Downtown Neighborhood News

The Swingers Club to open at the Plaza

The Swingers Club is scheduled to open Aug. 24 at the Plaza, 1 Main St. A grand opening is planned for Labor Day weekend. The club is set to feature dueling pianos on the bar floor to encourage audience participation, sing-alongs, personal requests and the chance for piano players to mingle with customers during breaks.

The club also will feature nine holes of Vegas-themed mini golf. The bar is scheduled to be open from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. seven nights a week to customers 21 or older. Live music acts are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. and the dueling pianos will follow from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. A disc jockey is set to spin music for glow-in-the-dark disco golf from 2 to 4 a.m.

For more information about the Swingers Club, visit swingerslv.com.

New city officials appointed to council, municipal court

The Las Vegas City Council approved Ward 4 Councilman Stavros Anthony as the new mayor pro tem on July 6. The mayor pro tem steps in as mayor when the current mayor is unavailable or unable to serve for any reason.

Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Ward 3 Councilman Bob Coffin were sworn in along with Las Vegas Municipal Court judges Susan Roger and Heidi Almase, Departments 2 and 3 respectively.

The Municipal Court judges also elected Judge Cynthia Leung as the new chief judge. Her term runs through June 30, 2013.

For more information about appointments to other boards and commissions, visit lasvegasnevada.gov/government/boards.htm.

Trifecta cooks up pancake show

Artists Todd VonBastiaans and Bryan McCarthy teamed up for "Todd + Bryan's Pancake Bed (and Breakfast)," an exhibit scheduled to run through Friday at Trifecta Gallery, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., inside the Arts Factory.

The pancakes in the exhibit are made from photo-optimized recycle fabric, stuffed with what feels like real pancakes. Some are edged with fur. For more information, visit trifectagallery.com or call 366-7001.

Capture Downtown photography competition announced

Professional and amateur photographers older than 21 are invited to participate in Capture Downtown! -- a photography competition sponsored by the city of Las Vegas, the Downtown Las Vegas Alliance, Symphony Park and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Entry categories include Lifestyle: depicting everyday life/work/play in downtown Las Vegas, Stars: interesting people who live/work downtown, and Icons: to include downtown landmarks, neon signs and historic buildings.

There will be first-, second- and third-place winners in each category. Winners are to be announced in October during the Symphony Park Lecture at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St. A People's Choice Award also will be given, and the entry photos will be hosted on lvrj.com from Sept. 1 through Sept. 22 for voting.

Prizes include gift certificates from downtown retailers and hotels, downtown merchandise and more. Entry deadline is Aug. 15. All entries must be submitted digitally to downtownlasvegasalliance.com/captureddowntown.

Local YMCA participating in National School Lunch Program

The Bill & Lillie Heinrich YMCA, 4141 Meadows Lane, is participating in the National School Lunch Program, a federally assisted meal program providing nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to students.

Children 2 to 18 can receive a free lunch at the Heinrich location from

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday through Aug. 26.

For more information, call 877-9622.

Charleston Heights arts Center schedules community events

Have an evening of international fun learning Armenian, Bulgarian, Israeli, Arabic, Macedonian, Russian, Greek, Turkish, Chinese and Serbian folk dances at Ethnic Express International Folk Dancing, scheduled from

6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Wednesdays at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. There is no need to bring a partner. Admission is $4 per person per week, payable at the door. For more information, call 229-6383.

Register for Summer Youth Dance Camp beginning Wednesday. The camp is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday . Classes are in ballet technique, modern, lyrical, jazz, contemporary jazz, Pilates and more for two groups: intermediate and intermediate/advanced dancers. For more information, call 229-6383 or visit artslasvegas.org.

Skate park fundraiser planned

A skateboarding contest and art sale is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. Proceeds from the fundraising event will go to the Winchester Skate Team. The competition entry fee is $5. Admission is free for spectators. Artwork by local high school students and skate team members will be sold at prices as low as $3. For more information, call 358-6569.

Smokey bear exhibit on display at lied discovery children's museum

"Smokey Bear & Woodsey Owl: Home Sweet Home" is scheduled to be on display through Sept. 25 in the Cultural Gallery at the Lied Discovery Children's Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

The exhibit was developed by the Betty Brinn Children's Museum in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service to spread the messages of wildfire prevention and wildlife conservation.

For more information, visit ldcm.org or call 382-3445.

Dot exhibit at Brett Wesley Gallery

Local artist Kevin Chupik is scheduled to unveil a series of paintings in his second solo show at the Brett Wesley Gallery, 1112 S. Casino Center Blvd. The exhibit is set to run through Saturday and is free to the public. Chupik uses carefully painted dots and dashes to explore the formal elements of design and the resultant larger images and symbolism of the human female form and exotic plumed birds.

For more information, visit brettwesleygallery.com or call 433-4433. Gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and by appointment.

Cashman Center to host NV Energy Expo

The Senior Energy Assistance Expo is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North. The event is free to the public.

At this event, seniors can receive energy assistance through Project REACH, an energy assistance program administered by the United Way of Southern Nevada, make payment arrangements and receive help through a variety of social service programs.

Project REACH helps adults 62 or older, who are medically fragile, vulnerable or U.S. Reserve and National Guard members who meet program guidelines.

Customers must bring a valid Nevada driver license or state ID, past due NV Energy bills and proof of income. Anyone who has received energy assistance in the previous 12 months is not eligible to receive assistance but can take advantage of other resources offered at the event.

Nonprofit, government agencies and other utility representatives will be available to provide energy assistance, discuss weatherization options, provide energy education, conservation and rebate information and social services such as food bank, housing, medical and rental assistance.

For more information about the expo, visit nvenergy.com/home/assistance/energyexpo.cfm.

The Lied Discovery Children's Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is offering weekly camp programs for children 6 to 12. Sessions are available from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. through Aug. 15.

Camp prices are $155 per week for museum members and $180 per week for nonmembers. For camp schedules, details and registration, visit ldcm.org or call 382-5437.

Children's Downtown Series welcomes Steve Roslonek

Steve Roslonek of SteveSongs, best known for performing on PBS during morning preschool programing, is scheduled to share his music at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St. Tickets are $3 or $10 for a family four-pack. To purchase tickets, call 229-6883 or visit artslasvegas.org. For more about the artist, visit stevesongs.com

Kleven Contemporary shows works of Krystal Ramirez

The "Disintegration" exhibit, new works by artist Krystal Ramirez, is scheduled through Friday at Kleven Contemporary, 520 E. Fremont St., inside the Emergency Arts building. The show focuses on a "simpler reality," one without social media, phones and Internet dating. A closing reception is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Friday .

'In and Out of Whack' exhibit to show at Contemporary Arts Center

Artists Deborah Karpman and Kimberly Hennessy's exhibit "In and Out of Whack," is scheduled to run through Aug. 13 at the Contemporary Arts Center, inside the Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd. The show's images are created by "fastidiously cutting up old manuals and guidebooks and then carefully arranging the snippets onto the backs of vintage wallpaper." For more information about the exhibit or the center, visit lasvegascac.org.