John Katsilometes on presidential candidate Hillary Clinton making her first campaign visit to Southern Nevada

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007 | 7:19 a.m.

When the Del Sol High School theater department took on the challenge of staging the musical "Aida," it likely didn't anticipate a disruption in its rehearsal schedule from the Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign. But the show will have to surrender the stage on Wednesday, when the senator from New York and Democratic presidential candidate makes her first Las Vegas campaign appearance at the school's theater at 5:30 p.m.

The event is open exclusively to members of the Nevada State Education Association and instructors at Del Sol High, which is located at 3100 E. Patrick Lane near Pecos Road. Securing a seat will be quite a feat; the theater seats 500 and the Del Sol staff will snap up about 70 spots. Earlier in the day Clinton will attend a forum of Democratic candidates in Carson City.

NoteMart

Expect an announcement in 60 days for the name of the company to build the 800- to 900-room business hotel planned for the Union Park project, Newland Communities Vice President and Development Director Rita Brandin said Tuesday morning during a downtown development update and Union Park progress report at Celebrity Nightclub. Brandin said eight or nine key developers are strongly interested in building on the site, which already has commitments from the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Lou Ruvo Brain Institute and World Jewelry Center. Robert Zarnegin, chairman of the World Jewelry Center, said the 1 million-square-foot high-rise project will break ground in April 2008 and be finished in 2 1/2 years ...

Select tickets for "The Producers," which just celebrated opening night Friday, are being offered at a 50 percent discount. An e-mail offer sent to members of travelzoo.com lists 2-for-1 deals on $75.50 tickets (or $37.75 a pop) for select dates through June. Also offered are 2-for-1 deals for $64 seats to Gordie Brown at the Venetian, and for $137.50 tickets for "Ka" at MGM Grand ...

Recovery by Irvin: On Feb. 24-25 Central Christian Church is sponsoring a series of appearances by former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver (and current Pro Football Hall of Famer) Michael Irvin in an inspirational talk titled, "Finding Freedom on the Road to Recovery." Irvin is a recovering drug addict and ESPN broadcaster for the network's NFL coverage (he's the one with the oddly oversized neckties). While in Southern Nevada Irvin is scheduled to make eight appearances, splitting his time between the Central Christian Henderson campus at 1001 New Beginnings Drive, off U.S. 95 and Russell Road, and Palo Verde High School at 333 S. Pavilion Center Drive in Summerlin. Call 735-4004 for information ...

By my nonscientific calculation, the Golden Nugget blasts the loudest house music of any gambling pit in the city. A spokeswoman said the hotel, which has recently been renovated after being purchased by Landry's Restaurant Inc., has made an effort to play more upbeat music (Earth Wind & Fire and Duran Duran are in the loop) and get away from the Rat Pack-styled offerings favored by former owners Tim Poster and Tom Breitling ...

Live it up: Friend in the field reports the plate UNDEAD on a black or dark blue Chevy Lumina.