First Friday Las Vegas Presents: THE ART OF SCIENCE!
First Friday Las Vegas has art, music, food and fun down to a science this May
The downtown festival features a special art and science exhibit, a large scale environmental art piece made of collected trash and a sneak peak at Empire, a new production show from the creators of Absinthe
The First Friday Las Vegas arts and culture festival continues to draw crowds from around the valley and beyond for a night of art, music, food and more. This month, First Friday is partnering with the second annual Las Vegas Science Festival to celebrate the endless amounts of science Southern Nevada has to offer. The next First Friday Las Vegas takes place Friday, May 4, 2012 from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m.
6 p.m. – 11 p.m. First Friday Las Vegas presents a large scale environmental art build that needs help to be completed throughout the night! Partnering with Zappos.com and Pick Up America, the nation’s first coast-to-coast roadside litter pick-up, attendees can participate in the building of a 15 foot tall Trojan unicorn made out of plastic bottles collected by Zappos.com employees. Lend a hand and put the finishing touches on the statue by writing personal notes on other trash collected that you can build right into the unicorn.
All interview and photo inquiries can be directed to Alissa Kelly [email protected] or Laura Herlovich [email protected]. If you plan to send a camera, you must contact Alissa Kelly at 702-612-7870 for clearance and parking instructions.
FIRST FRIDAY LAS VEGAS HIGHLIGHTS:
ARTS DISTRICT HUB
Location: Casino Center and Colorado Ave.
Art Style: Emerging and established artists, arts, crafts
Activities:
6 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. The Kids Zone is bustling with activity. 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. will feature students from Garehime Elementary School for Going Downtown Day. Garehime students are being prepared to succeed in the entrepreneurial age by participating in a model city. Each class is responsible for operating a business or government agency including a bank, post office, museum, florist, TV and radio stations and more. Patrons of First Friday Las Vegas can trade in money for Downtown Dollars to purchase homemade products from students with proceeds going towards the unique school program. 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Roos-N-More exotic animals will set up a petting zoo and educate families about the natural habitats of these animals. Carnival games provided by Fun For All gives kids and families even more options for interactive entertainment. A Student Stage will be set up with live performances by The Prodigy, a Las Vegas based dance crew who won the gold medal at the 2011 Junior Division of the National Hip Hop Dance Championships, the Colabo Youth Theatre, and 13 year old singing sensation Tiffanne LeMay. Sounds for the Kids Zone performance stage will be provided by DJ Baby Chino, the world’s youngest DJ!
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Check out a very special exhibit highlighting the art and science connection taking place in the Kids Zone. Kids and adults alike can enjoy, first hand, fun and interesting activities that also teach. Crafts will be provided by Dick Blick Art, The CSN Planetarium, Master Gardeners, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and much more. Families can enjoy special appearances by Smokey Bear, Puddles the Blue Goose, and a toothy friend from Shark Reef Aquarium. They will be on-hand and available for pictures.
Entertainment:
Two stages with live music and DJ performances from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
The Lyon’s Den Stage located on Casino Center just south of Colorado Ave.
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Freedom Jazz Trio
7 p.m. – 8 p.m. DJ Mongo
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Moksha
9:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. 5’8” (from the legendary Word Up Show on KUNV)
Golden Nugget Stage located on 3rd Street just south of Imperial in front of Theatre7.
6:15 p.m. – 7 p.m. Red Peach
7:15 p.m. – 8 p.m. Twenty8
8:15 p.m. – 9 p.m. W3 The Future
9:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Bears Say Rawr
DOWN 3RD
Location: Imperial and 3rd Street
Activities:
The Cuatro De Friday Fiesta celebrating Mexican Independence takes over the newest expansion of the First Friday Las Vegas. DOWN 3RD will be filled with mariachis, luchadores, piñatas, and more! Sin City Riders hosts the monthly car show highlighting some of Las Vegas’ best customized classics.
FREMONT STREET EAST
Location: Get Back Alley located just south of Fremont Street between 6th and Las Vegas Blvd.
Art Style: Street and Performance Art
Activities: Deriving its name from the long-running and hugely successful DJ funk and soul dance party held every First Friday, Get Back Alley is the newest part of the First Friday expansion to Fremont Street East. First Friday will transform the alley behind Downtown Cocktail Room, The Griffin, Beauty Bar and Le Thai into an arts hallway. This area will include live murals, street art, music and performance arts demonstrations.
6 p.m. – 11 p.m. Artist Edgar Herrera will display his aerosol skills as he transforms a 1987 Mercedes Benz sedan into the official First Friday mobile. 8 p.m. & 9 p.m. Don’t miss an exclusive look at Spiegelworld’s latest creation, Empire, before it transfers to New York City this summer. From the creators of Absinthe Las Vegas at Caesars Palace, characters from Empire will be gracing Get Back Alley with a sneak peak of the new show and attendees will have the chance to win tickets to see the show before it heads east. The Spiegelworld Bar Vendome is back this month to support the downtown arts scene. The Bar Vendome is a multi-million dollar, pop-up container bar. Come have a drink while enjoying the ever expanding street and performance art.
Entertainment:
Live DJ programmed in Get Back Alley from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
6 p.m. until 11 p.m.
PARKING/SHUTTLE:
Shuttle service will run from 5:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
Four Open Top Sightseeing Shuttles and an additional handicap equipped shuttle will make a constant loop around the entire event route.
For Handicap Transportation to event, please call: 702- 739-7990
There will be ample free parking as well as $5 parking lots.*
*If you park in unauthorized parking areas, you may be subject to towing.
Fremont Route Shuttle Stops:
* El Cortez- pick up and drop off in front of Get Back Alley event
* Golden Nugget- lobby doors just south of Rush Tower
* Arts District Hub at Colorado and Main
Government Center Route Shuttle Stops:
* Government Center at Rotunda Gallery
* Commerce Street Galleries
* Arts District Hub at Colorado and Main
Additional free parking at City Hall Garage at Stewart and Las Vegas Blvd. (must walk to Fremont shuttle stops)
GENERAL INFORMATION:
For more information on First Friday Las Vegas, please check back on the website www.firstfridaylasvegas.com or on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/firstfridaylasvegas
ABOUT FIRST FRIDAY LAS VEGAS
First Friday Las Vegas has been a mainstay of arts and culture in downtown Las Vegas for nine years. In 2011, just shy of the October nine year anniversary, the arts and culture festival welcomed a new ownership group, First Friday Las Vegas, LLC, comprised of Zappos.com executives Tony Hsieh, Fred Mossler and Steve Hill, as well as downtown developer Andrew Donner and marketing executive Joey Vanas. The outdoor event features several areas throughout Downtown Las Vegas that showcase artists of all calibers and genres, supplementing with live music, food and other celebratory events.