1
Fly your Su-Fi. True, his acting choices have been questionable. And the best part of Tourgasm was Robert Kelly (appearing at Playboy Comedy December 8). And, well, his jokes aren’t really jokes. But by God, Dane Cook can pack ’em into arenas, stadiums and Madison Square Gardens like no one else since Steve Martin (and he’s got the platinum albums to prove it). He was also the first comic to fully utilize the Web’s potential, actively cultivate a “personal” relationship with his fans and create his own gang sign. Even if history only remembers him as a comedy gateway drug, leading kids to the harder stuff, Cook’s will ultimately be a legacy any artist would kill for. December 1, 8 p.m., $33.50-$159.50. Mandalay Bay Events Center, 632-7580.
2
Go avant garbage. Las Vegas’ avant-garde music community has been in a deep slumber as of late. With the closure of several friendly venues, the small, but annoyingly persistent, community of people who prefer the sound of static and occasional discordant beeps and bloops has once again gone underground. However, bring together the madcap psychotic antics of the Beckett Festival, a new group of local noisemakers (Ex-Dinosaur, Werd To The Mothership), filmmaker Ron Rierson and artist Jessica Yatrofsky, and you get an afternoon of music, movies and other digital lunacy to fill your head. Don’t forget the earplugs, though; these things do tend to get pretty loud. December 1, 2-6 p.m., 1025 S. 1st St., $20. Info: www.indiekrush.com.
3
Light ’em up. Go for the latkes, stay for the schmoozing. The Las Vegas Jewish Federation presents the Vodka Latka, an upscale cocktail party celebrating Hanukkah, the festival of lights, at Tryst on Thursday, December 6, 7-9:30 p.m. With your paid admission, enjoy two complimentary signature cocktails by Jewel of Russia vodka, gourmet latkes and hors d’oeuvres, free admission to the club after the party, prize drawings and everyone’s favorite—gift bags! Tickets are $45 per person if you purchase by this Friday, November 30, $55 thereafter and at the door. For advance tickets and info, visit www.JewishLasVegas.com.
4
Watch bodies move. Why be forced to choose between the ballet and a Cirque show when you can see both? Bridging dance and circus theatrics, the Nevada Ballet Theatre Company and Cirque du Soleil present A Choreographer’s Showcase at Treasure Island’s Mystere Theatre. November 30 performance at noon for Clark County students. December 2 public performance at 1 p.m., $15. Call 894-7722 for tickets and additional information.
5
Face your destiny. To be on national television; to be face to face with Drew Carey; to be in the running for $10 million—does it get more gut-checking than that? You won’t know unless you try. Auditions for CBS’ Power of 10 game show will be in Las Vegas on November 29, and though neither Carey nor his formidable black glasses will be there, you should be. E-mail [email protected] for more information, such as time and location, and be sure to include “Las Vegas Casting Call” in the subject line.
6
Revisit favorite arias. One of the pioneers of “popera,” Andrea Bocelli, returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where it is promised he will perform the world’s best-known opera arias along with contemporary songs from his greatest-hits collection, The Best of Andrea Bocelli—Vivere. So versatile is Bocelli that he has even performed a duet on Sesame Street with Elmo. Tickets are $75, $125, $195 and $275. Call 891-1111 or go to www.mgmgrand.com.