Southwest Things to Do, Dec. 18-24, 2014

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Several acts are set to take the stage this month at the Sand Dollar Lounge, 3355 W. Spring Mountain Road. The schedule is: Monk and the Po Boys, 8 p.m. Dec. 18, no cover charge; To the Moon, 10 p.m. Dec. 19, $5 cover; the Stoney Curtis Band, 10 p.m. Dec. 20, $5 cover; Backyard Society, 10 p.m. Dec. 23, no cover; the Chris Tofield Band, 10 p.m. Dec. 27, $5 cover; and the Moanin’ Black Snakes, 9 p.m. Dec. 31, $10 cover. Visit sanddollarloungelv.com.

An event called the Polar Express is slated from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., as part of its Night at the Museum series. Youths ages 5-12 can enjoy activities, snacks, a pizza dinner, a movie and a visit from Santa. Reservations are required as space is limited. The cost is $25. Members receive $5 off. Call 702-822-7700 or visit springspreserve.org.

A photo exhibit titled “Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico” is scheduled at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Jan. 19. The exhibit is free for Springs Preserve members or with paid general admission. Call 702-822-7700 or visit springspreserve.org.

“Wicked Plants: The Exhibit” is planned from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Jan. 4 inside the Origen Museum at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Visitors can learn about poisonous and carnivorous plants. The exhibit is free for members or with paid general admission. Visit springspreserve.org or call 702-822-7700.

The art exhibit “Fusionaroma” by Behzad Dowlatshahi and Samira Nozari, published poets and painters known in Iran, is set through Jan. 4 at the Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd. The exhibit features abstract, expressionist, conceptual, figurative, realist and wet-on-wet (alla prima) paintings with oil and acrylic on canvas. Call 702-507-3820.

HOLIDAY EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS

The musical comedy “It’s a Zombie Christmas” is planned for 7:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 at Vegas 180 Night Scene, 6720 W. Sahara Ave. Admission is $10, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit a women’s crisis shelter. All ages are welcome. Visit lasvegas180.com.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra is set to perform “Christmas Rocks! Extravaganza” at 8 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Pearl inside the Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road. Tickets start at $43. Call 702-944-3200 or visit palms.com.

Train rides with Santa are slated at 11 a.m., noon and 1, 2 and 3 p.m. December 22-24 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. The rides feature Santa Claus reading holiday stories and handing out candy canes as the Arctic Express takes its journey. The cost is $3 for members and $5 for nonmembers with general admission. Call 702-822-7700 or visit springspreserve.org.

Winter Wasteland: A Cutthroat Christmas is slated from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Dec. 19 at The End, 4821 Spring Mountain Road. Guests must be 18 or older and are encouraged to bring a present for a gift exchange planned at the free event. Call 702-907-0363 or visit theendvegas.com.

Millions of lights are on display through Jan. 4 at the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd. The nonprofit’s 23rd annual holiday attraction is slated to feature Boris the Elf’s 3D Experience, Rudolph’s Raceway, the Magical Midway, Rod’s Mini-Golf, Cheyenne’s Enchanted Carousel, the Avalanche Slide and the Forest Express Passenger Train. Visitors can also take photos with Santa and the Magical Forest mascots Ovie Bear, his girlfriend Honey Bear and Boris the Elf, among others. Hours are 5:30-9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. General admission is $11 for adults and $9 for children. To enjoy unlimited rides and attractions, adult passports can be purchased for $20 and children’s passports for $18. Various discounts also are available. Visit opportunityvillage.org/magical-forest or call 702-259-3700.

“A Christmas Carol: Read by Charles Dickens” is scheduled at 8 p.m. Dec. 19, 20, 26 and 27 and 2 p.m. Dec. 21 and 28 at the Onyx Theatre, 953-16B E. Sahara Ave. Actor Byron Tidwell is set to perform a one-man show using Dickens’ performance notes. Visit onyxtheatre.com or call 702-732-7225.

The Jingle Bell Ball is scheduled at 8 p.m. Dec. 20 at Fremont Country Club, 601 Fremont St. The free event is set to feature a silent auction and entertainment with Sasha Sirota and Almost Normal beginning at 10 p.m. Free photos with Santa and other special guests are set to be available from 7-10 p.m. Visit ticketfly.com.

The Nevada Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” is slated to be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and at 1 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets are $29 to $179. Visit thesmithcenter.com or call 702-749-2012.

Santa’s Wonderland — A Classic Christmas is planned through Dec. 24 at Bass Pro Shops, 8200 Dean Martin Drive. Highlights include free photos with Santa from 3 to 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays; free crafts from 5 to 7 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; and decorating Christmas cookies from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 24. Visit basspro.com.

A Holiday Nights & Lights Community Concert is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Community and school groups are set to perform. Visit mytownsquarelasvegas.com or call 702-269-5000.

Mystic Falls Park at Sam’s Town, 5111 Boulder Highway, has been transformed with holiday decorations and an hourly 15-minute laser light spectacular set from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. Cowboy Santa is set to appear from noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and from noon to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 23. Visit samstownlv.com.

The Ice Rink at the Boulevard Pool is scheduled to be open through Jan. 4 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The 4,200-square-foot rink is set to feature a fire with s’mores roasting, periodic snowfall on the weekends and holiday movies on Mondays. The rink is scheduled to be open from 3 p.m. to midnight Mondays through Fridays and noon to midnight Saturdays and Sundays. All-day skating is $10 for Nevada residents and $15 for nonresidents. Skate rentals are $5. Admission is free to the pool area, which features a winter atmosphere. The Ice Rink is open to children 2 or older, but children 16 or younger must be accompanied by an adult. Visit cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.

Santa is set to visit the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road, through Dec. 24. Daily light shows are slated on the hour from 5 p.m. to closing time. The attraction is set to feature 54,000 lights, a 40-foot Christmas tree and more. Visit galleriaatsunset.com/events.

Ethel M Chocolates, 2 Cactus Garden Drive, plans to host its 21st annual holiday cactus garden from 5 to 10 p.m. daily through Jan. 1. Admission is free. Visit ethelm.com.

Glittering Lights is planned through Jan. 4 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 Las Vegas Blvd. North. The annual drive-through holiday attraction features hundreds of light displays stretched over a 2.5-mile course and is open from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $20 per vehicle. Visitors may receive $5 off Sundays through Thursdays with the donation of a bag of gently used items for Goodwill of Southern Nevada. Live Nativity nights presented in partnership with the United Methodist Churches of Las Vegas are scheduled Dec. 18-24. Visit glitteringlightslasvegas.com.

WORTH A DRIVE

The annual ​Winter Celebration & Expo is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 20 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at Alexis Park, 375 E. Harmon Ave. The event is set to include more than 70 booths featuring emerging artists, musicians, lifestyle products and services, yoga, drum circles, meditation, stress relaxation chairs and massages. Visit lightshineevents.com.

Several special skating sessions are scheduled at Boulder Crystal Palace Skating Center, 4680 Boulder Highway, during school vacation. An Out of School Skate Party is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. Dec. 18. Admission is $11 or $10 if attendees bring their own skates. From Dec. 22 to Jan. 3, all-day skates are scheduled weekdays. Admission is $10 or $9 for those who bring their own skates and includes two slices of pizza, a small soft drink and four video game tokens. Visit skatevegas.com/boulder or call 702-458-7107.

The exhibit “Vegas Votes” by the Las Vegas News Bureau Archives is planned during regular library hours through Feb. 3 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Photographs from 1947-2014 include the categories of showgirls, entertainment, sports, hotel exteriors, pool scenes, gambling and recreation. The public is invited to vote for their favorite photographs to be featured in a 2015 exhibition at The Studio. Visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3631.

Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, plans to operate its outdoor ice skating rink, the Rock Rink, through mid-January from 4 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. school holidays. Holiday hours are set from 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 1. The rink will be closed Dec. 25. Skating is $15, including skate rental. The rink is on the northwest side of Downtown Summerlin off Rosemary Park Drive and Summa Drive. Call 702-832-1000 or visit downtownsummerlin.com.

The CSN 2014 Juried Student Exhibition is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Jan. 23 at the College of Southern Nevada Fine Arts Gallery at the Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Visit csn.edu.

An exhibition in honor of Chinese New Year is scheduled to be on display by appointment at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St. An artist’s reception is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 702-229-1012.

Several December to Remember events are scheduled this month: the Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, plans a free concert series at 1 p.m. Dec. 20, featuring performers from Las Vegas Academy. Visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-3512. The Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 Las Vegas Blvd. North, plans exhibits and events throughout the month. Visit lvnhm.org. The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park, 500 E. Washington Ave., plans to host a program with gingerbread house making and cocoa from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 20. Visit friendsofthefort.org or call 702-486-3511.

The What If … ? conference is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 19 at the the Inspire Theatre, 107 Las Vegas Blvd. South. A breakout session, 7 Methods Post-Conference Workshop, is set from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 20. The event is organized by TED Talks speaker Matt Murrie and gathers groups to ask questions that challenge the status quo, discuss solutions and solve problems through innovation and social action. Tickets are $250 for the conference and $50 for the breakout session. Visit www.whatifvegas.com or call the Inspire Theatre at 702-489-9110.

“A Master’s Journey,” paintings by Lolita Develay, is set to be on display through Jan. 31 at the Left of Center Gallery, 2207 W. Gowan Road. The work documents the artist’s progress toward obtaining a Master of Fine Arts degree. Visit leftofcenterart.org.

PLAN AHEAD

Disc jockeys are scheduled to spin drum-and-bass music from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Dec. 27 at the HardHat Lounge, 1675 Industrial Road. Attendees must be 21 or older. Admission is $5 cover. Visit hardhatbar.com.

The Sci Fi Center, 5077 Arville St., plans a free “Dr. Who” marathon and an art show inspired by the sci-fi series at 7 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11. Call 702-792-4335 or visit thescificenter.com.

ONGOING EVENTS

Elements Kitchen & Martini Bar, 4950 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 100, plans to offer live music from 7 to 10 p.m. every Tuesday and Saturday featuring Marty Mancuso and from noon to 3 p.m. every Sunday featuring Mark and Dom. Call 702-750-2991 or visit elementskitchenandmartinibar.com.

The Stardusters Square & Round Dancers offer square dancing classes from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays for $5 at the Meadows Mobile Home Park Clubhouse, 2900 S. Valley View Blvd. Call 702-348-4906.

The Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., recently opened its new Butterfly Habitat in the southern portion of the Botanical Gardens. The habitat is scheduled to feature hundreds of butterflies and a variety of plants, and it will be open each fall and spring, as temperatures permit. Butterfly species are set to include mourning cloak, red admiral, painted lady, American lady, monarch and queen. A separate entrance fee will be charged for the habitat, with members paying $2 and nonmembers paying $3. The habitat is slated to be open during Springs Preserve operating hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Visit springspreserve.org.

The Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., has scheduled Ethnic Express International Folk Dancing for ages 8 or older from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Wednesdays. The cost is $4 per person. Learn international dance styles, including Arabic, Armenian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Greek, Israeli, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian and Turkish folk dances. Call 702-732-4871 or visit ethnicexpresslasvegas.org.

The Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., is set to host Scottish country dancing for ages 13 or older from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. every Friday. Cost is $5 per person. Call 702-229-6383 or visit artslasvegas.org.

The Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane, offers free Zumba Fitness classes, and licensed instructor Jean Smith teaches dance fitness to Latin rhythms, appropriate for all ages and fitness levels, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Call 702-507-6030 or visit lvccld.org. This class is also offered at Grace Valley Church, 1370 E. Robindale Road (702-454-9328), and at 6 p.m. Fridays at Body Focus Fitness, 7380 S. Eastern Ave. (702-228-4967).

A free open mic event is planned from 8 p.m. to midnight Thursdays at The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Call 702-365-7111 or visit orleanscasino.com.

The Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., is set to provide guided garden walks from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. General admission for locals is $9.95 for adults, $8.95 for seniors, students and military and $4.95 for children 5 to 17. Visit springspreserve.org/apps/event.

The Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., plans to feed the animals in its Living Collections at 11:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. General admission for locals is $9.95 for adults, $8.95 for seniors, students and military and $4.95 for children 5 to 17. Visit springspreserve.org/apps/event.

Ongoing shows at Money Plays, 4755 W. Flamingo Road, include live local bands at 9 p.m. Saturdays and an open mic night at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Visit moneyplayslv.com.

Enjoy karaoke from 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Jack’s Irish Pub at Palace Station, 2411 W. Sahara Ave. Guests must be 21 or older. Visit palacestation.sclv.com.

Bar 702, 3355 Spring Mountain Road, hosts a variety of live entertainment daily. Call 702-871-6651 or visit bar702lasvegas.com.

John Windsor is scheduled to perform from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturdays and from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays at McMullan’s Irish Pub, 4650 W. Tropicana Ave. He also is scheduled at 8:45 p.m. Mondays at Ri Ra Irish Pub in Mandalay Place, 3930 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Visit john-windsor.com.

Jerry Tiffe is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays at Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, 740 S. Decatur Blvd. Visit arizonacharliesdecatur.com.

The Peter Love Trio is scheduled to perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays at Jack’s Irish Pub at Palace Station, 2411 W. Sahara Ave. Guests must be 21 or older. Visit palacestation.sclv.com.

WILLplay is scheduled to perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays at Jack’s Irish Pub at Palace Station, 2411 W. Sahara Ave. Visit palacestation.sclv.com.

The Claudine Castro Band is scheduled to perform at 11 p.m. Sundays in The Lounge at the Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road. Admission is $10. Visit palms.com.

Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns are scheduled to perform at 10:30 p.m. Mondays in The Lounge at the Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road. Admission is $10. Visit palms.com.

The Gold Coast, 4000 W. Flamingo Road, has scheduled a variety of live entertainment six nights a week in the Gold Coast Showroom Lounge. Visit goldcoastcasino.com.

Comedian Eddie Griffin is set to perform at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at the King’s Room at the Rio, 3700 W. Flamingo Road. Tickets start at $69. Visit riolasvegas.com or call 702-777-2782.

The West Flamingo Senior Center, 6255 W. Flamingo Road, is set to offer beginner, intermediate and advanced tap dance classes. Each class is offered twice a week, and a six-week session costs $37. Call 702-455-7742.