The latest phase of the Hard Rock's $750 million expansion debuts this week. It includes the all-suite HRH Tower, with 359 standard suites, eight spa villas that open directly onto the pool area, and seven penthouse suites on the 16th floor. HRH has its own entrance and check-in and direct access to the new Reliquary spa, the new Vanity nightclub, and three new restaurants. The rooms, spa and nightclub open Dec. 28; the restaurants and casino expansion will be completed by spring 2010.

VERY HAPPY: Seablue at MGM Grand is running one of the city's better happy hours, offering $1 oysters, $1 jumbo shrimp, $3 chicken skewers, $5 calamari and $7.50 lobster corn dogs, plus draft beer (Stella Artois or Fat Tire) for $2. It runs Sundays-Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

FISHY: Want to watch some fish? The Charthouse restaurant in the Golden Nugget's new Rush Tower features one of Las Vegas' most spectacular aquariums, a 75,000-gallon floor-to-ceiling model filled with more than 1,000 fish and sea creatures.

STRIP BEACH: Encore has announced plans to build a new entertainment complex, Encore Beach Club. The addition will open in summer 2010 and feature multiple pools, a restaurant and a nightclub called Surrender.

UNCHEAP THRILL: The Stratosphere has announced plans to launch a fourth thrill ride atop the tower. They're calling it Sky Jump and it's similar to a thrill of the same name in New Zealand, which drops passengers from the top of Aukland's Sky Tower at a speed of 50 miles per hour. The Aukland jump costs $140. Here's hoping for some 2-for-1 coupons.