Things to do in Paradise/Downtown July 24-31

In Your Neighborhood

The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada plans its annual ARTrageous event, featuring art, fashion shows and live music, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Call 733-9800 or visit thecenterlv.com.

Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band plan to perform a concert for children at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St. Tickets are $3, and discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. Call 229-3515 or visit lasvegasnevada.gov.

A free concert featuring Mexican music artists Larry Hernandez and El Pelon Del Mikrophone is scheduled at 8 p.m. Saturday on the Third Street Stage at the Fremont Street Experience. Visit mun2.tv.

The Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, plans to host the Hampstead Stage Company's free production of "Pinocchio" from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the multipurpose room. Call 734-7323 or visit lvccld.org.

For information on shows scheduled at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., call 982-7805 or visit thesmithcenter.com.

Fielding West is set to host Luna Shimada, Jason Bane, Losander, Ayala and Tanya and Sonny Fontana in "The Las Vegas Magic Experience" at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Smith Center. The Society of American Magicians Annual Convention invites the public to its Gala Show, featuring magicians from around the world, at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at The Smith Center. Tickets for either show are $31.

Additional shows scheduled at the center include: Broadway, television and film star Pia Zadora, Friday and Saturday; The Tenors (The Canadian Tenors), Aug. 5; the Composers Showcase of Las Vegas, Aug. 8; Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts Concert Fantasy and Fantasy Petite 2012, Aug. 11-12; and La Cage Aux Folles, Aug. 14-19.

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.

A trivia night is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. today at The Beat Coffeehouse inside Emergency Arts, 520 Fremont St. Visit thebeatlv.com.

Learn about blood-sucking leeches and composting during "The Attack of the Giant Leeches," a weekend science program scheduled at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Visit lvnhm.org.

An Evening With Yanni is scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets range from $45 to $85. Visit unlvtickets.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.

See a scorpion, a tarantula, hissing cockroaches and more in the "Bugs!" show scheduled at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. through Aug. 31 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Visit springspreserve.org.

A public meeting to discuss a project tapping local artists to help renovate forclosed homes in Winchester Township is scheduled at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3150 S. McLeod Drive. Visit clarkcountynv.gov or call 455-5025. For a full story on the project, visit lvrj.com/view.

Ongoing exhibits/EVENTS

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.

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.

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.

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 Thursday through Sept. 6. Call 229-1012 or 229-4631.

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: 1920s, Aug. 18; 1950s, Sept. 8; Masquarade, Oct. 13; USO, Nov. 10; and Holiday, Dec. 8. Admission is $5, cash only. Visit saturdaynightstomp.com.