Six Picks: Our experts pick their favorites for the week

Alonzo Bodden

Alonzo Bodden is one of the few comedians we still remember from "Last Comic Standing," with Jay Leno and various podcasters helping to keep him in front of us and providing a forum for his topical insights. Bodden headlines Brad Garrett's Comedy Club at the MGM Grand through Sunday. Tickets are $46.40-$68.40; call 891-7777.

- Mike Weatherford

Dead Prez

One of hip-hop's most ideologically uncompromising acts, leftist duo Dead Prez is anti-corporate and pro-self-empowerment. In the past, they've set dollars ablaze onstage, though said flames don't match the heat of their rhymes. See Dead Prez at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Las Vegas Country Saloon, 425 Fremont St. Tickets are $17 in advance, $20 day of show; call 382-3531.

- Jason Bracelin

'Home Alone'

Forget the kids and head to the movie theater as Kevin McCallister, the Wet Bandits and "Home Alone" return to the big screen. See it at 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sam's Town, Santa Fe, South Point and Suncoast.

- Christopher Lawrence

Santa Train

Before Santa Claus climbs aboard his sleigh, he boards the Nevada Southern Railway's Santa Train, which begins its annual holiday season run Saturday at Boulder City's Nevada State Museum, 601 Yucca St. Half-hour rides along the historic Boulder Branch Line depart every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 23. Tickets are $5 and are available by calling 486-5006; for more information, go to www.nevadaculture.org.

- Carol Cling

Barbecue bash

Chiliheads and pitmasters will be showing their stuff - and the public can take advantage of that - during the Downtown Throwdown Barbecue Championships today and Saturday on the Fremont Street Experience. The chili cook-off starts at 6 tonight, the barbecue cook-off at noon Saturday, and 2-ounce tasting cups will be available for $1 each. Rodeo bull rider Wes Silcox and bareback rider Tildon Hooper will present the trophies at 5 p.m. Saturday.

- Heidi Knapp Rinella

Deadmau5

Deadmau5 performs Saturday at XS nightclub. Usually, we just say: "Go see Deamau5, he's great, and he's still one of the top names in electronic music." But today, we get the chance to turn his appearance into a sort of gossip item, because lately he's been showing up here with his beautiful girlfriend, tattoo TV star Kat Von D. So we'll see if that happens again Saturday.

- Doug Elfman