The one, the only, the Divine.
Photo: AP Photo

by Beata Loyfman

What's hotter than the desert in the summer? Las Vegas, of course! That's why we've trolled the strip to select the best of the best for September's "Seven Deadly Sins." With one for every day of the week, you'll never be at a loss for sinful pleasures. Wrath Wednesdays, anyone?

Although Vegas had enough T&A on display to last me a lifetime, my most memorable experience in Sin City was an interview with the newest Queen of Vegas, the Divine Bette Midler. Currently rocking Caesars Palace with her extravaganza "The Showgirl Must Go On," Miss M took the time out of her insane schedule to tell us her formula for staying fabulously fit and gorgeous:

CNT: How has Vegas been treating you?
Bette Midler: My husband and I are crazy about it. We're real foodies. So we go out to many restaurants on the Strip but also to the Chinatown Plaza, which is one of the biggest I've ever seen. I love to lunch there.

CNT: Your show is so high-intensity. How do you do it every night?
Bette Midler: Well, it's very interesting. Now that I've started, I'm in much better shape than when I was just rehearsing, because when I was rehearsing I was doing all of it: a little directing, a little writing, a little arranging, helping with the clothes. I put my imprint on every single aspect of the show. So I didn't have the time to do the workouts and the real hard dancing. And now that I'm doing that, the weight is just falling off. I have a routine that I do every night, almost like a ritual, as many entertainers do to keep themselves healthy and strong. In addition, I have to run around for an hour and a half on a 120-foot stage every night. It's a little bit extreme, I have to admit. But I'm okay. As long as you don't drink too much and you build up your strength and your stamina, you'll be fine.

CNT: How do you unwind after the show?
Bette Midler: I've taken to going to the spa Qua here at Caesars. They offer a huge array of services, like fantastic mineral water pools in three temperatures, which are extraordinary. There are also non-mineral water pools on the property, which I kind of avoid because the chlorine takes all the color out of my hair. They have a fabulous steam room and a frigidarium, which is modeled on the Roman bath. The services are excellent. The beauty shop is fantastic. I've been there for mani/pedis many times. And the massages are really good too. As you can see, I have a weakness for spa life.

CNT: What do you do on your days off?
Bette Midler: Days off? Are you kidding? I'm sleeping. Or in the spa. I'm usually wiped out. The problem with days off is that when you let everything go it's so hard to get back into harness again.

"The Showgirl Must Go On" is at Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S. For tickets, call 877-732-8836.

Further reading:
* Las Vegas and the Seven Deadly Sins
* Video: Dining in Las Vegas