october 31
Arizona State Fair: The corn-dog carnival continues daily, through Sunday, November 3, at the fairgrounds, bounded by McDowell Road and Encanto Boulevard between 17th and 19th avenues. Along with the usual attractions--midway rides and games, livestock and agricultural exhibits, etc.--this year's fair includes "The Disney Fair" (see "At the Fair" in Kid Pics); the virtual-reality ride "Red Rock Run" at the AT&T Reactor Theater; and--not to miss--Norma D. "Duffy" Lyon's bovine butter sculpture. The remaining concerts at Veterans' Memorial Coliseum are highlighted by the Goo Goo Dolls show at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 31; and one by Chris Isaak at the same time Friday, November 1. Final Midway Pay-One-Price days are on Thursday and on Sunday, November 3. Regular fair admission is $6.50, $4.50 for seniors, $3.50 for kids ages 5 to 13, free for those younger. For a complete listing of info not covered here, see the At the Fair listing in Thrills. For general information, call 268-3247 or 252-6771.
"Tales of Mystery, Suspense and Horror": Author/storyteller Geoffrey Platts' traditional Halloween reading starts at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 31, at Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. The program includes James Thurber's "The Tiger Who Would Be King," W. Somerset Maugham's "Friend in Need," Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" and an untitled tale by Cave Creek resident Dan Espy. Tickets are $10 and $12, available at the center and Dillard's. For details call 965-5377 or 678-2222.
Halloween Extra: For information about other fun and spooky Valley happenings related to Allhallows Eve, see the special subsection in the Events listing.
George Shearing: The Britain-born pianist is the Anglo-jazz equivalent of R&B god Ray Charles--Shearing's blind, soulful, elegant and extremely gifted. George is backed by bassist Neil Swainson in a show at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 31, at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street; a free lecture by Patricia Myers precedes at 7 in the center's Cinema. Concert tickets are $26 and $30, available at the scene and Ticketmaster. For details call 994-2787 or 784-4444.
Legends Tennis Classic: Ilie Nastase, Vijay Amritraj, Ken Rosewall, Cliff Drysdale and John Lloyd are scheduled to compete in this whistle-stop on the ATP Senior Tour, slated for Thursday, October 31, through Sunday, November 3, at the Pointe Hilton on South Mountain, 7777 South Pointe Parkway West. Tickets start at $14. For details call 946-9711.
Jeffrey: In Mixed Company has inaugurated its season with Paul Rudnick's fine "AIDS comedy"--which director Christopher Ashley subsequently transformed into a smashing movie--about the pangs of love and the trials of sex in New York's gay community; see the review on page 63. This week's performances are on Thursday, October 31; Friday, November 1; Saturday, November 2; and Wednesday, November 6. All start at 8 p.m. at 7th Street Theater, 3302 North Seventh Street. Those who come to Thursday's show dressed in drag are admitted on a two-for-one basis; regular tickets are $15, $12 for students and seniors. The production continues through Saturday, November 9. Call 834-3032.
The Pharcyde: The loopy funk/hip-hop group headlines what looks to be a way-out bash on Thursday, October 31. Still touring behind its breakthrough disc for Delicious Vinyl/Capitol, Labcabincalifornia, the 'cyde jams at Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, and DBA Flip share the stage. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, available at the club and Ticketmaster. Call 894-0707 or 784-4444.
"Beyond the Visible Terrain: The Art of Ed Mell": The name of the exhibit, a retrospective of the works of the Phoenix-born commercial artist turned world-renowned creator of highly angular, epic-scale Southwestern landscapes, matches the title of Mell's new tome with author Donald Hagerty. The show continues through Sunday, February 9, 1997, in the Atrium Gallery at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street; Mell and Hagerty will sign copies of the book at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, November 3. Viewing is free; hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (to 8 p.m. Thursdays), noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. For details call 994-2787.
friday
november 1
Tool: The quartet has ably filled the void left by Jane's Addiction's defection from the scene, and it's a viable candidate for the role of missing link between alt. and metal. Helmet with a difference, baby. Touring in support of its new Zoo/BMG disc, nima, Tool performs on Friday, November 1, at Mesa Amphitheatre, Center and University. The Cows share the bill. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $17.50 in advance, $18 the day of the show, available at Mesa Community Center and Dillard's box offices. Call 644-2560 or 678-2222.
Alan Jackson: The long, tall twanger from Georgia has only been on the national scene since 1990, but his label's already released a greatest-hits package. Jackson's decent enough, if you can stomach pseudotraditionalist contemporary country, but the hits packaging says more about Nashville's priorities (they're spelled "M-O-N-E-Y") than Alan's merits. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 1, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets are $23.50, available at the arena and Dillard's. Call 379-7800 or 678-2222.
Caroline Aiken, and Ilene Weiss: Atlanta's Aiken and New York's Weiss co-headline a fund raiser for Habitat for Humanity on Friday, November 1, at the Songsmith, located at Congregational Church of the Valley, 120th Street and Shea in Scottsdale. Aiken's billed as a bluesy, Bonnie Raitt-style folkie. Weiss is a former member of the Second City comedy troupe whose songs were reportedly once rejected by the Maternal Girl, Madonna, because they were "too authentic." Tucson's Jamie Anderson, and the Valley's Michael Grande share the stage. Steve Bodinet of KTVK-TV, Channel 3, emcees. Showtime is 8 p.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $10; all proceeds benefit the Habitat. Call 860-1624 or 451-4565.
Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
"Beyond the Visible Terrain: The Art of Ed Mell": See Thursday.
Jeffrey: See Thursday.
Legends Tennis Classic: See Thursday.
saturday
november 2
13 Dias/13 Days: How the New Zapatistas Shook the World: The oddly named, Tony Award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe does not do pantomime, but its scathing political satire is a scream. The ensemble premieres its new work, 13 Dias/13 Days, a collaboration with Borderlands Theater of Tucson, filmmaker Lourdes Portillo and Eduardo Lopez Martinez of Mexico's El Grupo Zero about the rebel uprising in the Mexican state of Chiapas, at 8 p.m. Saturday, November 2, at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street; see the story on page 63. Tickets are $12, available at the center and Ticketmaster. Call 994-2787 or 784-4444.
Thunderbird Balloon Classic and Desert Glow: The 22nd annual classic features more than 130 balloons competing in "Hare and Hound"-style races, which are slated for Saturday, November 2; and Sunday, November 3, on the polo field at WestWorld, 16601 North Pima Road in Scottsdale. The first "Hare" bag launches at approximately 7:15 each morning, with "Hound" waves pursuing at 7:30 and 8:30. The ethereally lovely Desert Glow starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, and features about 75 tethered and illuminated balloons. Country dude Mark Wills performs at 3 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and various Valley acts are scheduled throughout each day. Admission is $8, free for kids under 12; all proceeds benefit the scholarship fund at Glendale's Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management. Call 898-5665, extension 1973.
Phoenix Suns: The team opens the regular home season with a match against Sir Turncoat--Charles Barkley--and the Houston Rockets at 7 p.m. Saturday, November 2, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. The Suns host the Minnesota Timberwolves at the same time Tuesday, November 5. Call 379-7867, 379-7800 or 678-2222.
Aterballetto: The zesty Italian troupe has its Arizona debut on Saturday, November 2, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. The program includes Romeo and Juliet Suite, choreographed by the ensemble's artistic director, Amedeo Amodio, and featuring music by Berlioz; and Sonate a Trois, choreographed by Maurice Bejart and featuring music by Bartok. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets range from $16 to $26, available at Dillard's. For details call 482-6410 or 678-2222.
Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
"Beyond the Visible Terrain: The Art of Ed Mell": See Thursday.
Jeffrey: See Thursday.
Legends Tennis Classic: See Thursday.
sunday
november 3
El Dia de Los Muertos/Celebration of Life Festival: Xicanindio Artes, Inc., sponsors this Day of the Dead fest from noon to dusk Sunday, November 3, at Mesa's Pioneer Park, 526 East Main. Highlights include the "march" of the eight-foot-tall "Calacas Encantadas" ("Enchanted Skeletons") and a performance by Albuquerque's traditional Ehecatl Aztec dance troupe. Admission is free. Call 833-5875.
Phoenix Coyotes: The hockey franchise continues the season, its first in Arizona, with home games against the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. Sunday, November 3; and the Dallas Stars at the same time Wednesday, November 6, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets are $8.75 and $26.75, available at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 379-7825, 379-7800 or 678-2222.
Arizona State Fair: See Thursday.
"Beyond the Visible Terrain: The Art of Ed Mell": See Thursday.
Legends Tennis Classic: See Thursday.
Thunderbird Balloon Classic: See Saturday.
monday
november 4
Papago Chamber Ensemble: The sextet performs works by Copland, Prokofiev and Brahms at 8 p.m. Monday, November 4, at Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Tickets are $10 and $12, available at the center and Dillard's. Call 965-5377 or 678-2222.
"Beyond the Visible Terrain: The Art of Ed Mell": See Thursday.
tuesday
november 5
L7: Donita Sparks' crew could be the best--it's arguably the most ferocious--all-female rock group on the planet. The riot grrrls stuff sanitary napkins down the offending maws of male chauvinists and otherwise continue the good fight at a show on Tuesday, November 5, at Atomic Cafe, Hayden and Roosevelt in Scottsdale. D Generation, and Logic share the bill. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Alternatix. Call 970-6433 or 244-8444.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid, TV's Eight Is Enough) stars in the touring musical. Opening performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 5; and the same time Wednesday, November 6, at Gammage Auditorium, Mill and Apache in Tempe. More shows are planned Thursday, November 7, through Sunday, November 10. Tickets range from $28 to $42, available at Gammage and Dillard's. For details call 965-3434 or 678-2222.
"Beyond the Visible Terrain: The Art of Ed Mell": See Thursday.
Phoenix Suns: See Saturday.
wednesday
november 6
Soul Coughing: The sample-mad band, led by M'ark Di Gli Antoni, is the aural equivalent of a golden-age cartoon--full of crazy logic and comic violence, with a serious foundation of smarts somewhere down there amid the raging pixels. Touring behind Irresistible Bliss, its new disc for Warner Bros. (how appropriate), the group performs Wednesday, November 6, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. Geggy Tah shares the bill. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 the day of the show, available at Ticketmaster. Call 967-1234 or 784-4444.
Clive Cussler: The Valley-based author of wildly bad page-turners about he-man adventures (Raise the Titanic!, etc.) signs copies of The Sea Hunters, his new, nonfiction work about the search for historic shipwrecks, from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 6, at the Poisoned Pen, 7100 East Main, Suite D, in Scottsdale. For details call 947-2974.
"Beyond the Visible Terrain: The Art of Ed Mell": See Thursday.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: See Tuesday.
Jeffrey: See Thursday.
Phoenix Coyotes: See Sunday.
