It's already August, which means you're running out of summer weekends to go out and have fun. Make yours count with a family-friendly festival in Cave Creek, an art show, an indie rock dance party, and much more.
Roulette Sideshow
Going for a simple dinner out and a movie feels downright exciting right about now, after months spent laying low while favorite eateries and theater were temporarily shuttered. Even so, you might want to spice things up a bit, now that more performers are returning to Valley stages. The Pain Proof Punks can help you with that, because they’ve put together an evening of live music, burlesque, body painting, and sideshow-inspired performance called Roulette: A Sideshow of Chance. It’s happening from 9 p.m. to midnight on Friday, August 6, at Pub Rock Live, 8005 East Roosevelt Street, Scottsdale. The lineup includes Katara, Lexi Locket, Brinti Bloodshed, Rusty The Clown, and Kimikal Warfare, and Scarlett Purr. Tickets are $20. Lynn Trimble
CreekWest Summerfest
Cave Creek's Frontier Town hosts the CreekWest Summerfest on the first Saturday of every month, so this weekend from 3 to 8 p.m. on August 7, head over to 6245 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, for a family-friendly event that includes a bounce house, water slides, live music, and drive-in movies. Walk around town to local restaurants like Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue and Local Jonny's for some good food too. Proceeds from the day benefit the Desert Foothills Land Trust. Julie LevinMixed Martial Arts
If you’re still looking for ways to shake off the Phoenix Suns’ recent championship loss, or missing all that wall-to-wall sports coverage during the Olympics, try something a little different at select Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas. They’ll be showing a mixed martial arts mashup between Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane, which is happening in Texas on Saturday, August 7. It’s part of UFC 265, which also includes contenders Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña. Showtime is 7 p.m. at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5478 South Power Road, Gilbert as well as their theaters in Chandler and Tempe. Just one simple request: Leave these moves to the professionals. Lynn Trimble
Miniature Desserts
If hearing the words “lemon curd” or “chocolate cheesecake” sends your spirits soaring, check out the Miniature Desserts class coming to Sweet Basil Cooking School, 10749 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. You can learn to make ice cream bon bons, pecan-lemon curd kisses, peppermint and chocolate cheesecakes, and brownie cups filled with peanut butter ganache, during the class that runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Best of all, you’ll get schooled in how to bake financiers, which are small French almond and browned butter cakes. Taught by Lisa Brisch, the class might well inspire you to up your summer entertaining game, or add some new delights to your holiday baking repertoire. The cost is $70 and you can register online. Lynn TrimbleElectric Feels: Indie Rock + Indie Dance Party
If you were to assemble a list of the most danceable indie songs of all time, there’s a good chance tracks like the M83’s “Midnight City,” Tame Impala’s “Elephant,” and the MGMT banger “Kids” would be included, owing to their infectious beats and high-energy vibes. It’s the same reason you’ll hear these same anthems coming from the sound system inside the Marquee Theatre, 730 North Mill Avenue, on Saturday, August 7, during the Electric Feels: Indie Rock + Indie Dance Party. The touring 18-and-over event features a mix of DJs and live elements playing a soundtrack of indie hits as a crowd of dancers moves to the beats underneath an array of multicolored clouds. Doors open at 9 p.m. and admission is $10. Benjamin Leatherman
‘The Uncolonized’ Exhibit
There’s a parallel universe inside a gallery space at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, 1 East Main Street, Mesa, where Texas-based artist Angel Cabrales imagines the Americas in the absence of colonization. Inspired by science fiction, the artist is showing sculpture, installation art, and an elaborate timeline that celebrates “the cultural heritage and technological achievements” of the Americas’ original inhabitants. Sunday, August 8, is your last chance to see this intriguing exhibition, along with three other exhibits at the museum. Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m. and admission is free. Lynn TrimbleSunday Drip Pool Party feat. A-Trak
While most Valley residents spend their Sundays dreading the return to work, the patrons of Maya Dayclub, 7333 East Indian Plaza, are busy living it up and getting down to electronic dance music. The club’s weekly Sunday Drip Pool Party sees plenty of fun in the sun happening both in and out of the water as the see-and-be-seen crowd downs drinks, pops bottles, and shows off their dance moves while guest DJs drop beats. This weekend’s session on Sunday, August 8, will feature a set by EDM superstar A-Trak, founder of influential record label Fool’s Gold, on the ones and twos. Gates open at noon. Early-bird tickets are $25 and general admission is $20. VIP cabanas and tables are also available by calling 602-810-0167. Benjamin Leatherman
Enter the snake pit.
Bruce Young
