John Katsilometes, who is in Boise, Idaho, for the holidays, collects the many gifts and moments that made Las Vegas fabulous in 2006

Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006 | 7:09 a.m.

As you read this the day after Christmas, I will still be warming my feet at Mom's fireplace in Boise, Idaho (which is not only the state capital but also the cultural hub of the Treasure Valley). I will again explain to my family that I indeed get paid for what I do here at the Sun.

Given that this is a time for reflection (and genuflection, for many) I gaze nostalgically at the year that was 2006.

In January, the brimming-with-optimism rehearsals for "Hairspray" opened at UNLV. That show and "Avenue Q" at Wynn Las Vegas were stylish, smart, inventive, well-performed - and still failed to meet expectations at the box office. During the final performance of "Hairspray," co-leads Eddie Mekka and Paul Vogt diverted from the script for a series of ad-libs ...

Seeking a new identity in Vegas, Miss America was held outside of Atlantic City, N.J., for the first time, at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts. In one revealing moment at the staging level under the Fashion Show mall runway, the already well-frosted contestants scrambled to primp in front of a single mirror before an appearance upstairs ...

During the annual "Keep Memory Alive" fundraiser (which this year drew $20 million, a record for a single fundraiser) Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman admired renderings of the $50 million Frank Gehry-designed Lou Ruvo Brain Center and said, "Today Las Vegas is where people never thought we would be even five years ago ... (dramatic pause) and I take full credit." ...

Months later Goodman took part in an event at Fashion Show sponsored by the commode-maintenance company 2,000 Flushes. "This is the fun part of the job," he said. "This morning I was talking flight patterns with the FAA." ...

The Imperial Palace galvanized its reputation as one of the city's more imaginative hotels. This year I played cards with a Dealertainer impersonating Stevie Wonder (while claiming to be blind he took me for $40 in three minutes). The hotel also hosted the 21st birthday party of fraternal quadruplets Allison, Monique, Jacques and Danielle Levesque of Santa Rosa, Calif. , the "Big Daddy Burger Eating Contest" of competitive eaters, and during the National Finals Rodeo led a bull (and not an impersonator bull) up to the Legends Theater for a photo op ...

Freewheeling driver Tony Stewart led a crash course in rapid construction as he helped volunteers from Home Depot, the Joe Gibbs Racing Team and the Kaboom organization build a playground in a day at the Salvation Army center on Palomino Lane ...

Monopoly unveiled a new version of its board game featuring famous streets and landmarks from America's major cities. Fans were invited to vote on three streets for each city, and the three options for Vegas were the Strip, Hoover Dam and Tropicana Avenue (it was quickly noted that none are actually in Las Vegas, and that Tropicana Avenue is not quite a landmark). The Strip won (shocker) and was placed on the board's high-rent green neighborhood ...

Caesars Palace turned 40 but trails Jim Dunbar in tenure. Dunbar, a valet attendant, was actually hired Aug. 4, 1966 - a day before the hotel opened. Dunbar got to know Caesars Palace (and Circus Circus) mastermind Jay Sarno while parking Sarno's caddy at the Flamingo. Dunbar, at 68, was still parking and retrieving as the hotel celebrated its anniversary ...

Hanging out on the perimeter of the final day of operation at Stardust was Boyd Gaming Chief Executive Bill Boyd, who watched the poignant celebration in the main gaming pit and said, "It's a lot more emotional than I thought it would be. It's difficult to say goodbye to all of the great employees and loyal customers. There are a lot of people who made the Stardust what it is." ...

Like a pair of prizefighters whacking each other with right hooks, George Maloof opened the dazzling Playboy Club high atop the Palms - and Harrah's shot back with Prince's 3121 nightclub and restaurant project across the street at the Rio ...

Tiger Woods' voice quivered as he spoke at the House of Blues about his ill father, Earl, at this year's TigerJam fundraiser. The crowd hushed as Woods said he wished his father could have been well enough to attend the event; that week the elder Woods succumbed to cancer ...

Wading through the crowd at the preview opening of "Love" at the Mirage, I spotted Beatles producer Sir George Martin, a genuine English gentleman. I will never forget that moment - or the point where a young fan blithely asked us to move out of her way so she could take a picture of her friend in front of the big silver "Love" sign in the lobby ...

Speaking of that: Though each had production snags (fire alarms that interrupted performances and chandeliers that did not always behave), "Love" and "Phantom - Las Vegas Spectacular" at the Venetian didn't disappoint. Send visitors to those shows and you won't be sorry ...

Madonna rocked the MGM Grand Garden Arena; seated a few rows in front of me was New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson ...

Great hangs: the monthly showcases at Suede Restaurant & Lounge (where some of the best of the Strip performers perform to piano accompaniment), "Jazz at the Church" each Friday at the Downtown Coffee Co. (where Bobby Morris' drum kit is anchored by a snare given to him by Buddy Rich) and anything fronted by Kelly Clinton (at the Stirling Club on Fridays and Saturdays or Bootlegger Bistro on Sundays and Mondays) ...

Fab LV Humanitarian Award: to Brent Barrett of "Phantom," who found an injured mockingbird (named "Buster") outside his home at the Lakes and nursed it back to health ...

Giving Rush Limbaugh formidable competition, embattled outgoing Clark County Recorder Fran Deane was given her own radio show ...

Odd e-mail correspondence: Mekka and Sharona Alperin (of "My Sharona" fame) ...

A guy to root for: John Del Prado, who is faithfully making a go of it at Neonopolis by moving the family business, Del Prado Jewelers, to the oft-derided, soon-to-be renovated entertainment and business project ...

Ed Roman of Ed Roman Guitars in Las Vegas designed an electric guitar for Ted Nugent featuring a slot fit for a high-caliber derringer. The instrument is worth about $7,000 ...

Hot topics in early '07: "Spamalot" and the revamped "Le Reve" at Wynn Las Vegas, the ambitious renovation of Aladdin/Planet Hollywood (including a new theater complex from Steve Wyrick ), the new Pearl showroom at the Palms (opening during the NBA All-Star Game weekend in Vegas) and the prospects for "Producers" at Paris Las Vegas ...

Wyrick's new club - officially called Triq - could be one of the city's more popular nightspots ...

Odd sighting: In a uniquely Vegas holiday scene, last week I spotted Santa Claus climbing out of an old Ford van at the Palms' east parking garage while carrying a sack of gifts in one arm and a small boombox in the other. He took the elevator to the casino floor and headed to a private party ...

Vanity plate on an old white-on-blue Nevada plate on a blue Pontiac Grand Am: GRNDMA. I'll show this one to my own grandma right now.