7 Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week

New Times picks the best events in metro Phoenix from Monday, July 11, through Thursday, July 14. For more things to do, see our curated online calendar.

Judy Garland: A Musical Legend
There’s a lot more to Judy Garland than The Wizard of Oz. Star of movies and TV, she incorporated singing into every project, and she also engaged in one of the most popular pastimes of Hollywood’s Golden Age: serially marrying people, including people who had very recently been married to someone else. Then there was the depression and booze and pills, and being mom to Liza Minnelli — you know, from Arrested Development.

Judy Garland: A Musical Legacy previews at 7 p.m. Monday, July 11, as part of the Herberger Lunch Time Theater series. Admission is $3. The play continues at 12:10 p.m. through Thursday, July 21, at 222 East Monroe Street. Admission is $6. A pre-ordered lunch is optional. Visit www.herbergertheater.org or call 602-252-8497. Julie Peterson

Laurie Notaro Book-Signing
Life is messy — and Laurie Notaro, New York Times bestselling author, humorist, and guide to Idiot Girls everywhere, is acutely aware of it.

The former Phoenician (and occasional New Times contributor) returns to Changing Hands Bookstore on Tuesday, July 12, to read from her newest book, Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life. The collection of essays tackles domestic life head-on, chronicling habits like her penchant for hoarding to funny failures (and a few successes) with baking, cooking, and cleaning.

Pre-assigned group seating begins at 6:30 p.m., reading starts at 7 p.m. at 6428 South McClintock Drive in Tempe. The signing follows. Admission is $17 and includes one paperback copy and two tickets. For details or to pre-order copies of Housebroken, see www.changinghands.com or call 480-730-0205. Janessa Hilliard

Running for Brews
On one hand, the folks with Running for Brews pride themselves on being the “most chill” running club around. On the other, they do weekly 5K runs in Tempe … in July. Someone unversed in American vernacular might find this somewhat paradoxical. Yet if you’re looking to meet people with a penchant for running and beer, usually in that order, Running for Brews might be a no-brainer. Sorta like how someone unversed in our vernacular might consider running a 5K in a Santa hat in the dead of summer to be a no-brainer — or not. The next brouhaha is at Tempe’s Moonshine Whiskey Bar, 410 South Mill Avenue, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12. Visit www.runningforbrews.com or call 480-429-4044 for details. Rob Kroehler

"S.T.E.A.M."
Apparently S.T.E.M. education (comprising science, technology, engineering, and math) has become so trendy that even galleries and museums have embraced it. Thankfully, the Gallery at Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 West Rio Salado Parkway, also added art to the mix.

You can see its “S.T.E.A.M.” exhibition (complete with the “A” for art) between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13. Never fear if school wasn’t your favorite pastime. Despite the show’s title, it’s more art exhibition that lesson plan, though you’ll likely learn a thing or two while you’re there.

Featured artists include Monica Aissa Martinez, Alexandra Bowers, Frank Gonzales, Molly Koehn, and Madison Creech, to name a few. The free exhibition continues through Saturday, August 6, and there’s no homework. Visit www.tempe.gov. Lynn Trimble


Welcome to Night Vale
Ever feel like you’re living in some oddball desert town with an uber-zealous sheriff? Yeah, so do the fictional folks in Night Vale, whose adventures are recounted in a twice-monthly podcast called Welcome to Night Vale.

The pop culture phenomenon is taking its act on the road with a touring performance dubbed “Ghost Stories,” in which the quirky citizens of Night Vale share ghost stories for a City Council contest with a rather spooky prize – the chance to become a ghost.

The Welcome to Night Vale tour stops in the Valley for a performance at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, at Mesa Arts Center, One East Main Street. Expect plenty of fictional news, weather, and community calendar bulletins – plus music by Erin McKeown, whose claims to fame include writing a song via text message with TV journalist Rachel Maddow. Tickets are $28. Visit www.mesaartscenter.com. Lynn Trimble

Bar Flies
Now officially in its second year, New Times’ monthly storytelling night, Bar Flies is back with its next installment, and we’re talking about life’s hair-y details.

Managing editor Amy Silverman’s selected list of readers for “Hair” includes herself, alongside New York Times bestselling author (and occasional New Times contributor) Laurie Notaro; Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica; longtime New Times columnist Robrt Pela; and Tucson Weekly columnist Brian Smith.

Don’t get any ideas about hearing “Age of Aquarius” on loop. Jason P. Woodbury will provide the soundtrack. Doors at 6 p.m., and readings begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, at Valley Bar, 130 North Central Avenue. (Yes, the entrance is in an alley.) Tickets are $5 to this 21-and-over storytelling show. Visit www.valleybarphx.com for details. Janessa Hilliard

Fahim Anwar
Uber, dance clubs, the ridiculous people of Los Angeles – if these topics sound like they’d be funny to you when taken to town by a professional, make note of LA-based actor, writer, and stand-up comedian Fahim Anwar’s upcoming show.

If the name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve at least seen this guy in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot and Neighbors, or on Late Night With Seth Meyers and years ago as Young Hollywood Douchebag #2 on Californication. We’re sure he’s thrilled we just brought that up.

Anwar’s appearance at Stand Up Live, 50 West Jefferson Street, is Thursday, July 14, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets for this 21-and-over show are $15 with a two-drink minimum. For more information, call 480-921-9877 or visit www.standuplive.com. Lauren Cusimano

Editor's note: This post has been updated from its original version to reflect that Fahim Anwar is performing at Stand Up Live, not Tempe Improv.