Strip Tips: Fun, fun, fun for almost everyone

Santa Jaws, art gallery sales, lessons in burlesque dancing: sounds like Christmas on the Strip.

This week, there's something fun to do with the kids, something fun for the ladies to do and some good bargains for last-minute gifts. Sorry, guys. We'll get you next time.

Santa and sharks

If you haven't had enough Christmas stuff yet, Santa Claus is scheduled to appear at the Shark Reef in Mandalay Bay from Dec. 17 to 24. Someone called "Santa Jaws" will be swimming through the aquarium's shipwreck exhibit for photo opportunities, too. Hmm, I wonder if Santa Jaws is a shark? And whether his job is to eat the naughty kids? No, if you know anything about Shark Reef, you know they don't have any man-eating sharks there. They do have a Komodo dragon, though.

Bring your kids any time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., have them tell Santa their wishes and then get your complimentary photo taken with Santa Jaws. General admission is $16.95, $10.95 for ages 5-12, $15 for locals with identification, and $10 for local children 5-12. Kids 4 and younger get in free. (632-4555)

Shake that thing

Ladies, have you yearned to bust a move like your favorite burlesque dancer or showgirl? Well, you can learn how the experts dance so expertly on Vegas stages for only $20.12. Through December and January, Night School 4 Girls at the Excalibur is offering a reduced ticket price to usher in 2012. You can learn how to dance from showgirl Laura Croft, get a souvenir photo with her and a diploma that declares you an official burlesque dancer. Call 597-7600 or visit excalibur.com to book tickets.

Reduced prices

If you're looking to give someone a Christmas gift that says "I am cultured and want you to know it," but you don't want to pay big bucks for such a gift, check out CENTERpiece Fine Art Gallery, 3720 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 181. They've reduced prices on some pretty cool merchandise and art. A few items have been discounted more than 50 percent. The "15 Minutes Watch" from the Andy Warhol Foundation is on sale for $50, regularly $110. A white glazed porcelain vase from Rosenthal Studios is slashed from $138 to $60. Check out their website, centerpiecelv.com, for more.

Question:

From Nancy Schreiber of Las Vegas: There are two "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" signs in town. Most famous is the one entering Las Vegas heading north near Mandalay Bay. The second, and lesser-known, is somewhere on North Las Vegas Boulevard. I saw the second sign once and was surprised to know it was there. Now, when friends come, I want to take them to the second sign, but I can't find it. Can you help?

Great question, Nancy. There are three "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" signs in the valley. The most famous one, and the first to be erected, is the one we all know and love and sometimes curse, at least when we have to get through all the traffic it attracts. The sign was designed by artist Betty Willis and erected in 1959. The fact that it sits a few miles outside of the actual Las Vegas city limits was often glossed over until 2002. That's when the city council decided that enough was enough and, darnit, a new sign needed to be erected within the city limits. Up went the "Welcome to Fabulous Downtown Las Vegas" sign at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fourth Street. Unfortunately, its location does not lend itself to photo opportunities like the original sign does.

If you want to take your friends on a sign-seeing drive around the valley, you might also want to swing by the "Welcome" sign on Boulder Highway near Tropicana Avenue. That was erected in 2007 after surrounding casinos got together and decided to offer their own welcome to motorists.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564. Follow @StripSonya on Twitter.