If you're freaked out that we're midway through the second decade of the third millenium, the Rockabilly-themed edition of the Heard Museum's monthly Native + You event on Friday, January 2, might be the blast from the past you need to ease into 2015.
See also: 5 Must-See First Friday Shows in Phoenix on January 2
The shindig will include the Native ladies of Blue Bird Pin-ups hosting a pin-up style contest and Salon Embellish offering on-site retro hair styling. Save some room for the cupcakewalk with baked delights from Ollie Vaughn's, Pistol Whipped Pastries, Rollover Doughnuts, & Urban Cookies and work it all off with swing lessons from Isaiah Meders to the honkytonkin' tunes of Pat Roberts & The Heymakers.
Native + You: Rockabilly is at the Heard Museum, 2301 North Central Avenue, from 5 to 9 p.m. Admission is free. For more details, visit www.heard.org. Jose Gonzalez
Performers know there's a difference between Friday night and Saturday night audiences. The Fridayers are more, shall we say, desperate to relax and enjoy themselves. It makes sense, then, that The Torch Theatre presents The Trifecta on Friday evenings. Improv from three different entities in one crazy show makes up a flight of flavors for viewers who are still torquing their attention spans into weekend mode.
Friday, January 2, brings Salmon Shane, Adult Bakery, and Light Rail Pirates to the Torch stage, 4721 North Central Avenue, at 8:30 p.m. Salmon Shane is a two-person team (named Sam and Shane -- get it?) and the other two companies are larger, so variety's guaranteed. Tickets are $10 at www.thetorchtheatre.com. Call 602-456-2876 for more information. Julie Peterson
We know you've dreamed of it: being a superhero, beating up bad guys, saving the day. Until recently, it was a delusion as unattainable as getting rid of that paunch you built up over the holidays. But now there's The Marvel Experience, an interactive tour through a super-hero universe that makes you the main character. As the newest recruit in S.H.I.E.L.D., you'll traverse the Experience's seven giant augmented-reality domes, step inside a life-size version of the Avengers' Quintet and pilot a state-of-the-art 4-D motion ride while battling evil forces alongside lifelike projections of Iron Man, Wolverine, Spider-Man and a dozen other Marvel heroes.
Earn your superhero credentials at the Marvel Experience Tour through January 3 at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 North Pima Road in Scottsdale. Tickets start at $27.50 and tour time availability varies. Visit themarvelexperiencetour.com for more. Zachary Fowle
See also: The Marvel Experience in Scottsdale: Here's What to Expect
Common lore holds that the first few days of a new year sets the tone for the rest of the year. With that in mind, you'd have to be a total kwyjibo to not catch Nerd Night's Simpson Trivia on Saturday, January 3.
If your real-life memories have mostly been replaced by soundbites and anecdotes from Simpsons episodes, know that the first 10 seasons will be the subject of questions. Thanks to a drawing contest and Simpsons-themed cuisine, the night will be fun even if your knowledge of the animated family is pretty minimal.
Nerd Night: Simpsons Trivia goes down at Bragg's Factory Diner, 1301 Grand Avenue in Phoenix, from 8 to 10 p.m. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Visit www.facebook.com/braggsfactorydiner for more info. Jose Gonzalez
See also: The 10 Best Simpsons Episodes Ever
New year, new you. Here to help you set 2015 off on the right foot, hand, or wherever your pose leads you is Sutra Midtown's monthly outdoor series, Sutra Rooftop Yoga. This all-ages class will give students the chance to get aligned along the Phoenix skyline with certified yoga instructors. Rooftop Yoga returns at 11 a.m. Sunday, January 4, on The Clarendon Hotel SkyDeck, 401 West Clarendon. Admission is free for hotel guests and $10 for the general public. Mats, towels, water, and sunscreen are recommended as they will not be provided. Visit www.sutrastudios.com or call 602-253-9525. Katie Johnson
