Casino nights needs dealers

Organizers of the 18th annual Eagle County Early Childhood Programs Casino Night fund-raiser are looking for dealers. The dealers will deal blackjack and other games. There are two shifts from 8-10 p.m. and 10-midnight. There is a short training before the event if needed. Casino Night 2005 is April 8 from 7 until midnight. If interested in voluneteering, call Angela at 476-1281.Sundance celebrates end of an era with bashVAIL – Like high gas prices, ridiculous rents and expensive groceries, it’s been a part of life here in Vail for the last 24 years. And now … it’s coming to an end.The sun will set March 31 on “the last of the real ski bars,” the Sundance Saloon in Lionshead, and they’ll be celebrating with a bash. That night will mark the end of an era in Vail, going back to the days when disco ruled, the untracked powder lasted at least half a day, and at the end of that day you could head down the mountain for a cold, cheap beer and something called a kamikaze in a classic, barnboard covered apres ski bar.”We’ve pretty much seen it all over the last 24 years and had plenty of great times,” said Ralph Dockery, co-owner. “And, we’ve made a lot of wonderful friends, from locals, to tourists, looking for a taste of ski town flavor. Some of our current customers have been coming here for their after-work beer since the first day we opened. We’re sure going to miss them.”For more information, call 476-3453.Lamb cook-off kicks off Taste of Vail April 6VAIL – Taste of Vail has added a new event to kick off the spring food and wine festival. Vail Valley chefs will compete in a lamb cook-off April 6 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Gore Creek Drive in Vail Village.For $1 people can enjoy lamb prepared by the valley chefs competing in the contest. For $2, enjoy paired wine poured by many of the participating Taste of Vail winery owners. The American Lamb Board and Rosen Lamb will donate the Colorado lamb. During the live event, each chef will be cooking up to 32 pounds of Colorado lamb using their own special ingredients. The chefs will be judged by a panel of celebrity judges, including those from the food, restaurant and ski/travel media. There will also be a People’s Choice Award.The cook-off is not included in the full events package. Tickets are only available at the event. Prices are $1 for each lamb samples and $2 for wine samples.Proceeds from the Taste of Vail benefit Vail Valley charities. For more information, go to http://www.tasteofvail.com.Snoop plays for Spring Back to VailVAIL – Music, film and cultural icon Snoop Dogg will play an outdoor concert on April 16 as part of the Spring Back to Vail festival. The Snoop show will cap Spring Back to Vail’s two-week lineup of events and concerts that includes performances by Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys, Toots & the Maytals, Maceo Parker and more. The Snoop concert will take place in the late afternoon, immediately following Spring Back to Vail’s World Pond Skimming Championships at the base of Vail Mountain.Other highlights of the Spring Back to Vail Festival include the Warren Miller Experience on April 9 and the World Pond Skimming Championships on April 16. For an updated schedule, lodging and lift ticket packages or more information on Spring Back to Vail, visit http://www.springbacktovail.com or call Highline Sports and Entertainment at 476-6797.Arts academy looking for rising starsVAIL – The Vail Performing Arts Academy (VPAA) is now accepting enrollment for the Spring Theater Arts program beginning Sundays, March 6, 13, 20 and April 3 and 10 at the Homestead Court Club. Division I (ages 8-12) will meet at 3:30-4:45 p.m., and the Performance Troupe (ages 13 and up) will meet 5-6:45 p.m., with a possible Student Showcase performance on or around April 16. Space is limited. For more information, call 926-2370 for details. The VPAA is also accepting applications for enrollment from third-graders to seniors for its summer musical, “Bugsy Malone, Jr.,” at the Vilar Center. Summer rehearsals will begin July 11 and meet Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Eagle-Vail Pavilion through Aug. 4. Dress rehearsal and “tech” will be held Aug. 5-6 with performances on Aug. 6-7. You must be accepted for enrollment to audition. Space is limited. For more information, call 926 0415 or 926-2370. Vail Valley Medical Center hosts its third Neiman-Marcus Fashion Show and Luncheon to benefit cancer patientsVAIL – The Vail Valley Medical Center Volunteer Corps will host its third Neiman-Marcus Fashion Show and Luncheon April 6 at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa. The event will also include a champagne preview and shopping opportunity for ticket holders of $150 or more the evening of April 5. A donation of $75 will be accepted at the preview event for those unable to attend the luncheon.The doors will open at 9 a.m. April 6 for shopping the Neiman-Marcus Boutique and the silent auction for not only the luncheon guests but also anyone who is interested in seeing the spring and summer Neiman-Marcus selected line. Taylor Kundolf will entertain on the piano during the cocktail hour.The net proceeds will benefit the Shaw Regional Cancer Center in Edwards and the purchase of capital equipment to perform High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy. HDR Brachytherapy will offer dose tailored amounts of radiation that decrease the damage to normal tissue and increases the dose of radiation to the tumor itself. The Shaw Regional Cancer Center serves residents throughout an eight-county region including Eagle, Summit, Routt, Pitkin, Lake, Grand, Garfield and Moffat counties.Tickets for regular luncheon seating will be $75. For more information, call 569-7465.’Battle of the Bartenders’ Martini Mix-Off April 8VAIL – Taste of Vail rings the bell for “Battle of the Bartenders” April 8 at 4 p.m. at the Sanctuary in Vail Village.This year’s “Martini Mix-Off” will have bartenders from the Vail Valley vying against one another in a friendly competition to create the most fabulous or creative martini and to be named the 2005 Taste of Vail’s “Master of Mixology.”Participating bartenders will be supplied with ample amounts of Ciroc vodka and No. Ten by Tanqueray Gin. They will also be provided everything they need to prepare their own custom martinis, including ice, shakers and glassware. Bartenders will be allowed to bring their own favorite garnishes and flavor enhancers, such as fruit juices, purees, infusions, etc., in order to create their own signature martini entries. The winning bartenders will receive bragging rights for the year, as well as first, second and third place prizes.The cost to attend the event is $35 per person and is included in the full-event package ($375 per person). This event sells out quickly so purchase your tickets by calling (888) 311-5665 or securely order tickets online at http://www.tasteofvail.comVail Colorado