Anyone planning to party this coming weekend should be thankful that Monday, May 26, is Memorial Day (a national holiday) and wherever they happen to work is gonna be closed for business. That's because they're probably gonna need that entire 24-hour stretch to recover from whatever shenanigans transpire during the preceding two days and three nights.
Memorial Day weekend is going to be filled with activities and adventures, whether you happen to be dropping by Phoenix Comicon in downtown Phoenix, attending a backyard barbecue, or getting in some nightlife action at a local club. For those seeking distractions in the form of the latter, perhaps partaking in a pool party or two, or having fun in the drinking or dancing vein, we've assembled a rundown of several worthwhile events happening around metro Phoenix both on Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26.
See Also: - Five Must-Attend Arts and Culture Events This Week in Metro Phoenix - 10 Must-See Events at Phoenix Comicon 2013
Maya Day & Nightclub You won't have to head to Las Vegas to attend an epic pool party starring Steve Aoki, who recently reigned over a crowd of thousands at Sin City's popular Wet Republic joint at the MGM Grand, as Maya will host the hipster party czar on Sunday, May 26, during an afternoon affair that goes from noon until 6 p.m. General admission is $60 and VIP access is $150.
If that party's sold out, consider attending the nighttime rager taking place on Friday, May 24, featuring DJ Thomas Gold. Young and beautiful types will crowd into Maya's indoor dance floor or out around the pool. Gates open at 6 p.m. General admission is $15, and VIP service is $60.
El Santo Cantina Club promoter Thomas Turner of Relentless Beats fame will be plenty busy over the Memorial Day Weekend as he's planning back-to-back editions of the ongoing Relentless Beach pool party series at this North Scottsdale summertime haven.
El Santo's bartending staff likely will have plenty of beers and booze on hand to slake the thirst of all the beefcakes and bikini-clad sirens who will pack all 15,000 square feet of the patio and pool area during the two-day fiesta, which starts on Saturday, May 25, with an performance by Dutch EDM superstar Sander van Doorn. His fellow countryman Laidback Luke headlines the second event on Sunday, May 26.
Each fete starts at noon with a $20 price tag for general admission, and the VIP treatment goes for $40. A $30 "Beach Pass" for both parties is also available for $20.
Axis/Radius The LGBT crowd is likely to be out en masse at the landmark Scottsdale nightspot on Saturday, May 25, for the "Inferno" dance party. Scheduled for the party are giveaways of such door prizes as a set of Phoenix Mercury tickets and autographed Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi photographs, as well as DJ Om and Lady Jane tag-teaming the mixers throughout the evening. Mercury alumni Bridget Pettis will also make an appearance. The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Cover is $10.
Cyphers: The Center of Urban Arts Who's the best b-boy or b-girl in all of Arizona? Although it's not an easy question to answer, considering the amount of quality talent our state possesses (like Gilbert's ElektroLytes troupe, who won America's Best Dance Crew on MTV last year), this weekend's southwest qualifier for the Dynamic Rockers' "Rep Your Style International" competition may help clear things up a little.
Poppers, lockers, and hip-hop dancers skilled in a variety of talents will gather at Cyphers on Saturday, May 24, for a day filled with one-on-one open contests on the venue's wooden dance floor. Those contests will separate the champs from the chumps and determine who's going to New York City in July to represent Arizona. The combination dance battle and dance party will feature DJs Panic and Tok Sik. The event starts at noon. Admission is $12 pre-sale, $15 at the door, and the entry fee is $10.
Spanish Fly The location of this Old Town Scottsdale establishment has always had a little bit of a South Seas feel (owing to the fact it was once home to the Polynesian-style eatery Drift in another lifetime), which will be played up during the "Pirate Pool Party" on Saturday, May 25.
The event's Facebook page promises "sea shanties" from such DJs as Hemmesphere, Hazardous, and the members of Nuck 'n' Futz, but we're guessing the soundtrack is likely to consist more of club hits and popular dance tracks. Regardless, expect folks in pirate wear (which is encouraged but not required) and free eye-patches for the first 200 people in attendance. Spanish Fly opens at 11 a.m. and the party commences at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
Lustre Bar The third-floor pool at the Hotel Palomar and the adjacent Lustre Bar haven't rally hosted many big-time bashes since debuting last year, which is sort of a shame, considering it offers some of the best views of downtown Phoenix (particularly at sunset). That all changes this weekend when party instigators Sean Watson and William Reed launch their "Sunshine Underground" weekly on Sunday, May 26.
It's expected to provide the in-crowd and downtown urbanites with a mix of DJs and diving all summer long, commencing this weekend (Read more about the event's music lineup) and hipster thrills aplenty. The party runs from 2 to 9 p.m. Admission is $10.
Monarch Theatre Venerated dance-night impresario Pete Salaz has put on many a pimp party in his time, dating back more than a decade or so when he used to promote his quasi-underground "Chupa" affairs at both residences and warehouses. Arguably Salaz's biggest events, however, are his RedMonkey bashes, which have taken place during various holidays (mostly Thanksgivings and Memorial Day) since 1997.
The promoter and DJ best known by his "SuperMix" moniker continues the tradition on Sunday, May 26, at his joint, which will feature house tracks from San Francisco's David Harness, New York's Master Kev, and Salaz himself. Doors are at 9 p.m. Cover is $10.
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