Things to do in Paradise/Downtown Aug. 14-20

In Your Neighborhood

A summer square dance hoedown is slated from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. Admission is $8, which includes an introductory lesson, refreshments and a chance to win prizes. Families and newcomers are welcome. Call 229-6383 or visit lasvegassquarenrounddancers.org.

Stroller Strides Las Vegas is set to host FamilyFest 2012 from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Town Square Park in Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Free events include children's activities, information on health, safety and education, entertainment and giveaways. Visit mytownsquare
lasvegas.com.

Champagne Champagne is scheduled to perform at 9 p.m. Friday at the Beauty Bar, 517 Fremont St. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The show is for those 21 or older. Call 598-1965 or visit thebeautybar.com/las_vegas.

Madame Tussauds at The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to offer free admission with the purchase of another ticket to guests dressed like Elvis Presley from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday for the 35th anniversary of the performer's death. Admission to the wax museum is $25.95 for adults, $15.95 for children ages 7 to 12 and free for those 6 or younger. Call 862-7800 or visit madametussauds.com/lasvegas.

Tickets for the Las Vegas Philharmonic's nine shows at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., are slated to go on sale Wednesday. Performances, which include "Pops," "An American Portrait" and more, are slated to run Oct. 20 through May 4. Tickets range from $46 to $96. Call 749-2000 or visit thesmithcenter.com or lvphil.org.

The Knights of Columbus plan an all-ages Saturday Night Stomp 1920s-themed swing dance party Saturday 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 1950s, Sept. 8; Masquerade, Oct. 13; USO, Nov. 10; and Holiday, Dec. 8. Admission is $5, cash only. Visit saturdaynightstomp.com.

The Rotunda Gallery in the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, plans to present "Inner Sanctum" by Troy Gillett through October. The art show is constructed from reclaimed Las Vegas doors in various states of decay. A reception and preview is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 6. Gillett is also scheduled to make appearances during First Friday festivities from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 7 and Oct. 5. Gillett is scheduled to talk about this work at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4. Visit clarkcountynv.gov/parks.

Table 8 Productions plans to present "Summer Camp! The Musical" at 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 26 at the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave. The musical, which is based on 1980s teen-sex-comedy cinema, features a splash zone and is for adults only. Tickets are $15. Call
732-7225 or visit onyxtheatre.com.

Locals can use the code 241LOCAL to get two-for-one tickets to "Mythbusters Behind the Myths Tour," scheduled Friday through Sunday and Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 at the Palazzo. Tickets start at $66. Visit palazzo.com or call 414-9000.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to host free public viewing parties for Bravo's "Top Chef Masters" at 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 26 at the Boulevard Pool. The Cosmopolitan is the host hotel for the television show. Call 698-7000 or visit cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.

For information on shows scheduled at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., call 749-2000 or visit thesmithcenter.com. Shows scheduled at the center include: La Cage Aux Folles, today through Sunday; Barbara Cook, Thursday through Sunday; Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, Aug. 22; The Symphonic Rockshow, Aug. 24; and Spectrum and Radiance, Aug. 25. The musical "Wicked" is scheduled to run Aug. 29 through Oct. 7. Tickets for The Smith Center's fall season, with performers such as Bryan Adams, John Tesh, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Ben Vereen, Jim Brickman, Anita Baker, Sergio Mendes, Betty Buckley and Doc Severinsen scheduled, are set to go on sale Thursday.

Rave Motion Pictures at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to host free movies during its Family Film Festival at 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Aug. 23. Call 362-7283 or visit ravecinemas.com.

The Jenny Valdez Inc. Gallery inside The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., has issued a call to artists to create works in the theme "Under The Sea" for the September First Friday. Submissions are due Sept. 1. Email Valdez at alettertojenny@gmail.com for an application.

The Fremont Street Experience, 425 Fremont St., plans to host the Rock of Vegas concert series at 9 p.m. on the Third Street Stage. Musicians booked to perform include: Saturday, Survivor ---- Eye of the Tiger; and Sept. 1, Dee Snider from Twisted Sister with Jac&Jill. Call 678-5777 or visit vegasexperience.com.

The Lied Discovery Children's Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, plans to showcase the exhibit "Torn From Home: My Life as a Refugee" through Dec. 16. The exhibit features photographs and interactive elements depicting refugee families from Columbia, Afghanistan, Republic of Congo and more. Call 382-3445 or visit ldcm.org.

The Bet on the Farm! Farmers Market is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 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.

The Downtown 3rd Farmers Market is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays at Third Street between Stewart and Ogden avenues in the old downtown transportation hub building. Visit downtown3rd.com.

Award-winning pieces from the Clark County 12th annual Celebrating Life! fine arts competition for residents 50 or older are scheduled to be on display at the City Hall Chamber Gallery through Sept. 6. Call 229-1012 or 229-4631.

The Brett Wesley Gallery, 1112 S. Casino Center Blvd., plans exhibit "LUSH" by Chris Bauder through Sept. 29. Visit brettwesleygallery.com.

The Funk House, 1230 S. Casino Center Blvd., is slated to show "Epic Ink" by Carrie Bourdeau through Aug. 25.

The Contemporary Arts Center inside The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., plans to show "The Garden of the Forking Paths" through Saturday.

The Trifecta Gallery inside The Arts Factory is set to showcase "6191 Miles" by Leonardo Aguirre di Matteo through the end of August.

The City of the World, 1229 S. Casino Center Blvd., is slated to showcase "Summer Days," a juried show featuring artwork from children and adults throughout August.

The Sin City Gallery inside The Arts Factory is slated to showcase works by Steve Diet Goedde through Aug. 26.

Plan ahead

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society plans to open its 50th anniversary season with "Songs of Our Politics" slated for 2 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod Drive. The program, featuring the 22-voice Musical Arts singers and instrumental ensemble, under the direction of Douglas R. Peterson, is set to bring to life more than 200 years of presidential campaign music. John Hanks is to provide historical narration containing anecdotes about America's political parties and the candidates for the presidency. Keyboard accompaniment will be provided by Eric Eichorst. The Musical Singers ensemble has performed "Songs of Our Politics" every four years prior to each presidential election season since 1992. Roger Wilhelm, composer of "Songs of Our Politics," is a former music director of Madrigal, a vocal ensemble of the Rochester Oratorio Society. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the event. Call 455-7340 or visit snmas.com or call 451-6672.

Worth A Drive

Local musician Don Musser is scheduled to offer free basic guitar classes from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19 and 26, Sept. 2, 16 and 23 and Oct. 7, 21 and 28 at the Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd. The eight-session course is set to cover chords and popular songs. Adults and teens are welcome. Participants must bring their own guitar. Visit lvccld.org or call 507-3821.

The Coyote Countryfest 2012! is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at The Orleans Arena, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Ronnie Dunn headlines this country event with Lauren Alaina, Bucky Covington and more. Tickets range from $15 to $65. Visit orleanscasino.com.

LVLT Studio Theatre in association with Poor Richard's Players plans a production of David Mamet's "November" Friday through Aug. 26 at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. Tickets range from $11 to $12. Visit lvlt.org.

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is scheduled to run as part of Super Summer Theatre's season lineup at 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays through Aug. 25 at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park on state Route 159 about 10 miles west of the Las Vegas Beltway. Parking opens at 5 p.m., and meadow seating opens at 6 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or rent a chair in general-admission grass seating. Advance tickets are $12. A limited number of tickets may be available at the gate for $20. Visit supersummertheatre.org.

PLAN AHEAD

"The Glass Mendacity," a comedy mash up of charactors from Tennessee Williams' plays by Maureen Morley and Tom Willmorth, is set to run Aug. 24 to Sept. 9 at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. Tickets range from $10 to $15. Visit lvlt.org.

Warren Light's "Sideman," directed by Rob Kastil, is set to run at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays Sept. 14-30 on the Mainstage at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive. The play follows the upheaval in a family when a jazz trumpeter father chooses music over responsibility. Tickets are $24 for adults and $21 for seniors and students. Visit lvlt.org.

Rock band Stone Temple Pilots are set to perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Pearl at the Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road. Tickets start at $49. Call 944-3200 or visit palms.com.