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Posts Tagged ‘phoenix events’

Black History Month in Downtown Phoenix

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Black History Month in February is a wonderful time for all people to pay homage to past and current African American achievements, culture and leaders.

If you are interested in participating in Black History Month celebrations, lectures, expos, conferences and events in the downtown Phoenix area, here is a list of opportunities for you:

George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center Presents An Evening with Lonnie Bunch on Feb. 9

The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, a Phoenix-based museum which features exhibits showcasing the African American history and life, will host an evening with Lonnie G. Bunch, Ph.D., the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

The event will include a talk by Dr. Bunch, a question and answer session, hors d’oeuvres, and an optional tour of the Carver Museum.

When: Feb. 9, 2010; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 415 East Grant St., Phoenix

Prior to his July 2005 appointment as director of NMAAHC, Bunch served as the president of the Chicago Historical Society, one of the nation’s oldest museums of history. Bunch has also held several positions at the Smithsonian including associate director for curatorial affairs at the National Museum of American History, and education specialist at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

“This event will be a must for anyone interested in knowing, preserving, and investing in their heritage,” said Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker, President of the Board, George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center.

2010 Arizona African American Legislative and Leadership Conference on Feb. 11-12 in Phoenix

The 2010 African American Legislative and Leadership Conference will be held on Feb. 11-12  at the Arizona State Capitol Complex, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix.

The mission of the African American Legislative Conference is to introduce African Americans to Arizona’s legislative processes and to engage them in providing new ideas and leadership for the state.

This year’s theme is “Passing the Flame to the Next Generation.”

Please visit the Web site below for more information and registration:

http://www.aallcaz.org

Black History Month Expo in Phoenix on Feb. 13

Join thousands of people from the community during the Black History Month Expo on Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the George Washington Cultural Center in Phoenix.

This is a free event!

Come experience the culture as the Black History Month Expo will have non-stop performances on stage, vendor booths and much more!

Special guests will be appearing throughout the day.

Please continue to visit the Black History Month section on my Web site – PhxSoul.com – for the most up-to-date information on Black History Month events in Downtown Phoenix and all over the Valley of the Sun!

Downtown Phoenix Events To Honor Dr. Martin Luther King

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

During the month of January, the Downtown Phoenix area will play host to numerous events that honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Arizona Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee has created an MLK Calendar of Events. Please click HERE to find out about art exhibits, sports tournaments, lectures, concerts and more.

The two most prominent celebrations are as follows:

LIVING THE DREAM AWARDS BREAKFAST

The 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Breakfast will be held Jan. 15 at the Phoenix Convention Center, South Ballroom. The Arizona Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee and guests will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and recognize individuals who have given selflessly of their time and talent to make a better community for those less fortunate.

The Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Awards Breakfast
Jan. 15
Phoenix Convention Center
111 N. Third Street 
7 a.m. (doors open at 6:30 a.m.)

Tickets are $65 per person; Table for 10 is $650. Reservations Required. Proceeds will benefit scholarships to deserving minority students in the Phoenix community. For more information, please contact Andrea Weeks Hardin at 480-767-3877.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION

The MLK March will begin at 9 a.m. Jan. 18 at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church located at 14th Street and Jefferson in Phoenix.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration Committee and the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department are hosting the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration from 10 a.m. -4 p.m. at Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. 3rd St., Phoenix. The MLK Celebration will feature exciting activities and entertainment. For more information, please contact Emmett Boyd at (602) 534-6923.

If you are interested in learning more about MLK 2010 celebrations in the Valley of the Sun, please visit my Web site – PhxSoul.com.

Joel McHale Rings In 2010 at Dodge Theatre

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Joel McHale had a very good 2009. His pop culture/reality TV recap show, “The Soup” is the E! Network’s most popular show that doesn’t star a Kardashian sister, he stars in NBC’s hit comedy ”Community,” and even landed a role in The Informant! opposite A-lister Matt Damon.  

McHale took a timeout from his holiday in hometown Seattle to talk about his upcoming New Year’s Eve show at Dodge Theatre.

McHaleYou’re helping Phoenix usher in 2010 but a part of you must be sad to see 2009 end. What’s your personal highlight of the year and how have you kept the rush of success from going to your head?

“I think both those questions can be answered with one answer: Enjoying time with my 4-year-old [son Edward] and 1-year-old [son Isaac]. Professionally, I’d say doing the film with Matt [Damon] and bringing my whole family to New York for the premiere was very cool. Getting to go on [David] Letterman was huge for me. That guy was my TV dad! Everyone talks about Johnny Carson being their guy but I grew up with Letterman so to sit two feet away from him was absolutely crazy.”

Other than the emergence of “Jersey Shore,” which 2009 pop culture development had the most profound impact on you and your material?

 “When [talk show host] Wendy Williams lit up a Slim Jim on the air, that was solid gold.”

There seems to be little discernable difference between [your character on "Community"] Jeff Winger and Joel McHale, host of “The Soup.” Did [“Community” creator] Dan Harmon write the part with you specifically in mind? And who did you beat out for the part?

“I’d never met Dan until I read the pilot, which was the funniest script I’d read in years. What drew me to the character was that Jeff isn’t the moral center of the show. Britta is. People can’t rely on my character to always have the right answer and I like that. As for who I beat out for the part, well, I’m just glad Tom Cruise and Will Smith had had other things to do.”

Any good Chevy Chase stories? And do you ever find yourself following him around the “Community” set quoting lines from Fletch and Caddyshack?

“Chevy doesn’t have email. He always says, ‘My email is back in New York,’ which I’ve always found strange. I have quoted a lot of Fletch back to him. He found it endearing at first but now it’s just creepy.”

People who are seeing you live for the first time will be surprised by your freakish size. What other surprises are your fans in for during your set?

“That I’m a woman. And the show is a very tight 7 ½ hours long. And I’ll be almost entirely naked, except for the pasties.”

 Will there be any Ryan Seacrest jokes?

“There’s a good chance.”

Finally, how does your tour bus differ from [Poison singer, “Rock of Love” star, and frequent "The Soup" target] Bret Michaels’?

“It’s 90 percent less skanky.”**

 

**McHale doesn’t have a tour bus.

Rodgers To Keynote Black Chamber Anniversary Celebration

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

The Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce’s (GPBCC) 11th Anniversary celebration, “Telling Our Story,” will be held on December 11 at the Phoenix Convention Center.

This event will feature Johnathan Rodgers, President & CEO of TV One, who will deliver the keynote address. The GPBCC will also present the Corporate Business Partner and Small Business Partner of the Year awards.

My wife and I attended the GPBCC gala last year and we had an amazing time. If you are able to purchase tickets, I strongly encourage you to do so. It’s an excellent opportunity for you to mingle with the Valley’s movers and shakers.

Please visit phoenixblackchamber.com for more information.

Don’t Miss First Friday: November 6

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Here’s the line up of just a few things that are happening at First Friday’s on November 6 in Downtown Phoenix.

Artlink First Fridays
Free self-guided tours of 100 art spaces in and around downtown Phoenix, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Enjoy opening receptions, performance art, comedy, music, odd and unusual events and food. Free shuttle service by Ollie the Trolley.

Civic Space Park
This month we honor the traditions of El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. We will have interactive art projects for youth, face painting and a special visit from our PBS Eight friends Maya and Miguel!!! On our stage, we will have live performances from Try Me Bicycle, a folk/rock ensemble and Zarco Guerrero, a celebrated local artist.

Party on the Patio
Steve’s Greenhouse Grill
Come support some of your favorite local artists, and enjoy live music and great drink specials on the patio from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Plus, we’ll have a complimentary appetizer bar from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the first Friday of every month.

Twilight Tours of the Rosson House
Heritage & Science Park
Listen to a lecture about the “Adventurous Spirits: Arizona’s Women Artists.” Guided tours of the historic Rosson House are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the lecture starts at 6:30 p.m.

Target Free First Friday
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
On the first Friday of every month, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is open to the public free of charge, thanks to Target!

See what else is happening Downtown tonight, tomorrow, and this weekend.

Save the Dates: Downtown Phoenix Annual Pub Crawl and PAPA Parade

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

PAPAblogAs if the Zombie Walk isn’t enough, now there’s two great events to look forward to after Halloween. For those of you who may have missed them last year, this is your chance to sample some great beers and express your inner creative urge and parade through the streets of Downtown Phoenix.

The Third Annual Downtown Phoenix Pub Crawl will kick off on Friday, Nov. 13 at Fourth St. and Garfield starting at 9 p.m. until closing time. Over 12 pubs, bars and restaurants are participating – offering several tasty brews. This year, Sonoma Casual Dining will be featuring a special after-hours breakfast starting at 1:30 a.m. to help soak up the suds.

Now in its fourth year, Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts (PAPA) takes place on Sat., Nov. 14 starting at 5:00 p.m. ”The Worlds Only Parading Arts Fair,” as it has become known, gives all members of our community the opportunity to express themselves through costumes, art, and performance while marching together through the streets of Downtown Phoenix. Everyone is invited to walk, ride, dance, or crawl along in the parade.

Check back at DowntownPhoenix.com for more details, deals and insider information coming soon!

Little Black Dress Worthy: The Orpheum Theatre

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Some places are just as magnificent as the ticketed events themselves. The Orpheum Theatre is definitely one of those places. Maybe that’s why it’s so little black dress worthy. Don’t leave home without it.

That’s because the Orpheum Theatre oozes splendor and history. Originally built in 1929 for vaudeville acts, it’s the last remaining example of theatre palace architecture in Phoenix, and it’s the only Phoenix theatre on the National Register of Historic Places. The place rocks.

orpheumNot only is it acoustically amazing, but you’ll be blown away by the intricate columns and molding, the delicate murals, the ornate light fixtures, and the ruby-red seats. The only thing missing is the paparazzi and a long red carpet outside the front doors underneath the marquee.

My first experience at the Orpheum after the major renovation in 1997 was to see Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It was fabulous. I’ve been back lots of times and never grow tired of walking around the place, usually with my mouth hanging open and in absolute awe of the architecture.  The setting inside the theatre is intimate with just 1,062 seats at the orchestra level and 302 seats in the balcony. It’s a great place to catch a play, comedy show or musical act.   Anything, really.

Before or after a show, pop on over to Cheuvront’s (just minutes from the theatre) for wine and appetizers and you’ve got yourself quite an evening. My advice: Ditch the T-shirt and gym shoes, though, and break out the little black dress. You’ll be glad you did and majorly depressed if you don’t.

Stepping Through The Wardrobe: The Heard Museum

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Here’s the deal.  

My sister and her two young kids were visiting recently from Chicago, and I was trying to finish writing the last few chapters of my latest young adult novel, Vanished. It’s the story of a young Hohokam Indian girl named Aiyana.  I needed to visit the Heard Museum to do some last-minute research. Convincing my sister to go with me to the museum was a piece of cake; my little niece and nephew? Not so much. Not when a sparkling pool with umpteen water toys beckoned within footsteps of my backdoor.     

So how do you get two tween kids to visit a museum? Hint: Don’t use the word museum. Call it an adventure

And the Heard Museum is all that and so much more.  

Whenever I visit the Heard Museum, I feel like Lucy in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe stepping into a mysterious and wondrous land. The museum so effortlessly separates and yet connects all of the Native American cultures: Hohokam, Navajo, Pima, Gila, Hopi, Apache. When you stroll through each exhibit, it’s like reading the most beautiful of stories. I doubt there is a more comprehensive collection of Native American history anywhere. You learn about the richness of each culture, their histories, foods, crafts, clothes, even their legends.   

And the Hohokam exhibit, in particular, is fascinating. It displays the amazing history of Phoenix’s first residents along with theories as to how an entire culture simply vanished from the desert. How cool is it to be inches from the pottery made by someone’s hands 1,000 years ago? Or to look upon a braided belt worn around someone’s waist who worked the land where my house, conceivably, now sits?  

The hands-on Kids Exhibit at the Heard was a huge hit with my brood for obvious reasons, although I think my sister and I enjoyed it as much as my niece and nephew. At each exhibit, the voice of a young Native American child talks about his culture and then invites the child to bead a necklace, draw a picture, piece together a puzzle or simply just listen. I could have spent an entire day inside the Kids Exhibit. Easy. 

At the end of our visit, like the cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae, we stopped at the Heard’s Café just outside the front door to the museum. Definitely worth the time. And the price. The staff was friendly; the food, delicious. It didn’t have the institutional feel of many cafeterias you find at museums. In fact, I’d make a special trip downtown for the iced tea and the blue corn tostada salad alone. 

Instead of nagging us with “when are we leaving?” my niece and nephew have already asked (twice), “when are we going back?” 

Answer: As soon as possible. And next time we’ll allow more time to shop at the Museum Gift Store.

Tequila and Art: Heard Museum’s Monte Vista Club

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

I wanted to make one of my first official blog entries for Downtown Phoenix.com about two things I really like: tequila and art. Let’s face it, who doesn’t?

The Heard Museum’s Monte Vista Club (MVC) is looking for new members. What’s the MVC you ask? It’s a group of youngish professionals who enjoy contemporary art (seeing it, learning about it, etc.) and engaging with the community. They do fun stuff like visiting local artists’ studios, networking with Valley leaders and volunteering at local nonprofits. They also want you to consider joining! I’m helping kick off the fall season with the MVC, and to that end, we are holding the following event:

Tequila Tasting and Performance by Tierra Del Fuego!
Friday, October 16 during NU (Native + You) 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

This is your chance to find out more about the MVC! Enjoy live music by local band Tierra Del Fuego,
great contemporary art and tequila! The tequila tasting includes two brands and three tiers of tequila, and is held in the Heard Museum’s Central Courtyard. MVC representatives will be on hand to answer questions and process memberships.

The Tequila Tasting is $10 for non-MVC members and $5 for those who join the Monte Vista Club. Memberships begin at just $40 and include lots of benefits. You must be 21 to enjoy the tasting.

batmanisa-mexican-art
Art by Luis Gutierrez at Portland’s
In addition, my friend and local artist Luis Gutierrez has some excellent work on display at an establishment which serves tequila (among other things), Portland’s! You won’t be disappointed by this work, and you may even want some for yourself. (I always do!) Preview his work here.

NU Reason To Do Third Friday

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Native U at Heard Museum

By now, most people know that they can avoid the First Friday crowds by doing Third Friday instead, the alternative day to visit the galleries around Downtown Phoenix. But here’s a Third Friday stop I bet you haven’t hit yet: the Heard Museum. Yep, the same museum you went to in fourth grade. You know, on Central Avenue?

The Heard is more than old pots and baskets. It actually showcases contemporary artwork by young artists too. (I swear!) There’s even a cutting-edge retail art gallery, the Berlin Gallery, which represents 20 contemporary artists.

Most important, the Heard Museum has launched a free Third Friday event series called NU (Native+You). Friday’s NU (on June 19) features a T-shirt fashion show with designs by Un3ek Sy5tem, a Native design team whose affordable fashions are inspired by graffiti art, hip-hop culture and Native influences. In addition, four native jewelry designers from New Mexico will be selling their contemporary designs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., showcasing some of their most affordable items. Navajo DJ Byron Fienx will provide a musical backdrop from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Even more added bonuses: Event and museum admission are free from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the Heard also has its own light rail stop and free onsite parking. Oh, there’s also a cash bar, a lounge area and dining in the museum’s cafe until 8 p.m. Want more info? Visit  http://www.heard.org/nu.