The city famous for getting the green is now going for another kind of green. Several of the biggest casino companies are aggressively pursuing so-called "green initiatives" aimed at preserving the environment through sustainable business practices. Not that they're there yet, but in a recent Newsweek ranking of the top 500 green companies in America, three Las Vegas casino companies made the cut: the Las Vegas Sands at No. 128, MGM Mirage at No. 184 and Wynn Resorts at No. 176.

Leading the way for the LV Sands is Palazzo, currently the highest-rated energy and environmental design (LEED) building in the nation, with CityCenter striving for LEED certification for all its elements. And while it didn't make the list, Las Vegas' oldest casino, the Golden Gate, is holding up its end by switching entirely to geothermal power for its hot water.

BREAKFAST BOUNCED: The M Resort has eliminated breakfast in its buffet. The lunch and dinner buffets are still among the best in town.

BRASSERIE BOLTING: The Daniel Boulud Brasserie, the Las Vegas outpost of the star chef for whom it's named, will close next April when its five-year operating agreement with Wynn Las Vegas is up. No word yet on what will take its place.

GARTH IS IN: It's official. Country superstar Garth Brooks will begin performing at Encore on Dec. 11. There will be one show a night on Fridays and Sundays and two on Saturday nights, with tickets at $125.

Q: Are the women who are billed as big poker players on the TV show "The Amazing Race" for real? I've never heard of them.

A. They're for real. Tiffany Michelle made a deep run in the World Series main event in 2008, finishing 17th, and Maria Ho was the last woman standing in the main event in 2007.

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