Five things to do around town

Paths lead to undead end

Now that “True Blood,” “Dracula” and both versions of “Being Human” have left the air, TV’s sexy-vampire genre is pretty much down to “The Vampire Diaries” and its spinoff, “The Originals.”

Unless you’re one of those weirdos who gets all hot and bothered by the grotesque undead on FX’s “The Strain,” in which case, you might want to keep that information to yourself.

Anyway, you can get up close and personal with the men and women behind the vampires, werewolves, hybrids and witches during “The Vampire Diaries” Official Convention, Friday through Sunday at the Rio, 3700 W. Flamingo Road.

“Vampire Diaries” stars Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley headline the event on Saturday. Daniel Gillies, Phoebe Tonkin and Charles Michael Davis of “The Originals” will appear on Sunday. Other cast members will attend throughout the weekend.

Besides autograph and photo opportunities with the actors, the convention will include a cocktail party as well as karaoke, costume and trivia contests.

General admission tickets are $25 Friday, $60 Saturday and $35 Sunday. Preferred admission tickets are $40 Friday and Sunday and $70 Saturday.

For more information, visit www.creationent.com. World music mix

They say music’s the universal language. For proof, look no further than Circle the World, which blends international musical traditions at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. China-born instrumentalist Linhong Lee joins Hawaiian slack key guitarist (and falsetto singer) Gary Haleamau and his bass-playing son Kurin, blues singer and pianist Junior Brantley (who hails from exotic Milwaukee) and Lebanon-born Charbel Azzi, who contributes Arabic percussion. Tickets for Circle the World are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the show; call 702-455-7340 for details.

‘Zilla to fill ya

If you’re thinking of braving the SlotZilla zipline at the Fremont Street Experience, you may want to prepare with the StackZilla or the ShotZilla. The StackZilla is a stack, appropriately enough, of 10 hotcakes, served with butter and syrup at Du-par’s at the Golden Gate. It’s $16.99, but if you finish it in 15 minutes or less (you have to use a fork), it’s free. The ShotZilla is an 8-ounce megashot of vodka, melon liqueur, apple schnapps and sweet-and-sour mix, and it’s $7 at the D Bar at the D Las Vegas or OneBar at the Golden Gate. And you don’t get a prize for finishing it quickly.

Watch him reappear

What does it take to get retired magic star Lance Burton back on a stage? Maybe a good cause and a lot of friends, judging by Sunday’s “Variety Live.” Burton joins veteran and younger performers including magicians Jan Rouven and Kevin James and juggler Kris Kremo in the 8 p.m. benefit for Heaven Can Wait Animal Society. Singing couple Ben Stone and Jasmine Trias host at The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. All tickets are $30; call 702-365-7070.

Deigning to din

Though they’ve been around since the ’70s, German metal stars Accept have sounded especially reinvigorated of late with current singer Mark Tornillo. Their latest record, “Blind Rage,” see them continue to hit that not-so-sweet spot between power metal and thrash. See them at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Count’s Vamp’d, 6750 W. Sahara Ave. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show; call 702-220-8849.