Scottsdale International Film Festival
Movie awards season is upon us. And the Scottsdale International Film Festival often hosts the Arizona premieres of various pictures whose artistic merit will surprise viewers. This year’s no exception.
The Western The Ballad of Lefty Brown opens the 2017 event on Thursday, November 2, with Bill Pullman as the title character avenging the death of his sidekick. The film’s director, Jared Moshé, will host a Q&A session after the 8 p.m. screening.
Other notable festival highlights include Richard Linklater’s Last Flag Flying and the foreign drama In Syria, which the festival’s executive director, Amy Ettinger, cannot recommend highly enough. “It’s very rare I get emotional over a film,” she says.
The festival continues through Monday, November 6, at Harkins Shea 14 Theatres, 7354 East Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale. Opening night tickets, which include a reception, are $25. Individual screening tickets are $12 each. For more information, visit the Scottsdale International Film Festival website. Jason Keil
Seven Guitars
Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson’s epic series of plays, The Pittsburgh Cycle, moves through the decades of the 20th century, illuminating the American black experience and introducing memorable characters. (As well as imparting a ton of information about Pittsburgh.) To produce all 10 scripts, while it’s theoretically only a quarter of the work required of the entire Shakespearean canon, is enough of a challenge that you can count the American companies who’ve wrapped it up on your two hands.
Black Theatre Troupe now uses up another finger, completing the 10-fecta with its presentation of Seven Guitars, which takes place in 1948 immediately after a musician’s funeral and then flashes back to his simultaneously charmed and crappy life.
The show continues through Sunday, November 12, at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 East Washington Street. Tickets are $38. Showtime on Thursday, November 2, is 2 p.m. Visit the Black Theatre Troupe website or call 602-258-8129. Julie Peterson
Arizona Drag Stars
Missing RuPaul’s Drag Race? Same. Luckily, the local drag scene’s here to help.
Phoenix faves will perform at 308 North Second Avenue on Thursday, November 2, for Arizona Drag Stars. The lineup includes pageant queen Nevaeh McKenzie, drag king Dee Jae Galaxy, and resident diva Luna Love St. James.
Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the 18-and-over show will begin at 8. Admission is $10 in advance, and $16 on the day of the show. For more information, visit the Facebook event page. Lindsay Roberts
24th Anniversary Celebration
Once a year, Art One gallery pauses to party — and for good reason. It’s to mark another anniversary in the art space’s long run of showing and selling work by emerging creatives, including several who’ve gone on to become some of Arizona’s best-known artists.
Maybe you saw Kyllan Maney paint her mandala-inspired mural at Lost Lake Festival, or lingered over Megan Koth’s painting of a woman with a peeling face mask at this year’s “Chaos Theory.” Both have work at Art One, where the artist roster also includes Jennifer Gross, Luster Kaboom, and Thuong Nguyen, to name a few.
Art One’s 24th Anniversary Celebration is scheduled to run from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, November 2, at 4130 North Marshall Way. It’s casual, and it’s free. Visit the Art One website. Lynn Trimble
Awa Tsireh (Alfonso Roybal), San Ildefonso Pueblo, Mystical Bird, c. 1940.
Photograph courtesy of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Gift of Malcolm Whyte, class of 1955 and Karen Whyte., 2011.058.005
Wanna engage with wildlife without heading to the woods? We recommend an exhibition of work by painter and metalsmith Awa Tsireh. The 20th-century San Ildefonso Pueblo artist often incorporated animal imagery in his artwork — like rabbits, horses, owls, and deer.
Be one of the first people to see the new “Awa Tsireh: Pueblo Painter and Metalsmith” exhibition when it opens on Friday, November 3, at the Heard Museum, 2301 North Central Avenue. Museum admission is free from 6 to 10 p.m. that night. The show continues through July 2018. Visit the Heard website. Lynn Trimble
Gatsby Under The Stars
From time to time, a little escapism can soothe one’s soul, which is why this year’s Gatsby Under The Stars gala is such an alluring event. After all, the third annual bash taking place at Scottsdale Waterfront, 7124 East Stetson Drive, harks back to the roaring 1920s, when our nation enjoyed widespread economic prosperity and a president who was — for the time being — not a total embarrassment. They were golden years, however short-lived.
This year’s VIP event features live jazz, gaming, and plenty of Prohibition-era cocktails, and kicks off the weekendlong Grand Prix of Scottsdale festivities on Friday, November 3, with all proceeds benefiting Southwest Human Development. General admission to the 21-and-over event is $150. Visit the Grand Prix of Scottsdale website or call 480-527-9779. Rob Kroehler
Lumberjerk Records
Time to welcome Lumberjerk Records to the local music scene. On Friday, November 3, the record label will host a launch party and debut Straight Outta Comp Vol. 1, featuring some to the label’s favorite Phoenix bands.
Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. at the Rebel Lounge, 2303 East Indian School Road. The show will kick off at 8 p.m. and feature performances from Celebration Guns, The Lonesome Wilderness, and Instructions. Advance tickets are available for $5 via therebellounge.com. For more, visit the Facebook event page. Lindsay Roberts
And on the seventh finger, God created Mad Messiah: A Play of Rapturous Delight.
Courtesy of Binary Theatre
Of course the Messiah’s mad. Remember how he reacted to currency exchange on the church steps? People throwing rocks at sex workers? Oh, wait … we guess Binary Theatre’s Mad Messiah: A Play of Rapturous Delight is about something else. Cody Walker’s script suggests God is a CEO plagued by a big new project called Earth. It’s not just groundbreaking, it’s groundmaking. (You’re safe — the playwright didn’t write that. As far as we know.) Meetings aplenty, some vulgarity, and a dollop of ecumenical sass round out the student production.
Showtime is 7 p.m. on Friday, November 3, at Prism Theatre, 970 East University Drive in Tempe (a.k.a. behind the Raising Cane’s). Admission’s $8, or $5 with a donation of non-perishable food. Visit the Binary Theatre website. Julie Peterson
Don't bother with pants.
Courtesy of Colon Cancer Alliance
Does your typical Saturday morning consist of lying around in your skivvies and thinking about going for a run? On November 4, there’s no need to bother putting shorts on. The Colon Cancer Alliance is hosting the Undy Run/Walk, a 5K race to raise awareness of the second leading cause of cancer death in the nation. It also might be the closest you can get to legally streaking through downtown, so take advantage. (Within reason. This is a family-friendly event, after all.)
Pull up your tighty-whities for this family-friendly event starting at 9 a.m. at Wesley Bolin Plaza, 1700 West Washington Street. Registration is $35 in advance or $40 on race day. For more information, visit the Colon Cancer Alliance website. Jason Keil
During the Arizona Fall Fest, local businesses sell products and services and offer giveaways.
Harrison Lai Photography
During the Arizona Fall Fest on Saturday, November 4, more than 200 Arizona-based businesses and artisans will have giveaways and sell products.
Local food trucks, restaurants, and chefs will provide samples of different types of cuisine. For children, the event offers a sports zone with games and representatives from Arizona’s professional sports teams, and a kids zone with activities such as making forts out of mattresses, tumbling, and crafting.
Three stages will feature live music from local bands and artists, Japanese taiko drumming and ballet folklorico, and Native American hoop dancing. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Margaret T. Hance Park, 200 East Moreland Street. Admission is free, with additional costs for food samples, alcoholic beverages, and some activities. To find out more, see the Local First Arizona website. Laura Latzko
The Dance of the Dead celebrates el Dia de Los Muertos with a dance party honoring deceased artists.
Matt Young Photography
During Día de Los Muertos, you can celebrate lost loved ones as well as influential figures in your life. On Saturday, November 4, DJs Roya and Funkfinger will play music from artists who are gone, but not forgotten. Expect a playlist featuring Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, and Tupac, during the final Tongue Tied dance party.
The Dance of the Dead-themed night invites attendees to bring favorite albums, cassettes, or CDs, and to dress up in costume to honor a favorite artist. The event will have a themed photo booth, a face painter, an on-site medium, a costume contest, and a memento giveaway.
The party’s at Linger Longer Lounge, 6522 North 16th Street. Admission is free before 9 p.m. and $5 after. For more information, go to the Tongue Tied Facebook page. Laura Latzko
Cut It Out! Cut & Paste and Craft Day
Not to wax profound, but maybe collaging feeds our urge to dismantle and rearrange the world we’re served, creating new, meaningful, and sometimes even attractive alternatives. Scissors, glue, and mingling are also good.
The Coronado Family Fall Festival on Sunday, November 5, offers numerous things to see and do. We’re drawn to Cut It Out! Cut & Paste and Craft Day at Palabras Bilingual Bookstore from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All types of crafts are welcome, materials for cutting and pasting will be provided, and you may bring your own, but massive hoards and bulky equipment aren’t allowed in the cozy space.
Admission’s free at 1738 East McDowell Road. Cut It Out! continues on Sundays for the foreseeable future. Visit the Facebook event page or call 602-595-9600. Julie Peterson
Diana Gabaldon
Celebrate the silver anniversary of the second volume of Diana Gabaldon’s tale of time-crossed lovers Claire and Jaimie with a new edition of Dragonfly in Amber. Gabaldon will discuss the new edition and sign copies at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 5, at the Doubletree Resort Hilton Paradise Valley, 5401 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale.
Originally published in 1992, Dragonfly in Amber takes place 20 years after the events of Outlander, and finds Claire journeying back through time with her daughter to meet her father, the Scottish warrior Jamie Fraser. The 20th-century Englishwoman and her 18th-century lover become embroiled in the political intrigue of the Jacobite Revolution.
Admission is free, but purchase of the $40 hardcover is required for the signing line. Copies purchased from other sources will not be allowed. Additional autographs and pictures will be at Gabaldon’s discretion. For more information, call 480-947-2974. Michael Senft
During their concerts, Fushicho Daiko drummers play smaller shime, medium-sized chu and larger odaiko drums.
Bill Gibson
The Japanese word zanchin signifies a state of awareness in which an individual is prepared for what comes next on a physical, spiritual, and emotional level. During its 25th anniversary concert on Sunday, November 5, Fushicho Daiko Dojo will highlight the universal ideas of strength, fortitude, happiness, and sadness during a zanchin-themed concert.
Students ranging from 7 to 73 years old will play small shime, medium-sized chu, and larger odaiko drums, along with traditional Japanese instruments such as chappa hand cymbals, the atarigani metal bell, hyoshigi wooden blocks, the horagi conch shell horn, and the fue flute.
The concert starts at 2 p.m. at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 West Rio Salado Parkway. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, and $12 for children. For more information, call 480-350-2822 or visit the City of Tempe website. Laura Latzko
Learn more about the "Mighty Monarchs".
E. Groves
The fall exhibit “Mighty Monarchs and the Plant Protectors” celebrates the return of monarch butterflies to the Desert Botanical Garden, along with the other insect friends they attract. It’s a mingling of pollinators and predators that you can observe and learn about.
The fluttery fun happens from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, November 6, at the Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 North Galvin Parkway. The exhibit is open through Sunday, November 19. Access is included in the general admission that ranges from $12.95 to $24.95; children under 3 get in free. Call 480-941-1225 or visit the Desert Botanical Garden website. Amy Young
Hear Cog•Nate Collective discuss their work at ASU Art Museum’s Project Space in Roosevelt Row.
Courtesy of CALA Alliance
The binational group Cognate Collective fosters cultural exchange between border communities in Mexico and the U.S. And it’s coming to the ASU Art Museum Project Space, 821 North Third Street.
The collective comprises Tijuana- and Los Angeles-based artists and researchers Misael Diaz and Amy Sanchez, who explore the influence of economics, militarization, and other factors in the lives of migrant communities on both sides of the border.
The duo will host a talk from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7. Presented by ASU Art Museum, ASU Performance in the Borderlands, and CALA Alliance, it’s a chance to learn more about ways popular and informal cultural and economic exchanges can shift borderland perceptions and realities. Visit the CALA Alliance website. Lynn Trimble
John Hodgman
Author and comic John Hodgman is coming to town for an evening of comedy and conversation at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, discussing his new travelogue, Vacationland. Joining Hodgman via Skype at Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main Street, will be Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.
Best known as The Daily Show’s “resident expert,” Hodgman is a longtime Game of Thrones fan, and he even wrote the forward to last year’s 20th anniversary edition of Game of Thrones at Martin’s request.
Tickets are required for the event and cost $32 for one book and one ticket, or $37 for one book and two tickets. For more information, call 480-730-0205 or 602-274-0067 or visit the Changing Hands website. Michael Senft
Phoenix Suns v. Miami Heat
During what ought to be an exciting time of year for sports fans, Valley dwellers are looking for the nearest rock to crawl under. Despite the Coyotes and Cardinals’ woes, the Phoenix Suns might be the most disappointing of the troublesome trifecta.
After an appalling 0-3 start to the season, including an opening night blowout of historic proportions, the Suns scapegoated head coach Earl Watson. Shortly thereafter, Suns starting point guard Eric Bledsoe jettisoned the floundering franchise with his not-so-subtle “I don’t want to be here” tweet. This seems like rock bottom, Suns fans, which means the team could use a little cheering on.
The Suns host the Miami Heat at Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 East Jefferson Street, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8. Tickets are $13 and up. Visit the Suns website or call 602-379-2000 for details. Rob Kroehler
Expand your thinking on the topic of time at Harry Wood Gallery on ASU’s Tempe campus.
Courtesy of Mark Klett
The human race is out of time. That’s the premise of a new exhibition called “Out of Time” at Harry Wood Gallery, located inside the ASU School of Art building, 900 South Forest Mall. The free art show includes print pieces, as well as interactive, video, and sound installations — created by international, national, and Arizona artists.
The exhibition is part of a conference being presented at ASU by the Society for Literature, Science, and Art, which explore time-related issues such as species extinction, digital temporalities, and bio-political time. Featured artists include Andy Brown, Mark Klett, Adriene Jenik, and David Tinapple, to name a few.
Check it out between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8. Visit the ASU events page. Lynn Trimble
