If two days of RPGs sounds like the ideal summer weekend, check out Crit Hit! 2017: The Savage Summer, held at the Hilton Phoenix Airport on July 15 and 16. The gaming weekend features rooms dedicated to Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder, as well as a Game Buffet, Crit Hit G.O.D.s, and DICE Talks (like TED Talks, but from players and GMs). What’s more, 2017 is the first pay-what-you-want Crit Hit, meaning donations are appreciated. See the Crit Hit! website for more details.
See Joel, Jonah, the bots, and all your other favorites during the MST3K Live! Watch Out for Snakes! Tour.
Courtesy of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Hold on to your frigging hats guys, because Mystery Science Theater 3000 is coming to Phoenix soon. The sleepy-eyed dreamboat Joel Hodgson, plus Jonah, the bots, et al., are stopping at the Orpheum Theatre for an 8 p.m. show on Thursday, July 20. The movie of not your choice is Eegah! – hence the whole “watch out for snakes” tour name. (If you don’t get it now, you will then). Tickets range from $39.50 to $299. See the Orpheum Theatre website for more details.
Dress as your favorite Star Wars character for the 21+ Science With a Twist: Trek, Wars and Who at the Arizona Science Center.
Benjamin Leatherman
A 21-and-over event at the Arizona Science Center with a sci-fi theme? All systems go. Starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 21, Science With a Twist: Trek, Wars and Who features discussions on time travel and alien interspecies mating, plus intergalactically inspired cocktails, Chewbacca roar contests, and costumes galore. Entry is $12. See the Arizona Science Center website for further details.
Cthulhu by John Schwegel on display at the i.d.e.a. Museum during “My Favorite Monster.”
Courtesy of i.d.e.a. Museum
Another exhibition on display throughout July is hosted by the i.d.e.a. Museum of downtown Mesa. If only the kids knew how terrifying Cthulhu is (or how xenophobic H.P. Lovecraft was) while checking out the light-hearted “My Favorite Monster” exhibit. The show features “digital illustrations, metal sculptures, masks, acrylic painting, glass art, comic books, hand-sewn art, photography, 3D paintings, and watercolor” on display from Phoenix-based and national artists. Admission is $8. See the i.d.e.a. Museum website for further information.
Harry Potter’s Birthday Party
We’re celebrating Harry’s birthday a little early at Changing Hands this year (our hero was actually born on July 31). Celebrate “The Boy Who Lived” with costume contests, trivia, Tarot readings, and tabletop Quidditch to a DJ soundtrack from 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, at Changing Hands Phoenix. There will also be some Butterbeer and elixirs at First Draft Book Bar. Entry is $10, and you can register on the Changing Hands website or by calling 602-274-0067.
