Neighborhoods: Five tips for a great time on Water Street

HENDO’S HAPPENIN’

Five fun things to do on Water Street

BY C. MOON REED

Things are happening in Downtown Henderson. The historic Water Street District has been working hard to become a major destination, now home to an array of food and drink options along with other fun activities. In addition to the permanent attractions, look to Water Street Plaza for festivals and special events, such as Golden Knights viewing parties and the recent Pacific Islander Festival & Ho’olaule’a. Here are a few more of our Water Street faves.

(Christopher DeVargas/Staff) EAT: Biscuits and Bourbon With so many delicious restaurants now calling Water Street home, it’s difficult to pick a favorite. (Shouts out to Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina and Chef Flemming’s BakeShop!) At Biscuits and Bourbon, the revitalization of Water Street is baked right into the mission. Plus, the elevated Southern menu is flat-out delicious. Try the biscuit bennies on the brunch menu, with either fried chicken, tri-tip or pork belly. Pork rinds, country poutine, Nashville hot watermelon and a wide selection of smoked meats highlight the dinner menu. 109 S. Water St., 702-986-0307, bandbonwater.com. DRINK: Lovelady Brewing Company Nobody goes thirsty on Water Street. With Hardway 8, Public Works Coffee Bar, Sticks Tavern, multiple casinos and more lining the thoroughfare, there’s something in a glass or cup for everybody. For many, that place is the Lovelady’s welcoming tap room. The family-owned business has become known for its beer, from the 9th Island Pineapple Sour to the HopAtomic double IPA and best-selling Love Juice hazy IPA. The 1,400 square-foot tap room features 16 handles, bar games and a dog friendly patio. 20 S. Water St., 702-564-3030, loveladybrewing.com.

NEIGHBORHOODS

PLAY: Lifeguard Arena Southern Nevada’s new AHL team might be waiting for its Henderson arena to open next spring, but this official practice facility for the Henderson Silver Knights is open and ready for skaters. With two sheets of ice, the venue offers open skate, skate rentals and beginner lessons, along with hockey and figure skating programs. Event planners can even host parties there. And be sure to pop into the Livery to stock up on Silver Knights gear. 222 S. Water St., 725-201-3032, lifeguardarena.com.

Silver Knights goalie Logan Thompson skates with a boy from Henderson’s

Battle Born Kids program at Lifeguard Arena. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

SEE: City Lights Art Gallery Dedicated to promoting local art and art education, this Water Street District gallery provides an enriching counterpoint to Downtown Henderson’s more indulgent attractions. The art on display is rotated quarterly, so there’s always something new to see by the stable of local member artists. Additionally, City Lights hosts bi-annual juried shows, monthly artist spotlights, classes and workshops, open studio time, volunteer artists on duty, offers college scholarships for artistic local high school students and even has a gift shop. 3 East Army St., 702260-0300, citylightsartgallery.com. ADORN: Downtown Vintage Barbershop & Shave Parlor A good barbershop isn’t just a place to get a haircut; it’s an old-school gathering place, bordering on community center. Native Las Vegan Jorge Reyes is this shop’s owner and operator. In 2012, at the tender age of 18, he used the proceeds from his hairstyling to take over one of the oldest barber shops in Southern Nevada, which dates back to 1956. Partake in a timeless local tradition on Water Street and leave looking better than when you arrived. 37 S. Water St., 702-564-2343, facebook.com/ downtownvintagehenderson.

BIG THIS WEEK

CONTROLLING BRITNEY SPEARS The New York Times’ deep-dive documentary series first looked at the pop star’s conservatorship in February. Now that it’s dissolving, it focuses on the effort to control Spears’ life. FX on Hulu.

EXHIBIT

FRUITS OF OUR LABOR AT HISTORIC FIFTH STREET SCHOOL PURE ALOHA FESTIVAL AT CRAIG RANCH REGIONAL PARK BLOND:ISH AT ZOUK NIGHTCLUB

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by viewing work by acclaimed Las Vegas artist Justin Favela. His signature piñata sculptures have won him awards and international attention. In Fruits of Our Labor, Favela takes inspiration from Mexican still life fruit, “Sesame Street Fruit’’ and Sandra Cisneros’ classic book The House on Mango Street. Through November 4; Tuesday-Friday, 2-6 p.m.; free. Mayor’s Gallery, 401 S. Fourth St. –C. Moon Reed

FEST

Pure Aloha makes its comeback just in time for its 15th anniversary in Las Vegas, celebrating island culture, music, food and art at the expansive North Las Vegas destination over four days of fun. Kapena, Spawn Breezie, Ekolu, Pat T. and Bonafide will be among the Hawaiian and reggae acts taking the stage, and the all-ages event will feature a large carnival and games section open all weekend long. September 30-October 3, times vary, $10 per day, vizzun.com. –Brock Radke

PARTY

The opening round of parties at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World continues with one of the new venue’s more experimental residents, Montreal-born Vivie-Ann Bakos, who has continued under the Blond:ish moniker for the past two years after more than a decade DJing as a duo with Anstascia D’Elene Corniere. Bakos keeps the house rhythms coming in the club and focuses on environmental activism elsewhere. September 30, 10:30 p.m., $30+, zoukgrouplv.com. –Brock Radke

YOURS CRUELLY, ELVIRA The “Mistress of the Dark” has had a pretty wild career, and like most things we love, Vegas played a big role in it. The must-hear audiobook of Cassandra Peterson’s memoir, read by the author, is available through Audible, iTunes and Google Play.

OUR PICKS

(Shutterstock/Photo Illustration)

CONCERT

TIJUANA PANTHERS & WAVVES AT BACKSTAGE BAR & BILLIARDS PUNKS IN VEGAS SHOW AT AMERICAN LEGION POST 8

The tide is rolling in to Fremont East. On October 1, Backstage Bar & Billiards welcomes two surf-inspired indies, Long Beach’s Tijuana Panthers and San Diego’s Wavves, for a night of fuzzed-out mayhem. Expect a head-nodding—and, in some of the inevitable louder moments, head-banging—good time of the variety we used to enjoy Downtown all the time before the pandemic nearly destroyed our capacity to enjoy live, garage-y rock in clubs on a nearly weekly basis. October 1, 9 p.m., $20, bit.ly/2WdsFZG. –Geoff Carter The local music institution celebrates its 10th anniversary the way founder Emily Matview—who died in June, and in whose honor this show will be held—would surely have wanted: by bringing some of the Valley’s most adored punk names to the stage for an all-ages blowout. Jesse Pino and Brock Frabbiele will perform acoustic sets, and Rayner, Mercy Music and a reunited-for-thenight Holding Onto Sound (with Micah Malcolm sitting in on drums) will blast off electrically. All profits benefit Gender Justice Nevada. October 1, 6 p.m., $10 donation, 733 N. Veterans Memorial Drive. –Spencer Patterson

Je s s e

P i n o (C ourtes y/Jam Unplugged)

TRIBUTE