Looking for an excuse to hit the town in your flashiest 1970s clothes? Get wired and wild courtesy of Red Bull and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau at the Las Vegas Flashback Party on Thursday, July 31. Mickey's Hangover throws a party of '70s-style excess, complete with showgirls and hunky guys serving up cold libations to help along the hedonism. Screenings of classic Vegas films and live disco and funk bands set the mood while partygoers gamble "Mickey's Money" and win food and drinks playing poker, blackjack and roulette. To top off the authentic Sin City vibe, expect some Elvis impersonator sightings in the crowd. And it's in the cards that some lucky reveler wins a free trip for two to the real Las Vegas. From 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., the action sprawls out into the parking lot -- outdoor fans will keep things cool -- at Mickey's, 7310 East Stetson in Scottsdale. Visit www.mickeyshangover.com or call 480-425-0111 to find out more.
Friday, August 1
Spackled-on makeup and sequined gowns, contrived talent competitions and ridiculous titles -- the unintentional camp of beauty contests is perfect fodder for a good satire. Working this concept to the hilt, with drag queens competing to become "Miss Glamouresse," is Pageant - The Musical, a musical comedy that opens Friday, August 1, at the Herberger Theater Stage West, 222 East Monroe. Pageant is the debut show from HowGood Productions, Phoenix's newest theater company, but behind this freshman effort is the veteran talent of Mark Howard and Lyman Goodrich. Through August 24, performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 7 and 10 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Tickets, $25 to $35, can be purchased from the box office, 602-252-8497, or from Ticketmaster, 480-784-4444.
Saturday, August 2
The sensuous, old-fashioned art of burlesque has gained momentum around the country, and Phoenix is finally catching on -- better late than never, we say. Sure, the Valley has plenty of strip joints, but how many places can boast feather-and-fishnet-clad dancers skilled in the glamorous craft of striptease? O Restaurant & Lounge breaks new ground for local nightlife when it presents the grand opening of The Boom Room, devoted to more than a dozen dolled-up dames who bump and grind in a retro-racy stage performance, at 9 p.m. Saturday, August 2. Since The Boom Room is O's new VIP room, it'll usually be openjust to members. But for one special evening, the general public is invited to enjoy door prizes, slurp drink specials,and catch a glimpse of the decadent burlesque stage show. O is located at 4720 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. To find out more, call 602-790-8831.
Sunday, August 3
Cooler temperatures in northern Arizona are reason enough to head up to Flagstaff, but this weekend there's an even better excuse. Summerfest Flagstaff Festival in the Pines tempts fun-seekers with three stages of live rock, reggae, jazz, blues and Irish/Celtic music, plus works from 150 juried artists. Naturally, there's food galore. And the littlest ones in the family enjoy a special Kids Gallery activity area with a train ride, crafts and a petting zoo. Summerfest takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, August 1; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 2; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 3, at Coconino County Fairgrounds at Fort Tuthill Park in Flagstaff.
To get there, take I-17 to exit 337. Admission is $7 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. For details visit www.888artfest.com or call 1-888-ART-FEST (278-3378).
Monday, August 4
Sedona artist Suzanne Klotz says that one of the underlying themes in her work is a false sense of security created by attachment to self and the material world. Her ornate multimedia pieces, which resemble shrines and altarpieces, may not necessarily shatter the personal myths we create for ourselves, but they certainly remind us of their existence; each work is decorated with found objects and commercial products, tokens of our earthly trappings. Klotz discusses her work at the FirstMondays Art Salon at 7 p.m. Monday, August 4, in the Pulliam Auditorium at the Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 North Central. Admission is free. Prior to the presentation, Klotz mingles with visitors at a 6:30 p.m. cookies and coffee reception. For more information, call 602-256-3521.
Tuesday, August 5
Come on, baby, don't say maybe -- give in to nostalgia. With a more than 30-year career, The Eagles surely have enough songs in their repertoire that you'd be thrilled to sing along to. (You and millions of other people, that is. The band's Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is America's best-selling album of all time.) Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit even have a brand-
new single, "Hole in the World," to add to their endless string of hits. The Eagles perform at 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 5, at America West Arena, 201 East Jefferson. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or 480-784-4444. Prices start at $40.
Wednesday, August 6
In tribute to one of America's most iconic movie stars, who lived a full life right up until the ripe old age of 96, Scottsdale Public Libraries present the Katharine Hepburn Film Series starting Wednesday, August 6, with a 6 p.m. presentation of Woman of the Year at the Civic Center Library, 3839 North Drinkwater Boulevard in Scottsdale.
While these selections represent just a small portion of Hepburn's career, which spanned the 1930s to the 1990s and included more than 50 films, they exemplify some of her finest performances. Upcoming films include 1:30 p.m. screenings of A Lion in Winter (August 12) and The Philadelphia Story (August 19) at the Mustang Library, 10101 North 90th Street, as well as a 6 p.m. showing of Adam's Rib at the Civic Center Library. For further details, call 480-312-6050.
