Six Picks: Our experts pick their favorites for the week

Bill Cosby

Who better for the day after Thanksgiving than the rare comedian who still works clean and makes all generations laugh? Bill Cosby doesn't do the Fat Albert stuff anymore but says his current take on family life has people saying, "How did you get into my house?" Tickets are $64.90-$86.90 for today's 8 p.m. show at Treasure Island; call 894-7722.

- Mike Weatherford

Paul Banks

Paul Banks has always been a dude at arm's length from the world around him. The Interpol frontman largely favors detachment and obfuscation as opposed to intimacy and candor. But that's changed a bit on his latest solo disc, "Banks," which is a little less guarded, a point that will be underscored on his upcoming stop in Vegas, where he will perform in the up-close-and-personal setting of the Courtyard Cafe at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South. See him at 10 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $20; call 632-7600.

- Jason Bracelin

'Silver Linings
Playbook'

Until Michael Vick goes on "Dancing with the Stars," the Philadelphia Eagles, ballroom dancing and the penal system will never merge as cleverly or hilariously as they do in "Silver Linings Playbook." The dark romantic comedy from director David O. Russell ("The Fighter") showcases rarely seen sides of its stars, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.

- Christopher Lawrence

Under the Streetlamp

The sweet sounds of street-corner harmony live again, as the pop quartet Under the Streetlamp (featuring former "Jersey Boys" cast members) revives doo-woppin', finger-poppin' classic radio faves . Catch them, and the 10-member a capella group Gentleman's Rule, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in The Smith Center's Reynolds Hall, 361 Symphony Park Ave. For tickets ($24-$59), call 749-2000 or go to www.thesmithcenter.com.

- Carol Cling

Culinary Clash

The four-week Culinary Clash master-chef competition, part of this year's Winter in Venice at The Venetian and Palazzo, will kick off Thursday. Open to chefs de cuisine and sous chefs from the resorts' more than 30 restaurants, it will run from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., continuing Dec. 7, 14 and 21, with a celebrity-chef appearance each week. First up: Emeril Lagasse. The clash, which is free and will include samples of the chefs' creations, will be in The Venetian's Doge's Palace plaza , broadcast live on The Venetian Clock Tower.

- Heidi Knapp Rinella

Pete Tong

Legendary Pete Tong DJs Sunday at Wynn nightclub XS. By hosting a BBC Radio 1 show for 20 years, he has helped more DJ-producers become stars than probably anyone in the world. Tong just started a new American show on iHeartRadio. And his new album came out Tuesday. It's a collaboration with DJ Reboot called "All Gone Pete Tong & Reboot - Future Sounds."

- Doug Elfman