Most of us have already celebrated the beginning of 2012, but the end of this month marks the beginning of Chinese New Year. The Chinese culture celebrates each New Year according to the lunar calendar which is why the date fluctuates from year to year. January 23 marks the beginning of the celebration for the auspicious Year of the Dragon.

The Dragon is the most powerful of all 12 signs in the Chinese Zodiac, which associates an animal to each calendar year. Everyone born in 2012 will be considered a Dragon. Dragons are said to be dominant, ambitious, driven, willing to take risks and unafraid of challenges. These strong character traits are said to cause an increase in births for every Dragon Year. Dragons are also said to be charismatic leaders. In the year 2000 the birth rate in China spiked and is expected to do the same this year.

Each Dragon Year is also associated with one of the five elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth). 2012 is the year of the Water Dragon. Water Dragons are able to see things from other points of view. They don't have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow others to become involved.

To kick-off the two week celebration a traditional Dragon Dance will be held on Monday, January 23 at 6pm to bring good luck and fortune for our guests. A 63 foot-long dragon will feature adult and baby lion dancers, buddhas, musicians and festive flags and will make its way through our entire casino.

Studio B Buffet will feature eight hard-to-resist New Year specialties. Until February 6 you can feast on Meatballs with Bok Choy, Poached Chicken with Ginger and Scallions, Spinach and Bamboo Shoots, Beef Lo Mein, Tofu and Eggplant with Black Bean Sauce, Lettuce Wraps, Mandarin Oranges with Leaves and Spring Rolls. Our bars will also be serving up specialty cocktails, a Lychee Martini and a Mulan cocktail.

Starting this Friday our limited edition Year of the Dragon gaming chip will be available. Keep the good luck coming and purchase the chip at our casino cage for $8. The chips will be available until supplies last.

You can use your commemorative Dragon Chip in our Poker Room for their Live Poker Lucky 8's promotion. From January 23 – 30 enjoy 8 days of great poker action. Flop four 8's and win $888. Make four 8's and receive $88. Plus, the first 88 players that make 8's full receive a collectible Year of the Dragon Gaming Chip. Play live poker every day at 8:08am and 8:08pm and a random lucky player will receive $88!

If you've celebrated Chinese New Year before or if this is your first time for the occasion we hope you take part in the festivities at our resort!

Party

We think cover charges are overrated so we invite our guests to celebrate without waiting in line or paying an entry fee. We'll be offering complimentary party favors, and cake and champagne stations throughout our casino. Toast the New Year with us and enjoy live entertainment beginning at 9pm in Lobby Bar, Ravello Lounge, M Bar and Hostile Grape. See which venue is the right fit for your celebration style.

Ravello Lounge - The New Year's evening will kick off in our lounge with go-go dancers and a DJ spinning hits to get the party started, beginning at 9pm. At 10pm, 80's tribute band Loveshack will take the stage and sing the best of the 80's and 90's and some NYE-style party music. The entertainment in Ravello will be going all night long and is ideal for our high-energy party goers.

Lobby Bar - Relax at Lobby Bar and take in a performance by Lowkey Junction. The band is a unique blend of masterful music mixes, live percussion and saxophone. With the best people-watching views, Lobby Bar is the perfect fit for a relaxed New Year's celebration.

M Bar - For those who like to be at the center of all the action, M Bar is for you. Located in the middle of our casino floor, DJ Simon and go-go dancers will be kicking off this party at 9pm. Get there early for a seat on M Bar's cushy couches or get your groove on to the tunes DJ Simon will be spinning.

Hostile Grape - Take a sip of more than 160 wines by the glass in our underground wine hideaway. Veteran DJ Art will be mixing up the music for the night for the oenophiles.

Play

End the year with good luck here at M! We'll be giving away $24,000 in free pay randomly beginning at 8pm on New Year's Eve. Every 15 minutes we'll be drawing 10 winners. Two players will win $300, four players will win $150 and another four will win $100. All you have to do is play with your iMagine Rewards Card to be eligible.

Not to be outdone, our poker room will be giving away a grand share of money as well. Play with us and you could win the following: Heart Royal = $2,012; Club Royal = $2,012; Diamond Royal = $2,012 and Spade Royal = $2,012. All Four of a Kinds = $212 and the poker room will have $2,012 in cash giveaways. Complete details can be found in the M Poker Room.

Dine

Our restaurants will be ready for you to kick-off the New Year's festivities. Marinelli's, our authentic Italian restaurant will be offering a la carte specialty items in addition to its regular menu beginning at 4pm and our steakhouse, Anthony's will be serving up a limited menu for the holiday starting at 5 pm. And of course, Studio B Buffet will be serving specialty dishes all day.

No matter which way you decide to spend your holiday night, we hope to have you at M to celebrate 2012! We wish all of our guests a happy and safe New Year.

Las Vegas may be known for its lights year-round but during the Holiday season we like to kick it up another notch. We're decking our halls, trimming our trees and transforming our resort with our annual display of Holiday d?cor. Tis' the season to fill M with holiday cheer from top to bottom and we're able to do so with a little help from Ralph Jones Display Company.

Decorating a resort our size definitely doesn't happen overnight. It takes a team of 12 people over two and a half days to adorn our property for the Holiday season. They use lifts, ladders, lights, garland and more to festoon M for holiday festivities in hues of champagnes, reds and browns.

Think you've got a tall tree? Our holiday display includes two 14-foot trees with oversized custom glass ornaments. From the ceiling of our lobby we have 15-20 foot garland drops, also embellished with oversized glass ornaments.

Hanging above the entrance of our porte-cochere, inside and out are giant wreathes, wrapped in lights, ribbons and ornaments. On the lobby floor you can see a full sleigh on display, filled with presents and complete with reindeer.

We invite you to stop by M to see our holiday decorations in person. They will be on display until January 1. For more holiday happenings at M, join us on December 20, for our Menorah Lighting Ceremony. We'll mark the first night of Hanukkah in our lobby with a giant menorah lighting. Watch the ceremony and enjoy hot chocolate and sugar cookies.

We wish you the happiest of holiday seasons and hope to see you at the M soon!

Be prepared to drink, dance and flirt the night away in the sexiest wine bar in Vegas while indulging in drinks and a buffet spread of decadent chocolate desserts and other delicious sweet treats. A Hostile Grape favorite – DJ Frank Rempe – will be spinning the hot dance club hits throughout the night.

And just like last year, ladies wearing their sexiest red stilettos will receive a complimentary bottle of wine while supplies last. Cover for the party is just $20 and includes:

• Choice of two cocktails, select beers or select wine
• A trip to the decadent buffet of chocolate desserts and other sweet treats
• Live DJ entertainment featuring DJ Frank Rempe

If you're "coupled" and looking for something a little more romantic, be sure to check out the special Valentine's Day menus for our fine dining restaurants - Veloce Cibo, Terzetto and Marinelli's - available Monday, February 14. There aren't many reservation spots left, so call as soon as possible - 702-797-1000.

29 January 1903 - 15 February 1904

14 February 1915 - 2 February 1916

2 February 1927 - 22 January 1928

19 February 1939 - 7 February 1940

6 February 1951 - 26 January 1952

25 January 1963 - 12 February 1964

11 February 1975 - 30 January 1976

29 January 1987 - 16 February 1988

16 February 1999 - 4 February 2000

3 February 2011 - 22 January 2012

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. They are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. People born in the Year of the Rabbit seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog.

Now about that celebrating. As one of the only locals casinos celebrating the Chinese New Year, we're inviting locals and tourists alike to celebrate the Chinese New Year with some with festive d?cor including tangerine trees, welcome banners, lanterns and 8 selections of Asian favorites like Satsuma, spring rolls, Beef Lo Mein and more at our award-winning Studio B Buffet beginning February 3.

In addition a Year of the Rabbit collectible chip is available for purchase at the casino cage for $8 while supplies last. The poker room will offer special promotions including flop four 8s and win $888, make four 8s and receive $88 and the first 88 players that make 8s receive a collectible Year of the Rabbit Gaming Chip. Plus, play live poker every day from 8:08 am to 8:08 pm and a random lucky player will receive $88.

On Friday, February 11, M will host a traditional Chinese lion and dragon dance performed by the Lohan School of Shaolin. The dance will include a 30-person assembly with a 63-foot dragon including adult and baby lion dancers, Buddhas, musicians and festive flags. It will begin in the lobby to chase away evil spirits, continue through the casino floor, past the High Limit Salon, buffet, poker room and table games and end back at the lobby.

It was another great year of events, concerts and holiday happenings. Our 1^st Anniversary was definitely a hit and it was so much fun to celebrate with all our guests and Team Members. Our pool was also quite a hit again this year - our locals and visitors coming out to enjoy the amazing resort feel and extra long season we enjoyed. And if Italian food is your passion, our 2^nd Annual Italian Festival served up some of the best Italian fare to be found in the city (as well as some pretty hilarious spaghetti eating and grape stomping contests)! From outdoor concerts to football parties and holiday celebrations, there was always something good happening at M.

We also had a lot to be thankful for in 2010. Our amazing Team Members once again provided exceptional guest service and helped us earn our second consecutive Forbes Four-Star Award. We also earned some serious accolades here locally from the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Best of Las Vegas Reader's Poll including "Best Buffet", "Best Sports Book", "Best Cocktail Waitresses", and the coveted "Best Local Hotel". This of course wouldn't have been possible without all our locals voting for us so thank you.

Which leads us to thanking all of our guests - locals and visitors alike - for your patronage and support throughout 2010. M Resort Spa Casino is an amazing property, but it's nothing without all of you. We continue to strive to provide outstanding guest service, the best dining, resort amenities, entertainment and gaming to you and we can't thank you enough for in turn providing us with your business.

We're looking forward to an amazing 2011 and we hope you'll be a part of it here with us at M Resort. Enjoy the holiday and we'll see you next year.

Here at M we're inviting guests young and old to enjoy our Forbes Four-Star resort your way with a celebration to suit every taste and all price points. With no cover charges or pre fixe menus, you’re free to dine at your leisure, dance the night away or enjoy the thrill of red-hot gaming action and a champagne toast at midnight.

We’ll offer complimentary party favors and cake and champagne stations throughout the property's 92,000 square foot casino and live entertainment in the Lobby Bar, entertainment lounge, Ravello, and popular wine bar, Hostile Grape, which features more than 160 wines by the glass. A designated area outside Hostile Grape in Villaggio Del Sole pool piazza will be set-up for those who want to leisurely party by the pool.

With a vantage point 400 feet above the Las Vegas Strip properties, you’re invited to view the fireworks from the M Resort's six terraces including our 16th floor restaurant, Veloce Cibo. All three of our fine dining restaurants, Marinelli's, Terzetto and Veloce Cibo, will accept reservations for the evening and will offer standard menus. Hash House A Go Go will add special items to its popular "twisted farm food" menu for the evening.

DINING

ENTERTAINMENT

Lobby Bar - 7pm Mark B

So join us for dining, drinking, dancing and gaming at the best New Year's Eve party in Vegas here at M Resort!

CHRISTMAS TO GO

Package Price $249.95

Serves 8 – Includes tax and service charge

Order by December 22

Please meet us at the rear loading dock between

1pm – 4pm Saturday, December 25

No On-Site Purchases

Soup

Lobster Corn Chowder

Main Course

Roasted Prime Rib of Beef with Au Jus and Creamed Horseradish

Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and White Cheddar

Honey Dill Carrots

Asparagus with Lemon Zest

Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Onion

Hawaiian Sweet Rolls and Honey Butter

Dessert

Apple, Cranberry, Orange Streusel Pie

Chocolate Truffle Cake

Holiday Cookies

STUDIO B BUFFET - 9am to 9pm

Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25 (One Day Only)

(Studio B will return to normal hours of operation on Sunday, December 26)

Adults $29.99 per person

Children 5-8 $22.99 per person

A selection of the more than 200 items available:

BEER and WINE INCLUDED!

Roasted Turkey Breast

Yukon Gold Mashed potato

Giblet Gravy

Cranberry and Chestnut Stuffing

Green Beans Casserole

Roasted Turkey (dark meat)

Oysters on the Half Shell

Snow Crab Legs

Hot Crab Legs

Cocktail Shrimp

Maple Glazed Sweet Potato

Herb Roasted Leg of Lamb

Fried Chicken

Lyonnaise Potato

Creamed Corn

Chicken Florentine

Brussels Sprouts with Roasted Shallots

Carrots Vichy

Roasted Porkloin with Mushroom Brandy Sauce

Herb Rubbed Prime Rib of Beef and Tri-Tip of Beef

Smoked Pork Loin with Chipotle-Pineapple Sauce

Poached Swai Filet and Zucchini-Eggplant Caponata

MARINELLI'S – 5pm to 10pm

Salad

Insalata di Granchio e Farro, tossed lump crab meat with baby arugula, farro, red onions, cherry tomatoes and mustard vinaigrette…$12

Main Course

Spaghetti di Nero al Arragosta, homemade squid ink spaghetti, Main lobster and arugula in a light tomato sauce…$28

Coda di Rospo con Fave e Prosciutto, pan seared prosciutto wrapped monkfish on a bed of roasted potatoes and sauteed oyster mushrooms with fava beans, diced tomatoes in a white wine sauce…$30

Vitello Delmonico, grilled 14 oz. veal Delmonico steak with pan roasted fingerling potatoes and pancetta drizzled with extra virgin olive oil…$38

Dessert

Panetone con Cioccolato, warm homemade Italian panetone filled with chocolate nutella and cr?me anglaise…$10

VELOCE CIBO - 5pm to 11pm

Soup

Green and White Asparagus Soup, herbed crab dumplings $10

Appetizer

Red Wine Poached Foie Gras Torchon, port poached Bosc pear and shallot jam $21

Main Course

Dijon and Herb Crusted Pork Loin, vanilla bean roasted baby fennel, Peruvian potatoes, apples, pears, Calvados sauce $30

Petrole Sole Stuffed with Lobster, butternut gratin, crustacean cream $34

Dessert

Eggnog Creme Brulee, gingersnap crust $8

Please note Terzetto will not be featuring a Christmas menu but will have specials for the evening.

It just so happens that Vinnie the Barber, our Master Barber here at M Resort, offers what is called a "Master Shave." (And by the way, right now one of Spa Mio’s specials is that you get a complimentary haircut with your Master Shave!) Let us tell you, this isn't just a shave - it really is an experience. The process is incredibly involved and it's also incredibly relaxing. It's something not many people have done or may ever get to do in their lives because there just aren't that many master barbers out there doing it anymore. But rather than tell you more, we thought we'd go experience one for ourselves and capture it on video, so take a look at the video and then get one for dad, son, brother or grandpa because we bet it's something they'll really enjoy:

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.*

Since today is about giving thanks, we also thought it was important to share with you what we're thankful for here at M Resort. We're thankful for you our guests - without you, there is no M Resort. We thank you for your patronage of the property and all the kind words and gestures you've shared with us throughout the year. We're thankful for our Team Members - like our guests, without them there is no M Resort. We've been awarded and have become known for our incredible level of guest service and that's due to our amazing Team Members. We're thankful for all of you who have visited Las Vegas this year. It's been a challenging year for the country, but especially for Las Vegas, so thank you for visiting our wonderful city. Finally, we're thankful for our family and friends - and whether you're spending the holiday here with us, at home or somewhere else, we hope you're surrounded by yours.

Happy Thanksgiving

*Source: History.com