COLUMN: Shooting stars, Carol Cling

      Thanks for the memories.
      That's the theme today at the Cyber City Cafe on Maryland Parkway, where a crew from cable television's The Learning Channel will focus on "Understanding the Mysteries of Memory."
      From 8 p.m. to midnight, various Las Vegans will discuss the topic for a segment of The Learning Channel series "Understanding," one of two TLC shows produced by the Cronkite-Ward Co. (Yes, the Cronkite in the title is none other than legendary retired CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite.)
      "Understanding" officials have been in Las Vegas since Friday, pre-interviewing locals for today's taping, according to associate producer Cecile Bouchardeau.
      Earlier today, they were scheduled to shoot additional footage in the Sun City Summerlin neighborhood.
      "We wanted to show seniors who are active," she explains.
      Married couples also will be interviewed about their memories of how they first met their spouses, to determine whether their memories match.
      And a physician who's "a specialist on aging and memory," attending an anti-aging conference here, also will be part of The Learning Channel's Vegas visit.
      "We're shooting 15 different locations" for the show, Bouchardeau says, "but this is our most fun one, I must say."
      A researcher found one the Cyber City Cafe location during an Internet search on the topic of "cognitive enhancers," better known as "smart drinks," Bouchardeau notes.
      The "Understanding" team was "looking for a `smart bar' " in which to film, "and there are not that many left," she points out.
      Bouchardeau, producer Marijo Dowd and camera operator Foster Wiley traveled to Las Vegas from their base in Washington, D.C., while sound technician Randy Farrow is a local addition to the crew.
      The Cyber City Cafe, 3945 S. Maryland Parkway, is located in the Target shopping center at the corner of Maryland Parkway and Flamingo Road.
      The public is invited to watch the taping -- and to sample some of the "power drinks" and "memory drinks" that will be discussed on the show, according to Cyber City's Joe Kendall.
      "Understanding the Mysteries of Memory," to be narrated by Jane Curtin, is scheduled for a June 28 telecast on The Learning Channel, Bouchardeau notes.
      Lest you think Las Vegas has lost its edge as the party-time capital of the world, however, another of the week's location visitors will pay homage to the Neon Nirvana we all know and love.
      A music video featuring British hip-hop artist Jimmy Ray -- performing the aptly titled "Going to Las Vegas" -- is scheduled to spend Tuesday and Wednesday on location in scenic Southern Nevada.
      And the itinerary extends well beyond the Strip, according to Nancy Hehn of Clark County's business license office.
      First, the 20-member crew from London's Handbag Films will film at a bar in the Jean/Goodsprings area, where locals will serve as extras.
      A helicopter will land outside the bar and pick up the star of the show -- along with two costumed showgirls -- for a scenic flight to the Circus Circus heliport, Hehn explains. The video's concluding scenes will be filmed inside a Circus Circus suite, where Ray will perform the conclusion of "Going to Las Vegas."
      What a way to go.
      Catching up with recent shoots, two members of the extended Wayans comedy clan spent last week at the Valley of Fire shooting a major Pepsi-Cola commercial, according to Robin Holabird, acting director of the Nevada Motion Picture Division.
      And in our coming attractions file, NMPD officials recently completed location scouts for two upcoming projects, according to assistant director Erik Joseph.
      The first -- a popular network drama -- is expected in town at the end of January. And a feature from Disney (the wonderful folks who brought you "Con Air") is scheduled for a late spring start, Joseph reports.