The long-talked-of $750 million expansion and renovation of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is under way, with plans for 950 additional rooms in two new hotel towers, several new restaurants and shops, a spa and health club, 60,000 square feet of meeting space, and 35,000 additional square feet of casino space, along with an expansion of the Joint, the Hard Rock's concert venue.

All 650 existing rooms will be renovated, the cigar shop is turning into a poker room, and Simon's Kitchen has been replaced by AGO, the L.A.-based Italian restaurant. All hotel and casino facilities will remain open during the project, which is to be completed by summer 2009.

NAME GAME: A question raised previously in this column about ownership of the name "Plaza" may soon be answered. A lawsuit filed by the downtown Plaza resort over the plans of a new Strip casino to use the same name will be heard by a jury, with the first hearing set for July 21. The Strip Plaza is planned for the site of the former New Frontier.

THEY DON'T: The number of people getting married in Nevada has dropped for the fourth year in a row, with 2007 seeing the lowest number of marriage licenses issued in a decade. One reason for the decline: The licensing office ceased around-the-clock service last year.

PUB FOR PUB: McFadden's Saloon has opened at the Rio. The Irish pub replaces the Tilted Kilt, which was, interestingly, an Irish pub. McFadden's will operate 24/7.

Q. Do you know the release date of the Kevin Spacey movie about Las Vegas?

A. The film, "21," stars Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Laurence Fishburne, and chronicles the exploits of the MIT card-counting team. It is scheduled to open in theaters on March 28.

For information about Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons and deals, see www.LasVegasAdvisor.com.