Ever seen a melodramatic series filled with conniving story lines, sexual innuendos and wanton women who live only for sensuality? Nope, it isn't Desperate Housewives. It's Carmen, the 1984 film version of the famed 19th-century Georges Bizet opera. At 2 p.m. Sunday, July 10, the Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 North Central, in collaboration with Bentley Gallery and the Arizona Opera, will screen the movie adaptation of the passionate French opera. What's that? You need to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to anything associated with the opera? Well, before your face sours at the thought of an overweight foreigner shrilling in a funny language, think again. Shot on location in Andalusia, Spain, Carmen chronicles the story of a soon-to-be-desperate househusband (Plácido Domingo) who abandons it all for the love of a sultry Gypsy (Julia Migenes-Johnson). The movie was the first of its kind that used spoken dialogue between all the musical numbers, rather than being sung all the way through -- just the way Bizet intended the opera to be performed. The Grammy-winning vocal score is sung in French with English subtitles. ASU music professor William Reber will provide an in-depth introduction to the film. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.phxart.org. -- Steve Jansen
Juan Night Only
MILF and cookies for Happy Hour
TUE 7/12
Tric Knee's a-rockin', and Don Juan's a-knockin' at this month's "Second Act Happy Hour" from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The local classic rockers (pictured) join Colores Actors-Writers Workshop reading excerpts of Don Juan: Love After Death. Guests enjoy a no-host bar and complimentary Cookies From Home. Cover is $10. Call 602-254-7399, extension 115. -- Joe Watson
Role of the Deise
Sculptor shapes Art Salon
MON 7/11
Independence Day hogged the first Monday of July, but you can enjoy the second Monday -- sans explosions and beer -- at Burton Barr Central Library's FirstMondays Art Salon, 1221 North Central, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 11. Downtown metal sculptor Pete Deise will be on hand to show slides and talk about his work, which is currently featured at Art One gallery in Scottsdale. Deise's large-scale sculptures generally defy enclosure, so it's not unlikely to spot his work around central Phoenix, such as in front of My Florist Café on McDowell, and Pane Bianco on Central. Rub elbows with Deise at the free opening reception, where coffee and cookies will be served, and maybe see about getting that beer with him afterward. Call 602-262-4636. --Aimee Lind
Do the Dew
Skatepark hosts Free Flow Tour
SAT 7/9
Corporate sponsorship isn't always a bad thing. Take a look, for instance, inside Metrocenter's Phoenix Skatepark, at 9617 North Metro Parkway West, where -- thanks to the soda jerks behind this weekend's "Free Flow Tour" on Saturday, July 9 -- several dozen cases of Mountain Dew lie in ice-cold coolers waiting to quench the thirsts of more than 100 amateur skateboarders and BMX riders set to compete. The contest consists of a jam session format, with multiple heats and finals throughout the day, for competitors 18 and under only. Of course, soda isn't the real motivator here; an all-expenses-paid trip to the Free Flow finals -- and a sponsored gig with the Mountain Dew team -- is on the line. The tour stop begins with registration ($10) at 10 a.m. and ends with an after-party that includes live music, a Best Trick competition, and appearances by pro/am skaters and riders. See www.dewactionsportstour.com/freeflow. -- Joe Watson
