Things to do in Southwest/Spring Valley May 1-7

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

The Gateway Arts Foundation plans to host a Quickdraw event in which three Las Vegas artists complete a painting in 60 minutes at 4 p.m. Sunday on the patio at the Artisan, 1501 W. Sahara Ave. Ella Sings Ella is scheduled to perform. Reservations are required. Call 255-0695 or visit gatewayartsfoundation.org.

Kids are invited to a free I Love You Mom Pajama Party from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave. Visit lvccld.org or call 507-3760.

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.

Houston Jones plans to perform bluegrass, folk and gospel music at a free concert scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Visit lvccld.org or call 507-3940.

Bill Maher is set to perform his trademark comedy at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Tickets start at $54.95. Call 365-7075 or visit orleanscasino.com.

Indie/rock duo Middle Class Rut plans to bring its two-piece band from Sacramento, Calif., to the Silverton, 3333 Blue Diamond Road, at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the show. Visit silvertoncasino.com.

"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.

Worth a Drive

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 Steampunk Photo Odyssey and Fashion Show is scheduled from 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. Museum administrator Mark Hall-Patton is scheduled to attend. Tickets start at $10 and vary for photographers, models and fashion show admission. Visit retroscopefashions.com/SPO/SPO.html.

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.

"Xenia Goes West," the true life story of Russian prima ballerina and Holocaust survivor Xenia Chlistowa, is scheduled to be performed by the College of Southern Nevada Dance Ensemble and Concert Dance Company and the Nevada Repertory Dance Theater at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday in the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre at CSN'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 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.

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

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.

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.

Plan ahead

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.

Girls Day, a fundraising event of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas, is planned for 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 19 at the Lied Memorial Boys & Girls Club, 2850 S. Lindell Road. The event matches women with girls from disadvantaged homes for a day of fun, games, food and prizes. Girls Day is free to club members - funds are raised by individuals and corporate sponsors. Women are asked to make a $50 donation. Call Debbie Smith at 253-2804.

Moms Rock, the ninth annual Mother's Day Tea and Brunch benefiting Child Focus at St. Jude's Ranch for Children, is planned from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 12 at Southern Highlands Spa Clubhouse, 1 Robert Trent Jones Lane. The event will feature live entertainment, a hat parade, activities for young princesses and pirates, a silent auction and raffle and a drawing for a mother/daughter diamond pendant designed by MJ Christensen Jewelers. Tickets are $80 for adults and $40 for children younger than 12. Visit childfocusnv.org or follow @momsrock2012 on Twitter.

The sixth Country in the Park outdoor concert and festival is scheduled from 2 to 7:30 p.m. May 12 at Exploration Park, 9700 S. Buffalo Drive. Presented by the Mountain's Edge master planned community and Vegas Country 95.5 KWNR, the free event is set to feature singer/songwriter Phil Vassar, Jana Kramer and the Tony Marques Band. Visit mountainsedge.com or kwnr.com.

Comedian Rob Schneider is set to perform at 8 p.m. May 11 and 12 at The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Tickets start at $39.95. Call 365-7075 or visit orleanscasino.com.

Impressionist/comedian/singer Jeff Tracta is set to perform at 7:30 p.m. May 17-20 in The Pearl at the Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road. Tickets are $59, $79 and $99. Call 944-3200 or 800-745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Several comedy acts are planned at Big Al's Comedy Club at The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., in the coming weeks. They include: Robert Duchaine and Jill Bryan, Wednesday through Sunday; Tim O'Rourke and Lang Parker, May 9-13; Quinn Dahle and Brandt Tobler, May 16-20, and Tanya Lee Davis and Jason Harris, May 23-27. Call 365-7075 or visit orleanscasino.com.

Rock band Sponge is set to perform at 7 p.m. May 19 at the Silverton, 3333 Blue Diamond Road. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the show. Visit silvertoncasino.com.