Friday is going to be like Christmas to potheads, reefer cats, or anyone who's a fan of marijuana or culture surrounding the drug. It's April 20th, better known as the stoner anti-holiday of Four Twenty (or 4/20).
It means not only will the canabis-loving crowd be celebrating their love of the leaf, but some of their favorite businesses will be holding special sales or presenting 4/20-themed fiestas with tons of free schwag and free eats (wink, wink). Special events and seminars are also being put on by legal pot dispensaries (who have reason to celebrate now that the medical marijuana law is finally going into affect) and a few bars will have their own 4/20 parties.
So if you're looking to get fired up on Friday and publically share your love affair with Mary Jane, here are a few places to do so.
9. Hidden House
Painter Geezus "Bird" Vasquez will be working the canvas during live art demonstrations at "The 420 Show," which will feature talented emcees like Black One and I-Dee work the microphone all evening and DJs Al Page and ZeeDubb on the wheels of steel. Drink specials will be also be available. Ladies get in free until 10 p.m., guys pay $5. Call 602-266-1763.
8. Up in Smoke
The cheeky, Cheech and Chong-inspired smoke shop will be giving away killer schwag to the first four customers through their doors on Friday, in addition to other freebies being handed out to the next 20 patrons after that. A sidewalk sale and a variety of free munchies, discounts, and other fun is planned throughout the day. Hours are from 1 a.m.-10 p.m. Call 480-755-0187.
7. Stray Cat Bar & Grill
The promoters of weekly club shindig WTFunk? Friday will celebrate in style with an evening of fresh beats and dope rhymes during their 4/20 party. Special guests like CC Beats, Ecid, and Span Phly will be in the house and are likely to drop a few verses about the holiday and a certain plant. Giveaways and prizes are also planned and painter Steve Caballero will offer live art. Doors are at 9 p.m. Admission is $5. Call 480-967-1040.
6. Sky High Smoke Shop
This Tempe head shop will be raffling off Zongs, vaporizers, and hand pieces on Friday (with tickets going for $5 apiece) and offering a variety of discounts on select products. Free schwag will be doled out and complimentary barbecue eats will be available for those who spend $25 or more in the shop. Call 480-557-6653.
5. Lawn Gnome Books
Don't be surprised if you hear some soliloquies about sativa or other content concerning cannabis coming from the direction of Lawn Gnome on Third Friday as this weekend's edition of the monthly variety show and open mic session has been dubbed "Firestage Smokes: Unofficial Dwntwn Phx 4/20 Fiesta." More than a dozen folks have signed up to appear at the event and will offer "their smoking acts" and other entertaining bits of spoken word, music, or performance art. The free event kicks off at 8 p.m.
4. Paraphernalia Boutique
Live music, raffles, and prizes will all be a part of this North Phoenix emporium's 420 Party. Glass blowing demonstrations, free food from Cheba Hut (natch), and 20 percent discounts on mechandise is also promised. Call 623-989-4787.
3. Cheba Hut
Unsurprisingly, this Friday's gonna be the biggest day of the year at all three locations of the stoner sub shop chain. The Mesa, Glendale, and Tempe versions of Cheba Hut each will fete 4/20 will performances by local bands, giveaways, prize raffles, and select sammies on sale for $4.20 each. Just be sure to leave your stash at home. Hours are from 10 a.m. to midnight.
2. Palo Verde Pass
The first annual "Rise From the Ashes Wellness Festival" on Saturday will feature vendors offering all the information you'd ever want to know about medical marijuana, and well as the straight dope on hydroponics and other related topics. A special farmers market and performances by local reggae artists (including Dee Dread, Tony Culture, and Souls of Love) will also take place. Doors open at noon. Admission is $10.
1. Madison Event Center
Cypress Hill rapper Sen Dog is quite the pot fiend and marijuana advocate (as the hip-hop group's drug-laced lyrics portend), which makes him the perfect dude to headline the "Legalization Awareness Event" on Friday afternoon at the downtown Phoenix venue. Hosted by medical marijuana advocacy group Compassion First Caregiver Circle, the event runs from 2-7 p.m. and is open to those who are state-certified patients or those who'd like to become one. Info on decrimininalization and medical marijuana will be presented and a "420 Jam" featuring performances by Sen Dog and local acts like Property Six will take place. Admission is free.
