1. Springs Preserve. Forsake the fake pyramid and fake Statue of Liberty for a power walk through the real Vegas: 110 acres of pre-Bugsy Siegel desert. There are miles of cactus-filled trails, botanic gardens and a museum that pays tribute to the city’s Mojave Desert roots. Open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. $18.95 for adults, $10.95 for kids 5-17. 333 S. Valley View Blvd.; (702) 822-7700, http://www.springspreserve.org.

2. Hoover Dam Bypass. The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, as it’s officially known, opened two years ago to ease traffic congestion at Hoover Dam. The bridge, about 35 miles south of Las Vegas, became an instant landmark for its breathtaking views of the dam and the Colorado River. Pull off U.S. 93, take a stroll over the span and snap a few pictures.

3. Can you say Chi-hu-ly? Glass man Dale Chihuly seems to be everywhere in Vegas. The chandelier in the lobby of the Bellagio is a must-see, with layers and layers of glass flowers and petals in the massive sculpture. Then tour the Gallery at Crystals Place in CityCenter where the artist’s glass works sell for $4,000 to $640,000 — but window-shopping is free.

4. Mandarin Oriental Tea Lounge. This calming refuge awaits on the 23rd floor of the luxe, gaming-free hotel. A pot of tea — organic lychee green or jasmine Earl Grey — is about $12 a person. There’s no better place to look out over the Strip, particularly during the late-afternoon lull, and watch the lights come up. Afternoon tea 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. http://www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas/dining/tea_lounge

5. Bird-watching at the Flamingo Hotel. Chilean flamingos, distinguished by their gray legs and pink knees, are the namesake bird of the hotel’s 15-acre wildlife habitat, also home to pheasants, swans, native grackles and some koi fish. OK, it’s nerdy, but bring your binoculars just in case. Go to http://www.flamingolasvegas.com and click on “wildlife habitat.”

6. Harbor rainstorm at the Miracle Mile Shops. The sky darkens before an indoor weather cell lets loose with rain that falls into a mini-harbor amid the Miracle Mile mall at Planet Hollywood. Little kids will enjoy jumping on rocks and getting wet in the “storm” — and then ducking into a nearby Ben & Jerry’s. It rains on the hour Mondays-Thursdays and on the half-hour on weekends. Check the weather forecast at http://www.miraclemileshopslv.com/entertain.php?id=19

7. Picture with a Vegas showgirl. Take home a souvenir that captures the glamour of Las Vegas. (You could always say you were in the show.) Get a free picture taken with a showgirl, with the famed “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign as a backdrop. Go to Harrah’s near the north entrance of the casino.

8. Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. It’s not as adrenaline-pumping as the Stratosphere Tower ride, but going 460 feet up the Eiffel Tower (half the scale of the real one) offers spectacular panoramas of the Strip — without being strapped in. Why not create your own “Midnight in Paris” moment? It’s open 9:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m. (barring bad weather) and costs $10.50-$15.50 for adults and $7.50-$10.50 for children. http://www.parislasvegas.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/casino-misc/eiffel-tower-detail.html

9. Flair bartenders at Harrah’s Carnaval Court. It’s ground zero for flair bartenders who dance and juggle bottles to make drinks (Tim “Flippy” Morris is the superstar). You can watch these mesmerizing mixologists free, but the drinks aren’t; they’ll set you back $11 to $13 each. 3475 Las Vegas Blvd. S.

10. The Mob Museum. No one goes to Las Vegas to visit a museum, but the hottest new attraction in town may be the National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement. Exhibits give equal time to crime figures such as Bugsy Siegel and Al Capone and the men who pursued them, from J. Edgar Hoover to Rudy Giuliani. Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children 5-17. 300 Stewart Ave.; (702) 229-2734, themobmuseum.org.

11. Pinball Hall of Fame. At this joint, there’s still time to have a misspent youth. Few people younger than 40 will understand the allure of pinball machines, but who cares when you can play these throwbacks for 25-75 cents a game? Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays. 1610 E. Tropicana Ave. http://www.pinballhall.org.

12. Learn how to gamble. Why go to the blackjack table without a strategy? Many casinos teach newbies how to play. Get schooled in poker, craps, roulette and blackjack at the Luxor, http://www.luxor.com/casino/casino_tablegames.aspx, or the Excalibur, www.excalibur.com/casino/game_guide.aspx.

13. H&M store. This is the largest Hennes & Mauritz store in the U.S., with three stories in about 55,000 square feet of space. Shop on the cheap at the massive Forum Shops at Caesars site. (There are two other H&Ms in the city.) A black jersey dress costs $17.95 for starters. Open 10 a.m. daily, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. S., (702) 207-0167.

14. Fine-art galleries. Cash in your chips and spend an afternoon with Monet at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art through the end of the year. See more than 20 works by the Impressionist master for the $15 price of admission. Picasso, Chagall and Andy Warhol also join the Vegas lineup in the new Martin Lawrence Galleries, free to enter at the Forum Shops at Caesars.

15. Main Street Station Antiques. Grab a brochure for a self-guided tour of the unusual artifacts in this turn-of-the-last-century-style casino. Check out Buffalo Bill’s private rail car and a 6-foot slab of the Berlin Wall in one of the men’s rooms. (Yes, women can visit too by asking security for an escort.) 200 N. Main St.; (702) 387-1896, http://www.mainstreetcasino.com

16. M&M’s World. The four-story chocolatorium joins the old-school candy stop in Vegas — a tour of the Ethel M factory in Henderson, Nev. It’s free to wander the shop’s four stories, watch a 10-minute movie (“I Lost My M in Vegas,” starring Red and Yellow), chat with roving Ms and discover 22 M&M colors (teal, lime green, hot pink, etc). But really, don’t they all taste the same? Open daily 9 a.m.-midnight. 3785 Las Vegas Blvd. South; (702) 740-2504, http://www.mymms.com.

17. Silverton Hotel & Casino Aquarium. The 117,000-gallon tank has one thing traditional aquariums don’t: mermaids. They dive Thursdays-Sundays amid the 4,000 tropical fish and stingrays at this off-Strip casino. 3333 Blue Diamond Road; (702) 263-7777, http://www.silvertoncasino.com

18. Don Pablo Cigar Factory. This shop is part-cigar store, part-factory. You can watch old-style Cuban cigar rolling — from tobacco leaves to the final product — free, but the smokes will cost you $6-$15 each. Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays. 3049 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (800) 537-4957, http://www.donpablocigars.com

19. Big Elvis. You can’t leave Vegas without seeing at least one Elvis. Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee plays the King in free one-hour concerts at 3, 5 and 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon. He sings Elvis hits as well as country, gospel and R&B. 3595 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (702) 737-2100, http://www.billslasvegas.com

20. Free concerts at Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. The hot venue that’s “the right amount of wrong” showcases up-and-coming bands at three hotel venues. There’s always live action, such as hip-hop performer Pigeon John and DJ Teen Wolf. Check http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com for a list of upcoming free concerts.

21. “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. Commercial artist Betty Willis designed the flashy, Midcentury sign that has become a Sin City icon. It was installed at the south end of the Strip in 1959 and remains the city’s most famous neon welcome mat. Park for free to get a close-up of the 25-foot sign.

Key results for the fourth quarter of 2011 included the following:

• Consolidated net revenue was $2.3 billion; excluding MGM China, net revenue increased 7% compared to the prior year quarter;
• Rooms revenue at wholly owned domestic resorts increased 10% with a 13% increase in REVPAR(1) at the Company’s Las Vegas Strip resorts;
• Consolidated operating income was $91 million compared to $107 million in the fourth quarter of 2010;
• Adjusted Property EBITDA(2) was $482 million in the 2011 quarter compared to $294 million in the 2010 quarter;
• The Company’s wholly owned domestic resorts earned Adjusted Property EBITDA of $319 million, an 18% increase compared to the prior year quarter;
• MGM China’s Adjusted Property EBITDA was $174 million, a 23% increase compared to the prior year quarter; and
• CityCenter’s Adjusted Property EBITDA related to resort operations was $58 million, a 62% increase compared to the prior year quarter.

“2011 was a year in which we achieved many goals: operationally, strategically, and financially.  Operationally, we enhanced our customer experience through targeted reinvestment in our properties and improved relationships through our M life customer loyalty program. Strategically, we acquired a majority interest in MGM China and began expanding our brand presence in key markets throughout the world, particularly Asia.  Financially, our revenues and margins have improved year over year increasing our cash flow and strengthening our financial profile,” said Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO.  “Going forward we expect to build off of these strategies to grow our company and maximize shareholder value.”

Certain Items Affecting Fourth Quarter Results

The current quarter tax adjustments include a net $44 million, or $0.09 per share, increase in income tax benefit resulting from a decrease in the Macau net deferred tax liability, partially offset by an increase in the Michigan net deferred tax liability. Tax adjustments in the prior year quarter include a $32 million, or $0.07 per share, reduction in the Company’s income tax benefit as a result of providing reserves for certain state-level deferred tax assets. 

In the current quarter, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $62 million ($0.07 per share, net of tax) related to its investment in Borgata and an impairment charge of $23 million ($0.03 per share, net of tax) related to its investment in Silver Legacy.

Wholly Owned Domestic Resorts

Casino revenue related to wholly owned domestic resorts increased 8% compared to the prior year quarter. The overall table games hold percentage in the fourth quarter of 2011 was near the high end of the Company’s normal range of 19% to 23% and was near the low end of the Company’s range in the prior year quarter.  Slots revenue increased 3% compared to the prior year quarter.

Rooms revenue increased 10% with Las Vegas Strip REVPAR up 13%.  The following table shows key hotel statistics for the Company’s Las Vegas Strip resorts:

Operating income for the Company’s wholly owned domestic resorts for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $186 million, an increase of 36% compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.

MGM China

On February 22, 2012, MGM China’s Board of Directors announced a dividend of approximately $400 million, which will be paid to shareholders of record as of March 9, 2012 and distributed on or about March 20, 2012.  MGM Resorts International will receive approximately $204 million, representing 51% of such dividend.

The schedules accompanying this release provide pro forma information for MGM China, presented for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, as if the acquisition of the Company’s controlling interest occurred as of January 1, 2010. The following are the key fourth quarter results for MGM China on a pro forma basis:

• MGM China earned net revenue of $719 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to $570 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.  The increase was driven by year-over-year increases in volume for VIP table games, main floor table games, and slots of 29%, 13% and 35%, respectively. VIP table games hold percentage was slightly above our expected range of 2.7% to 3.0% in the current and prior year periods; and
• Adjusted Property EBITDA increased 23% to $174 million.

MGM China completed its initial public offering of shares on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on June 3, 2011 and the Company acquired an additional 1% interest in MGM China, which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino. This acquisition increased the Company’s ownership interest to 51% and, as a result, the Company began consolidating MGM China as of June 3, 2011. Prior to June 3, 2011, the results of MGM Macau were accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Income (Loss) from Unconsolidated Affiliates

Results for CityCenter Holdings, LLC for the fourth quarter of 2011 include the following (see schedules accompanying this release for further detail on CityCenter’s fourth quarter results):

• Net revenue from resort operations increased to $265 million compared to $231 million in the prior year quarter;
• Adjusted Property EBITDA from resort operations was $58 million, an increase of 62% compared to the prior year quarter;
• Aria’s table games hold percentage was approximately 240 basis points higher in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter; and
• Aria’s occupancy percentage was 82% and its ADR was $207, resulting in REVPAR of $169, a 10% increase compared to the prior year fourth quarter.

Full Year 2011 Results

Net revenue for 2011 was $7.8 billion, which included $1.5 billion of net revenue related to MGM China. Excluding MGM China, net revenue increased 4% for the year compared to 2010.  Las Vegas Strip REVPAR increased 13% for the full year compared to 2010. Adjusted Property EBITDA from wholly owned domestic resorts increased 11% to $1.3 billion for 2011 compared to $1.2 billion in 2010. MGM China’s Adjusted Property EBITDA was $360 million for the period from June 3, 2011 through December 31, 2011.

MGM China reported record results for 2011 with net revenues of $2.6 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $630 million, an increase of 66% and 76% year over year, respectively.

CityCenter reported year over year operating improvement with net revenue from resort operations of $1.1 billion and Adjusted Property EBITDA related to resort operations of $236 million.

Diluted earnings per share attributable to MGM Resorts International for 2011 was $5.62 compared to a loss per share of $3.19 in 2010.Financial Position

In December 2011, the Company borrowed an additional $778 million under its senior credit facility to increase its capacity for issuing additional secured indebtedness. As a result, the Company had a higher than normal cash balance at December 31, 2011 of $1.9 billion, which also included approximately $720 million of cash and cash equivalents related to MGM China. 

At December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $13.6 billion of indebtedness (with a carrying value of $13.5 billion), including $3.3 billion of borrowings outstanding under its senior credit facility. Giving effect to the repayment in January 2012 of the $778 million additional borrowing noted above, the Company would have had approximately $957 million of available borrowing capacity under its senior credit facility at December 31, 2011.

In January 2012, the Company issued $850 million of 8.625% senior unsecured notes due 2019, for net proceeds to the Company of approximately $836 million. 

As previously announced, the Company is seeking amendments to its aggregate $3.5 billion senior credit facility to, among other things, extend the maturity of loans held by consenting lenders from February 21, 2014 to February 23, 2015. Lenders holding approximately 62% or $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of the credit facility have elected to extend the maturity dates of their commitments. Extending lenders will receive a 20% reduction of their previous credit exposures, unless waived by such lenders. In addition, extending lenders’ loans will be subject to a pricing grid that decreases the LIBOR spread by as much as 250 basis points based upon collateral coverage levels and the LIBOR floor on extended loans would be reduced from 200 basis points to 100 basis points.  The closing of the amendment is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur by the end of this month.

“We remain committed to improving our balance sheet and maximizing free cash flow as evidenced by our recent bond issuances, the commitments to our senior credit facility amend and extend transaction, and today’s dividend announcement from MGM China,” said Dan D’Arrigo, MGM Resorts International Executive Vice President, CFO and Treasurer.  “While we have made tremendous progress, we see further opportunities to lower our cost of capital and de-lever our balance sheet.”

Students at low-income Whitney Elementary were ecstatic when the teen pop sensation took to the stage to sing songs from his Christmas album.

The 17-year-old’s special appearance was filmed for The Ellen DeGeneres show.

Two months ago he had pledged to donate $100,000 to the school’s 650 student body and yesterday he handed over the check.

He also treated the students, many who are homeless, to an additional $100,000 in Christmas gifts.

Superstore Target also matched Bieber’s generous pledge, donating an additional $100,000 to the struggling school.

The money will be used to support the children and their families in order to help keep the youths in school.

At the event Bieber spoke of his own family’s financial struggles growing up.

He told them about a particular incident, where his family were forced to visit a food bank.

Access Hollywood reports that Spears and Trawick, who have been dating since 2009, stowed their things at Planet Hollywood before heading off for dinner and then partying at Chateau Nightclub, where paparazzi snapped pics of Spears’ 3-carat rock.

According to People magazine, Trawick wanted a ring suited for his “everyday princess,” and had jeweler Neil Lane craft a tiara-themed ring with a round diamond in a platinum setting, designed to emulate a “mini crown.” Trawick reportedly didn’t want anything over-the-top with a ridiculously large stone, but he did add bling to the eternity band with 90 small, round diamonds.

Spears tweeted Friday, presumably of the sparkler, “OMG. Last night Jason surprised me with the one gift I’ve been waiting for.” She added Saturday, “Tonight was one of the most magical nights of my life. Such an amazing time with my new fiancé and our closest friends and family.”

Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy says Friday that 42-year-old Elena Caro died from an allergic reaction to the tumescent anesthesia commonly used in cosmetic surgery procedures. Caro’s death has been ruled accidental.

Murphy says the autopsy does not preclude criminal charges.

Ruben Matallana-Galvas (MAH’-tie-YAHN’-uh GAHL-vis) and his wife Carmen Torres-Sanchez of Colombia face charges of murder and practicing medicine without a license in Caro’s April death. They have pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors say they are hoping to avoid trial by persuading the defendants to plead guilty to manslaughter.

The lawyer representing the husband and wife could not immediately be reached for comment.

Hand-picked and groomed by Sushmita Sen herself, this year, Ushoshi Sengupta will be representing India at the Miss Universe contest in Las Vegas. Let’s see what sort of competition the 21-year-old will be facing on August 23rd, 2010.

Paris Hilton has been spending an awful lot of time in Sin City lately, partying at XS, Tryst and Drai’s, and now we know why.

The heiress, who split with Doug Reinhardt in April, has been quietly dating Cy Waits, who manages all the aforementioned hot spots with his twin brother, Jesse.

So how are the two making the long-distance relaysh work?

“He flies her out to Vegas all the time on his private jet so they can be together when he has to work there,” a source tells E! News, adding that Waits is “head over heels” for Paris.

Las Vegas Shopping

Tourists can expect to find outlets of all the usual chains found anywhere in the United States. Las Vegas isn’t the city for bargain hunters, apart from the odd souvenir stores, shopping in Las Vegas it not cheap.

The busiest shopping districts found are along South Decatur Boulevard and South Maryland Parkway, a couple of miles west and east of the Strip respectively.

East Charleston Blvd has traditionally been the center of the antique crowd for a long time. In recent years a number of dealer collectives have sprung up all over town.