A/E Highlights

First Friday

First Friday, the monthly culturefest in the downtown arts district, runs 6-10 p.m. with a few after-hours events as well. Once again, this month the city has suspended parking meter obligations for the event, as well as providing free parking at the Clark County Government Center with a free trolley to the event. Additionally, there are the Las Vegas Art Buses, which loop through the event every 15 minutes.

In the Arts Factory, 101 E. Charleston Blvd.

The Common Area. Two exhibits: New mixed media work by Atomic Tony Powers, and Faces of Courage, masks of people with HIV/AIDS in our community, sponsored by AFAN.

Contemporary Arts Collective. Connections, a selection of work by four artists who depict people with whom they have close or intimate connections. Art by Suzanne Forestieri, Daryl DePry, Sarah Pearson-Ochoa and Jerry Ross.

5ive Finger Miscount. New work by 5ive Finger Miscount group. In Studio 25.

Face Up Gallery. The Art of Recognition, ink and fine art watercolor on paper, acrylics on canvas, originals and prints, T-shirts, bookmarks and more. Also 4 Dot, new works by Dar Freeland.

Cricket Studio. Drawings from the Boneyard, Illustrations on paper, pastels and prints by Brian Swanson.

The Cube Gallery.Vintage Vegas (Old and New), digital photography by Tony Tompkins.

Open Studios and Galleries. Capital H Gallery: the original artworks of Brian Henry. Work also on display at Stephen Spann Gallery, Zollar Gallery, Michael Griesgraber Gallery, Jennifer Main Studio, Shannon Web Gallery, Michael Wardle Gallery.

SEAT (Social Experimentation and Absurd Theater). 10 p.m.: Equus by Peter Shaffer. Equus is a creepy little play about a psychiatrist trying to understand why a 17-year-old stableboy plunged a steel spike into the eyes of six horses. The play has nudity and violence, so kids aren't allowed, which is a wise decision unless you enjoy staying up all night after they have the nightmare about the blind horses and the bad man's wee-wee. All shows were sold out last First Friday, so if you want to see it, drop what you're doing and get on the phone now. Tickets can be reserved for $10 online at godsexandbowling.com, or for $15 by phone at 736-4313, or for $20 at the door. Info: 736-4313.

Out and about

Colorado Avenue in front of the Funk House will be closed off from Third to Main, creating a block-long street fair. There will be artists' booths, including Dangerous Furniture by metal artist Mike Jepsen and handmade tiles by sculptor Denise Duarte. There will be live music by All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner, followed by surf band Vista Four, barbecue by Sweet Georgia Brown and beverages by Dino's Lounge. Join in on the chalk-art project, which has expanded from the sidewalk into the street in front of the Funk House.

The Funk House, 1228 S. Casino Center Blvd. Fremont Suite and Vegas on the Tiber, new art by Ginger Bruner. Live music by violinist Lisa (of Killian's Angels) and also Rick playing the didgeridoo. Plus, fortune-tellers, art vendors, live art demonstrations, performing artists and other assorted weirdness.

The Colorado Cottages, 1300 Casino Center Blvd. Across the street from the Funk House. Dray's Place: open studio and gallery. Gallery MTZ: open gallery featuring the work of Mark Zeilman.

Dust, 1221 S. Main St. Artists reception: New paintings by Jerry Misko & Mark Brandvik.

Nevada Arts Council, 821 S. Seventh St. Weaving Through the Cosmos, art by Yueon-Gayh Yehp (Bill Leaf) in the OXS Gallery.

S2Art, 1 E. Charleston Blvd. paintings and drawings by Juan Sanchez-Juarez. Also featuring demonstrations of the lithograph process using antique printing presses.

Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Student Ceramic Exhibition. Open until 9 p.m. Info: 229-4674.

The Painted Couch, 6 E. Charleston Blvd. A selection of uniquely crafted art and midcentury furniture. Featured artists for August are fused glass artists Sherry and Dave Richardson. Also on display are paintings by Dray and Mark Zeilman, fused glass by Karen Crawford and the upholstery work of John Infantino as well work by as artist-in-residence Deborah Fagan.

D'Loe House of Style, Men's and women's vintage clothing. 220 E. Charleston Blvd. Open late. Refreshments.

Gypsy Caravan Antiques, 1302 S. Third St. Live music. Refreshments.

Opportunity Village Thrift Shop, 921 S. Main St. Open until 9 p.m. featuring live music and poetry.

Red Rooster Antique Mall, 307 W. Charleston Blvd. Open late. Featuring art of Alex Huerta.

Yana's Junk. 1229 S. Casino Center Blvd. Refreshments.

Iowa Café, 300 E. Charleston Blvd. Live music, drink specials.

After hours

Dino's, 1516 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. The Vermin followed by karaoke with Danny G.

The Ice House, 650 S. Main St. Chez Bippy presents "The Get Back," a funky soul dance party with local DJs John Doe and Danny Boy. 10 p.m. until the wee hours. Admission: $5 for women, $10 for men.

This covers the majority of the shows and events, but as always there will be late additions and surprises. Info: 678-6278 or 384-0092, or go to www.whirlygiglasvegas.org.

Snicks Place Bar, 1402 S. 3rd St. VegasArtists.com starts a new tradition with their first monthly First Friday After Party. The theme is "Spaced Invaders," so aliens get in free, everyone else is probed. Visit www.vegasartists.com for details. This is a free event within easy walking distance of the main First Friday events. The free party is from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m.

Wait, he's still kicking?

No disrespect meant (or at least no more than we usually inflict on celebrities) but we swear we thought Chubby Checker was stiff city. Damn, good for you, Chubster. You're looking great, particularly for a guy named Chubby. We figured by this time you'd be giant-bloated-dying-on-the-crapper Checker. Hell, we have no choice but to twist again, like we did last summer. Get your asses off the couch and find out what the man's secret is. He plays at 8 p.m. Saturday at Silverton. Tickets are $19.99. Info: 263-7777.

No, we will rock you...

To the accompaniment of crunching leaves and precise, well-chosen and enunciated words, Nevada Public Radio, which brings you comprehensive news, car advice, thoughtful interviews and commentary pieces by some jamoke named Kiraly, offers you Queen. One hundred percent of the ticket price for this special preview of We Will Rock You, based on the music of Queen, will benefit KNPR. As God is our witness, we swear that the fact that the 22 songs were originally sung by a guy named Mercury is only a coincidence. The show goes on at 9 p.m. Sunday at the Theatre des' Art in Paris. Tickets are $75 for Nevada Public Radio members, $85 for listeners. For tickets or more info, go to www.knpr.org or call 258-9895.

We will smarm you

Oh sure, Bruce Willis is a decent little blues singer. He's no Dan Aykroyd, but who is? Besides, when it comes to singing cat burglars, no one can hold a candle to Hudson Hawk. None of that or any of his other talents, which include but are not limited to, fighting pseudo-terrorists in his bloodied bare feet and hanging out with the little punk who's nailing his ex, is important. The real reason you should see Bruce and the Accelerators is that he is the Lord of the Smarm. He is hands-down the smarmiest man alive. Look it up in Guinness if you doubt us. The show is at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at The Golden Nugget. Tickets are $75. Info: 385-7111.

Mac and cheese

Sure, Siegfried and Roy have their new animated show, but chances are their national exposure will be eclipsed by another Vegas magician. Mac King is not terribly flashy. He favors plaid over rhinestone-studded spandex. He's kind of goofy-looking. No, not kind of, he's downright goofy-looking. But he's got several things going in his favor. He has a syndicated comic strip featuring himself and a cartoon monkey. He's got some savvy business sense and a fair amount of luck, and he doesn't have to share the stage with mutant melanin-deprived half-tons of fang and claw. Now, to top it off, for the next three months KFC will be featuring him on its laptop kid meals. I don't remember any Penn and Teller Happy Meals. Assuming you're a kid, you can pick up a "Mac King's Magic in a Minute Lap Top Meal" at participating KFCs. If you want to check him out, it's too late...'cause, you know, he wears all that plaid so he's already. ... Okay, his show is at 1 and 3 p.m. at Harrah's. Dark Sunday and Monday. Tickets are $16.95. Info: 369-5111.

Run away, join the circus and run away some more

You don't hear much these days about kids threatening to run away and join the circus. Maybe kids today are smarter. Maybe the advent of television has exposed kids to more life-enriching and exotic locales so that hanging out with toothless carnies doesn't look as appealing as eating organs on "Survivor." Of course, Cirque du Soleil has never been that kind of circus. For a start, most of them have their teeth. But if you still want to run away with the circus, head down to Paseo Verde Park at 1891 Paseo Verde Parkway in Henderson. They're having a one-mile walk and a 5K run at 8 a.m. Monday. Online registration ends at 9 p.m. Friday, but you can just go down to check out those costumes and performers close up in broad daylight. For more info, go to www.active.com and use the key word "Cirque."