Four Free Things to Do in Phoenix This Week

Have a lot of fun this week for not a lot of cash.

August 23, 2021

Image: Get reacquainted with The Hot Chick in Scottsdale.

Get reacquainted with The Hot Chick in Scottsdale. Benjamin Leatherman

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Trying to save money doesn't mean you have to stay in the house and be bored. This week around Phoenix, you can see an EDM show, watch a movie, or sing your heart out, all for free.

Fatum at Maya

As it turns out, pool parties aren’t just a daytime thing. Granted, most swim soirees tend to happen during sunlight hours, but some local party havens around the Valley with a pool on the premises are also known to host ragers after the sun goes down. Case in point: the semi-regular Monday Night Swim over at Maya, 7333 East Indian Plaza in Scottsdale, where local party monsters extend their weekend fun an extra day and go wild out while frolicking in and around the pool as DJs drop beats and bottles pop.

The latest session on Monday, August 23, and will be headlined by DJ/producer ensemble Fatum. Comprised of Daniel Davis, Bruce Karlsson, and Chad Newbold, they’ve been nominated for Grammy awards, topped the Beatport and Billboard dance charts, and remixed the track of some of the biggest artists in EDM. Their latest EP, Stream Starting Soon, came out on Anjunabeats in June and features several styles ranging from melodic house and trance to trap. Expect to hear tracks from the project during their set. Gates open at 9 p.m. Limited free admission is available before 11 p.m. for those who RSVP online. VIP table service is also available. Details can be found here. Benjamin Leatherman

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Robin Wright directs and stars in Land.

Nomadic Pictures

Free Movies at Scottsdale Libraries

It's a weird time for movie-going. You can catch a flick at a theater, but a lot of the first-run movies are also available to stream. This week, there's a third option; two branches of the Scottsdale Public Library are showing recent movies at no cost to you. At 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25, Civic Center Library, 3839 North Drinkwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, will be screening the 2021 film Land, which is directed by and stars Robin Wright, who plays a grieving woman who ventures deep into a remote region of Wyoming to pursue a fresh start. If that doesn't appeal to you, at 2 p.m the same day at Mustang Library, 10101 North 90th Street, Scottsdale, you can catch News of the World, a 2020 film that stars Tom Hanks as a Civil War veteran who is charged with bringing a young girl who has been living with an Indigenous tribe back to her family. Whichever screening you choose, don't forget to register online before you go. Jennifer Goldberg

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The Hot Chick is back open and ready to party.

Chris Malloy

The Hot Chick Reopening Party

Seventies-themed Scottsdale hotspot The Hot Chick officially reopened in July, but they've waited until this week to officially celebrate, and the party is going to be a doozy. Starting at 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, you can enjoy the retro atmosphere while listening to sets by DJs Slippe, Madd Rich, and Frietz. There will be giveaways throughout the night, and to top it all off, The Ying Yang Twins and Mike Jones will be performing live. The event runs till 2 a.m. You can reserve a table by calling 480-255-7733. Jennifer Goldberg

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The Rebel Lounge in central Phoenix.

The Rebel Lounge's Facebook

Rebel Lounge Open Mic

How many times have you caught a show at The Rebel Lounge and wished it was you up on the stage? Well, here's your chance to take the mic. On Sunday, August 29, the music venue will host an open mic night for all you would-be rockstars. The event is hosted by Micheal Coughlin, and signup begins at 7 p.m. There's no cost to participate, but you do have to be 21 years or older. Break a leg! Jennifer Goldberg

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