Mariposa Monarca Butterfly Exhibit
Lepidoterophobes, take note: It's that time of year of again. The butterflies are returning to Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 North Galvin Parkway, for the annual Mariposa Monarca Monarch Butterfly exhibit. The show features information about life cycle and migration patterns of these special butterflies, but the real draw is that visitors have the chance to be surrounded by hundreds of live monarchs. This year, there's a special event every Saturday morning, during which visitors can learn to create their own monarch waystations and participate in a live tagging demonstration in support of our flying friends.
See also: Misha Mendicino Named Emerging Designer of the Year at Phoenix Fashion Week 2014
The Mariposa Monarca Monarch Butterfly exhibit runs from Saturday, September 27, through Sunday, November 23, from 9:30 a.m to 5 p.m. daily at the garden. Admission is an additional $3.50 after regular garden admission, which ranges from $10 to $22. For more information, visit www.dbg.org or call 480-941-1225. Katrina Montgomery
Scottsdale Scorpions vs. Salt River Rafters
Most Arizona sports fans probably checked out on Major League Baseball a while ago. With a bizarre two-game stint Down Under that put the D-Backs on the books at 0-2 before the regular season had even begun, the team seemed doomed from the get-go. A tumultuous, injury-plagued season ensued. But don't fret. If a Diamondbacks playoff berth was supposed to be your summer's silver lining, perhaps you might consider some Arizona Fall League action.
The AFL boasts many of the nation's top minor league prospects, all of whom will be duking it out during October and November in hopes of keeping their MLB stock on the rise. Translation: good baseball in good weather, two things the Diamondbacks were unable to offer this year. The Salt River Rafters will host the Scottsdale Scorpions at Scottsdale's Salt River Fields, 7555 North Pima Road, at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7. Ticket prices range from $4 to $8. Visit mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/afl/ or call 480-990-1005 for details. Rob Kroehler
"Quinn's Wandering: Of Books and Cities"
Central Gallery, an art space located inside downtown Phoenix's Burton Barr Central Library, continues to host an exhibition of multimedia works this month. The two-month long display features the art of architect and designer Steve Valev. The artist, who earned a master's degree in architecture from Arizona State University, has called the Valley home for more than two decades.
"Quinn's Wanderings: Of Books and Cities" tackles the intersection of politics, sociology, and everyday life as Valev sees it, using abstract design to create commentary. Through these prints and pieces, viewers are encouraged to explore and question their understanding of these topics.
The exhibition is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday, September 22, at 1221 North Central Avenue. "Quinn's Wanderings" will remain on view during normal library hours through Wednesday, October 15. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org or call 602-262-6157. Janessa Hilliard
Scottsdale International Film Festival Opening Night
There's plenty to love about the month of October if you're a film fan. Yeah, you can binge watch every B-horror movie on Netflix, but if you're looking for a little more culture and a little less blood and guts, the Scottsdale International Film Festival is the event for you.
Now in its 13th year, the festival, which began by showing only 11 films, is screening forty different features and some short films as well. You can expect to see big names like Reese Witherspoon in the closing night's Wild, Juliette Binoche in 1,000 Times Good Night, and Richard Dreyfuss in Cas & Dylan. However, it's not all about the celebrities starring in the movies, as there are several great foreign film options that might just introduce you to a new favorite.
The festival kicks off on at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 9, with William H. Macy's Rudderless at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 East Second Street. All other films in the festival will be screened at Harkins Shea 14, 7354 East Shea Boulevard. For tickets and more information, including a complete film schedule, visit www.scottsdalefilmfestival.com. Heather Hoch
Margaret Cho's first comedy album dropped in 1996. Give it a listen -- her profanity-laced tales of personal kidney stones, oral sex, and her boyfriend's mangina sound even more relevant today than they did almost 20 years ago. She might rightfully be crowned the first of the "not afraid to go there" comedians -- as a lady, no less! Cho's had some success since then, of course -- she was in Dancing With the Stars and was nominated for an Emmy in recognition of her masterful role as Kim Jong Il on 30 Rock -- but her fearless focus on taboo topics still makes her one of the country's best stand-ups.
Cho's shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday, October 10, at Stand Up Live, 50 West Jefferson Street. Tickets start at $30. Call 480-719-6100 or visit www.standuplive.com for more. Zachary Fowle
