1.
Call him Curtis—in person. His feud with Kanye West—as to whose CD would amass greater sales on their release date, September 11, 2007—having largely blown over, 50 Cent (aka Curtis James Jackson III) will celebrate the release of his third studio album Curtis at his official release party at Body English on Saturday night, September 8, after his performance poolside at 9 p.m. His timing could not be more perfect. With the MTV Video Music Awards in town for the weekend, the audience is likely to include other music heavyweights. But probably not Kanye.
2.
Witness the VMAs. Unless you’re a celebrity, a paparazzo or the world’s most dedicated Palms Club slot player, you probably won’t be anywhere near the corner of Flamingo and Arville Sunday night during the first Vegas-hosted edition of the MTV Video Music Awards. We suggest watching the festivities—which will include performances from Kanye West, the Foo Fighters, 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy and Justin Timberlake, along with appearances by Jamie Foxx, the cast of Entourage and the like—from the comfort of your very own Barcalounger. Just think how much you’ll save on booze and parking. September 9, 6 p.m., The Palms. Airs locally at 9 p.m. on MTV (Cox Channel 37).
3.
Go to the circus. Grab a patch of turf at the Clark County Amphitheater for the International Ska Circus, with a lineup that includes The English Beat, The Slackers, The Toasters, Mustard Plug, The Pietasters, Buck-O-Nine, Sektacore and Vegas’ own One Pin Short. If you can’t stand the heat, you can pony up for $60 VIP areas that include air-conditioning and a T-shirt. Gates open at 11 a.m.; tickets are $20 in advance through Ticketmaster or $25 the day of the show. www.internationalskacircus.com.
4.
Laugh. House parties and house shows are so early aughts; true forward-facers know that house comedy is where it’s at. At least that’s the trend Vegas comic Brandt Tobler would like to spread as he hosts the LA-based Comedy Crackpot Tour right at his very own domicile. The Sarah Silverman Program’s Tig Notaro and Steve Agee and Late Night with Conan O’Brien vet Martha Kelly are confirmed, and there’s a rumor that a certain bearded, absurdly last-named comic will be joining them as well (though seriously, that’s a helluva long shot). September 11, 8 p.m., $10. 7761 Locke Haven Drive, 501-4674. BYOB, BYOL, BYOBBQES and BYOPP (that’s beer, lawn chairs, barbecue-eating shoes and party pants, respectively).
5.
Admire creative genius. What do you get when you lock up more than 20 of Las Vegas’ most talented theater artists inside a theater for 24 hours and then expect them to put on five coherent plays produced randomly with themes pulled out of the blue? You get the Las Vegas premiere of 24 Hour Theater (September 8, 8 p.m., at the Onyx Theater, 953 E. Sahara Ave.), a one-day competition concluding with five 10- to 12-minute plays that can have anything to do with love, life, murder, science fiction, mystery or even the dreaded musical. If you’re looking for anything from the refined art of prose to the sheer madness of outsider theater, for $10, this is your chance. www.insurgotheater.org.
6.
Watch sixtysomething nookie. Since The Sopranos ended, HBO has been struggling to find its next water-cooler hit. John From Cincinnati fizzled, Entourage is on the decline and The Wire struggles to find an audience despite critical acclaim. The premium cable network’s latest attempt to capture the zeitgeist is Tell Me You Love Me, reportedly the most sexually explicit prime-time series of all time. The drama follows the love lives of three couples of various ages who are all in counseling, and it doesn’t discriminate in its depiction of sexuality. The first episode features some sixtysomething nookie, as well as a scene of a younger woman masturbating her husband to climax, depicted in its entirety. Tony Soprano certainly never did that. HBO, Sundays, 9 p.m., starting September 9.