Calendar of Events in Phoenix

Thursday, June 20
• 
  Donavon Frankenreiter
  Crescent Ballroom

  Donavon Frankenreiter takes the waves, his music, and life as they come. Musician and professional surfer Donavon Frankenreiter has been all over the world and seen his share of big waves. Still, he marvels at the daredevils who routinely tackle giant waves, including an estimated 100-footer recently surfed in Portugal. "It's unbelievable what some of these guys do," he says by phone from... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Lavender Festival
  Red Rock Ranch & Farms

  In the desert we’re accustomed to prickly plants and crooked cacti, but less than four hours from Phoenix you’ll also find a billowing sea of gray, green, and purple. At Red Rock Ranch and Farms in Concho, it's lavender fields forever, with more than 45,000 lavender plants of a dozen different varieties.On Thursday, June 20, the annual Arizona Lavender Festival kicks off and runs... Read more about this event >>

• 
  "The Art of Video Games"
  Phoenix Art Museum

  Video games are art. That is the unwavering stance of Java innovator and noted game aficionado Chris Melissinos. When he talks about writing gaming code, he compares it to writing poetry. These games are more than digitized passtimes – they're an amalgam of all forms of traditional art, he says.And if you take a second to consider his equation (Narrative plus orchestration plus painting... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Birds 'n' Beer
  Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center

  Any red-blooded American knows that the fourth Thursday of November is Turkey day. (Some might recall it being referred to as Thanksgiving once upon a time.) But there are 51 other Thursdays throughout the year, and the turkey's been hogging the heat lamp long enough, so to speak.That's where Audubon Arizona's Birds N' Beer series comes in. Every third Thursday of the month fledgling... Read more about this event >>

• More Thursday Events >>

Friday, June 21
• 
  Phoenix Mercury vs. Washington Mystics
  US Airways Center

  Remember the episode of Futurama in which the characters land on a planet populated solely by giant Amazonian women? During a tour of their village, the ladies stop at a basketball court. “Here stadium, where our women basketball teams play,” they say. “We no can dunk, but good fundamentals. That more fun to watch.” At which point the men, appropriately, burst out in... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Cory Basil's "Skinny Dipping in Daylight"
  Astor House

  It sounds like an appealing alternative to the Valley’s summer temperatures, but “Skinny Dipping in Daylight” is the debut poetry collection from Cory Basil — who returns to his home state this week with a reading at Coronado eatery Astor House.Basil describes his work as both introspective and vulnerable. Expect to hear pieces like, “All of this Madness for a... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cincinnati Reds
  Chase Field

  The Arizona Diamondbacks have had plenty of good seasons, but their successes always seem to be fleeting. An NL West title in 1999 was followed by a mediocre 2000, the team that won the World Series in 2001 was a bottom dweller by 2003, the run to the 2007 NLCS was followed by three seasons of mediocrity, and the team that won the division in 2011 fell to third in 2012. None of this is an... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Actor’s Café: The Mousetrap
  Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre

  Like Queen Elizabeth II, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been running in London since 1952. Some monarchs held on to their, ah, seats longer, but no other show’s graced the same boards for 25,000 performances and counting. Richard Attenborough’s share in the production, in which he acted at its West End opening, helped finance the film Gandhi. Before it began generating... Read more about this event >>

• More Friday Events >>

Saturday, June 22
• 
  In Flux: Cycle 3 Multi-City Tour
  Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

  It’s common to see chartered party buses pull up to nightlife hot spots and deploy hollering bros and dolled-up divas. Scottsdale Public Art flips the script on Saturday, June 22, by gathering culture-minded passengers for IN FLUX Cycle 3 Multi-City Art Tour.IN FLUX was founded in 2010, to connect local artists to local businesses and spaces to create temporary site-specific art... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Mark-Taylor Summer of Love Pool Party feat. DJ Paul
  San Lagos at Arrowhead Highlands

  Sneaking into a hotel or a residential pool in the middle of the summer is pretty much a rite of passage in Arizona. Scrambling over the fence in your underwear as security chases you down can prove risky yet exhilarating. The risk of getting caught is half the fun, but paying trespassing tickets is not. Mark Taylor’s Summer of Love series invites pool-goers to check out swanky... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Scottsdale Beat the Heat 2013: The Hottest Race on Earth
  WestWorld of Scottsdale

  Now that the snowbirds are gone, let's talk. Everyone can enjoy our diverse desert landscape during the cooler months, but it takes real appreciation and conditioning to practice any kind of exertion when the furnace of the gods kicks on. Hikers, bikers, and runners who are as physically and mentally prepared as they can be get a true sense of accomplishment when daring to defy the summer... Read more about this event >>

• 
  AZK9 Pup Crawl
  George & Dragon Pub

  Cats may be the Internet sensation, but dogs are equally deserving of their own special celebration. For the people who dress their dogs in costume, pick up strays on the side of the road, and create Facebook profiles for their beloved canines, AZK9 hosts a day of drinks and discussion over man's best friend dubbed a pup crawl.This barhopping brigade of animal lovers will work its way via... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Downloaded Screening
  FilmBar

  Maybe it's 'cause we're Millennials and all, but we sure as shit didn't sympathize with Metallica's Lars Ulrich when he decided to take on/down Napster. We don't want to be force-fed your MTV; give us the music.And, in case you hadn't heard, that stance has had quite the effect on the music industry – a negative one, maybe mostly. Like it or not, the ramifications and innovations... Read more about this event >>

• 
  7 Minutes in Heaven
  Space 55 Theatre

  Chances are, if you survived middle school, you probably were forced to play seven minutes in heaven, a game that trapped two hormonal adolescents in a closet for seven minutes of pure nervous tension, excitement, comedy, and drama. If only we could bottle the energy of these improvised closet encounters and take it to the stage...
Cue, Space 55. The 2013 Big Brain Award winner for... Read more about this event >>

• More Saturday Events >>

Sunday, June 23
• 
  Taste Talavera
  Talavera

  It may be a trek up to Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, but the panoramic views from the resort’s restaurant Talavera are worth the investment. On Sunday, June 23, Four Seasons Executive Chef Mel Mecinas joins forces with James Beard Award-nominated chef Kevin Binkley to offer Taste Talavera, a one-night-only culinary experience.The Taste evening brings diners a... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Lunar Flow
  The Clarendon Hotel - Phoenix's Urban Retreat

  When the sun goes down, the yoga mats come out. Sutra Midtown and the Clarendon Hotel invite you to bend and stretch in the full moon glow with an all-levels yoga class happening throughout the summer.This month's Lunar Flow session will feature instruction by Christian O'Connell and beats by DJ Y Knot on Sunday, June 23.Lunar Flow will occur every full moon of the summer through August. Flow... Read more about this event >>

• 
  "Digital Print Fashion"
  Phoenix Art Museum

  While we don't care much for the computerized elements invading our superhero movies, when it comes to the runway we don't mind it so much. In contrast to obviously fake CGI backgrounds and characters, digital printing on textiles can have an intense, beautiful effect that couldn't be achieved otherwise.With such designers as Alexander McQueen, Ralph Rucci, and Miuccia Prada embracing... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
  Phoenix Theatre

  If you could have dinner with anyone -- well, he’s probably either dead or imaginary. (We get that. We dined with a real, live person yesterday.) Some of our most popular dead people are presidents, and not just folding green ones. Abraham Lincoln is timeless, and nobody can shut up about the Founding Fathers for five founding minutes.Into this climate of Chief-hailing nostalgia comes... Read more about this event >>

• More Sunday Events >>

Monday, June 24
• 
  Noche Latina
  Club Cloud N9ne (Formerly The New Club Tunnel)

  Hanging out at a typical hookah bar can be pretty tiresome. The combination of blaring pop music and the veil of smoke all but guarantees a migraine. That is, unless you’re lucky enough to find a place that serves hummus or has a couple of belly dancers on hand as welcome distractions. The Nile Hookah Lounge breaks out of that stereotypical mold with Noche Latina, a weekly dance party... Read more about this event >>

• 
  "Ladies First!"
  Jobot Coffee

  Every night will be ladies night when Jobot Coffee hosts “Ladies First!,” a multimedia exhibition dedicated to art by local ladies. Look for pieces from downtown darlings like Ashley Macias, Robyn Kingsley, and Monica Robles, but the array of artwork also offers burgeoning talent a chance to mount their work in the growing Phoenix art scene. The event features more than 40... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Beers With Friends Scrabble Party
  The Handlebar Tempe

  Real talk. We play what probably would be classified as an excessive amount of Words With Friends. We love those triple word squares, picking up a "Q," and toiling to come up with killer plays. But, the Scrabble knockoff app doesn't live up to the real deal, and often leaves us craving physical letter tiles and keeping manual score. To satisfy such a hankering, the cure resides at Tempe... Read more about this event >>

• More Monday Events >>

Tuesday, June 25
• 
  CRAP Ride
  Tempe Beach Park

  Ending a group bike ride at a restaurant is kind of like holding a hotdog in front of a fat kid on a treadmill. It offers incentive, makes the experience more fun, and leads to the replenishment of all burned calories. Excellent. Tempe’s weekly CRAP ride expands on that idea, bringing exercise, fun, food, and booze together for one endorphin-filled adventure. Every Tuesday cyclists... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Workaholics Half-Christmas Party
  Stand Up Live

  Why should the most wonderful time of the year only be celebrated once? Whether you're a fan of Comedy Central's Workaholics or someone who simply loves joy, no one can deny that Christmas in the middle of the summer is the best idea since the half-birthday.This month, Tempe Improv and Comedy Central are teaming up to bring you a Half-Christmas Party with Blake, Adam and Ders' stamp of... Read more about this event >>

• 
  "Turn off the Sun: Selections from la Colección Jumex"
  ASU Art Museum

  It’s a rare opportunity to have a peek at a world-renowned art collection. Lucky for us ASU Art Museum curators Julio César Morales and Heather Sealy Lineberry are bringing a very special collection to our own backyard.You might know recognize the Jumex name -- it’s a juice and nectar brand that’s huge in Mexico and expanding to the U.S. In addition to producing some... Read more about this event >>

• More Tuesday Events >>

Wednesday, June 26
• 
  "The Summer Graduate Exhibition"
  Harry Wood Gallery

  Every summer, we look toward feasting our eyes on the latest and greatest works from ASU's crop of graduate fine art students. This year our eyes will be guided by ASU Art Museum's curator Julio Cesar Morales, who chose the 21 works on display in "The Summer Graduate Exhibition." The multi-media group show includes drawings, prints, photographs, sculptures, paintings, and videos from 16 grad... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Live Bull Riding
  Buffalo Chip Saloon

  The charm of watching drunken bargoers take their turn on a mechanical bull wears off quickly. On their first spin they usually fall off easily because they've exchanged upper body strength for hands-in-hair sex appeal. It’s all about practicality the second time as they cling to the grip for dear life, minimizing their sexy, sexy whiplash. A final defeated go ends their mechanical bull... Read more about this event >>

• 
  Sister Act
  Gammage Auditorium

  The 1970s are popular in a way they haven’t been since the first time around. (Back in the ’70s, the ’70s were everywhere you looked.) Is it cause or effect that Sister Act the stage musical is set in that synthetic, lapel-spanning era? Either way, the sense of nostalgic innocence helps an audience get into the fun, and so does a score full of tunes by Alan Menken (The... Read more about this event >>

• More Wednesday Events >>