Datebook for May 17, 2002

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 10:15 a.m.

Rhythm & Ribs

Clark County's annual Rhythm & Ribs day, featuring blues artists and the valley's top cooks competing in a rib cook-off, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Park, 2601 E. Sunset Road. Call 455-8200.

Decorating Show

The Las Vegas Home Improvement and Decorating Show will be from noon to 8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Admission is $5; $4 for seniors. Call 386-7100.

Local tours

Preservation Association of Clark County hosts back-to-back receptions today. Tour the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park, 908 Las Vegas Blvd. North, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. (486-3511); followed by a tour of the Neon Museum's "Boneyard," at 509 E. McWilliams Drive at 6 p.m. (229-5431) Admission is free.

Arts and crafts

Art & Sol, the eighth annual outdoor fine arts and crafts fair, will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in Honeysuckle Park (near Mountain View Casino) in Pahrump. Admission is free. Call (775) 751-7687.

West Las Vegas

West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., presents its Poets Corner, an open-mike session hosted by Keith Brantley and Pendelita Toney, at 7:30 p.m. today. Call 229-4800.

Programs set

"Leave No Trace," an interactive program teaching participants how to safely enjoy the outdoors, is 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, off West Charleston Boulevard.

Also at the park, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service hosts "Summer's Coming ... Are you Ready?," a program on the upcoming season's weather hazards. Park entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. Call 875-4141.

Heritage Month

Children ages 6 and older can watch Japanese animated films, including "Dragonball Z," "Pokemon" and "Sailor Moon," from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Admission is free. Call 507-3947.

As part of Buddhist tradition, the opening ceremony for the construction of a mandala sand painting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Call 507-3630.

Fifty local Asian Pacific American organizations, clubs and medical facilities present food, crafts, entertainment, lectures and medical screenings from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Admission is free. Call 734-READ.

Rocky Moten will discuss and demonstrate the ancient technique of henna body decoration at 2 p.m. Sunday at West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Call 507-3940.

Children ages 6 and older can learn origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Whitney Library, 5175 E. Tropicana Ave. (507-4015); and 4 p.m. Wednesday at West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd. (507-3983).

Screenings set

"Attack of the B-Movies," a 1950s' science-fiction film series, features 1956's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday at Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park. Admission is $3.

As part of the "African-American Perspectives on Film" series, "Daughters of the Dust," directed by Julie Dash, will be shown at 1 p.m. Saturday at West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Admission is free (ages 17 and older). Call 229-4800.

The "Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Film Festival" series continues at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with a screening of 1953's "To Live," and at 7 p.m. Thursday with Ang Lee's 1994's "Eat Drink Man Woman" at West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd. Admission is free. Call 507-3980.

Authors appear

Greg Dinkin will discuss and sign copies of his new book, "Poker MBA," at 2 p.m. Saturday at Borders Books & Music, 2190 N. Rainbow Blvd. Call 638-0154.

Local author Theodore Ransaw will present a seminar about his book, "The Sexual Secrets of Cleopatra," from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Psychic Eye bookstore, 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson (451-5777); and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Psychic Eye, 6848 W. Charleston Blvd. (255-4477).

Performers needed

Open auditions for performers ages 13 and older for Nevada Theatre Company's June "Greenshow" productions in Gardens Park, to be staged prior to performances of "Romeo & Juliet," are noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at 2928 Lake East Drive. Call 873-0191.

Joe Behar's Community Drama Workshop is holding auditions for its annual "Great Pretenders" showcase scheduled for June. Call 457-0234.

Screenplays sought

The Nevada Film Office is accepting submissions for its 15th annual Nevada Screenwriters Competition, through June 30. For guidelines, visit nevadafilm.com.