Six Picks: Our experts pick their favorites for the week

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Seems like every "Holiday Party" should be "Wild and Swingin'." But if you want to be sure you won't be staring into cold hot chocolate, check out Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. The retro swing outfit was briefly big enough to play at the Super Bowl (in 1999) and helped inflate the price of cheap thrift shop duds to "vintage clothing." They play The Orleans at 8 p.m. today and Saturday; tickets are $22-$44. Call 365-7075.

- Mike Weatherford

The Shins

Last time indie rockers The Shins played Vegas, outdoors at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas pool in April, they were greeted with rain and unseasonably cold weather. The conditions should be better this time around, though there will be the rock equivalent of a pesky storm cloud in the form of uninspired openers Awolnation, who will warm the stage alongside Passion Pit and Youngblood Hawke. See them at 7 p.m. Thursday at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road. Tickets are $34; call 693-5000.

- Jason Bracelin

Film festivals

Two film festivals. One day. The Nevada Film Festival's screenings kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday, with an awards ceremony set for 10 p.m., at the Rampart, 221 N. Rampart Blvd. Tickets start at $7; visit www.nevadafilmfestival.com. The Las Vegas Latino Film Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the CSN Cheyenne Campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Tickets are $5 and $10, and proceeds benefit the Hispanic Museum of Nevada. Call 773-2203 or visit www.hispanicmuseumnv.com.

- Christopher Lawrence

Sounds of Hawaii

If you just can't find time to escape to Hawaii, don't despair - because Hawaii's coming to you this weekend, as Halau Hula 'O Kaleimomi , featuring slack-key guitarist and falsetto singer Gary Haleamau , perform "Mele Aloha (Songs of Love)" from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. For tickets ($10 in advance, $12 the day of the show), call 455-7340.

- Carol Cling

Sweet treats

Build it and they will hum: Gingerbread houses constructed and decorated by students in the Clark County School District will be judged between 4 and 5 p.m. today at the M Resort, with cash prizes for the schools of the top three diminutive general contractors. And if you're in need of decorating ideas, be aware that the sweet fruits of their holiday labors will be on display at the resort from this evening through Dec. 21.

- Heidi Knapp Rinella

Fedde Le Grand

Dutch DJ-producer Fedde Le Grand performs tonight at Marquee nightclub in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. His biggest dance house hits are "Put Your Hands Up for Detroit" and "Let Me Think About It." But over the years, the 35-year-old has also earned some impressive international awards for DJing.

- Doug Elfman