Tom Jones International

There is probably more live, top-notch entertainment in Las Vegas year-round than in any other US city except, perhaps, New York. Thus, for the public’s entertainment dollar and their loyalty, Las Vegas is one of — if not the — most competitive venues anywhere. It takes a lot for an entertainer to get noticed and to consistently win critical raves.

Each year, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the city’s daily paper, polls its readers to find out who and what are “The Best of Las Vegas.” The 2006 picks were in the Sunday, March 26 edition.

The readers usually make the obvious choices so, in an effort to get a more balanced view, the staff — if they don’t agree with the public’s votes — notes their own pick. And, usually, their choices are more discriminating.

Case in point:

Best Singer — Reader’s Pick

Céline Dion Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas , NV

This is the third year readers have put the power of love behind the Canadian singer with one foot on the bow of the Titanic and one foot in [suburban] Henderson. Clint Holmes is the second-place choice for all three of those years, this year coming within 15 votes of a singer who has sold a lot more records.

Best Singer — Staff Pick
Tom Jones MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas , NV

Yeah, baby! The Tomcat turned 65 last summer. But you can take that AARP card and shove it — in your wallet, then head to the record store and try to get a seniors discount on Reloaded. Put on the greatest hits CD and let Jones blow the doors off your Oldsmobile with the opening notes of If I Only Knew. Or you can just go down to the MGM Grand every so often to watch him do it live.