The Smith Center houses a range of unique venue spaces capable of accommodating meetings and events, both large and small:

• Reynolds Hall is a 2,056-seat theater complete with balconies, a stage, and full orchestra pit. The entire stage can be rented for dinner, special meetings, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and more. The five-tiered audience chamber serves as an elegant, one-of-a-kind background.
• The Grand Lobby is a 5,000-square-foot space that features elegant 19-foot tall chandeliers, sculptures, and authentic Italian stone on the walls.
• The Founders Room, located on the second floor overlooking Symphony Park, is decorated with chic furniture and rich wood floors.
• The 1,500-square foot Mezzanine Lounge, also located on the second level, provides an intimate and relaxed atmosphere suitable for smaller parties.
• There are three conference suites available for meetings: one large 860-square-foot room and two smaller 200-square-foot conference rooms.
• The Upper Lobby is situated on the fifth floor of Reynolds Hall and provides a more private space with views of downtown Las Vegas.
• The Troesh Studio Theater, in the Boman Pavilion, is a 3,000-square-foot versatile space ideal for all events. The theater features a floating dance floor and large windows designed to brighten up any occasion.
• The 3,700-square-foot Cabaret Jazz is unlike any other space and features a view overlooking Symphony Park. This space is ideal for jazz, cabaret, and other events best seen and heard in an intimate setting.
• The Courtyard offers guests a 6,200-square-foot space outdoors designed for gatherings in the fresh air. Acting as a conduit between Reynolds Hall and Boman Pavilion, the Courtyard is a perfect location for weddings, dinners, and cocktail parties.

The Smith Center will also provide on-site, full-service catering and bar will provide patrons with food and beverages from Culinary Arts Catering. Culinary Arts Catering is a division of the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, a nonprofit culinary and hospitality training institute. The Smith Center’s partnership with the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas will not only provide world-class food and beverage for guests, but will also help to put Southern Nevadans back to work.

On-time and on-budget, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts plans to open in March 2012.

Reservations for rentals can be made now by calling The Smith Center’s rental sale office at: (702) 928-2002 or visiting http://www.thesmithcenter.com/book-your-event/.

PHOTO: Artist rendering of The Smith Center’s Boman Pavilion.

Menu items range from the traditional Veggie Wrap or the Caprese Salad to the innovative Baby Beet and Tangerine Salad or the Chicken Spinach Artichoke Panini, to a twist on the original Chipotle Caesar Salad. The barista is also blending smoothies and crafting a full array of gourmet coffee and tea options. Although the desserts look sinful, they are surprisingly low in calories, ranging from 120 to 200 calories and three to six grams of fat per item.

A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu and alumna of Chef Thomas Keller’s kitchen, Red Velvet Café co-founder Chef Aneesha strives to create food that “motivates anyone attempting to lead a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.” Her food is low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fiber, stimulating metabolism.

A portion of the proceeds from Keep Memory Alive Café Brought to You by Red Velvet Café Chef Aneesha support the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health work to find better treatments for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis.

The Keep Memory Alive Café is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm at Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Avenue in Symphony Park.

Patients and families, visitors, employees, and neighbors may walk up to the window during these hours, or place an order in advance via email to redvelvetcafe@gmail.com. Catering and delivery are also available. View the full menu online at keepmemoryalive.org.

PHOTO: The Keep Memory Alive Café serves an array of surprisingly low-calorie desserts.

Anyone who has participated in a Project Dinner Table event or shopped at the Downtown FEED (Fremont East Entertainment District) Farmers Market knows community means a lot to Gina Gavan, the creator of both events. Gavan runs her creative marketing and branding company, Tribal Minds, out of an office on the second floor of Emergency Arts, where she develops ways to bring residents of Las Vegas together.

“As a community, it is so important to connect over our ideas,” says Gavan. “From there, it’s up to us to take collective risks to implement those ideas with purpose and passion.”

Gifted when it comes to building community, Gavan appreciates the way a downtown lifestyle naturally fosters human connection.

“I live in The Ogden, so I’m fortunate enough to leave my car parked and walk to my office,” says Gavan. “As I walk down the street or sit in the Beat Coffeehouse doing business over a French Press, I always run into acquaintances and friends. We share thoughts and bounce ideas off one another. They fill me with optimism and remind me that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well here.”

Gavan, the self-proclaimed “Spoonbender,” loves to support her fellow entrepreneurs, knowing they share a common vision for a vibrant downtown. In addition to The Beat Coffeehouse, she frequents the El Cortez Parlour Bar, Le Thai, Artifice, Bar+Bistro, DuPar’s in the Golden Gate, Lady Silvia, Triple George Grill, Mundo, Downtown Cocktail Room, Vanguard, Insert Coin(s), Beauty Bar, Griffin, and Don’t Tell Mama.

Gavan looks forward to the day every district downtown is buzzing with people living, working, and walking in the area.

“Now is the perfect time for people to find their way back to the heart of our city to build a stronger and more sustainable community,” she says. “We will achieve as big as we dream.”

PHOTO: Gina Gavan by Bryan Hainer

“From Opportunity Village to Boys and Girls Clubs, Las Vegas is lucky to have so many organizations dedicated to making our city a better place to live,” Margolis said. “We want to do our part to help them achieve their fund-raising goals.”

Built and operated by Greenheart LLC, a company known internationally for its development of eco-tourism attractions, Flightlinez on Fremont Street has boosted downtown tourism since building its zipline operation in the heart of the city. The company also developed Bootleg Canyon Flightlines in Boulder City, which has delivered the experience of floating over the desert to some 40,000 tourists in the past three years.

For more information on Fremont Street Flightlinez, visit www.flightlines.com. For Bootleg Canyon Flightlines, visit www.bcflightlines.com.

PHOTO: The Flightlinez attraction on Fremont Street has further boosted downtown tourism.

More than a simple sidewalk painting, Duarte’s vibrant “Flourish” is a series of colorful way-finding markers that identify and celebrate each of the area’s cultural institutions, including Cashman Center, Las Vegas Library, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Las Vegas Shakespeare Company, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, Old Mormon Fort State Park, The Neon Museum, and The Mob Museum. Twelve repeating “wings,” are meant to entice pedestrians and vehicles to follow the trail to the various cultural institutions, each of which has its own unique flourish reflecting its purpose, personality, history, and logo.

In addition to celebrating the diverse cultural expressions of Las Vegas residents, the trail enhancements are intended to celebrate the history of the area. The winding shapes are a nod to what was once the Las Vegas Creek, the water source that made it possible for the first settlers to thrive in the desert.

In her artist statement, Duarte says, “My work focuses on the point where aesthetic elements and environments are transitioning to socially significant and commonly held contexts.”

With funding from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) and the Las Vegas Arts Commission, a total of five trails will be developed downtown. For more information, visit www.lvartscommission.com.

PHOTO: “Flourish” is a series of sidewalk embellishments created by artist Denise Duarte.

Chef and owner Dan Coughlin learned the family recipes from his native-Thai mother and grandmother. Coughlin, always striving to improve on his methods, keeps the dishes light by replacing much of the oil with water.

“It’s much more difficult to cook these dishes with less oil, especially the ones in the Wok. You have to be very careful,” he says. “It’s so easy to make a mistake and ruin the whole meal within a matter of seconds – all your work can be gone in an instant.”

Coughlin’s trial-and-error pays off. The result is the same exquisitely blended flavors, including lemongrass, ginger, lime, and Thai chili pepper, without the characteristic heaviness of many curry and noodle dishes. The fresh, flavorful food combined with an average $9-$10 entrée price earned Le Thai a loyal following in a matter of weeks.

Consistently busy since its quiet soft opening in early November, Le Thai sits on the south side of Fremont Street in a space that was formerly a vacant storefront. After five months of renovations, the restaurant includes a corrugated metal exterior, a cozy interior with a few tables, a bar, and windows into a small kitchen. Doors open onto a courtyard patio for outdoor dining under strings of white lights. The patio area turns into a beer garden with DJs on select nights. Inside, sports play on a flat screen TV above the bar, while feel-good music provides an energetic soundtrack.

Large windows facing Fremont Street invite diners to people-watch, wave at passing friends and appreciate the increasingly vibrant streetscape. Le Thai seems to embrace the neighborhood as much as the neighborhood embraces Le Thai.

Le Thai is located at 523 Fremont St. Call (702) 778-0888 or email info@lethaivegas.com for more information or delivery.

PHOTO: Owner and Chef Dan Coughlin hard at work.

5 pm – 11 pm

18b Arts District and Fremont East Entertainment District

The monthly downtown celebration of art features new winter hours and new locations. The Fremont East fair will take place in the alley behind Beauty Bar and Downtown Cocktail Room. Attendees will experience live music and mural painting, street art exhibits, and increased food and beverage options. Visit www.firstfridaylasvegas.com for more information.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade
January 16

10 am – 2:30 pm

Downtown Fourth Street Parade Route, from Charleston Boulevard to Stewart Avenue.

For more information call (702) 498-5888 or visit www.kingweeklasvegas.com.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Fest
January 16

2 pm – 6 pm

Edmond Town Center, H Street and Owens Avenue.

The free community gathering includes food and cultural vendors, car, truck and motorcycle
shows, a chili cook-off, and entertainment and activities for the entire family.

For more information call (702) 498-5888 or visit www.kingweeklasvegas.com.

PHOTO: Crowds gather downtown along Fourth Street for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade.

Because of this unprecedented rate of growth, nearly 40 individuals representing numerous health care-related organizations, companies, and non-profits have partnered to organize the Clark County Alzheimer’s Action Network to make Alzheimer’s disease a community priority. Their ultimate goal: to provide high quality care and services for those who need it most and to collaborate to promote a cure for this devastating disease.

The committee’s official launch took place Tuesday, November 15, at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, one of the country’s leading Alzheimer’s experts, kicked off the project and discussed the organization’s purpose and goals.

“Clark County, with leading health advocates, visionary public health officials, and an engaged Alzheimer’s stakeholder community, has the opportunity to reduce the impact and improve the quality of life for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and all Clark County citizens,” Cummings said. “Attention to this rapidly growing problem needs to improve so that those affected do not suffer without help, or hope.”

The Clark County Alzheimer’s Action Network (CCAAN) drives awareness of Alzheimer’s disease to increase community focus and actions; empower Alzheimer’s providers to recognize and deliver Alzheimer’s-centered continuum of care; and serve as a catalyst to create a robust, interconnected Alzheimer’s providers community. The organization’s mission is to strengthen the health professional network to ensure Clark County residents impacted by Alzheimer’s disease receive best-in-class care, support, and access to research.

For more information on the Clark County Alzheimer’s Action Network, call (702) 483-6024.

Photo: The Clark County Alzheimer’s Action Network, a committee of individuals representing numerous health care-related organizations, companies, and non-profits, launched November 15.

Friends and family can share the grandeur and wonder of The Smith Center’s very first season. With a holiday gift certificate, people everywhere can provide loved ones with an experience like no other – a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see this new Heart of the Arts from the very beginning.

From music and dance, to comedy and Broadway productions, there are 26 must-see show certificates to choose from.

Gift certificates can be redeemed for performances at The Smith Center and are available in any denomination. Order today by calling the Ticketing Office at: (702) 982-7805 or by ordering online.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is a public/private partnership that will become the centerpiece of cultural life in Las Vegas, offering a blend of performances by resident companies, as well as first-run touring attractions. The 5-acre cultural campus will feature three performance spaces, the 2,050-seat main performance area in Reynolds Hall, Boman Pavilion’s 258-seat Cabaret Jazz and 250-seat Troesh Studio Theater, and will also be home to a 1.7 acre park, which can be used for outdoor concerts. Additionally, the campus will be the new location of the Discovery Children’s Museum. The Smith Center will be the cultural center for Las Vegas – a place that will educate, entertain and excite the citizens of our great community. Located in downtown’s 61-acre urban development, Symphony Park, The Smith Center broke ground in May of 2009 with a ceremonial carillon bell casting and ringing. In February 2010, it celebrated its “Topping Out” with the raising of 50 tons of steel. The Smith Center will open in March 2012.

Photo: The Smith Center's carillon bell tower

Residents of SOHO Lofts, the Sotos love the friendly neighborhood vibe of the building.  “You can’t beat the convenience of having a grocer, one of the country’s top salons, and a fabulous bar – the Lady Silvia – on the first floor,” said Heather, who also cites the walkable proximity to the couple’s respective offices. “We spend so much time at Lady Silvia, we consider it an addition to our personal living space,” she said.

David is owner of HTMLfx.com, a web design and development firm, as well as co-owner of AdviseMediaGroup.com, an internet marketing agency located on Fourth Street and Gass. Heather is co-owner of Inhabit Design, an interior design firm located in the Arts District that was recently recognized by the Las Vegas Design Center at its 2011 Design of the Year awards.

Active in the community, the Sotos serve together on the board of directors for Through the Eyes of a Child Foundation that grants academic, cultural, and athletic scholarships to foster children. Together, they also serve on the board of directors for 18b - the Las Vegas Arts District.

According to David, a graduate of Bishop Gorman High School and UNLV, his list of top downtown spots includes Don’t Tell Mama, Bar+Bistro at The Arts Factory, DuPars in The Golden Gate, and Resnicks Grocery. Heather’s list also includes Vanguard and Blue Sky Yoga.  “Our favorite Sunday morning activity is riding our beach cruisers to either Dupars or The Beat,” said David.

Photo: Heather and Dave Soto by Ryan Reason