1
See tradition. This Saturday night, Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson and host Mark Steines of Entertainment Tonight will crown one of 52 beautiful, poised and talented contestants—including Miss Nevada Caleche Manos!—Miss America 2008. With a 
panel of judges including fashion designer Trace Ayala, athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Headline News anchor Robin Meade, this year’s pageant (broadcast live since 1954) gets underway on Saturday, January 26 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino at 5 p.m., broadcast that night at 8 p.m. on TLC. For tickets to the competition finals or preliminaries (subject to availability) visit Ticketmaster.com.
2
Hang out with comics fans. Past attempts to stage comic-book conventions in Las Vegas have been met with indifference, but the Library District is out to change that. They’re starting small with their Comics Fest, a free one-day event January 26 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Sahara West Library. Publishers including Dark Horse, IDW and Tokyopop will have booths, dealers will be selling all manner of comics and graphic novels and creators Greg Rucka, Jimmy Gownley, Steven Grant and many more will present workshops and sign autographs. For more info call 507-3630.
3
Learn something. “Prisons, iPods, pimps and the search for authentic homes.” That’s Chapter 1 of hip-hop intellectual Michael Eric Dyson’s book Know What I Mean—one of 14 of his books on race, music, culture and politics. Dyson will speak at UNLV to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 28, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Student Union Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public.
4
Laugh out loud. The large and very much in charge Ralphie May’s first stand-up gig was opening for Sam Kinison. Since 2004, he’s released three DVDs, each a winning mix of popped eyes, boyish grin, Texas drawl and straight-up ghetto fabulousness. He’s one of the few reasons Last Comic Standing used to be semi-quality television, and he’s an Opie and Anthony favorite. Need additional proof the dude has a twisted sense of humor? His 5-month-old daughter is named April June May. Before his Trucker Comedy Hour debuts March 20 on Sirius Satellite Radio, catch him live January 25 and 26, 7:30 p.m., $20-$30 (18+). South Point Showroom, 797-8055.
5
Get into plastics. Okay, so we don’t know much about Plastic Fantastic Lover. Except that it’s composed of two dudes from Denver, one of whom is sipping PBR, bare-chested, in the band’s MySpace photo. And that they’re named, apparently, after a track off of Jefferson Airplane’s 1969 album Bless Its Pointed Little Head. And that they sound nothing like Jefferson Airplane, but rather a blend of down-tempo electronics and folky acoustics. And that they have a song called “Vegas” for download. So maybe we know something, but we’d like to know a whole lot more. With Werd to the Mothership. January 29, 10 p.m., free. Beauty Bar, 598-1965.
6
Sample vino. Live music is always a good reason to get out on Friday night. When accentuated with new and distinguished wine, it is a must. The Rock ’n Roll Wine event, at the Canyon Club inside the Four Queens Hotel and Casino, offers more than 15 wines to sample and music from Rick Duarte and Michael Soli. January 25. RSVP at www.wineamplified.com/canyonevent.html. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.