Strip Tips: Santa visiting Shark Reef

Santa will be in the shipwreck exhibit from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Saturday at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. With each paid admission, children 12 and younger will receive a candy cane and a photo with Santa. Admission is $18 for adults and $12 for kids ages 5 to 12. Children 4 and under get in free. And to make things even better, Santa Jaws, a large, toothy character will join the kids for a photo. If you miss them today, you can see Santa Claus and Santa Jaws Dec. 22, 23 and 24. The aquarium closes at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Sweet ship

If you need some holiday cheer of a different sort, check out the gingerbread pirate ship at Treasure Island. The resort's executive pastry chef Debra Mitchell and her team created the festive gingerbread scene in 40 hours. They used 60 pounds of gingerbread dough to fashion a 29-inch-tall, 36-inch-long replica of Treasure Island's pirate ship as well as Sirens Cove. To add a holiday touch, the scene features a marzipan Santa, reindeer and snowmen. The scene will be on display for the next three weeks near the hotel's registration desk.

Book app

Bauman Rare Books in the Shoppes at the Palazzo launched an iPad app for customers. It will give users the chance to browse the bookstore's inventory, manage their accounts, make purchases, share items on social networks and more. Download the app at iTunes.

Free popcorn

Get a free medium bag of the famed Chicago Mix when you buy a one-gallon tin of popcorn at Garrett Popcorn Shops in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort. The promotion runs through December. For information, call 445-6500.

Holiday party

Get your Christmas celebration on Dec. 16 at Hyde Bellagio's holiday-themed XIV Vegas Sessions.

The halls will be decked in tinsel and the interior transformed into Santa's Workshop in the North Pole. Naughty Santas and elves will be on hand to serve cocktails, candy canes and mistletoe. Clubgoers are encouraged to dress in their favorite holiday attire. The day party starts at 5 p.m. For information or to reserve a table, call 693-8700.

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