BEST Things To Do In Phoenix
The Event Oracle knows ALL the fun things to do in the land of the Phoenix sun. Select your date above then scroll down to check out what events are going on this week...
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Carnival of Illusion
Arizona Biltmore Resort
2400 E Missouri Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85016Carnival of Illusion is an evening of Old-World Magic in the style of classic entertainers such as Buster Keaton, Mae West, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Harry Houdini. The hosts have performed as house entertainers at the world's top resorts, Fortune 100 CEOs, to the 200 Most Powerful Women in America and operate the longest-running Arizona theater show. Carnival of Illusion is "Magic, Mystery, and OOOH La La."
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Sonwai: The Jewelry of Verma Nequatewa
Heard Museum
2301 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004Verma Nequatewa began an apprenticeship with her uncle Charles Loloma around 1966. Nequatewa has signed her distinctive work with the Hopi feminine word for beauty, Sonwai, since 1989. It complements her uncle’s name, which was the masculine word with the same meaning.
Nequatewa worked with her uncle for more than twenty years. In that time she not only learned specific jewelry-making techniques but she also learned to distinguish quality stones and to develop a keen design sense. Today, she is recognized as one of the leading Native American lapidary artists. Although her jewelry has been featured in the U.S. and internationally, this will be the first comprehensive exhibition of her work. This exhibit continues the Heard’s emphasis on sharing with our visitors the finest work in contemporary jewelry.
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Electric Desert at Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85008You're invited you to see desert, light and sound unite in a mesmerizing display like never before. Cactus and desert become a living canvas in this nighttime experience, taking visitors on an immersive journey through the garden using light and original music.
Electric Desert includes six site-specific locations, with each experience inspired by and related to the Garden.
Note: The Garden is closed Nov. 22, in the evening on Dec. 24 and for the entire day on Dec. 25 for the holidays.
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Fragments: Broken Bowls Tell More Tales
Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park
4619 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034Hear the stories pottery sherds have to tell archaeologists when theses pieces of the past are rediscovered and studied. Fragments: Broken Bowls Tell More Tales, is a temporary exhibit at Pueblo Grande Museum that explores researchers use sherds to uncover a variety of details, such as how the pottery was made, used, and where it was produced. These details aren’t always obvious during examinations of gorgeous whole pottery vessels.
Visitors typically see the most unique and complete pottery vessels of a museums’ collection on display. They seldom see, or know about, the thousands of broken pottery fragments called ‘sherds’ that are preserved in storage. Using local and traded examples, Fragments invites visitors to see how sherds help archaeologists piece together new ideas about the ancestral O'Odham, more commonly known as the Hohokam. The exhibition also features sherds that connect the Hohokam with their neighbors across the Southwest and northern Mexico during the time of the European Renaissance. Visitors can listen to local Native perspectives on archaeology and cultural preservation while experiencing traditional O’odham songs that tell of the mountains surrounding Pueblo Grande and their deep connections to past, present, and future O’odham generations.
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Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants
OdySea Aquarium
9500 East Via de Ventura
Scottsdale, AZ 85250Guests are invited to dive beneath the surface of the world’s rivers in the new exhibition Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants.
Enormous in size and rapidly dwindling in number, these ancient fish play critical roles in their freshwater habitats. Dr. Zeb Hogan, aquatic ecologist, National Geographic Fellow and host of the Nat Geo WILD series Monster Fish, has spent nearly two decades searching for and studying the rare, large freshwater fish species profiled in the exhibition. The interactive exhibition will include five extraordinary, life-size sculptures of monster fish as well as videos and hands-on interactive activities for audiences of all ages.
Monster Fish takes visitors on a journey to river basins around the world to learn about colossal fish and the people that depend on them. Through detailed maps, sculptures and custom illustrations, the exhibition showcases close to 20 fish species and their diverse freshwater ecosystems. In addition to highlighting the biology of each species, the exhibit depicts the cultural ties between the fish and local people. From mythical tales and storied traditions to threats and conservation efforts, visitors will leave with a greater understanding of the connection between humans and fish. -
Worlds of Wonder – Lunch Time Dance Theater
Herberger Theater Center
222 East Monroe Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004An imaginitive spellbinding performance of new and old works featuring the raw and fascinating “Rite of Spring” choreographed and set to Stravinsky’s magnificent score ‒ preceded by an opening first act based on “Creation”‒ choreography by CDE Assistant Artistic Director, Diane McNeal Hunt; Amber Robins and guest artist, Nicole Olson.
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Skewed News Hour
Second Beat Improv Theater
6040 N. 7th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85014You pick the news, we pick it apart. Every Friday at 7pm, you select news articles of the day and SNH performers will use them as inspiration for their improvised scenes. The Skewed News Hour takes some of the best improvisors in the Valley and throws today’s hottest headlines their way to create great comedy. Turn off your TV, throw away your laptop, and stay up-to-date in a way you never imagined!
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Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion Square
7014 East Camelback Road, Suite 0586
Scottsdale, AZ 85251Lily, an aging but formidable retiree, hires Michael, an acerbic dance instructor, to give her dance lessons in her condo in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. Antagonism between a gay man and the wife of a Southern Baptist minister gives way to profound compatibility as they swing dance, tango, foxtrot, and cha-cha while sharing barbs and intimacies along with the dance steps. During the sixth lesson, Lily reveals a closely guarded secret — she is terminally ill — and Michael shares his greatest gifts — loyalty and compassion. As Michael takes Lily in his arms on their final meeting, they both transcend fear and mortality while the sun sets on their last dance.
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Grease School Edition
Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre
7014 East Camelback Road,
Scottsdale, AZ 85251Here is Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hot-rodding “Burger Palace Boys” and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their “Summer Nights” as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as “Greased Lightnin'”, “It’s Raining on Prom Night”, “Alone at the Drive-In Movie” recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation.
Grease School Edition is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC
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Noam Pikelny and Stuart Duncan
Musical Instrument Museum
4725 E. Mayo Blvd.,
Phoenix, AZ 85050Noam Pikelny has emerged as the preeminent banjoist of his generation. He is a founding member of Punch Brothers and was awarded the first annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass in 2010 in addition to the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year in 2014 and 2017. Universal Favorite (Rounder Records, 2017) is the fourth album Pikelny has released under his own name, but it is truly his solo debut. His previous solo efforts, including 2014’s landmark Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe, were full-band affairs that revealed his abilities as a dynamic bandleader while reinforcing his reputation as an inventive accompanist—with both albums receiving Grammy Award nominations.
Multi-instrumentalist Stuart Duncan has built upon his bluegrass roots to become an artist who defies categorization and surpasses the limits of any specific genre. The consummate sideman, Duncan has lent his taste and tone to countless artists and projects. Whether trading dizzying instrumental licks with the likes of Béla Fleck and Jerry Douglas, or adding complimentary fills for vocalists Alan Jackson and Barbra Streisand, Duncan has found a professional “home” both in the studio and on tour. His playing and influence can be heard among many of today’s top hit makers, from British singer-songwriter Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin to American rock band Panic! at the Disco.
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Worlds of Wonder
Herberger Theater Center
222 East Monroe Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004An imaginative spellbinding performance – featuring the raw and fascinating “Rite of Spring” choreographed and set to Stravinsky’s magnificent score ‒ preceded by an opening first act of new works focused on “Creation” – choreographed by Center Dance Ensemble Assistant Artistic Director, Diane McNeal Hunt; Amber Robins and guest artist, Nicole Olson.
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Robert Kelly
Tempe Improv
930 E University Dr
Tempe, AZ 85281Robert Kelly's comedy is deeply rooted his own life and relationships which makes it honest, abrasively funny, yet refreshingly vulnerable. He has been winning over audiences for years touring clubs, colleges and theaters, including repeat performances at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival.
His one-hour special Robert Kelly: Live at the Village Underground debuted on Comedy Central and is now available on Netflix. Besides being a fixture on Comedy Central, Robert recently starred as Bam Bam in Denis Leary’s FX show Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and can also be seen as Louie CK's brother Robbie on the hit series Louie. His other acting credits include roles in Trainwreck, Maron, Benders, Nurse Jackie andInside Amy Schumer. Robert currently hosts the top rated podcast “You Know What Dude?” that can be found on iTunes. Robert is also the co-founder of the RiotCast podcasting Network.
