Front Porch Pickins
If trekking through troves of vintage vestments is your thing, then we've found a mecca for you. While the Valley has no shortage of antique shops filled to the brim, Front Porch Pickins Market offers another chance with a variety of goodies. Browsing through everything from Midcentury Modern furniture to jewelry to facial products (those are new) you'll find a great gift or accent for your home. A photo booth and games will also keep kids of all ages entertained.
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Hit the market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24, at Park West Mall, 9744 West Northern Avenue in Peoria. Tickets are $2 in advance, and $3 at the door. Early bird admission (9 a.m.) is $10. The market continues through Saturday, April 25. Visit www.frontporchpickins.com for tickets. Janessa Hilliard
Ain't She Brave
Black Theatre Troupe's closer for the 2014-15 theater season is Ain't She Brave, a choreopoem (a performance that features dance, poetry, and song) by Erika and Ntare Ali Gault, continuing through Sunday, April 26. The show follows, celebrates, and reflects on the female African-American experience throughout American history -- including incidents, like the 1921 Tulsa race riots, that might be new to you - as well as the present and future.
David J. Hemphill directed the cast, which consists of Niesha Esene, Melvina Jones, April Rozier, and Sasha Wordlaw, playing Uhuru (Freedom), Nia (Purpose), Njozi (Dream), and Imani (Faith). Showtime is 8 p.m. on Friday, April 24, at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 East Washington Street. Tickets are $35 at www.blacktheatretroupe.org or 602-258-8129. Julie Peterson
Pinewood Classic
The Pinewood Derby is wasted on the young. Kids comprehend nothing of the physics behind a lightning-fast race car, hewn from nothing but your hands, your dreams and your adult-supervision-required power tools.
This is why we need the Pinewood Classic. It's a Pinewood Derby race just for grown-ups, which means tasty beer, sweet-ass prizes and speedy, well-designed wooden cars. The 75 racing spots are already claimed, but that doesn't mean you can't go day-drink, listen to live music from some of the valley's best-kept secrets, and cheer on the competitors as they showcase the second-most fun you can have with seven inches of pine.
The Pinewood Classic starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at Short Leash Sit...Stay, 110 East Roosevelt Street. Visit thepinewoodclassic.com for more. Zachary Fowle
Girls in Tech's Catalyst Conference
Who run the world? Do we even need to say it? But we're talking about women who actually run the world, or at least some pretty impressive ventures within it. For the first time, downtown Phoenix will host the Girls in Tech's Catalyst Conference starting on Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m. at Hotel Palomar, Two East Jefferson Street. And the lineup of speakers includes national female figures and local ladies, like founder of CO+HOOTS Jenny Poon and Curator of Code at Axosoft Tania Katan.
These powerful, innovative women will lead sessions in everything from technology and entrepreneurship to leadership and diversity. Tickets are $225 for general admission, but a discount code is available on the conference's Facebook page. Get your ticket and more information at catalyst.girlsintech.org. Evie Carpenter
Press Play
If people say they don't like TED Talks or events, we think they're either lying or they've never experienced one. Anything from fish farming to a photographer reconnecting with a past subject becomes fascinating due to the way TED speakers present it. On Sunday, April 26, at 2 p.m. see what we're talking about live at Mesa Arts Center, One East Main Street, during Press Play presented by TEDxPhoenix.
Phoenix's independently organized but licensed by TED event will look at what it takes to forge your own path through the stories and shared experiences of the chosen speakers. Tickets are $49.99 and proceeds from the event go towards future TEDxPhoenix events. To get more information and to buy tickets, visit mesaartscenter.com, tedxphoenix.com, or call 480-644-6500. Evie Carpenter
