Aria restaurants recognizing 11/11/11 with specials

To mark next Friday -- 11/11/11-- restaurants in Aria at CityCenter, 3730 Las Vegas Blvd. South, are offering $11 appetizer and drink specials. Sirio Ristorante, Jean Georges Steakhouse, Julian Serrano, Barmasa and Sage are participating, during regular restaurant hours. ...

The annual International Food Festival is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church, 5400 Annie Oakley Drive. The festival will feature treats from Bulgaria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Romania, Russia, Serbia and the United States. Music, dancing, games and other activities also will be featured. Admission is $2 for those 7 and older, free for members of the military, first responders and school district employees with ID. ...

Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., will host a Day of the Dead celebration from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, with Mexican food, sugar-skull decorating, face painting, music and more. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 5 through 12 at the gate, or $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 5 through 12 in advance at Cardenas Markets and Mariana's SuperMarkets. ...

In celebration of its fifth-anniversary week, StripSteak at Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, is offering a $55 Rock n Rye tasting with dessert (and optional $30 wine pairing) through Monday, and a $50 50-day dry-aged New York Strip while it lasts. ...

Pies Unlimited, 9310 Sun City Blvd., has introduced its seasonal pies, including sweet potato, mince, eggnog cream, cranapple crumb and Boston cream, plus pumpkin spice cake, pumpkin spice cupcakes, eggnog cheesecake, pumpkin cheesecake and eggnog cheesecake. ...

R Steak & Seafood has opened at the Riviera, 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South, offering starters such as Thai coconut steamed mussels and onion soup and entrees such as swordfish and filet mignon. The Swan, an ice-cream-filled cream puff, is a featured dessert. Hours are from 4 to 11 p.m. daily; call 794-9233. ...

For additional restaurant news, visit lvrj.com/blogs/vegasvoice.

Send information to Heidi Knapp Rinella, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125. You also can send faxes to 383-4676 or email her at hrinella@reviewjournal.com.