"Steampunk: The Exquisite Adventure"
Flight-bound explorers have yet another reason to arrive at the airport early thanks to Scottsdale Public Art's Wendy Raisanen and artist Susan Rubin's co-curated exhibition, "Steampunk: The Exquisite Adventure."
See also: A Viewing Guide to Phoenix Sky Harbor's Artwork
Part science fiction, part fantasy, and a whole lot of industrial design, steampunk is the cosplay movement that simultaneously promotes ingenuity and imagination. This show features costumes and contraptions by artists such as Michael Sorensen, James Rubin, John Floyd, David Stipes, Steve Gompf, Diana Given, Nola Yergen as well as memorabilia from the film Mantecoza.
"Steampunk: The Exquisite Adventure" is on view 24 hours a day through Sunday, May 10, on Level Two of Terminal Three at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 3400 East Sky Harbor Boulevard. Visit skyharbor.com or call 602-273-2744 for details. Katie Johnson
It's a little known fact that beer breeds brains. Ok, maybe not, but World of Beer's team trivia is a place to test that truth -- and yourself.
The weekly game night tackles topics like world geography, politics, and television, perfect for frat boys, beer geeks, and bookworms alike. Compete for bar cash but remember: the more you drink the harder those questions get.
Gather a group for a night of booze and bragging rights on Tuesdays at 526 South Mill Avenue in Tempe. Play starts at 7 p.m. and lasts upward of two hours. Visit www.worldofbeer.com or www.facebook.com/wobtempe for ongoing dates and details. Janessa Hilliard
Author Maryanne O'Hara tackles art, ambition, duty, and destruction in her much-lauded book, Cascade. When the Paris-trained artist Desdemona Hart moves back to the endangered fictional town of Cascade, Massachusetts, in the 1930s, she finds herself torn between allegiance and aspiration, caring for a father fallen on hard times and painting a city that may soon be flooded among other things.
This debut novel by O'Hara will be discussed with librarian Abigail Nersesian in The Art Lover's Book Club at Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 North Central Avenue. Readers will meet to discuss Cascade at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, and at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 9. Admission is free. For more details, visit www.phxart.org or call 602-257-1222. Katie Johnson
Dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago, but they don't seem to have had any trouble retaining their popularity. In fact, our large Jurassic friends are the topic of this week's PEP (Phoenix Educational Programming) Rally, a performance art series at Lawn Gnome Publishing, 905 North 5th Street. The PEP Rally will bring together a range of creative performances intended to present a holistic understanding of dinosaurs. Hosted by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson and Matt Stega Storrs Us, this event features Dino Love and New Times contributor Troy Farah's Dinosplosion.
The performances kick off at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 8 at Lawn Gnome Publishing. PEP Rally admission is $5. For more information, call 602-682-5825 or visit www.facebook.com/lawngnomepublishing. Katrina Montgomery
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"Why not do a remake with better-looking people?" is a trending topic on the Internet Movie Database's Debbie Does Dallas discussion board. The question quickly devolves into a debate about shaving, but you'll find contemporary cuties in Nearly Naked Theatre's production of the musical version of Debbie. You'll also find less sexual activity than in the classic 1978 porn.
In the plot (yes, there actually is one!), Debbie's friends from the high-school cheerleading squad team up to raise money to get her to Dallas so she can try out for the "Texas Cowgirls" professional team. As the gals, er, come to realize that there are a lot of ways to fundraise, the heartwarming action accelerates, and singing and dancing happen. Catch the opening night at 8 p.m. Friday, January 9, at 100 East McDowell Road. Tickets are $22 to $28, depending on demand, at www.tickets.phoenixtheatre.com or 602-254-2151. Julie Peterson
