Art
Rise Gallery in Holsum Lofts
lecture
The Future of the Mind, Michio Kaku
UNLV’s Ham Hall
Assuming the mind has a future, this fella — who comes bearing a boatload of scientific honors, a shelf of best-selling science books, and the cojones to attempt the completion of Einstein’s unified field theory — is better positioned than almost anyone to say what it is. Jan. 29, 7:30p, free, but
tickets required, 702-895-2787
Red
Clark County Library
This is a staged reading of John Logan’s award-winning 2009 play about the artist Mark Rothko. Presented by A Public Fit, it centers on a commission for Rothko to paint murals for a swank restaurant, and his tug-of-war emotions about commercialism and the purposes of art. (Mature audiences only.) Jan. 26, 7:30p, free, lvccld.org
music
Haydn, Handel
Southern Nevada Music Arts Society
UNLV’s Ham Hall
You can’t Handel the Haydn! Er, sorry, we were just overcome with the intensity of the music to be performed by the 65 members of the Musical Arts Chorus and the 32 players in the Musical Arts Orchestra: Coronation Anthem, by Handel, and Te Deum, by Haydn. Jan. 21, 3p, $20, 702-895-ARTS
music
The National
Joint at the Hard Rock
Pleasingly melodic white-guy indie guitar rock — to get a sense of their latest album, Sleep Well Beast, triangulate from Arcade Fire, Editors, and Interpol — to begin the new year. Jan. 20, 7p, $50.50-$126, hardrockhotel.com
Amanda Fortini
The Writer’s Block
Fortini will talk about her coverage of the Route 91 shooting for The New Yorker. “I’ve gotten so many questions about how those pieces came together,” she says. “It was a combination of pounding the pavement and utter lack of sleep — which is, to be honest, kind of true of every article — and it will be interesting to discuss the process.” First in a new series of craft talks at the bookstore. Feb. 2, 7p, free, thewritersblock.org
film
Dam Short Film Festival
Boulder Dam Hotel
Four days of short films, more than 120 of them, presented in 20-plus thematic groupings — drama, comedy, horror, documentary, music video, and more — plus a filmmaker panel, social gatherings, and an awards gala. All at the very groovy and historic Boulder Theatre. Feb. 8-11, details at damshortfilm.org