Datebook for September 17, 2004

Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 | 8:40 a.m.

Balloon festival

The Las Vegas Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held from Saturday to Sunday at the Durango Hills Community Center, at the intersection of Gowan Road and Durango Street. Admission is free, but donations are accepted for balloon rides. Proceeds benefit Deaf Kids Kamp. 247-6905.

Open house

The Boulder City Arts Center's second annual open house will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at ABC Park in Boulder City. Admission is free. 293-1612.

Book fair

Barnes & Noble, 8915 W. Charleston Blvd., will host a book fair to donate a portion of sales to Spread the Word Nevada, a local literacy project, from Saturday to Thursday. The store will donate a percentage of net sales from that location during that time. 564-7809.

'School Jam'

Culture Shock Las Vegas, a nonprofit hip-hop dance company and youth outreach program, will hold its annual "Back to School Jam" for children ages 7 to 17 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Home Courts, 7485 Commercial Way. Admission is $5, and includes the dance and music of today's pop culture. 281-7588.

Book signing

Professor/author Lee Ryan Miller will speak and sign copies of his book, "Teaching Amidst the Neon Palm Trees," at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Fireside Lounge of the UNLV Student Union. Admission is free. 895-1575.

Poets' corner

Keith Brantley and Pendelita Toney will host a Poets' Corner for established poets and open-mike participants at 7:30 p.m. today at the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Admission is free. 229-4800.

Islands festival

"Ho'olaule'a 2004," a celebration of Pacific Islands culture, will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Lorenzi Park. Tickets are $2, free to children 14 and under. Live entertainment, crafts, boutiques, games, exotic foods and demonstrations will be offered. 229-1087.

Celebration

Celebrate Mexican Independence Day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Freedom Park. Exhibits, displays, music and food will be offered. Tickets are $5 adults, free for children 12 and under. 649-1198.

Discussion

Chief Fafore Akinlana and members of the Egbe Ifa Traditional African Society will lead a discussion on African scientific and medical achievements in a talk titled, "Traditional Healing and Egypt," at 3 p.m. Sunday at the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Admission is free. 229-4800.

Richard Clark

Richard Clark will perform his impersonation of legendary mountain man Kit Carson from noon to 1 p.m. today at the Lloyd D. George Courthouse jury selection room, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Admission is free. 229-1087.

Family films

The City of Las Vegas will show "Dinosaur" at 8 p.m. today at Cimarron Rose Community Center, 5591 N. Cimarron Road, as part of its "Friday Night Movies" series. Admission is free. 229-1607.

Tai Chi classes

Free classes in the martial art Tai Chi will be taught from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays at the District at Green Valley Ranch, near the intersection of Green Valley Parkway and Interstate 215. 851-3082.

Acting classes

Clark County Parks & Community Services is offering free acting classes from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday at Whitney Center, 5712 E. Missouri Ave. Pre-registration is requested. 455-7576.

Book groups

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District offers the following book discussion groups at area libraries this week:

Amazing Reads Book Club -- 7 p.m. Wednesday, West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Ave. 507-3942.

Book Chat Cafe -- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. 507-3860.

Contemporary Fiction Book Club -- 7 p.m. Tuesday, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. 507-3427.

Murder of the Month Book Discussion Club -- 7 p.m. Tuesday, Enterprise Library, 25 E. Shelbourne Ave. 507-3761.

Spanish Book Discussion Group -- 1 p.m. Saturday, Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North. 507-3606.

Senior Fair

Clark County Parks & Community Services' Senior Advocate Program will sponsor a Senior Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Cambridge Recreation Center, 3930 Cambridge St. Admission is free. 455-7051.

Oprah book club

The local chapter of the Oprah book club will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble, 8915 W. Charleston Blvd. Admission is free. 242-1987.