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     This weekend is traditionally one of the busiest of the year, thanks to a certain pro football championship game that people love to watch in Vegas. This year, however, there's also a live UFC event, so there's a full slate of "kickoff parties" to choose from all weekend long!

     It starts on Friday, Feb. 3, with pre-fight parties. Forest Griffin hosts at Lavo inside the Palazzo and RYU premium performance apparel is hosting a bash at Wynn Las Vegas' Tryst. OTM Fight Shops is holding its pre-fight event at Luxor's LAX.

     There are plenty of football-related pre-game events, too, including the Super Party at Rain inside the Palms, the Big Game Weekend Kick-Off with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models at 1OAK at The Mirage, the Big Game's Biggest Party at Planet Hollywood's Gallery Nightclub and the Big Game Weekend Celebration at Chateau inside Paris Las Vegas.

     Other huge Friday night events include Apl.De.Ap performing at TAO inside The Venetian, Alesso spinning at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas' XS Nightclub and Gabriel & Dresden at Marquee at the Cosmopolitan.

     On Saturday night, the UFC 143 After Party with Georges St. Pierre is at Tryst and RPM Nightclub hosts its Fight After Party with DJ Benji and Joel Madden. LL Cool J and Z-Trip host the closing party for Studio 54 at the MGM Grand.

     The 4^th Annual Cheer Bowl takes place at The Bank at Bellagio, while Kelly Rowland performs at PURE inside Caesars Palace and Vanilla Ice takes the stage at LAX.

     Tiesto spins at XS Nightclub, Zen Freeman and Mark Stylz provide the beats at the Palms' Ghostbar, Richard Durand spins at Rain and Kaskade is on the 1s and 2s at Marquee.

     Close out the weekend on Sunday with the continuation of the Cheer Bowl at The Bank and Ghostbar Sundays with PJ Produkt.

     Knockdowns, touchdowns and nightlife you won't find anywhere else - only in Vegas!

 Everyone makes New Year's resolutions, and most of the time, they don't last. This year, try a different approach: Enjoy a little Las Vegas indulgence first, and then you'll be ready to stick to your New Year's pledges.

For example, if you have a sweet tooth and are committed to cutting back on treats, hey, that's commendable. But before you do, enjoy one last round of delicious desserts at the Sugar Factory inside Paris Las Vegas or Ghirardelli's at Carnaval Court, the outdoor promenade at Harrah's Las Vegas.

Suppose you vow to save money by eating out less this year. Again, that's admirable - but that's no reason to give up your culinary cravings completely, so take a January trip to Vegas and enjoy a few more award-winning restaurants, then start your resolutions in February. We won't tell.

Perhaps you're a sports fan whose significant other claims you are spending too much time in front of the TV so you've promised to cut back on your sports viewing? Well, get one last screen-fest in with football playoffs, college and pro basketball, and hockey all going on simultaneously on huge screens throughout luxurious Vegas sports books.

Your resolutions can wait. After all, you can't break one if you haven't started it yet. So enjoy a little Vegas and then your New Year's commitments will be easier to keep!

Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel is now known as the D Las Vegas.

   The pro football championship game - you know the one, with the Roman numeral at the end - is approaching and other than 50-yard line seats, the best place to watch the game is Las Vegas, where you'll always have a great seat for exciting sports action!

Catch every big play throughout the postseason at Las Vegas' luxurious sports lounges. You can also kick your sports viewing experience up a notch at Lagasse's Stadium at The Palazzo. Combine the signature cuisine of Emeril Lagasse with more than 100 HD TVs, luxury boxes, stadium-style seating, billiard tables and an outdoor patio just a few steps from the Strip. Bam! The remodeled sports book at Bally's Las Vegas offers great viewing and plenty of food choices to make the experience as memorable as the game itself.

If you enjoy hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports, the Las Vegas International Sportsmen's Expo, from Feb. 2 - 4, is an event you won't want to miss. Vendors will showcase the hottest products on the market for outdoor enthusiasts at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Watch the world's top Sevens Rugby players get down and dirty Feb. 10 - 12 at the 2012 USA Sevens International Rugby tournament at Sam Boyd Stadium. From the opening ceremonies at the Fremont Street Experience to the International Fan Fest to the fast-paced action, it's the biggest Sevens Rugby action in the U.S. Afterward, head downtown for a night out on East Fremont Street and book a stay at a vintage hotel including The Plaza, Golden Gate, Golden Nugget or, if you're lucky, the popular D Hotel.

The clown princes of basketball are bringing their unique brand of skills and humor to Vegas on Feb. 15 - catch the one and only Harlem Globetrotters at The Orleans. More hoops excitement follows in the coming weeks with the men's and women's college basketball championship tournaments, so make your plans now to be a part of the sports madness in Vegas!

In this week's Vegas Minute -- which you can watch below and which can also be found, along with many of our signature Las Vegas commercials, on our official YouTube channel -- Mirage headliner Terry Fator isn't just giving lip service to his revamped show. Also, don't miss The Strokes at the Cosmopolitan and it's a great time for sports fans, too. Go golfing at any of Vegas' championship courses and catch Big League Weekend along with all of the action of college basketball's championship tournament in Las Vegas' luxurious sportsbooks. Plan your trip at LasVegas.com. Vegas Minute produced by Vegas.com.