Fight off the screens, hit your shots

March Madness kicks off in earnest Thursday.

Yeah, we know about the play-in games. We just refuse to acknowledge them. We’re old school like that.

So if you can tear yourself away from the games, or if you’re close enough to downtown to run over during halftime, the Fremont Street Experience is hosting the fifth annual Downtown Hoopstown through April 8.

The canopy will showcase what organizers are calling the world’s largest NCAA bracket, as well as nightly basketball-themed Viva Vision shows. Fans can showcase their skills on hoops that are 20, 25 and 30 feet high. And the stage show “Hardwood Hotties,” featuring “American Idol” finalist Haley Scarnato, can be seen from 7 to 10 most nights on the 3rd Street Stage.

For a schedule and more information, see www.vegasexperience.com.

Everyone’s in step

Dance fans can kick up their heels (figuratively, that is) when the College of Southern Nevada presents an informal dance concert next week, showcasing everything from ballet to ballroom, Middle Eastern to modern, along with jazz and even yoga moves. The free performance begins at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the college’s Nicholas J. Horn Theatre, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas. For more information, click on www.csn.edu/pac.

Icing capades

A baking and cake-decorating workshop for kids age 8 to 19 will be presented from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and April 3 by 4-H, a University of Nevada Cooperative Extension youth-development program. The workshop, at the Lifelong Learning Center at 8050 Paradise Road, is $6 for both classes. To register, call 702-257-5524.

Off cuff, on point

Las Vegas is crazy with improv groups these days. But it’s safe to say that if they are doing their job right, there’s no fear of repetition. The Motherfuppets use their late-night time slot to offer a more twisted variation of sketch and ensemble comedy (without puppets). Tickets are $15 for an 11 p.m. Saturday show at the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave.

Thrash night

When does watching five babes bash out Iron Maiden tunes ever get old? Rhetorical question! Of course, it never does, so “Run to the Hills” with the Iron Maidens at 9 p.m. Saturday at Count’s Vamp’d, 6750 W. Sahara Ave. Tickets are $5; call 702-220-8849.