Things to Do in Paradise/Downtown May 1-7

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

The Nevada Ballet Theatre plans to celebrate 40 years with a special performance planned for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. The performance is set to include George Balanchine's classic "Serenade" and a collaboration between the NBT and Caesars Palace headliner Matt Goss. Tickets start at $47. A $507 ticket includes a special gala reception with the artists following the performance. Call 749-2000 or visit nevadaballet.org.

A free Science Expo Day, the culmination of the Las Vegas Science Festival, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Visit lasvegassciencefestival.com.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild is slated to host a benefit luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Four Seasons, 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets are $85, which includes a champagne reception and lunch. Call 258-5438 or email Harriet Hayward at harriethayward@yahoo.com.

The California Hotel, 12 E. Ogden Ave., is slated to host the 15th annual Lei Day Polynesian Festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The event is free and open to the public. The festival is scheduled to feature Hawaiian-inspired food and live entertainment, including a concert with musicians Gary Haleamau and Kawili, Na Palapalai and Kupaoa. Tickets to the concert are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Call 388-2705 or visit thecal.com.

Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans a Filipino Festival from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the southwest parking lot behind H&M. The festival, which is free and open to the public, is set to feature live music, carnival rides and more. Call 269-5000 or visit mytownsquare
lasvegas.com.

The Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, plans to host a Cinco de Mayo mariachi concert with performers from the Clark County School District mariachi music program at 7 p.m. Friday in the main theater. Call 507-3400 or visit lvccld.org.

The Elks Helldorado Days art show is on display from noon to 5 p.m. daily through Saturday at the Elks Lodge, 4100 W. Charleston Blvd. A public art auction and reception sponsored by Potter Law Office is planned from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the lodge. Proceeds will benefit New Vista Ranch. Visit elksheldorado.com or call 870-1221.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Conservatory Theatre plans to present "A Funny Thing That Happened on the Way to the Forum," a play directed and choreographed by Rick and Tammy Pessagno, at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Judy Bayley Theatre, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $20 to $30. Call 895-2787 or visit pac.unlv.edu.

The Rainbow Company plans to present "Sleeping Beauty" at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. Showtimes are slated for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for teenagers, seniors and military personnel and $3 for children 12 or younger. Call 229-6553 or 229-6383, or visit artslasvegas.org.

The Insurgo Theater and Chaos Theatre Company plan to present "Reefer Madness: The Musical" at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through May 12 at the Plaza, 1 S. Main St. Tickets are $29.99 for general admission and $19.99 for locals. Call 772-3897 or visit insurgotheater.org.

The first full weekend of every month, Bank of America cardholders receive free admission to museums and attractions nationwide. Local attractions participating include: the Springs Preserve, the Lied Discovery Children's Museum and the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. Only the cardholder is admitted free, and adults visiting Lied must be accompanied by children. Visit museums.bankofamerica.com.

Worth a Drive

The annual Clark County Strut Your Mutt canine competition is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Desert Breeze Park, 8275 Spring Mountain Road. Admission is $2, though the fee is waived if a pet product is donated. Entry for contests is $2. Call 455-8200 or visit strutyourmuttlv.com.

The Steampunk Photo Odyssey and Fashion Show is set for 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Clark County Museum, 1830 S. Boulder Highway. Steampunk enthusiasts can dress in their favorite fashions, and photographers can take pictures of vintage-clad models on the grounds of the museum. Tickets start at $10 and vary for photographers, models and fashion show admission. Visit retroscopefashions.com/SPO/SPO.html.

"Xenia Goes West," the true life story of Russian prima ballerina and Holocaust survivor Xenia Chlistowa, is to be performed by the CSN Dance Ensemble and Concert Dance Company and the Nevada Repertory Dance Theater at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday in the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre at the College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors with valid ID. Receptions follow each performance. Call 651-5483 or visit csn.edu/pac.

The Craig Marketplace Art Festival, featuring more than 50 artist booths, a children's art area and an exhibit of Latino artists in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Craig Marketplace shopping plaza on Craig Road at Tenaya Way west of U.S. Highway 95. Admission is free. Visit vegasartwalk.com.

The Myron Heaton Chorale plans to perform the spring concert "An Instrument Of Thy Peace" at 7 p.m. Sunday at The Lakes Lutheran Church, 8200 W. Sahara Ave., to benefit Lutheran Social Services of Nevada. Tickets at $10 and are available at the church office. Call 363-2515 or visit myronheatonchorale.org.

Kevin Stout is set to lead College of Southern Nevada's student jazz ensembles in an afternoon of jazz standards at 2 p.m. Sunday in the BackStage Theatre at the College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors with valid ID. Call 651-5483 or visit csn.edu/pac.

Roos-N-More, a nonprofit zoo that houses exotic animals for educational purposes, has scheduled open zoo days at its Moapa facility from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $10. Visit roosnmore.org or call 467-3585.

The Spring Jamboree is set for Saturday and Sunday at 401 California Ave., Boulder City. The event is to feature arts and crafts, collectibles, food, live entertainment, a car show and more. Visit springjamboree.com.

Heaven Can Wait Animal Society is scheduled to host its annual Gimme Shelter fundraiser at 7 p.m. Saturday on the floating stage at The Village at Lake Las Vegas, 15 Costa di Lago. Landsharks, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, is set to perform, and the first 100 guests 21 or older can receive a free pint of beer. Tickets are $20.

J.R. Pony Parties, an educational farm, welcomes the public to visit from 10 a.m. to noon during Open Gate Days scheduled for today, May 15 and 28 at 1753 Fairhaven Ave. Admission is $5, which includes pony rides, visits to the goat barn and more. Visit jrponyparties.com or call 631-4142.

"Spearminted" by Erica Griffin is set to run at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Fridays and at 2 p.m. Sundays through May 15 in the Fischer Black Box in the Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. Tickets are $15 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. Visit lvlt.org.

Ongoing Events

The Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., plans to showcase "Trash to Treasure: The Sculptures of Dave Thompson" through May 20. Thompson's work features metal and discarded items turned into sculptures. Call 822-7700 or visit springspreserve.org.

"Curious George: Let's Get Curious!," a touring exhibit featuring the monkey made famous in film, television and books, is scheduled to visit the Lied Discovery Children's Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, through May 13. Visit ldcm.org.

The Bet on the Farm! Farmers Market is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Admission is free. Most farmers accept only cash. Visit springspreserve.org or betonthefarm.com or call 822-7700.

SPACE: A Journey to our Future" is scheduled to be on display through May 13 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. The touring exhibit features lunar samples, a moon scale and various interactive, educational features on the universe. Visit springspreserve.org or call 822-7700.

Happy Hour Improv is scheduled to host a "Jam Session" from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at Theatre7, 1406 S. Third St. For a $10, cash-only fee, audience members will have an opportunity to participate in the improv show. Visit happyhourimprov.com or call 372-3201.

"Mama's Fabric," an exhibit by John Broussard, is set to be on display through Saturday at the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. The exhibit is focused on community organizer Beatrice Dixon, Broussard's mother, who had a passion for sewing fabrics given to her as gifts. The exhibit includes Broussard's photographs of diverse Americans and Dixon's fabrics to tell her story. Visit lasvegasnevada.gov or call 229-4800.

Jest Serendipity Improv is set to perform at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at the Alexis Park Resort, 375 E. Harmon Ave. The show is limited to adults 21 or older, and tickets are $29.95. Visit jestserendipity.com.

Plan ahead

The Knights of Columbus plan an all-ages Saturday Night Stomp swing dance party the second Saturday of most months at 911 E. Ogden Ave. Lessons are scheduled at 7 p.m. and social dancing is set to run from 8 p.m. to midnight. The dress code prohibits jeans. Upcoming themes include: Prom, May 12; Superhero, June 9; Seven Seas, July 14; 1920s, Aug. 18; 1950s, Sept. 8; Masquarade, Oct. 13; USO, Nov. 10; Holiday, Dec. 8. Admission is $5, cash only. Visit saturdaynightstomp.com.

Super Summer Theatre plans to begin its 2012 season with performances of "A Grand Night for Singing," planned for 7 p.m. May 18 and 19 at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, 10 miles west of the Las Vegas Beltway on state Route 159 (Charleston Boulevard). Parking opens at 5 p.m., and meadow seating opens at 6 p.m. Enjoy a fun family evening filled with popular songs from Broadway hits such as "Oklahoma!," "Carousel," "South Pacific" and "The Sound of Music." Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or rent a chair in general-admission grass seating. Advance tickets are $8 at showtix4u.com (print the "at home" option). A limited number of tickets will be available at the gate for $10. Visit supersummertheatre.org.

A Celebration of Family is slated from 5 to 7 p.m. May 15 at Tivoli Village, 302 S. Rampart Blvd. Family-friendly entertainment, including a balloon artist, a stilt walker and a princess, is planned. Kidville's Rockin' Railroad plan to perform a short concert, and complimentary treats, such as popcorn and cotton candy, will be offered. Visit tivolivillagelv.com.