Downtown Digest: 80’s Hits and Give Blood

Hello downtown readers!
‘Tis I, T.J. Triolo, returning from a long trip through the land of downtown Phoenix events and bringing back some of the best ones I found to share them with you. No matter what you’re interested in, as long as you want to have fun, I’ve got something for you!

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Tuesday Aug. 28
Starts at 8 p.m.
Symphony Hall
75 N. 2^nd St.

Jason Isbell and his band, the 400 Unit, is coming to town on tour. He’s won two Grammys in the Americana music genre, which is about two more than most people can say they’ve won. Yes, this includes me, since I’ve never won an award for my singing in my life. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve known anyone who has won an award for singing, so I have respect for anyone who can actually sing decently. Tickets range from $38.50–$59.

College of Nursing and Health Innovation Blood Drive
Wednesday Aug. 29
9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Taylor Place
120 E. Taylor St.

The vampires want your blood. Oops, sorry, wrong organization. Rather than keeping vampires alive, give your blood to a good cause and help people in need at this blood drive from United Blood Services. If you donate blood, you’re also entered to win a free car. Because who wouldn’t want a free car? It’s not my cup of tea (it’s a Volkswagen Tiguan) because I hate crossovers, but I would not turn down a free vehicle won from a contest! This event is free.

Painting and Vino: Butterfly Noir
Wednesday Aug. 29
6–8:30 p.m.
Genuwine Arizona Wine Bar
888 N. 1^st Ave. Ste. 101

Are your wine glasses lacking some character? Do they look sad, lonely and plain? Then give your collection a pop of color! Once you finish this event, you’ll have a wine glass with a beautiful hand-painted butterfly on it. There will be an instructor teaching you how to paint your glass, and drinks will be part of the event as well. After all, it wouldn’t be a proper event at a wine bar if you couldn’t drink wine while doing it. All supplies will be provided, and the event is $35 per person.

Lost 80s Live
Thursday Aug. 30
Starts at 7:30 p.m.
Comerica Theatre
400 W. Washington St.

The eighties had a lot of bands that you no longer hear about that had hits. I mean hits that you even hear on the radio today. You may not have heard of what happened to these people, but a lot of them are still here! This concert features A Flock of Seagulls, Bow Wow Wow, Missing Persons, Animotion, When in Rome and Wang Chung. I’ll say this: Wang Chung had better sing “Everybody Have Fun Tonight,” because they need to sing the lyrics “Everybody Wang Chung tonight.” Why? Because it’s funny and I said so. Tickets cost $38–$80.

Charlotte’s Web by Childsplay Theatre
Sunday Sept. 2
Starts at 4 p.m.
Herberger Theater Center
222 E. Monroe St.

Wow, Childsplay Theatre brings back memories for me. I went to see some of their plays when I was a little kid! Perks of growing up in the Phoenix area: I know local things that have been going on for a while and they make me feel nostalgic and old, even though I’m not old. If you think so, I’m sad. This time Childsplay is putting on Charlotte’s Web (not one of the plays I saw as a kid), which would be great to take kids to and introduce them to theater, because plays rock. I haven’t been to one in too long; I really need to go to another one soon. Tickets cost $12–$30.

Contact the reporter at Thomas.Triolo@asu.edu