Yes. The area has really grown in the last 3 years. First Friday re-opens April 2021 (with limited admission) and plans to reopen fully as soon as the governor allows. Both the theatres are running shows with limited admission. The museums are getting ready to open. Meanwhile, the shops, galleries, restaurants, etc. are open Thursdays-Saturdays and most are open Tuesdays-Sundays with some back to 7 days a week. Right now, a lot depends on the weather and the foot traffic. If there's no one there because it's cold and windy, the, yes, some of the mom and pop shops close early but when I was there this week, everyone was open.

...yeah. Like anywhere be aware of your surroundings and don't travel anywhere by yourself at night.

Lots of free parking. Just check there are no restrictions as you would when parking anywhere.

Get the bus from the strip to downtown and ask the driver to let you know. Watch the route on the TV monitor or get off downtown and walk back (5mins) or get the shuttle bus from downtown which is free and runs about every 20 mins after 11am.

You can take either public transportation, the RTC Duece or the Strip Express (SDX). You can buy a pass at the 7-11 at 3001 S. Las Vegas Blvd. (The Bellagio is at 3600). They run every 15 minutes, stop at the Bellagio and stop at the Arts District. You can use Uber or Lyft, too. Tell them to drop you at the Arts Factory on Charleston and Casino Center (It's really Art Way but Casino Center is the old name). If you get to either Pawn Stars, the North Outlet Malls, the Plaza or Mob Museum, there is a free shuttle that takes you to the Arts District (and also Freemont East). You get on at any one of the six stops and ride for free all day. It's called The Loop, it's a shuttle bus, and it's fushia colored. It's run by RTC, too.