This is the second consecutive year that the record for youngest World Series of Poker champion has been broken. Barely legal Michigander Joseph Cada outlasted Maryland logger Darvin Moon to win $8,545,435 in the main event and become the youngest champion ever at just 21. Last year's winner was 22. Moon took home a little more than $5 million for second. Cada's two pair, nines and sevens, beat Moon's pair of sevens. As also happened last year, the final was played after a four-month delay, so it could be aired closely after the event's conclusion.

B.B.'s BLUES: B.B. King's Blues Club, a much-anticipated live-music venue at the Mirage, has opened. The intimate venue with seating for just 558 features four bars, a stage, and a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night dining (until 2 a.m. weekdays, 4 a.m. on weekends).

"VIVA ELVIS": That's the new Elvis-tribute Cirque du Soleil show that will debut at CityCenter's main hotel-casino, Aria. Aria opens Dec. 16 and "preview" shows may be ready to go by then.

HIGH SOCIETY: Encore's Society Cafe has been named one of the best new res-taurants in America by Esquire magazine. It's the only Las Vegas restaurant to get the accolade this year. Society Café is the casino's coffee shop, so it's more convenient and reasonably priced than its sister restaurants.

Q: You included Bette Midler in your list of big-name performers with ongoing shows in Las Vegas, but I've heard she's gone.

She's not gone yet, but is leaving soon. Midler's final performance of "The Showgirl Must Go On" will be Jan. 31. It will mark the end of her two-year residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. There's no word as yet as to who will fill her shoes.