Columnist Joe Delaney: Is Las Vegas ready for the party of the century?

Suppose after all the next year-end partying is over, we learn that the new millennium actually starts with the year 2001? ... Simple, we'll just do it all over again in 2000. ... Why not? ... Meanwhile, does Las Vegas as an entity have a plan and a theme for this New Year's Eve? ... We'd better. ... Competition elsewhere will be fierce; some major cities are going all-out, planning yearlong events.

Meanwhile, are there more new high-rollers, very high-rollers? ... Will there be enough to fill Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Paris-Las Vegas and, particularly, the Venetian when it goes to 6,000 rooms?

In 1998, the Bellagio was the hotel of the year. ... In 1999, we have three potential "this year's" hotels. ... Will these three new properties be taking high-roller regulars from the Bellagio, which has already taken choice clientele from existing major hotels?

Anent Danny GansGans' free performance as part of the Fremont Street Experience on New Year's Eve was a remarkable gesture by a remarkable performer, a person who cares, one who remembers all those local fans who filled the Stratosphere showroom and made the move to the Rio possible. ... This was his way of saying "Thank you."

Danny has been selling out the Rio showroom, starting with the original $34.95 price, and continuing to do so at $83. ... During this time, the capacity of the showroom has been increased. ... Gans and his advisors have fought each of the show price increases. ... They claim that it was out of respect and concern for locals, not because his contract does not provide participating in the expanded room revenue.

He later was offered an increase in pay, but claims that it was refused. ... The latest: Gans was not to work on New Year's Eve in favor of a Whitney Houston performance party for special guests.

The questionCouldn't Gans have done his regular 7:30 p.m. show and Houston perform at 10:30? ... We understand the Rio also threatened to stop Danny from performing the free concert on Fremont Street. ... Strange behavior for a hotel with a performer who sells out the room weeks in advance, whatever the ticket price. ... Will this attitude toward Gans change now that the Rio is part of Harrah's? ... Or is Danny already set elsewhere?

Star-policy rundownThis is a comparatively quiet star-policy weekend, with Bally's Celebrity Room now history and the Caesars and D.I. showrooms dark. ... New impressionist in town, Bill Acosta (Luxor); Wayne Newton (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); The McGuire Sisters (Orleans); and Danny Gans (Rio) are all in action. ... Afterthought: Include magician Steve Wyrick (Lady Luck) on the above listing.

Larry White is a multitalented conductor, arranger, pianist and vocal stylist, now ensconced Mondays through Wednesdays in The Range at Harrah's, after eight months at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel.

Good jazz notesMarv Koral's All-Stars: Carl Saunders, trumpet; Carl Fontana, trombone; Joe Romano and Koral on reeds; Rudy Aikels, bass; and Santo Savino, drums, will perform at the new Wild Oats Market (Lake Mead Boulevard and Tenaya Way) openings, 4-7 p.m. today, and noon-4 p.m. Friday, in addition to their regular 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday session at Carollo's Restaurant. ... This is a true collection of all-stars.

Likewise, The Ernie George Quartet with Joe Lano, guitar; Dr. Tom Ferguson, piano; and Gus Mancuso, bass and whatever; and George on drums and vocals, 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Wednesday-Saturday (Bourbon Street Hotel).

Elsewhere, it's the Mike Breene Trio (Santa Fe) Wednesdays through Saturdays, plus The Jazz Organ-ization Sundays, starting at noon. ... It's Pogo's on Friday nights, and Don Menza & Friends Mondays (Riviera). ... Joe Darro is now in the lounge at Bellagio.

Thursday addendaP.J. Belly and his Texas Thunder blues band are at Arizona Charlie's on Monday nights, this Friday night, and every night the last week in January. ... The T'riffic Treniers are in the Orleans Lounge through Sunday, a must-see. ... Make an evening of it; catch the McGuire Sisters in the showroom, then a set with Claude, Skip & Co. in the lounge.

Three Dog Night and the Nelson Brothers, twin sons of the late Rick Nelson and grandson of TV pioneers, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Stardust Convention Center. ... Enjoy our town, all of it. ... See you Friday.

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