo Lounge. The 20-ton, winding staircase was built in Colorado, and was hauled into place by a Sikorski S-64 helicopter. The full installation is expected to take about eight weeks.

OPM at Caesars Palace will celebrate its two-year anniversary on May 19.

Gambling
The Tropicana's famed swim-up blackjack re-opens May 27. Swimmers can play from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.

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Shows
Celine Dion's special show on Mother's Day raised more than $1 million for UNICEF's Tsunami Recovery Fund.

Las Vegas will soon host the first Grand Sumo Tournament held in the U.S. in more than 20 years. The event will be held at the Mandalay Bay, Oct. 7-9.

Rumor has it that a 40-week deal is in the works for rockers Motley Crue to appear in the Aladdin (soon to be Planet Hollywood) showroom as resident headliners. Nothing official so far.

Wayne Newton will perform a limited, six-week engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton starting Jun. 14. The show will include Delisco, featured in Newton's talent search show, The Entertainer.

Splash at the Riviera is revamping its production and will unveil an all-new version on May 31. The new show will mark the show's 20th anniversary.

Danny Gans announced he will extend his contract with the Mirage through Apr. 2008. Gans has been voted "Best All-Around Entertainer" eight times.

On May 24, Snoop Dogg will perform at the opening of Skinny Dip, the seasonal Tuesday night event at Skin, the pool area at the Palms.

Attractions
The Fremont Street Experience continues to unfurl new shows on Viva Vision, the light and sound show that appears on the massive canopy downtown. Upcoming new shows include "Lucky Vegas" (Jun.), "Downtown Divas" (Jul.), "Fahrenheit at Night" (fall), and "Flight" (Nov.).

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman recently unveiled the first four (of 100) murals being created around town to celebrate the Las Vegas Centennial. The murals can be viewed at the Golden Gate, the Fremont, the Fremont Street Experience, and at the Ice House.

Shopping
The second phase of The District at Green Valley Ranch has commenced. The project includes six new buildings, encompassing an additional 104,500-sq.-ft. of retail space and 51,300-sq.-ft. of office-above-retail space.

A new batch of variety acts has debuted at Desert Passage. The acts include Joe Krathwohl, known as the "Birdman of Las Vegas," Lilia, a contortionist, and an acrobatic duo called Spirit. They're joined by other acts such as Duality, a body-balancing acrobatic act, and Jason Bird, who combines magic and comedy. The entertainment is free.

Misc.
City officials have approved a marathon to be held on the Strip. The New Las Vegas Marathon will be a 26-mile race starting at Mandalay Bay and going through Fremont Street, downtown. The event will take place Dec. 4.

Caesars Ent. announced it has entered into a long-term agreement with a Miami Beach-based publishing company to publish Caesars Player, a lifestyle/gaming magazine. The premiere issue is set for release in July.

A doll exhibit, "100 Years of Blacks in Las Vegas Celebration," will highlight the contributions of African-Americans to the history and development of Las Vegas. The exhibit will be held Jun. 11 at Fitzgeralds.