An extremely full plate

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007 | 7:16 a.m.

Who: Rita Rudner

Where: Harrah's

When: Opening Friday; then 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Tickets: $54; 369-5222, www.showtickets.com

Comedian Rita Rudner was home, about to sit down to a lunch of overcooked pasta.

She's taking a break from the computer where she had been working on her next book - a collection of essays about growing old in America. No doubt the essays will be humorous.

When she's asked if she has a writing routine, Rudner says, "No. I can't because I have a daughter and a dog on diuretics who has to be walked at least 12 times a day and a husband."

Presumably, it's only the dog on diuretics, so the daughter doesn't have to be walked.

That's a good thing because Rudner's plate is full, and not just with overcooked pasta.

Friday, she resumes her engagement at Harrah's after a brief hiatus for the holidays. Rudner spent almost six years at New York-New York, but left in August when her contract ended.

"The traffic got too heavy because of all the construction at the CityCenter project. You don't want to get involved with the stop-go people," she said.

Rudner likes the new digs. The theater, former home to Clint Holmes, seats about 600 compared to 428 at her former venue, a space converted into a showroom.

"It has an intimate setting, but a very grand feel because it's a real showroom," she said.

Rudner says she had a lot of good offers when she left New York-New York, but the one made by Harrah's was the most appealing.

"I get to do eight months on and four months off," she said.

She will perform through April 28, take a break and then return July 2 through Nov. 17.

In addition to her stand-up routine and working on a new book, she's busy promoting her most recent novel, "Turning the Tables."

Her most recent business venture, a handbag, will debut Feb. 1-4 at the Western Shoe Association convention at Mandalay Bay.

"You wouldn't know this, but women have a lot of handbags," Rudner said. "We like to change them all the time. My new line of handbags is really great. Instead of changing the handbag you change the cover of the handbag so you don't have to bother with the stuff inside."

The bag is made by Cambiare Borsellino. It's only natural that it would debut at a shoe convention.

"Handbags and shoes go together like meat and potatoes," she said. "They've got to match. That's what women do to drive men crazy."