Watch out for ‘dark’ dates of show you’d hate to miss

During December many Las Vegas shows go "dark" to allow cast members to take extended holiday vacations. If you’re visiting between now and New Year’s and have your heart set on seeing a particular show, make sure to check that there will be performances during your dates. The dark days for the major productions are listed below (dates are for December):

» Bally’s: Jubilee! 22, 29; Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding 24, 31

» Bellagio: O 7-16, 29; Flamingo Legends in Concert 31

» Golden Nugget: Gordie Brown 2-13

» Harrah’s: Mac King 25, Million Dollar Quartet 9, 20, 24, 31;

» LINQ: Divas 31-Jan. 1; Jeff Civillico 7-8, 10-11, 13-14, 25; Recycled Percussion 7-12

» Luxor: Carrot Top 7-8, 21-22, 24-25, 31; Fantasy 31; "Menopause" 31

» MGM: Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club 25

» Mirage: "LOVE" 7-8, 11-15

» New York-New York: "Zumanity" 12-16; Paris "Jersey Boys" 16-21, 24, 31

» Rio: Penn & Teller 13-17, 31

» Tropicana: Laugh Factory 25, "Raiding the Rock Vault" 7-10, 31

» Venetian: "Rock of Ages" 24, 31

» Wynn: Le Reve 14-16, 22, 28

Ice in the desert: This year Las Vegas boasts two real-ice skating rinks on the Strip. The Cosmopolitan rink operates from 3 p.m. to midnight weekdays and noon to midnight Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 4. All-day access is available for $15. The Caesars rink runs 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. through Jan. 11, offering 90-minute skate sessions for $20.

Nog: Ellis Island’s holiday eggnog is now available. This is the 12th straight year that the nog has been mixed and sold from the bar at the casino (contains alcohol). The price is the same as last year: $6 per glass and $29.99 per bottle.

QUESTION: Is it still possible to get rooms for New Year’s Eve?

ANSWER: Yes. In a check of 94 hotel-casinos late last month, 77 had rooms available. The lowest-priced room for New Year’s Eve was at the Lucky Club ($130), and other good deals were found at Texas Station and Santa Fe Station (each $140). The most expensive rooms were at Nobu inside Caesars Palace, two nights (the minimum) for $1,598.

For more information about Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons and good deals, go to www.LasVegasAdvisor.com.