1.
Hit the Beach. Back for another season of rooftop frolicking in the sunshine and surf, Tao Beach is upping even its own A-game. In addition to the wildly popular Sunset Sessions evening party going off each Sunday from 5:30 to about midnight-ish, guests can also experience Tao Beach’s newest daytime affair, Good Friday, a local/industry event with resident and special guest DJs. Good Friday kicks off April 18, 10 a.m.-dusk; Sunset Sessions resumes on April 20. taolasvegas.com.
2.
Shake a tail feather. In addition to having a thriving swingers community, Vegas enjoys some swing of a different (and cleaner) kind. The Aruba Hotel’s swing-dance community invites you to celebrate three years of Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, Charleston and more in the Thunderbird Lounge on Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m. There will be the annual anniversary Jack n’ Jill contest with first-, second- and third-place trophies! A performance by The Hot Honey Revue! Plus more fun than you can shake a stick at. The theme is 1940s Hollywood glam, so come dressed for the vintage red carpet, or as your favorite old-time movie actor/actress. Admission is free. After you’ve had a taste, join them every Sunday as swing-dance aficionados gather at the Aruba Hotel’s Thunderbird Lounge for lessons—intermediate lessons begin at 6:30 p.m., beginner lessons at 7:30 p.m. Classes are $8 per session or $12 for both and are all-ages unless otherwise announced. swingdancevegas.com.
3.
See one of boxing’s greats before he retires. Bernard Hopkins may be 43, but he’s still one of the light heavyweight division’s most feared fighters (he recently beat the crap out of Antonio Tarver and bested “Winky” Wright, in case you’re doubting), and his next fight is against undefeated Joe Calzaghe, “The Pride of Wales.” The action starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets are $350-$1500 and available at unlvtickets.com.
4.
Get a contact high. Director Morgan Spurlock’s new documentary, Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?, opens in theaters this week, and at the same time, his first movie, Super Size Me, is getting a bit of a send-up with Super High Me, which follows comedian Doug Benson as he smokes marijuana every day for 30 days. Benson’s project isn’t likely to be as controversial or as influential as Spurlock’s, but it’ll certainly be funnier. CineVegas sponsors a free screening of the film on April 20 (4/20, duh) at 10 p.m. on the back patio at Beauty Bar. Free popcorn will also be provided for those with the munchies, and people are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. Info: 598-1965; cinevegas.com.
5.
Bounce like a pogo stick … even if you don’t want to. The last time Spencer Patterson and Aaron Thompson caught Akron/Family’s live show—in October at the Troubadour in Los Angeles—a strange musical force reached out and grabbed the two Weekly staffers, pulling them to the front of the stage and impelling them to dance wildly to the folky, noisy, jammy tunes emanating from the stage. They literally had no choice (at least, that’s their story, and they’re sticking to it). With Don Cavalli, Las Vegas Club*, Mother McKenzie. April 20, 10 p.m., $7. Bunkhouse, 384-4536.
6.
Learn how to bring down the house. Are you a fan of the movie 21? Do you have $900 to spare? If so, you can invest that money in a seminar presented by two of the members of MIT’s famed blackjack team, whose story is fictionalized in the film. Michael Aponte and David Irvine (above) will teach their card-counting techniques to novices looking to get a leg up on casinos when playing blackjack. Now, card-counting is legal, but it’s not exactly encouraged, so we can only hope that the $900 fee also gets you some tips on how to hide your activities from casino security. April 19, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Platinum Hotel. Info at blackjackinstitute.com.