It wouldn’t be the Holiday season without a spin around one of Las Vegas’ most celebrated attractions. The one-of-a-kind floating ice rink has become a quintessential Vegas winter experience among locals and tourists alike. Guests bundle up and head to this destination attraction to skate on the unique platform that holds up to 75 skaters at one time with the picturesque back drop of The Village Lake Las Vegas.

Created on a 52 X 76 foot stage, the rink that floats atop the beautiful lake can be experienced by all ages. After working up a healthy appetite, skaters and spectators can enjoy a delicious meal at one of the many restaurants The Village has to offer while continuing to experience the other Holiday festivities.

WHEN: Now through Jan. 29, 2012
Monday – Friday 3 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday, School Vacations and Holidays –  12 p.m. until 9 p.m.

COST (all costs include the cost of skate rental and a full day pass to the rink):
$15 per adult
$12 per child.
$8 per person for groups of 20 or more
Season passes are also available for $125

WHERE: The Village Lake Las Vegas, 15 Costa di Lago, Henderson, NV 89011

Not quite your average learning institution, X Burlesque University will teach you how to apply showgirl make-up, learn showgirl choreography, and you’ll even earn a diploma!

McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is ready to mask up and get wild this Mardi Gras. Saturday, March 5, the Irish pub will celebrate the pre-penance party with a Mardi Gras Masquerade.

Patrons are invited to hide their identity and leave their inhibitions at the door for the Mardi Gras Masquerade. Guests can warm up for the evening with a pregame open bar from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. for only $15. The party continues with an open bar from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. for only $20 for ladies and $30 for gents. All guests will receive $5 cherry and grape bombs all night and anyone to buy two Jameson shots will get the third free. And whether she buys them, brings them or obtains them some other way, the lady with the most beads at 1 a.m. will receive a free open bar at McFadden’s on St. Practice Day, Saturday, March 12.

McFadden’s presents nightly specials including: Laid Back Mondays, Ultimate Karaoke Tuesdays, Totally Trivia Wednesdays, Beerfest Thursdays, McFadden’s LIVE Fridays and ‘The Party’ Open Bar Saturdays. McFadden’s gorgeous Lucky Charms and jovial Ministers of Hospitality ensure everyone has fun, whether they’re there to watch the game, throw back a few drinks, play beer pong, or simply enjoy a bite to eat. Best known for its beers and libations, McFadden’s offers a full bar featuring dozens of favorite draught beers, 90-ounce fishbowl cocktails and frozen drinks.

McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon is open from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 4 p.m. until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. until 4 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. until 2 a.m. on Sunday.  For more information, call 702.270.6200

Two of Las Vegas’ top haunts, The Asylum and Hotel Fear, are combined into one abysmally haunted terror – Chaos at The Cannery. The Cannery will horrify the masses as it partners with Lotus Broadcasting’s KOMP 92.3…The Rock Station and 97.1 The Point…#1 for Classic Rock, for a month of ear-shattering screams.

“Hauntworld Magazine” has ranked both The Asylum and Hotel Fear in the Top 13 Haunts in the U.S. These two houses of terror – each a full-sized attraction on its own – will be combined into a single event. Each haunted house has its own unique history and story line, yet is connected by a larger intertwined plot with original characters, original plots and original effects.

Chaos at The Cannery is put on by RJ Productions, which has been scaring Las Vegas since 1999. The haunted houses will be open now through October 31, with frights from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, and from 6:30 p.m. to midnight (12 a.m.) on Fridays and Saturdays. Freak nights for specials showings starting at 6:30 p.m., include Wednesday, Oct. 27 until 10 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 28 until midnight and Sunday, Oct. 31, from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Tickets are $12 for a single haunt or $18 for a Chaos Pass combo. There will be a special “lights on” tour for the little ones under 10 years old on Halloween, Oct. 31 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for only a $2 donation with all proceeds benefitting the Ronald McDonald House. For more information, please visit www.WeAreLV.com.

Related Links:

Cannery Hotel and Casino

We recently received the following question from one of our Access Vegas Insider Vibe newsletter readers:

We are coming to Vegas in September for start of our honeymoon. Lots of people are telling me that we HAVE to visit the Grand Canyon. Can you please give me your views, is this really awe inspiring or just a “large hole”. Last year we were lucky enough to have gone on safari in Kenya and that was truly humbling, so any similar feeling from the Canyon and we would not even hesitate.

Regards

Brian and Sara

Our answer:

Our friend Mark from The Vegas Tourist is a tour guide that has taken many thousands of people all over this area. One of his favorite stories is how on bus tours that include The Grand Canyon, many people assume that it is probably just a big hole and once you’ve seen a photo of it, no big deal.

Then… they get off the bus, go over and actually look at the Canyon, and are so amazed and astounded that the literally run back to the bus for their camera and bemoan that they only have 1.5 hours there. You will be more than amazed. Similar experiences (although not quite as jaw-dropping) happen to those who visit Hoover Dam. OK… a big dam. So what. Just go stand on the thing. I’ve never had anyone visit it who wasn’t awestruck.

Our suggestion? We have a Canyon bus tour listed just above (which turned out to be a complete but nice coincidence). But for those who want the absolute best Grand Canyon experience, we strongly suggest the Maverick Helicopter Tours flight that actually lands you in at at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Check out preview video of that flight below:

This tour can be booked at Maverick Helicopter Tours

Maverick Helicopter Tours flies from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon in comfortable Ecostar helicopters. Enjoy the video highlights:

A visit to Las Vegas isn’t complete without seeing the Grand Canyon by air. Learn more and book this amazing tour today by clicking the photo below:

Click For More Information On The Stunning Tour You Just Enjoyed Watching

Check in the with Chase drivers as they prepare for the Victory Lap down The Strip in Las Vegas from the starting point by Coca-Cola world and the new Hard Rock Cafe.

NASCAR drivers making a U-Turn on the Las Vegas Strip at the intersection of Spring Mountain Road (Treasure Island, Venetian/Palazzo, Wynn/Encore, and the Fashion Show Mall). Plenty of driver burnouts!

Four-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson does a burnout on the Las Vegas Strip during Champion’s Week. Here’s the burnout… and the aftermath. Johnson apparently broke a rear axle, and couldn’t get his car back up The Strip. He walked part of the way!

Starting March 12, 2009, Dinner in the Sky will begin offering five dinner “flights” a day every Thursday thru Sunday. For the month of March, special introductory rates are being offered for those anxious to be among the first to experience the newest and the boldest dining opportunity in Las Vegas.

Beginning at sunset and running thru the evening, 22 guests per flight will be taken 18 stories high for 360-degree views of the famous Las Vegas Strip and skyline from their comfortable perch that is part of the specialized Sky Box.

“This concept is a perfect fit for the excitement and energy of this city and it is a great “Las Vegas” story for people to tell back home. We have gotten a lot of positive feedback from people who have experienced this and we are extremely excited to be able to offer this experience to people on an ongoing basis,” said Michael Hinden, president of Dinner in the Sky.

Not your average dinner with a view. Dinner in the Sky is a breathtaking experience that gives its passengers the red carpet treatment from the word go. With the thrill and excitement of a fantastic show starring the lights of Las Vegas, combined with a fine dining al fresco experience complete with gourmet hors d’ oeuvre, a selection of entrees and champagne service, this is a night that will not be soon forgotten.

Reservations are available now and can be made online at www.dinnerintheskylv.com or by calling 702-257-7303 or 8774skydine. Guests must meet a minimum height requirement of 59 inches or 150cm to be safely secured in the seats.

The Dinner in the Sky experience is available for private functions and is the perfect venue for branding opportunities and charitable or fundraising events. Special rates are available for non-profit organizations. Please contact the Dinner in the Sky for more details.

Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G®), the first and only FAA-approved provider of commercial weightless flights, will host its exclusive ZERO-G Weightless Experience in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 21. The experience offered by ZERO-G is the only commercial opportunity on Earth for individuals to experience true “weightlessness” without going to space. This is the identical weightless flight experience used by NASA to train its astronauts and used by Ron Howard and Tom Hanks to film Apollo-13. G-FORCE ONE, ZERO-G’s specially modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft, will depart from Dulles International Airport. To book a seat with ZERO-G, please visit www.gozerog.com.

Each ZERO-G mission is designed for maximum fun. The aircraft’s interior is a zero gravity playroom, complete with padded floors and walls and video cameras to record the unforgettable moments. When experiencing zero gravity, guests can fly the length of an airplane cabin like superman, flip like an Olympic gymnast, pour water in the air and watch the droplets hover before their eyes, release a handful of M&M’s and chase them down like a game of human Pac-Man, and enjoy 10-times more hang-time than the world’s best basketball player. It’s not simulated; ZERO-G replicates the same levels of weightlessness enjoyed on Mars (1/3-gravity), the moon (1/6-gravity), and zero gravity. It’s an experience unlike any other!

ZERO-G guests will receive:

· Pre-flight training to maximize their ZERO-G Experience

· Private transportation to/from McCarran International Airport

· ZERO-G flight suit and patch

· Personal photography by a world-class photographer

· Post-flight re-gravitation party

· Weightless flight award certificate

· Branded ZERO-G gifts

· The chance to experience the rare and exalted state of weightlessness

Weightless flight is a rare, unique opportunity to experience the total absence of gravity. Buzz Aldrin, Martha Stewart, Joey Fatone, Tony Hawk, Princess Beatrice of York, Professor Stephen Hawking, Billy Bush, Burt Rutan, Amy Grant, Miles O’Brien, and cast members of “The Apprentice,” and “The Biggest Loser” are just a few notable passengers who’ve flown with ZERO-G and proclaimed it to be one of the most thrilling experiences of their lives.

Flights last approximately two hours and deliver 15 separate weightless experiences, each lasting about 30 seconds. This is twice the amount of weightless time achieved in a typical sub-orbital flight into space. The ZERO-G Experience is offered at a price of $4,950 per seat plus tax. For more information, or to see pictures and video of the experience, visit www.gozerog.com.

About ZERO-G

Zero Gravity Corporation is held space entertainment and tourism company whose mission is to make the excitement and adventure of weightlessness accessible to the public. ZERO-G is based in Las Vegas and Florida and is the first and only FAA-approved provider of weightless flight to the general public, as well as the entertainment and film industries; corporate and incentive market; non-profit research and education sectors; and government.

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Las Vegas, ZERO-G is led by a world-class team of veteran astronauts and experienced business leaders. The company was co-founded by X PRIZE Chairman and space visionary, Dr. Peter H. Diamandis; veteran astronaut, Dr. Byron K. Lichtenberg, and NASA Engineer Ray Cronise. The team spent more than a decade working to bring the marvel of weightless flight to the public.

Since launching the ZERO-G Experience in September 2004, the company has conducted more than 175 weightless flights and flown over 5,000 members of the public, including celebrities and media personalities, corporate charters, science and math teachers, and individuals age eight to 93.

ZERO-G operates under the highest safety standards as set by the FAA (Part-121) with its partner Amerijet International of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Aircraft operations take place under the same regulations set for large commercial passenger airliners.

Two female tiger sharks now rule the waters of Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. The only tiger sharks available for viewing in the U.S., these exciting new additions can be identified by their distinct tiger-striped markings in the 1.6-million-gallon aquarium.

“We are delighted to unveil these powerful predators to our guests of Shark Reef Aquarium,” said Adrienne Rowland, the facility’s director. “The tiger sharks demonstrate Shark Reef’s goal to raise awareness and appreciation of our world’s fascinating marine life.”

Attributing to the tiger sharks’ impressive reputation are their sharp, serrated teeth, powerful jaw and insatiable, non-discriminating appetite. These sharks have been known to consume unusual items such as license plates, tires, baseballs and other debris – earning them the moniker “garbage cans of the sea.”

Currently, Shark Reef’s two tiger sharks are more than six feet in length, and the species can reach up to 14 feet in length. The scavengers lurk in shallow, coastal waters in tropical and temperate regions such as Hawaii and Australia.

The tiger sharks join an impressive group of animals at Shark Reef Aquarium, a 90,560-square-foot, predator-based aquarium – the only one of its kind in North America.

Since its debut in 2000, Shark Reef Aquarium has become a must-see Las Vegas attraction and educational facility, where adults and children alike can enjoy and learn about more than 2,000 divinely dangerous animals including a rare Komodo dragon, a giant Pacific octopus, sharks, crocodiles and piranhas.

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday – Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Ticket prices are $16.95 for adults and $10.95 for children; children four and under are free. Discounts are available for Nevada residents with valid ID.

For more information, visit www.mandalaybay.com, www.sharkreef.com or call (702) 632-4555.

Shark Reef Information

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino