🧝♀️ Electro forest | Shop hard local | Goblin songs | Rap god | Game show taping | Meddling kids | Turkey for loners
NO MATTER HOW divided our nation is, Thanksgiving offers hope to even the most coal-hearted cynics like me because heedless, excessive eating and shopping are, like, core biological functions that reflect the magic of our shared human condition. And, on top of that, what human doesn't also like dazzling light elf forests, rizzy dancing goblins, and tarot cocktail parties? My attitude? One of hella gratitude!
Note for premium subscribers: We're taking off Thanksgiving weekend in anticipation of an epic poultry hangover, so no Weekender this Friday! – Andrew Kiraly 🤍
Magical Forest
Get lit at Opportunity Village's marquee seasonal attraction.
Nov. 29-Dec. 1 ✦ Opportunity Village➤ Also: 'Twas the Knight starting Nov. 27 is a sworded seasonal affair at Excalibur ✦ Even jive turkeys are welcome at Sand Dollar Lounge's Thanks Funkin' Giving Nov. 27 ✦ Branch out with live music and dance at Tivoli Village's tree lighting party Nov. 27 ✦ There's so much s'more than skating at The Cosmopolitan's Ice Rink Nov. 28 ✦ The leftovers can wait; Food Truck Mania Nov. 29 sounds like a wheely crazy feast ✦ Nature calls at the Wetlands Park's Visitor Appreciation Days Nov. 29-30 ✦ Come on down! to Lee's Family Forum for The Price Is Right Dec. 1.▼
Shrek: The Musical
It's an ogre-load of laughs in this musical take on the modern fairy tale.
Nov. 27-Dec. 1 ✦ The Smith Center➤ Also: Catch a monster buzz at The Beverly Theater's Shrek Drink-Along Nov. 27 ✦ Hard-knock kids with big hearts belt it out in Annie: The Musical Nov. 29-Dec. 1 ✦ Flex your pipes at Sinwave's Okie Dokie Wrestling Karaoke Nov. 30 ✦ Get buzzed on laughter at Brew It's family-friendly Laffuccino Nov. 30 ✦ Island vibes and holiday spirit blend at Christmas with The Mākaha Sons Dec. 1 at Myron's ✦ Rebels kick serious brass at the three-day UNLV Jazz Fall Festival Dec. 2-4.▼
Talib Kweli
The pioneer of fluent, flowing, conscious rap performs a rare club show.
Nov. 30 ✦ Swan Dive➤ Also: You have a date with destiny at Velveteen Rabbit's tarot + tunes party Rendezvous Nov. 27 ✦ Hustle over to the Brooklyn Bowl for Gimme Gimme Disco Nov. 29 ✦ Funk jams are in the house at Fat Cat's Shed Open Jam Nov. 29 ✦ Retro blues band The Volsteads release prohibitions at The Mob Museum Nov. 29 ✦ Ellis Island throws a big-band tailgate party with Dave Perrico Nov. 29 ✦ Tributes to Depeche Mode and The Temptations double up downtown Nov. 30 ✦ But the Iron Maiden and The Scorpions tributes at Vamp'd Nov. 30 have some sting too. ✦ Get an earful of history with strings attached with The Las Vegas Guitar Ensemble Dec. 3.▼
➤ Also: You'll feel a spike in seasonal spirit at Ethel M's Holiday Cactus Garden through Jan. 4 ✦ Take a holiday brake at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Glittering Lights through Jan. 5 ✦ The Bad Elf has an itch for kitsch at the Silverton Nov. 28-Dec. 1 ✦ The hos are always in style when Santa hits The Fashion Show Mall through Dec. 24 ✦ Make light of the situation at the Mystic Falls Winter Wonderland laser show through Jan. 1 ✦ Xmas feels will grow on you at the Bellagio Conservatory's "A Visit from St. Nick" through Jan 10.▼
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THE CH33SE 🧀
🥒 The Dish List
Good grief, it's a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Feast Nov. 27 at Golden Tiki ✦ Gobble and gab with new friends at The Phoenix's Lonely Orphans Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 28 ✦ Dish up suds with buds at The Silver Stamp's Friendsgiving Potluck Nov. 28 ✦ Swirl, sniff, and shop local at Vegas Valley Winery's Holiday Sip and Shop Nov. 30 ✦ Get some Tuscan fun at Eataly's Tour of Toscana Dec. 6 ✦ It's a passport to Asian flavor at Taste of Korea Dec. 7 ✦ Frothy fun abounds at Henderson's Brew Festivus Dec. 7 ✦ Belly up to the bark at Puppies & Prosecco Dec. 7 ✦ Everything's gonna be oaky dokie at Circa's Bourbon & Blues Tasting Experience Dec. 7 ✦ Downtown's Tamales and Mariachi Festival Dec. 7 sounds corny and horny.
💳 Swipe Right
Leave the Black Friday doorbuster sales to the gibbering, foamy-mouthed masses – shopping local is both good for your mental health and Las Vegas businesses. Score original arts, crafts, and more at Nuwu Art Gallery + Community Center's Indigemart Nov. 29 ✦ Get an artful eyeful of gift ideas at the grand opening of Main Arts District Gallery Nov. 29 ✦ Thrice is nice at the three-day Small Business Saturday Weekend Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at Downtown Container Park ✦ Find the vinyl answer at 11th Street Records' Black Friday sale Nov. 29 ✦ Henderson's Shop Small Business Saturday Nov. 30 features 130 vendors plus music and a bounce house ✦ Paging lit-lovers: Spend $50 at The Writer's Block Nov. 30 and get a limited-edition tote ✦ Hit scenic Boulder City and its charming local retail spots during Shop the Block Nov. 30-Dec. 1 ✦ Local love is the Main idea when Market in the Alley hits the Arts District Nov. 30 and then UnCommons Dec. 1 ✦ Upstage everyone with a gift card from The Smith Center, on sale now ✦ Use code CYBERHICKEY for 30 percent off titles from irascible Vegas art critic Dave Hickey.
🎅 Chilly Reception
Given that only last week I was like why the hell am I overheating in my obviously-too-hastily-deployed cardigan in November?, it's somewhat of a relief to announce that Lee Canyon is now open for skiing, snowboarding, and general cold-frolicking. (The last time it opened ahead of Thanksgiving was 2011.)
⏰ Scrambled Legs
The brutal combat sport known as holiday shopping is a surefire method for melting tryptophanic calories post-turkey day, but there are other fun ways to break a sweat besides crawling into the Black Friday octagon. Consider Learn the Madison Nov. 29 at The Mint Tavern – part dance lesson, part social hour. Better yet, you can continue making moves well into the holiday season with Swing Dance Vegas' complete card of events, which cover everything from swing to jitterbug to the somewhat disconcerting-sounding Sleigh Bell Stomp. (If rhythm just isn't in your bones, walk this way to the Teratorn Trot Nov. 29 at Ice Age Fossils State Park.)
