Two poetry readings: Angela Ball & Southwest Laureates
Clark County Poet Laureate Vogue Robinson brings the best of the Southwest to North Las Vegas for a free event at Left of Center Art Gallery (2207 W. Gowan Road) on January 4 at 6 p.m. She’s invited the poet laureates from Albuquerque (Manuel Gonzalez), Houston (Deborah “DEEP” Mouton), Reno (Lindsay Wilson) and Phoenix (Rosemarie Dombrowski) to join her in a reading and conversation, including a discussion about the question you’ve been afraid to ask: What does it actually mean to be a poet laureate?
Make it a lyrical weekend by attending a free poetry reading at the Writer’s Block on January 5 at 7 p.m. Mississippi-based English professor Angela Ball will excerpt from her collection Talking Pillow, a comic exploration of love and loss. January 4 & 5 –C. Moon Reed
Big Dog Brew School at Big Dog's Brewing Company
The longtime local brewery hosts an all-day class on beermaking—specifically, how to craft a batch of its Kilt Sniffer Scottish Ale. The $99 cost includes instruction from Big Dog’s brewers Dave Pascual and Amanda Koeller, lunch, beer (duh), a filled growler, a diploma and a “class” photo. January 6, 10 a.m., 4543 N. Rancho Drive. –Spencer Patterson
Civil Rights Film Festival at West Las Vegas Library
Watch a socially conscious documentary doubleheader exploring the life of poet and 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Maya Angelou (Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise) and the Cuban Revolution (Black and Cuba), accompanied by a panel discussion and sponsored by the local chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. January 6, noon, Free. –Mike Prevatt
Markiplier at The Joint
What you watch on the Internet is now coming to light inside the Hard Rock Hotel. No, we’re not talking about the annual AVN awards, which will take the same stage a few weeks later. This time it’s Internet star, vlogger and gamer Markiplier (and his alter ego Wilford Warfstache). His YouTube channel (markiplierGAME) has more than 19 million subscribers, but how will his antics play IRL? Expect improv games, interactive audience challenges, sketches and more. He’ll be joined by Internet buddies LordMinion777, Muyskerm, Tyler Scheid and CrankGameplays. January 7, 7:30 p.m., $37-$125. –C. Moon Reed
The Rolling Stones’ Exhibitionism at Palazzo
If you’ve yet to make it to The Rolling Stones’ interactive traveling exhibit, this month marks your last chance to see the band’s 500-plus item collection of historical artifacts before it leaves Vegas and hits the road. Witness the filth and squalor in which Mick Jagger & Co. once lived with a replica of the band’s first flat in London. There’s also a re-creation of the studio where they wrote “Sympathy for the Devil,” a gallery of Keith Richards and Ron Wood’s vintage guitars, lyric sheets, tour posters, original album art, stage designs, photography, diaries and more. Make sure to set aside extra time to explore the band’s costume gallery, which features original garments worn by Brian Jones, Jagger and the rest on tour. Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $37. –Leslie Ventura
3 reasons to attend First Friday
Begin the year by immersing yourself in local art, handmade crafts, dance, performance and food served from whimsically named trucks. The January 5 First Friday street fair—held, as usual, in the streets surrounding the Arts Factory and Art Square, from 5 to 11 p.m.—brings together live music, an interactive “kids zone” and works by featured artists LaRon Emcee and AROSE1 in a living cultural collage with a “commitment” theme. (Want to get a sitter and enjoy the evening with a beer in your hand? Check out ReBar’s unaffiliated arts and crafts event: firstfridaysouth.com.) Visit facebook.com/firstfridaylasvegas for additional details.
If you need a break from gallery crawling, head to Art Square, where Cockroach Theatre’s 2 Dollar, 10 Minutes short play series takes a turn for the melodic. Anthony Barnaby, Jasmine Kojouri and Brent Mukai present Brent & Jasmine Argue (and also Anthony is there): The Improvised Musical, a lyrical journey captained by host Brenna Folger and music director Faustino Solis. The words “improvised” and “musical” in close proximity may give pause, but it could be brilliant—and like the name says, it’s only $2 and 10 minutes of your life. 8:10 p.m., 9:10 p.m. & 10:10 p.m., 725-222-9661.
And if you and Star Wars are still on speaking terms—which you oughta be; The Last Jedi is freaking awesome—head to Bubblegum Gallery for its Second Annual Star Wars Group Art Show, and dress for a shower of Porgs. 6-9 p.m., 702-806-0930. –Geoff Carter
