Linger Longer Lounge Karaoke
In this increasingly tolerant world of ours, where decidedly out-of-practice yoga gurus can triumphantly wear their yoga pants in public, we’ve not only emboldened countless millions to embrace their flaws but —discretion be damned— amplify them. And if you think about it, this all started with karaoke. What better way to propagate an army of
Still, it’s fun. And while becoming the next Mariah or M.J. is probably out of the question, don’t stop believing and definitely don’t stop stretching. Linger Longer Lounge, 6522 North 16th Street, hosts karaoke from 8 to 11 p.m. on Monday, May 8. There’s no cover for the 21-and-over event. Visit Linger Longer Lounge website or call 602-264-4549 for details. Rob Kroehler
“Map(ing)”
All eyes in the American art world may be focused on this year’s Whitney Biennial in New York City. But there’s a biennial exhibit happening in Tempe that includes prints created by 28 Native American and indigenous artists from the ASU Art Museum collection.
It’s called “Map(ing),” which stands for Multiple Artists Printing (Native and Indigenous Geographies). Featured works explore culture, place, language, and identity.
See the exhibition, curated by Mary Hood, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9. Hood is an artist and ASU associate professor for the School of Art.
“Map(ing)” is one of
Talk Cinema
If you’re the type of person who says “film” when discussing the particular art form we enjoy while scarfing popcorn, you might enjoy the Talk Cinema series. It’s a movie (forgive us) event with sneak previews of newer independent and foreign films along with discussions that oftentimes feature the film’s talent. Film critic Harlan Jacobson (from Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, and other film festivals) selects each screening.
The season finale of Talk Cinema is Johnny O’Reilly’s Moscow Never Sleeps, which follows five people’s lives in contemporary Russia. The talk starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, in the Virginia G. Piper Theater at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Tickets are $17. Attendees 29 and younger get half off with code 29UNDER. Call 480-499-8587 or see Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts website. Lauren Cusimano
[image-16] Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Detroit Tigers
Ever notice how no one in Arizona is actually from Arizona? It’s a question we Phoenicians get all the time. Of course, it’s not the case, as Arizona boasts plenty of native residents. But they tend to seem few and far between — especially when compared to the seemingly massive populace that hails from the Midwest.
If you’re from Michigan, for example, maybe you brought your hometown spirit with you, including a diehard support of the Detroit Tigers. If so, you can cheer them on when they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Or if you’ve switched sides, bring your D-backs love to the game. So far this season, both teams hold similar win-loss records. See who walks away victorious at 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, at Chase Field, 401 East Jefferson Street. Tickets are $19 to $250. Call 602-514-8400 or visit Ticketmaster. Amy Young
Bar Flies
Bar Flies returns to Valley Bar, 130 North Central Avenue, this month. The theme this time around? “Mother Knows Best.” Readers include Lily Altavena, Melissa Campana, Jesus Gutierrez, Tricia Parker, Deborah Sussman, and New Times managing editor Amy Silverman and editor-in-chief Stuart Warner. Curated by Silverman, the show’s all but guaranteed to make you wanna call your mom. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and showtime is at 7. New Times contributor Amy Young will select the music for the evening. Tickets are $5 and available through www.ticketfly.com. For details, see the Valley Bar website. Lindsay Roberts
Beehive: The ’60s Musical
World-rocker of the day? We just learned that Otis Redding wrote “Respect” to be sung to a woman by a man. In our opinion, it barely even makes sense that way, so we’re glad that Aretha Franklin’s the artist who made it a monster hit— and that it appears, along with dozens of other female-crooned standards, in Beehive: The ’60s Musical, at Phoenix Theatre through Sunday, June 4. The show’s a revue as opposed to a “book” musical, so you won’t have to track complex plotlines as you slide through those tumultuous years with the cast, serenaded with everything from the dulcet harmonies of girl groups to the snarls of Janis Joplin. A kick-ass band, killer costumes, old-school dance moves, and, seriously, 40 wigs help round out the experience. Groove with it at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at 100 East McDowell Road. Tickets start at $30 at 602-254-2151 or the Phoenix Theatre website. Julie Peterson
“Bird Cloud Island”
There’s a new hotel in town, and it’s for the birds. Well, sort of. It’s an art installation by Koryn Woodward Wasson, created for Scottsdale Public Art. “Bird Cloud Island” opens on Thursday, May 11, at Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3829 North Drinkwater Boulevard. Wasson and her husband, fellow artist Roy Wasson Valle, created the impressive “Camp Dreamtree” installation in the same space back in 2014. Leave your nest that night to explore Wasson’s bird-infused world between 5 and 7:30 p.m., when she’ll be leading tours of the Midcentury Modern hotel’s many bird-friendly amenities — including Early’s Diner, Jewel Pool, and the Good-Night Show at the Luna Club. The show’s grand opening is free and open to all ages. Go ahead and make your own bird mask or concierge cap while you’re there. We won’t judge. “Bird Cloud Island” continues through Thursday, August 31. Watch for related workshops during the show’s run. Visit Scottsdale Public Arts' website. Lynn Trimble
All Balanchine
Known as the “father of American ballet,” choreographer George Balanchine played a major role in shaping contemporary ballet by merging classic and modern styles, techniques, and music. From Thursday, May 11, to Sunday, May 14, at Phoenix Symphony Hall, 75 North Second Street, Ballet Arizona will present adaptations of three of Balanchine’s works during All Balanchine. The ballet company debuts its “Arizona Square Dance,” a work combining American folk dance and classic ballet, and showcases different sides of Balanchine as a choreographer with the Southwestern-themed “Western Symphony” and the plotless “Agon.” Tickets for the performances start at $25. For more information, go to Ballet Arizona's website. Laura Latsko
Rob Lowe: Stories I Only Tell My Friends
If you’re a sponge for celebrity culture, soaking up every little tidbit and clinging to every juicy detail, here’s your chance to step away from the TMZ trash talk and hear some tales straight from the source. Rob Lowe: Stories I Only Tell My Friends is the title of a best-selling book by the actor, as well as this one-night-only live storytelling event. See Lowe dig into stories about his life and his career in show business that’s now more than four decades long. From a humorous tale about his first visit to the Playboy mansion to a poignant look at one of his kids leaving the nest, he offers a look inside his world. Get a peek behind the curtain at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 12, at Mesa Arts Center, One East Main Street. Tickets are $30 to $165; a VIP experience is also available. Call 480-644-6500 or visit the Mesa Arts Center website. Amy Young
Read on for a local artist's jewelry line launch, a chance to experience one of Phoenix's best tourist attractions, and an evening of creation stories.
Need a bit of inspiration to jump-start your summer fashion sense? Head to Shortcut Gallery, 5540 North Seventh Street, #120, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, May 12. That’s where you’ll find the new
Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow is an author, futurist, free-speech advocate, and editor of the popular geek website boingboing.net. And now, he’s back on the literary scene with Walkaway, his first novel for adults in nearly 10 years. Doctorow is coming to the Valley to discuss the novel and the future of free speech on the internet at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 12, at the Doubletree Hilton, 5401 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. Joining Doctorow for this conversation is ASU’s
National Public Gardens Day
You can keep your National Pizza Day, your National Popcorn Day, your National Siblings Day — and whatever else you guys are cooking up for our calendars and social media feeds. We’re saving our frenzy for National Public Gardens Day — a holiday established in 2008 and held the Friday before Mother’s Day to recognize and celebrate public gardens worldwide. Of course one of the Valley’s best-known gardens is making a day of it. The Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 North Galvin Parkway, invites the local anthophilous crowd to “help raise awareness of America’s public gardens and their important role in promoting environmental stewardship” from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 12. Participation is included with general admission, which is $24.95 for adults. Call 480-481-8188 or visit the Desert Botanical Garden's website. Lauren Cusimano
From Life to Story to Stage
If you haven’t heard of Essential Theatre, maybe that’s not so terrible. Though its performances are moving and entertaining, the usual audiences/participants are going through experiences we wouldn’t volunteer for, in such places as prisons, shelters, and public schools. The company practices Playback Theatre, a visceral, personal genre in which life experiences become the narrative of scenes that are spontaneously performed in a partly direct, partly metaphorical style. It’s both less harrowing and more visual than you might think. iTheatre Collaborative presents a rare public production by Essential Theatre in Playback Theatre: From Life to Story to Stage through Sunday, May 14, at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe Street. Tickets are $15 at the iTheatre website or 602-252-8497. Showtime on Friday, May 12, is 8 p.m.
Paint Night with Cats
They knock over water glasses, shred your carpet, and wake you up in the most annoying ways possible. Yes, we’re talking about the internet’s favorite companions: felines. We all know that given the opportunity, our cat friends would murder us in cold blood. It’s science. But does that make them any less lovable? No. No, it doesn’t. It also doesn’t keep La
Our Creation Stories
Explore the changing history, culture, and traditions of birth as Heard Museum, 2301 North Central Avenue, partners with Creative Push to present a film called Our Creation Stories. Led by Forrest Solis, an artist and assistant professor at ASU’s School of Art, Creative Push is a multimedia art and humanities project about labor and delivery that uses art and storytelling to promote meaningful dialogue. The short film, which screens in the Steele Auditorium at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, features five Native women from across the Southwest sharing their own experiences. Stay after to enjoy a moderated panel of experts including artist Renee Dennison, nurse-midwife Nicolle Gonzales, and author
An Evening with Kevin Smith
It’s pretty ironic that writer and director Kevin Smith created, developed, and portrayed the character Silent Bob, ’cause Smith himself is one chatty dude. Hear for yourself during An Evening with Kevin Smith. His verbosity is a good thing, though. He’s entertaining as hell, and his range of subjects is vast. In addition to making movies like Clerks, Mallrats, and more recently Yoga Hosers, Smith has been dominating the podcast world for years now with Jay and Silent Bob Get Old, where he and Jason Mewes (the Jay to his Silent Bob) examine their lives and friendship. Then there’s Hollywood Babble-On, where he and Ralph Garman discuss showbiz matters. Smith chats live at two shows, one at 7 p.m. and another at 9:30 on Saturday, May 13, at Stand Up Live, 50 West Jefferson Street. Admission is $37 for those 21 or older. Seating is first-come, first-served. All tickets require a two-drink minimum. Call 480-719-6100 or visit the Stand up
Phoenix Rising vs. Oklahoma Energy
It’s easy to forget, amid all the sporting events going on year-round, that the world’s most popular sport has yet to invade our insular desert bubble to the same extent that other sports have. But that might be changing. Thanks to a recent push to join Major League Soccer by way of expansion, Arizona’s sole professional soccer team, Phoenix Rising, looks poised to shake up our sports hierarchy at long last. And with hundreds of thousands of
Schnepf Farm's Peach Festival
Sweet and squishy peaches are part of a spring tradition around these parts. The folks at Schnepf Farms have something to do with that. Their annual Peach Festival started a couple decades ago as a small event where attendees could pick their own fruit and partake in a pancake breakfast. These days, picking peaches is still part of the festivities that now include rides and a peach-sampling pavilion. Vintage Market Days is joining the festival this year, bringing more than 150 vendors selling an array of handmade and vintage goods. Things will be just peachy from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, at 24610 South Rittenhouse Road in Queen Creek. Admission is $5 for adults and free for those 12 and younger. Call 480-987-3100 or visit the Schnepf Farms website. Amy Young
Downtown Phoenix Open Mic
If you’re on the lookout for a hot mic in this town, then join the Downtown Phoenix Open Mic night at Herberger Theater Center. Finalize that song, poem, comedy act, dance routine,