Holiday shopping, football, and theater make this weekend's top picks.
Alternative Black Friday Vintage Market @ CityScape Waking before the crack of dawn is the norm for thousands of Americans hunting for post-Thanksgiving deals. But what if we told you that you could sleep in, get your Black Friday shop on in a leisurely fashion, and sip mimosas while you browse? Not in your wildest, right?
See also: 15 Black Friday Deals and Events in Metro Phoenix But, friends, this shopping solution is real. It's called Alternative Black Friday, and it goes down at CityScape Friday, November 29. More than 30 local vendors, including Meat Market Vintage, Antique Sugar, and GROWop, will set up temporary shop at the open-air mall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chloe's Corner will set up a mimosa bar for your imbibing pleasure. And, if you so choose, you can hit up more traditional sales at Lawless Denim and Urban Outfitters. Or you can plant yourself next to the bar. We're not here to judge.
Shop at One East Washington Street, Friday, November 29. The event is free and open to the public. Visit www.cityscapephoenix.com. -- Becky Bartkowski
Gingerbread House Contest @ Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel Whether or not you can hear the bells, you'll still be able to appreciate the extravagant gingerbread houses showcased at the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix hotel. This year's whimsical creations will be inspired by The Polar Express, the movie and book about how one boy learns what it means to believe during his journey on a magical train to the North Pole.
This is the hotel's fifth annual Gingerbread House Contest and for the second time, the event will feature the talented students of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Students have the chance to win scholarships for their gingerbread houses, which will be judged on appearance, originality, creativity, difficulty, precision, and consistency of theme.
Feast your eyes on the edible exhibit from Friday, November 29, through Tuesday, December 31 at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 340 N. 3rd Street, inside the Park Longue. For more information, visit www.sheratonphoenixdowntown.com/gingerbread. Admission is free. -- Lauren Saria
ASU Sun Devils vs. University of Arizona @ Sun Devil Stadium In 2006, a University of Arizona fan screamed obscenities in our ear for a full minute while we tried to pee during the tailgate. In 2008, our roommate (a fellow ASU Sun Devils fan) nailed an 8-year-old kid in the head with a football because, and we quote, "He was wearing a Wildcat jersey like a dick." Last year, we witnessed a Sun Devil fan spit on an old woman's hot dog. Such is the rivalry between Arizona and Arizona State, and such are the atrocities you'll experience if you're at a game when these two face each other, as they will November 30. The winner receives the Territorial Cup, the oldest trophy in college football. The loser...you don't even want to know what happens to the loser.
The Duel in the Desert kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 30, at Sun Devil Stadium, 500 East Veterans Way in Tempe. Tickets are $65 and up. Call 480-727-0000 or visit www.thesundevils.com for more, and watch out for your kids and grandmas. -- Zachary Fowle
Phoenix Flea @ Historic Heritage Square It's official. Phoenix has fleas.
That's thanks to vintage shopping enthusiast Ashlee Molina, who's organized the inaugural Phoenix Flea, which takes place Friday and Saturday, November 29 and 30. Molina had been itching to start up a recurring flea market-style event in town since returning about a year ago. She'd traveled, moved, and shopped around, all the while taking mental notes on what makes for a fun flea. She'll bring that know-how to the outdoor marketplace, which will feature all-local vendors, including Xappaland Jewelry, MAME Soy Candles, and Against the Grain. Shoppers can also expect fine artwork, vintage clothing, collectables, and furniture among the finds at Historic Heritage Square, 115 North Sixth Street. Live music and food vendors will be in the mix, too.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Tickets are $5 and available via www.phoenixflea.eventbrite.com. Proceeds benefit the 100 Club of Arizona. The second and third editions of the event are slated for January and March 2014. For more info, visit www.facebook.com/PhoenixFlea. -- Becky Bartkowski
National Theatre Live: 50th Anniversary @ Phoenix Art Museum In case you hadn't heard, there ain't no party like a National Theatre party. Which is why the National Theatre of Great Britain is going all out for its 50th anniversary with a one-time-only performance recorded live in London and played only in select theaters across the country. This three-hour production, directed by Nicholas Hytner, features an eclectic collection of award winning theater that comes to life on the National stage. It includes Angels in America, Guys and Dolls, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The History Boys, The Mysteries, and War Horse.
The National Theatre Live: 50th Anniversary production comes to the big screen at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, December 1, at Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 North Central Avenue. Tickets are $18 for the general public and $15 for museum members and students with valid ID. For more information, visit www.phxart.org or call 602-257-1222. -- Katie Johnson
