Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 9:20 a.m.
City Lights Bistro owner Michael Karafantis is working hard to recapture some of the flavor of old Las Vegas at his Greek restaurant.
Entertainment is the main ingredient.
While Karafantis is known for his lunch and dinner menus, word is gradually getting out that music, singing and dancing are almost as important as a good meal to the Greek native.
The venue is a place with eclectic tastes.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights the place is jammed with fans of Greek music.
Thursday nights have become a hit with the Gothic crowd.
Wednesday nights keyboardist Dennis Mellen, one of the best jazz musicians in Vegas, hosts a jazz jam.
And now, on Tuesdays (9 p.m. to 11 p.m.) Gary is back.
Everyone who has spent any time in lounges around town during the past 10 years knows Gary, the Frank Sinatra impressionist.
He was at the Tropicana's Celebration Lounge for a couple of years with his production of "Our Way," a Rat Pack tribute show. The cast included Gary as Sinatra, Lambus Dean as Sammy Davis Jr. and Bill Whitton as Dean Martin.
Gary was known as Gary B. back then.
Now he is Gary Anthony.
In February, Gary and his "Our Way" crew bid bon voyage to Las Vegas and took their show on the road -- first for a six-week gig at the Nelson Mandela Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa.
"We were in South Africa, but it felt like we were in England," Gary said. "Most of the population seemed to be from England and Scotland -- they were the nicest people."
He described the city as very modern with a high standard of living, food that was "outrageously delicious" and lots of entertainment.
"There were several casinos," Gary said. "It felt like home."
The 1,000-seat Nelson Mandela Theatre is a stand-alone building where Gary and his crew performed five nights a week, backed by a 15-piece band.
"Ours was the whole show," he said. "We were the show."
When the South Africa gig ended, "Our Way" went to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where they performed in the 2,900-seat Palace Theatre.
"There's nothing but theaters and golf courses there," Gary said. "It was tremendous."
He said people from all over the world go to Myrtle Beach for the entertainment (among other things), much like Vegas.
Gary spent seven months in South Carolina, and when his contracted ended he returned to Vegas.
"Other opportunities came my way," he said.
The rest of the cast of "Our Way" remained at Myrtle Beach.
Since arriving in Vegas, Gary has been performing corporate gigs, but recently began working at a couple of nightclubs -- City Lights on Tuesdays and Casa di Amore on Thursdays, both from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Mellen backs him on both engagements.
"I do a lot of corporate on weekends, but the corporate work hides me," he said. "To keep that connection with the public I needed to do some club dates."
After the first of the year he's got a couple of gigs in New York and Florida, which he says could lead to more traveling.
"I'll always keep a foot in Vegas," Gary said. "But I'm looking forward to performing in Florida and New York as Sinatra to honor the man and to keep his spirit alive."
Lounging around
Mariah Carey will host the opening of a new nightclub at Caesars Palace, Pure, which will debut on New Year's Eve. The New Year's party will be open to the public (tickets are $125).
Sidro's Armada, a classic lounge act that has been entertaining Vegas fans since the '60s, will be at Rampart's Addison's Lounge from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. New Year's Eve and from 8 p.m. until midnight New Year's Day.
Pinups Lounge at the Canary features vocalist Tammy Graham through Dec. 12. Performances are from 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday and from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Jerry Tiffe continues to draw fans of big band dancing to his Friday afternoon gigs at Arizona Charlie's West Naughty Ladies Saloon. Dancing is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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