We know, Monday sucks. But if you take a quick look at the calendar, you'll see we're off to a pretty good week of art events, sports games, dance parties, and more. Here are our must-see events from now to the weekend...
Monday, August 13: Meghan McCain Book-Signing @ Changing Hands See also: Meghan McCain Talks Hot Arizona Guys, Mitt Romney, and America, You Sexy Bitch To write America, You Sexy Bitch, conservative bombshell Meghan McCain and liberal goof-off Michael Ian Black traveled around the country for a month in a stinky, run-down trailer. During their trip, the twosome interviewed exotic dancers in Las Vegas, a Muslim Michigander, rockers in New Orleans, and a slew of others in an attempt to capture the pulse of a politically polarized people in the midst of an economic downturn looking toward a presidential election.
The resulting read is a Hunter S. Thompson-style adventure (in the foreword McCain writes that she's a "groupie" of the late gonzo journo) that collects stories of seemingly disparate groups who, much like McCain and Black, have more in common than you might think. McCain will read from her book at 7 p.m.. Tickets are free with book purchase from Changing Hands. -- Becky Bartkowski
Tuesday, August 14: "Dog Days the 20th" @ Wilde Meyer Gallery Valley residents know and (have to) love the dog days of summer. The sweat-stained time frame, from early July to early September, became known as such because the Dog Star, Sirius, is visible at night. Not that we're suggesting you stargaze in this heat. No. We're recommending doggy to-dos of a different kind.
Wilde Meyer Gallery will celebrate two decades of its annual dog-themed group art exhibition with "Dog Days the 20th." The show features artistic representations of canines of all shapes, sizes, and forms. Pooch paintings ranging from realistic to playful, will star in the exhibition with works from more than 30 artists. -- Lauren Saria
Wednesday, August 15: "Tracking Monsters and Squirrels" @ Scottsdale Public Library Local artist Christy Puetz deals in beads. Her delicate and painstakingly detailed creatures come from a variety of backgrounds and stories. In 2011, she created a collection of "shapeshifting" creatures at Modified Arts and in 2009, she showcased a series of birds with beaded patterns inspired by the microscopic appearances of disease organisms. Each work is born primarily of glass seed bead work and peyote stitches, and together they share a storyline created in the artist's mind.
In August, Puetz will reveal her work in progress as part of Scottsdale Public Art's new Creative Residency program. Puetz will work and interact with the public in the Gallery@theLibrary (located inside Scottsdale Civic Center Library), where she'll host a workshop and continue to create a new species for her exhibition "Monsters and Squirrels," on view during Library hours through August 27. -- Claire Lawton
Thursday, August 16: Melinda Bergman and Mayme Kratz Talk @ SMoCA Lounge
Valley artist favorites Mayme Kratz and Melinda Bergman will discuss their works on display in SMoCA's summer exhibition "Significant Forms," which features pieces from the museum's permanent collection and remains on view through Sunday, September 9. Kratz will also screen a video about her interactive installation "Tumbleweed Bower," that was on display at the Icehouse in April of 2011. Bergman and Kratz will speak at 7 p.m. at SMoCA Lounge. Admission is free, space is limited. -- Becky Bartkowski
Thursday, August 16: Dip Thursdays @ Spanish Fly Without the proper context, something called "Dip Thursdays" might sound unbearably lame. Just imagine a day devoted to your favorite vegetable dips at the office. Your boss is stoked by the idea, hoping it boosts morale and extends his hummus recipe catalog. Susan thinks her spinach dip is the best in town; unfortunately it tastes like canned tuna.
Surely in some level of hell, this day exists. But we're still living. And lucky us! In the Valley, "Dip Thursdays" means that flocks of sexy club goers descend upon Old Town's Spanish Fly in their finest swimwear to show off by the bar's pool.
"But I have to be at the office all day with Susan and her tun-ach," you say? Well, you're in luck, too. Dip Thursdays is a nighttime swim, from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on August 16, complete with DJs spinning house and other danceable tunes. Plus, they have drink specials all night. -- Christina Caldwell
Check out more things to do today (and everyday) in our Calendar section ...
