Although hype has centered on the December debut of CityCenter, a second big project at the south end of the Strip will open at almost the same time. Construction is concluding on PH Towers at Planet Hollywood, twin 52-story towers with a combined 1,200 units. Originally planned to be all timeshare, all but 240 units will be Planet Hollywood hotel rooms.

IN LIMBO: Less positive is recent news about the idle Echelon Place construction project on the north Strip. After more than a year since work stopped at Boyd Gaming's Echelon, workers are prepping cranes for removal and a complete site shutdown is under way. The timetable for reinitiating work could run up to three more years.

FRIGHT DOME: For the eighth year running, the Adventuredome at Circus Circus has been transformed into Fright Dome until Halloween. This year, two new haunted houses are based on the "Saw" horror movies, with replicas of evil mastermind Jigsaw's "games." Otherwise, it's fright business as usual: extreme scare zones, five haunted houses, freak shows, strobes and lasers. Tickets are $34.95. It's not necessarily a kid's event, with warnings issued for children under 12.

ARCADE PLAY: Here's one for the kids. All day on Tuesdays, play two games for the price of one at the Excalibur Fantasy Faire Midway. The midway is open from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Q: I've seen several stories about people living in tunnels under Las Vegas. Is that real?

A. Yes. Las Vegas has an extensive storm-drainage system, including long tunnels; along with its inhabitants, the tunnel system was chronicled in the book "Beneath the Neon" by Matt O'Brien. After being interviewed by British tabloid The Sun, O'Brien was approached by more than 40 media outlets around the world, which accounts for the press you've seen.

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