"It's my passion," she said.

It's also a big chunk of her retirement nest egg, she said, with her front-row seats at The Colosseum going for $225 each. Add airfare, tickets for friends, food and the home she bought at Lake Las Vegas, not far from Dion's, and the cost of pursuing her passion is steep. "Let's not talk about that," said Almirez, a Johnson & Johnson executive.

She surpassed 100 shows during a visit a week ago.

"I'll be in severe depression when she leaves" in December, she said.

Almirez plans to continue following Dion to her concerts when she heads out on a one-year tour. She's already got tickets to Dion's May 24-25 concert in Paris next year.

Dion welcomed Almirez backstage for champagne and cake to mark the 100th show.

A VEGAS VIGNETTE

Desert Cab driver Dave Shoemaker witnessed a new standard for hard partyers.

About 10:30 a.m. Sunday, he picked up three young ladies at Seamless strip club and was asked to stop at a grocery store on the way to their hotel.

The good-time girls, who said they had partied for 20 hours, came out of the store with cups of coffee and a fifth of vodka. After pouring half the coffee on the sidewalk, they used the hood of the cab as a temporary bar to add vodka to their coffees.

Then it was off to their hotel to pick up their clothes and to McCarran International Airport via Shoemaker's cab to catch a Los Angeles flight.

"That's hard-core," Shoemaker said. "I've seen people come out of clubs later than that, but they're usually done for the day."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt-Bono and longtime restaurateur George La Forge were honored Saturday at the Las Vegas Food and Beverage Directors Association charity dinner at Treasure Island. Hunt-Bono, who owns the Bootlegger Bistro, received the Autrui Award in recognition of her commitment to the Las Vegas community. La Forge, who opened Pamplemousse in 1976 after years as one of the city's more popular maitre d's, was honored with the culinary achievement award.

SIGHTINGS

At "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular" (Venetian) on Saturday: "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, Hans Klok and Meg Tilly. ... At Pure (Caesars Palace) on Saturday: singer Nelly Furtado, actor Vince Vaughn, actress/singer Haylie Duff, actor/director Jon Favreau, actress Missy Peregrym, model/volleyball player Gabrielle Reece, Junior Seau (New England Patriots), Willie McGinest (Cleveland Browns), Jared Allen (Kansas City Chiefs) and Robert Horry (San Antonio Spurs). ... Dethroned UFC star Chuck Liddell, being followed into N9ne Steakhouse (Palms) by a flock of fans Saturday after the UFC event at The Pearl. ... Illusionist Criss Angel, and Posdnuos and Trugoy of the music group De La Soul, with separate parties Saturday at Body English (Hard Rock Hotel). ... Horry, dining Saturday at the bar at T-bones Chophouse (Red Rock Resort). ... Tilly and boyfriend/poker star Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, at McMullan's Irish Pub, taking in the cover band Acoustic Soul. They requested that the band play "Cocaine Blues" by Johnny Cash. ... Duff, Peregrym, Seau and boxer Sergio Mora, lounging Saturday at Venus Pool Club (Caesars). ... At the Golden Rainbow fundraiser Sunday at Bally's: Siegfried Fischbacher, Lynette Chappelle and Steve and Elaine Wynn. ... Teller, of Penn & Teller, taking in Lance Burton's show (Monte Carlo) on Friday with legendary magician Johnny "The Great Tomsoni" Thompson and his wife, Pam. Burton marked his 11th anniversary at the Monte Carlo on Thursday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"In Santa Cruz County, Arizona, a child molester was sentenced to 6,242 years in prison. He is trying to get transferred to Los Angeles where, with good behavior, he will be out in 23 days." -- Jay Leno

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.