Las Vegas Natural History Museum - A Hot Latin Party!

Who doesn't like a cool party! Especially one Downtown and at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum! It has been several years since the LVNHM has been throwing this party and it has been a pretty fun fete. Here is all the information you need. Hope to see you at the party! 

Las Vegas Natural History Museum

900 Las Vegas Blvd N.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 384-3466

http://www.lvnhm.org/

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...

Ode to Revitalization

Dr. Laura Henkel proprietor of
Sin City Gallery & ArtCulturePR
http://www.artculturepr.com/
Las Vegas 

By Dr. Laura Henkel, contributing writer

Since I was born, I would go to Miami every summer to visit family. My family were early settlers of the city and I would always hear about 27th Avenue being the edge of town whereby the 'Everglades' began.  As a kid, I would fish with my Grandfather off The Rickenbacker Causeway wearing a big straw hat and one of his button down long-sleeve shirts so I wouldn't fry in the sun.  I heard about the glamour of Miami Beach in the 50's and 60's, The Fontainebleau's elegance, the celebrities, the mob, and so on.  In the late 80s, I moved to Miami.  Moving from Dallas, I quickly segued into snorkeling in the Florida Keys, power boating, and sun bathing on Miami Beach. (yes, completely negating what my elders tried to instill in me as a kid regarding the sun, yet persistently lathering up with baby oil and iodine so that I might be the living incarnate of the Coppertone kid in pigtails.)  

South Beach in the early 90's wasn't what it is today.  It was forgotten, old and decrepit. Being in my 20's, it was a little depressing to see so many elderly staring at the beach from their perches on Ocean Drive.  Unbeknownst to me when I arrived, I did not know that developers had already seen the future and entrepreneurs began to breathe new life into the area.  I found myself at the right place at the right time.

Romero Britto opened a gallery and The Van Dyke, a beer pub, literally set the stage for revitalization on Lincoln Road.  Lincoln Road, an outdoor shopping center, similar to Commercial Center, was all but abandoned.  There were quirky businesses in there; a dance studio and the best vintage clothing stores (thank you Miami glamour of the 50/60's).  Soon, fabulous nightclubs full of imagination on and off of Collins Avenue began to take hold between Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive.  After a night of dancing, I could go to Wolfie's, have a delightful breakfast, and imagine Meyer Lansky walking through the front door.

I remember the Cleveland Hotel as one of the first of the Art-Deco hotels to have a complete makeover.  It was fun to sunbath on the beach and see the renovations of those old grand deco hotels revamped one by one.  The elderly slowly disappeared to make way for Cafe News and other yummy eateries.   Versace came to town and designed an incredible private villa from one of the coolest apartment buildings on Ocean Drive. It was exciting to be part of that synergy of creativity and development by supporting those new businesses.  Twenty years later, Art Basel and those old grand homes by the Miami Herald have once again become posh and an art/design district was born.   (I gotta say that I got a little teary eyed when I heard that the old Sears Tower would serve as the new opera house/concert hall for the City of Miami.  http://learningfrommiami.org/?p=1555)

And now, here I am in Las Vegas.  I'm feeling the same creative and synergistic vibe in DTLV (Downtown Las Vegas) as I did in South Beach.   It's pretty amazing to be a part of change that supports a community at large.  It is a very special moment in time and I enjoy supporting the local businesses, artists and art establishments.   It's pretty damn cool to know someone by their first name and it is even cooler to recognize that everyone in this town knows everyone by one degree of separation.  

So while fondly remembering the growth and changes of South Beach, while recognizing the importance of what is happening around me today in DTLV, I am inspired by the forward-thinking entrepreneurs that make this place so special.  While I follow on the heels of Miami, I would really like to see Las Vegas become the West Coast epicenter for the arts.  Those white tents at the World Market would make an exceptional spot to host an international art fair.   There are plenty of hotel rooms to accommodate the mecca of artists and patrons that would come from all over the world.  And, talk about easy access!  Hell, you can catch transportation directly from the airport to the World Market.  Look at Miami's model, refine it, make it work for LV... more tourism... more dollars... from Strip to Streets of DTLV... from Venice to Vegas (hello Anthony Bondi)... so many bright and talented creatives in this town alone, such an untapped market, and a destination that everyone would enjoy.  Planting seeds, planting seeds.  A Vegas Biennale, collaborating with Venice, would be simply amazing!

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...

Coffee with Kaizer... Musical happenings for the week of May 26th...

Tuesday May 27th 6:30pm
Traditional music and dance of Kerala (southwest region of
India) directed by G. S. Vijayan
Clark County Library
1401 E. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas NV 89119
$40-$150
more info: 702-853-0701

Saturday May 31st 3:00pm
Young violinists' recital by "FAYM" (Foundation to Assist
Young Musicians) includes a performance by talented young
violinist: Liam Mansfield
East Las Vegas Community Center
250 N. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas NV 89101
Free and Open to the Public, donations accepted to provide free violin
lessons to 'inner city youngsters'
more info: 702-972-6858

upcoming

Friday June 6th 7:30pm and
Sunday June 8th 2:00pm
Opera Las Vegas presents: Rossini's "Barber of Seville" -fully staged
costumed and supported by a full orchestra, performers include Stephanie Weiss as Berta,
Renee Tatum as Rosina, Philip Cokorinos Basilio, Peter Strummer and Dr. Bartolo, Robert
McPherson as Almaviva and Daniel Sutin as Figaro
Judy Bayley Theater
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89154
55$-95$
more info: 702-895-2787

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...

The Soul of Downtown: Soulful House DJ Lenny “Love” Alfonzo

"It's not about what the equipment does, it's about what 
you can do through that equipment. 

That's where the soul is." 

- Ritchie Hawtin

By Onnoleigh Sweetman, contributing writer and editor

Downtown Las Vegas has finally made its mark with the explosion of arts, lounges and restaurants that have popped up in such a short time, making splashes and waves across the 18 blocks of our arts district. People from all over the country are flocking to DTLV to get in, cash in, and engage in the hottest trend of Urban living that Las Vegas has probably ever seen. But with all the newbies flocking to what is now considered the hippest place to work and live, who are the people behind the scenes that have been supporting, living, and giving to this arts scene years before the sudden burst? One such notable mention would be 30 year electronic music veteran, house music fundamentalist and downtown denizen DJ Lenny “Love” Alfonzo.

Lenny’s first stint was at The Lip Stick Lounge in Las Vegas at the ripe age of 18. First spinning classic soul-disco and R&B-style dance music, Lenny soon found house music which led him onto DJ ventures in LA and Phoenix and then a five year house music residency in Manhattan, New York. From there, Lenny “Love” hit the house music circuit of the birth of house, none other than the infamous city of Chicago. With numerous years and numerous cities under his belt, Lenny “Love” found himself back at his roots of Las Vegas and settled in the very core of Downtown.

Anyone that knows Downtown knows that Thursday nights at DCR (Downtown Cocktail Room) is the place to be for not just underground lounge vibes, but for pure, authentic house beats which is becoming a lost art in Las Vegas. Guest DJ’s can be seen all over facebook giving their props to a night savored and respected by the community. Emanuel Skinner writes on May 8th: Tonight catch me playing with Lenny Alfonzo at one of the only venues staying true to #deep #underground #house in this over saturated commercial EDM city! #downtownsoulLV #undergroundLV

DJ Lenny Alfonzo spinning @
Atomic Liquors on Fremont

A well deserved and true example of what Lenny is bringing to the table in our community. But it even goes further than that. Not only does Lenny host, spin and collaborate to bring the DTLV community “Downtown Soul” he immerses himself with true “soul” an passion to create and even better downtown to live in. The heart of “Downtown Soul” is “Bringing music to the community and community to the music”. This is evident with an array of projects that Lenny immerses himself into. Whether it is vinyl DJ and beat matching lessons, to setting up his DJ gear for Burners without Borders projects at L’Octaine Urban Apartments, to feeding the homeless, Lenny can be found gifting his time and talents all over DTLV.

As a part of the community integration of music and culture of Downtown Soul, Lenny offers three unique projects in conjunction with its unique mission of inclusion. Lenny offers dancing lessons for The Spanish Hustle every Thursday at DCR, private and group DJ lessons in the art of mixing and beat matching on vinyl, and most honorably a weekly gathering to feed the homeless.

With all the splashes and glamour that is making up downtown Las Vegas, Lenny keeps the scene grounded, true to style, and authentic with the sounds of soulful house and with the heart of a community driven activist. Catch Lenny live, every Thursday with guests at DCR 10pm to 2am, 111 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101.

Currently a resident DJ at the Downtown Cocktail Room, he is also active in the East Fremont Entertainment and Arts Districts’ house music scenes, and collaborates with other members of the DCR DJ Collective and Edgar Reyes of SoulKitchen. Thankful, inspired, and with a strong desire to promote and teach the history of house and its culture to the next generation of househeads, DJ Lenny launched DownTownSoul in 2013.

For more information on Lenny or to get involved with any of his projects, please visit www.downtownsoullv.com or www.djlennyalfonzo.com

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...

Coffee with Kaizer... Musical happenings for the week of May 12th...

Monday May 12th 5:30pm
Guitar Ensemble Recital directed by Ricardo Cobo, with guest violinist Dmytro
Nehrych perform works including Paganini's Sonata Concertante, Piazzolla's "L'Histoire
du Tango," and Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusic" (arranged by Hirsh)
Doc Rando Hall (UNLV Beam Music Center)
4505 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89119Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-895-3332

Tuesday May 13th 7:30pm
Chamber Music Recital featuring UNLV students; Sammi Ciarlo and Tammy Hung violins, John Pollack and David Chavez violas, Eddie Yue, Jeremy Russo and Maren Quanbeck celli and Daniel Nunez, flute program includes Tchaikovsky's Sextet, Mozart's Flute Quartet No. 3, Boccherini's Quintet in G Major, and Joan Tower's "Rising"
Doc Rando Hall (UNLV Beam Music Center)
4505 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89119Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-895-3332

Thursday May 15th 7:30pm
Vocal recital by baritone Tod Fitzpatrick and guest artists; soprano Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, guitarist Martha Masters, and pianist Kosta Popvic, program includes three Americana themed works by Celius Dougherty
Doc Rando Hall (UNLV Beam Music Center)
4505 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89119
Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-895-3332

Friday May 16th 7:00pm
Traditional music and dance of Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan and Central Asia presented by
"Eastern Arts"
West Charleston Library
6301 W. Charleston Rd.
Las Vegas NV 89146
Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-507-3964

Saturday May 17th 7:00pm
Traditional dance and music of Peru and Mexico as performed by dance troupes: "Xochipilli Macuilxochitl" and "La Acociacion Cultural Peruvana"
Winchester Community Center
3130 South McLeod Dr.
Las Vegas NV 89119
$12, $10 in advance
more info: 702-455-7340

Saturday May 17th 7:30pm
Desert Winds Ensemble performs Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with pianist Tania M. L. Cancado, directed by Steven Trinkle
Community Lutheran Church
3720 E. Tropicana Ave.
Las Vegas NV 89121$15
http://www.thedesertwinds.org/index.html

Saturday May 17th 7:30pm
Las Vegas Philharmonic performs tangos with violin soloist and concertmaster: De Ann Letrouneau, accordion soloist Patrick Harison and guest conductor Sarah Hicks, program also includes hits from "Les Miserables"
and "Phantom of the Opera" and Ravel's "American in Paris"
The Smith Center
361 Symphony Park
Las Vegas NV 89106
702-749-2000

Sunday May 18th 1:30pm
Latin Jazz Sextet performs compositions of the pianist and leader: Alex Clements, other performers include Eric Tewalt; flute/saxophone, Laraine Kaizer-V; violin, Jeff Davis; bass, Kurt Rasmussen; percussion, Pepe Jimenez; drums
Starbright Theatre
2215 Thomas W. Ryan Blvd.
Las Vegas NV 89134$15 (cash check only), $12 for sun city residents
more info: 702-255-0695

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...

Coffee with Kaizer... Musical happenings for the week of May 7th...

Monday May 5th 5:30pm
UNLV Tuba and Euphonium studio recital, program includes original and arranged works by Alec Wilder, Richard Wagner, Percy Grainger and Andrea Catozzi, performers include Keoni Sailer, Tony Hart, and Shawn Schwerdtfeger: tuba/euphonium and Jae Ahn-Benton: Piano
Doc Rando Hall (UNLV Beam Music Center)
4505 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89119Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-895-3332

Tuesday May 6th 5:30pm
Chamber Music Recital featuring UNLV string students, program includes Beethoven's String Quartet in C minor op. 18 No. 4 (the complete work)
Doc Rando Hall (UNLV Beam Music Center)
4505 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89119Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-895-3332

Tuesday May 6th 7:30pm
CSN Concert Band directed by Dr. Richard McGee and Mariachi Band directed by Albert Garcia
Horn Theater
3200 E. Cheyenne Ave.
North Las Vegas NV $8 adults-$5 seniors/students
more info: 702-651-5483

Friday May 9th 7:00pm
Bluegrass music by the Red Rock Ramblers: Jim Damele: guitar lead vocals, Joel Ferguson: banjo, Jimmy Schruppel: bass, Dave Carroll: mandolin/guitar, Laraine Kaizer-V: fiddle
Bruce Trent Park
8851 S. Vegas Dr.
Las Vegas NV
Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-229-3514

Friday May 9th 8:00pm
Henderson Symphony directed by Taras Krysa performs Brahms' "German Requiem," soloists include soprano Cecilia Lopez and baritone Tod Fitzpatrick
Henderson Pavilion
200 S. Green Valley Pkwy
Henderson NV 89012
Free and Open to the Public $10 donation suggested
more info: 702-267-2171

Saturday May 10th 3:30pm
Guitar recital by doctoral student Hugo Nogueira, program includes Bach, Piazzolla, Paganini, and Nogueria, guest performers include: guitarist Emanuel Schmidt and violinist Dmytro Nehrych
Doc Rando Hall (UNLV Beam Music Center)
4505 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89119Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-895-3332

Saturday May 10th 7:30pm
Voice recital by doctoral student; soprano Carrie Wachsberger, program includes "Duex Melodies Hebraiques" by Ravel, "Three Yiddish Songs" by Ulmann, and "Piccola Serenata" by Berstein
Doc Rando Hall (UNLV Beam Music Center)
4505 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89119Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-895-3332

Friday May 9th 8:00pm
Saturday May 10th 8:00pm
One Act Operas "The Telephone" by Menoti and "The Human Voice" by Poulenc performed by
Sin City Opera
Onyx Theater
953 E. Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas NV 89104$15 (portion of proceeds goes to Childrens' Charity of Southern Nevada)
more info: 702-732-7225

Sunday May 11th 1:30pm
Cello recital by Anthony Rodriguez, program includes Brahms and Messiaen, performers include
pianist Jae-Ahn Benton, violinist Dmytro Nehrych and violist Valerie Reives, free reception following the concert
Doc Rando Hall (UNLV Beam Music Center)
4505 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89119Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-895-3332

Sunday May 11th 5:30pm
Chamber music recital featuring the Sin City Winds: Jamie Leigh O' Neil: flute, Christopher Fujiwara: oboe, Erin Vander Wyst: clarinet, Kevin Eberle: bassoon, Jon Holloway: horn, Jonathan Cannon: clarinet, program includes "Three Sea Shanties" by Sir Malcom Arnold, "Woodwind Quintet Op. 56" by Franz Danzi and "Mladi" by Leos Janacek
Doc Rando Hall (UNLV Beam Music Center)
4505 Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas NV 89119Free and Open to the Public
more info: 702-895-3332

Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...