We’ve reached one of the best stretches of the year in Downtown Phoenix. The weather is idyllic, the Diamondbacks and the rest of the Cactus League will soon report for Spring Training duty, and there’s no shortage of great events happening right here in our city’s core. Here are just a few of this week’s highlights:
Gunther von Hagens’ famous exhibit features more than 200 authentic human specimens–including entire bodies, organs and transparent body slices–to form the most awestriking walking health sciences class in the world. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday 5:15-7 p.m.
SpamalotFrom Eric Idle, the deranged mind who brought the world Monty Python, comes this Tony Award-winning musical chronicling the adventures of King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Sir Dennis, and the Knights Who Say “Ni!” Orpheum Theater Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
In this lavish Arizona Theatre Company comedy, we discover what every Broadway star already knows – that the real drama on stage happens when the curtain is down. It is the late 1930s, and Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, the two most revered stars of the Broadway stage, have decided to perform Chekhov’s masterpiece, The Sea Gull. But first they must retreat to ‘investigate’ the play at Ten Chimneys, their legendary Wisconsin estate, where they are surrounded by actors, family and hangers-on. When a young actress named Uta Hagen arrives, a romantic triangle begins to mirror the events in Chekhov’s play about passion and art. The result is a funny, poignant and revealing look at the private lives of great artists who never really leave the stage. Herberger Theater Center Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
This is your last week to see Valley Youth Theatre’s presentation of Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s tale. And at $20 a pop, VYT continues to be one of the Downtown’s best stage values! Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Downtown’s latest food craze happens every Friday at Phoenix Public Market (peep the Market’s fancy new web page), where from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the finest mobile vendors in the city turn the parking lot into a bodacious food court offering everything from cajun burritos and gourmet hot dogs to authentic barbecue and rockin’ grilled cheese.
In addition to several Downtown art spaces being open late to the public, Third Fridays events include Emerging Artists at Hard Rock Cafe, 3rd Annual KYSS Dance-a-Thon, Third Friday Latino Style at ALAC featuring “Madonnas, Saints and Sinners,” Live Fridays at Seamus McCaffrey’s and Live Band Karaoke at Friday’s Front Row. Click links for specific times.
Almost Famous Film Festival Kickoff Party
At 5 p.m., hundreds of aspiring filmmakers will congregate at Majerle’s, where they’ll receive everything they need to shoot a short film: a single line of dialogue, a prop, a theme, and 48 hours to make some magic. For more information on this awesome event read Downtown Blogger Daisy Anderson’s preview of the event here.
Marrakesh Night at Children’s Museum of Phoenix
The Children’s Museum’s annual fundraising gala always offers an evening of fun and food and this year is no different as the museum will be transformed into a Moroccan-style bazzar. 7-11 p.m.
The Music of Led Zeppelin“Kashmir,” “Whole Lotta Love,” “Thank You,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Heartbreaker,” and “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” are just a few of the classic Led Zeppelin songs featured in this touring production that gives classic hard rock a symphonic treatment. Comerica Theatre 8 p.m.
But wait, there’s more!
Be sure to check out the AAA Arizona Travel Show, EPIK Dance’s Common Ground, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2.
Have an amazingly fun and safe week, Downtowners!
Over the last two decades Downtown Phoenix has grown up to become Arizona’s epicenter for not only business and government, but for sports, arts and culture, dining, and live entertainment.
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Downtown Phoenix has so many different ways to entertain yourself and satisfies so many different interests, that at this moment I couldn’t imagine myself living anywhere else in the Valley. I would not be able to experience the crowds of the World Series or the annual Mexico vs. (fill in blank) soccer game from my patio.
The 
