First Friday

First Friday is the monthly cultural event in the downtown Arts District featuring gallery openings, live music, open studios, assorted live entertainment and other hard-to-categorize stuff. The event runs from 6-10 p.m. with a few after-hours events as well. We recommend starting at the Funk House at 1228 S. Casino Center Blvd. or the Arts Factory at 101 E. Charleston Blvd., where complete schedules and maps are available. More info: 678-6278 or 384-0092, or go to www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org.

COLORADO BOULEVARD

Colorado Boulevard and Casino Center in front of the Funk House will be closed off for the street fair. Highlights include handmade tiles by sculptor Denise Duarte plus artists booths, live music and other stuff. Vista Four will perform in front of The Gypsy Caravan from 7-10 p.m.

The Funk House, 1228 Colorado Blvd. Illuminations of Guilt, acrylic works by Adam. His work conveys deep, raw emotions and is more than a little disturbing. Music by Green from 7-9:30 p.m.

The Colorado Cottages. SW corner of Colorado Boulevard and Casino Center

Dray's Place. Open studio and gallery featuring the work of Dray.

Gallery MTZ. Meditations on Canvas by Andrew Nancarrow. Abstract paintings inspired by Nancarrow's meditation practice in the Vipassana and Zen Buddhist traditions.

Wetzel Gallery. Road to Zzyzx, modern ruins and other images of the abandoned Southwest.

Spart IV Studio. Wood carvings.

MAIN STREET

The Dust Gallery, 1221 S. Main. The Enemy Show, curated by Carrie Jenkins and Jessica Starkey, with new works by Kelly Barrie, Chad Brown, Sam Davis, Martin Durazo, Caleb Forbis, Sherin Guirguis, Carrie Jenkins, Sean Russell and Jessica Starkey.

Godt-Cleary Projects, 1217 S. Main. Robert Rauschenberg: Art and Life. A major feather in the cap of the Arts District. Jasper Johns says, "Rauschenberg is the man in this century who has invented the most since Picasso." From 6 to 7 p.m., Mayor Goodman will schmooze and (what else?) drink martinis.

S2Art Gallery, 1 E. Charleston at Main. Post Holiday Art Mart. Special group showing of lithographs, etchings and posters by artists including Tom Everhart, Todd Goldman, Gordon Parks, Matt Rinard, Waldemar Swierzy, Rafal Olbinski, Stanley Mouse, Al Hirschfeld, Donna Summer, Kenny Rogers, Juan Sanchez-Juarez and Alphonse Mucha. Posters starting at $20, as well as framed lithographs and ceramics on display. Live lithography demonstrations on their century-old presses.

ARTS FACTORY

Contemporary Arts Collective. Figure, Pattern, Space. Works by Chad Brown, Danielle Kelly and Julie Madden exploring the figure as it relates to space.

Common Area One. Sugar Coated Wonderland. Jessi Dore Lawson has transformed the gallery walls into an evil circus tent to display her original oil works.

Common Area Two. Mark of the 'Z' by Mark T. Zeilman

Studio 5ive. The Dusty Dirtbag, featuring original works by local comic book artist Vezun.

Cricket Studio and Face Up Gallery. Continuing: 4 Dot, work by Dar Freeland. Also, Panoramas, photographic panoramas, illustrations on paper, pastels and prints by Brian Swanson.

Cube Gallery. Vintage Vegas by Tony Tompkins.

Mike Griesgraber Studio. Open studio and gallery.

Mike Wardle Gallery. Open studio and gallery, featuring abstract expressionist paintings.

Trifecta Gallery. Work by Steven Spann, Jennifer Main and Marty Walsh.

Zollar Gallery. Open studio and gallery.

SEAT (Social Experimentation and Absurd Theater): Shopping and Fucking, a play by Mark Ravenhill. A dark comedy connecting commerce and pleasure in our modern society. Has nudity, coarse languge, ultraviolence and other stuff that will elicit angry e-mails from the local Cotton Mathers. Resevations recommended. Show begins promptly at 8 p.m. Admission is $20 at the door, $15 by phone (736-4313) and $10 online at www.godsexandbowling.com.

ALSO

Nevada Arts Council, 821 S. Seventh St. Quilts of the Soul, sampling of fabric quilts, pieced blocks and wall hangings created by Girtia Lukes.

Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Pixelgraphic, paintings by New York artist Orit Ben-Shitrit. Open until 9 p.m.

Durette Studio, 1007 Main St.One-night only show. The work of Deborah Norton, life portraits using a layering technique combining mixed media collage of newsprint, gold leaf and paint.

AFTER PARTIES

Dino's. 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m., Pete Contino's Blues Zydeco Band, followed by karaoke with host Danny G.

Ice House Lounge. "The Get Back" funky soul dance party with DJs John Doe and Danny Boy. 10 p.m. until the wee hours. $5 for girls, $10 for guys. Drink specials all night.

Snick's Place and Aloha Laundromat, 1402 Third St.. VegasArtists.com presents Spaced Invaders mini-film festival, live acts performing in the laundry, DJs all night in Snick's and even more art, 10 p.m.-4 a.m.