Lit-inspired theater, a night as a curator, and the end of 2013's Arizona Fall League round out this weekend's must-attend events in the Valley. Have at 'em.
50 Shades of Felt @ Phoenix Theatre There have been plenty of satirical spins on 50 Shades of Grey since the erotic romance novel took the world by storm during the summer of 2012. Of course, none of the ones we've seen or heard of involved puppets. And they sure as hell didn't star an all-puppet cast performing sexy scenes with whips. Until now, that is.
See also: Doug Stanhope Is Arizona's Darkest Comedian When California-based performance troupe All Puppet Players comes to town they're bringing an original spoof of the book to the stage. It's called 50 Shades of Felt. If you've ever seen the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which features one scene of an all-puppet Dracula musical, then you can probably imagine what the Sesame Street-quality puppets controlled by all-black wearing puppeteers will look like. Written by All Puppet Players artistic director Shaun Michael McNamara and co-produced by Phoenix's own Nearly Naked Theatre, 50 Shades of Felt promises to include audience interaction, raunchy humor, and dialogue with Anastasia Steele's naughty inner goddess.
50 Shades of Felt premières on Friday, November 15, at 8 p.m. at the Phoenix Theatre's Little Theatre, 100 East McDowell Road. Tickets start at $24. For more information, call 602-254-2151 or visit www.allpuppetplayers.com. -- Lauren Saria
ArtPick @ Phoenix Art Museum Turns out you don't need an art history degree and a background in curating to make an impact on what hangs at Phoenix Art Museum. Not during ArtPick, anyway.
The annual event turns patrons into curators by having them vote on one new piece to be added to the museum's contemporary collection. Each party attendee will vote for his favorite work from five pieces selected by the museum's modern and contemporary art curator Sara Cochran. Past winning (and purchased) works include Orbin Rhode's Piano Chair (2009) and Kehinde Wiley's Marechal Floriano Peixoto (2011).
Choose your favorite at 6 p.m. Friday, November 15, in Cummings Great Hall at Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 North Central Avenue. Tickets are $120 per person, include buffet eats and a hosted bar, and are available via www.contemporaryforum.org. For more information, visit www.phxart.org, e-mail contemporaryforum@cox.net, or call 602-257-1222. -- Becky Bartkowski
Arizona Fall League Championship @ Scottsdale Stadium The World Series may be over (Boston won in case you were the only one not paying attention), but baseball continues in the Valley as the Arizona Fall Baseball League wraps up a monthlong season with its own championship at Scottsdale Stadium. While most eyes have been on the big show, some of Major League Baseball's brightest young talent have been in the desert to hone their skills in hopes of one day playing for the World Championship. In the meantime, they will have to settle for a Fall League crown. The Surprise Saguaros appear the favorite to win it all, but in baseball, anything can happen -- as the 2011 Cardinals (not 2013) can attest.
Catch a glimpse of baseball's future at 1:10 p.m. Saturday, November 16, at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 East Osborn Road. Tickets are $7, $6 for seniors and children 17 and younger. Visit www. mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/afl. -- Glenn BurnSilver
Pie Social @ Ro2 Lot Cake may claim birthdays and weddings, but thanks to the hungry folks over at New Times' food blog, Chow Bella, the pie is getting its time to shine. Pie Social is a sweet helping of Valley chefs serving up their take on the traditional tart from caramel apple to cherry espresso.
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This year's all-star lineup includes: Eddie Castillo, Suzanne Gwyn, Dana Stern, Jeff Kraus, Marisa Lown, LaDawn Driscoll, Julie Moreno, Lindsey Magee, Katherine Dwight, Country Velador, Dana Dumas, Tracy Demspey, Amanda and Corianne Sizemore, and Karen Olson. Pie Social takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, November 16, at the Ro2 Lot, 1005 North Second Street. Community bakers can exchange two homemade pies of their own for five tasting tickets or simply purchase five tasting tickets for $10. For more information, including profiles of the celebrity chefs, visit Chow Bella at www.phxfood.com. -- Katie Johnson
Science Sunday Bike Ride @ The Bicycle Cellar Being lazy is almost an obligation these days. There is so much entertainment out there that you're expected to consume that people get angry when you don't consume it. If you don't know what we mean, try telling somebody you never watched Breaking Bad next time you go to a party.
If you're fed up with being lazy, you might find Tempe Bicycle Action Group's Science Sunday bike ride to be a nice change of pace. Starting at 2 p.m. at Tempe's Bicycle Cellar, 200 East Fifth Street, Suite 105, engineering expert Robert LaRoche will lead a ride that promises to highlight "the past and future of energy" in the Valley. Be sure to bring a bike, something to eat, and something to write with/on if you're really into the science part of the deal. Participation is free. More information is available at www.sciencesundayride.tumblr.com. -- Ed Kummerer
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