Hello downtown Phoenix! It’s T.J. Triolo, the best guide to everything happening locally. OK, so I may not be the best, but I at least try to be entertaining. Anyways, there’s an interesting fact I realized recently: This is a leap year. Take advantage of that extra day and make it count! After all, it only happens once every four years, so do something special.
Past Grand Master Rex Hutchens: Geometry Surrounds Us
Tuesday Feb. 25
6-8:30 p.m.
Arizona Lodge #2 Free and Accepted Masons
345 W. Monroe St.
The Free and Accepted Masons in Arizona are hosting a night about geometry and how it impacts came from in our society, how we use it as a tool and whether there is a meaning behind the geometric symbols. Geometry is one of the few complex math types I actually like; I kind of shut down once I hit calculus, and I barely tolerated trigonometry. Dinner for a small donation starts at 6 p.m., followed by the presentation at 7 p.m.
Black History Month Celebration of Culture
Thursday Feb. 27
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Orpheum Theatre
203 W. Adams St.
February is Black History Month, and to celebrate there’s a celebration of culture at the Orpheum Theatre. Along with musical and acting performances, the event features emcee Truth B. Told and keynote speaker Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr. Learning about different cultures is always fun, so check it out! The event is free to the public, and there will be food trucks on site offering lunch for purchase.
ARTLAB Artist-In-Residence Closing Night
Thursday Feb. 27
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails
2 E. Jefferson St.
A night of painting, food and cocktails creates a combination that will delight your senses at the Blue Hound. Taylor Nelson, an artist-in-residence in Artlink’s ARTLAB program, is showing off her painting series “Empowerment,” which she created during her time in the program. Blue Hound will be providing cocktails, wine and food for the event. I looked up the artist, and I’ve gotta say that her paintings are very well-done. I certainly couldn’t make ones that nice if I tried hard! Tickets cost $50 each.
Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
Thursday Feb. 27
Starts at 7 p.m.
Old Spaghetti Factory
1418 N. Central Ave.
Murder? What do you mean, “murder”? I had to throw that reference to one of my favorite movies in there. Props to you if you know where it’s from! This murder mystery dinner includes a performance in which you attempt to solve a murder case while eating a three-course meal at the Old Spaghetti Factory. This one is an Old West-themed show, which is far different from what I normally think of for murder mystery settings. It does fit in Phoenix though! Tickets cost $60 each.
2020 PHX Vegan Food Festival
Saturday Feb. 29
12-10 p.m.
Margaret T. Hance Park
1202 N. Third St.
Despite the name, this festival offers more than just food; there are vegan-friendly products, music and kids’ activities too. The main focus is on food though, which includes food from vegan restaurants, food trucks and demonstrations by chefs and vegan experts. Does being a vegan expert mean you’re an expert on vegan people, or things that are important to vegans, like food? I mean, one of my friends is vegan, so that may make me an expert on vegan people. I’m just saying that maybe I’m secretly a vegan expert, even though I have no desire to go vegan completely, even though that is quite a stretch. Tickets cost $29-$69 without fees.
Contact the reporter at tjtriolo@asu.edu.
Downtown Devil's community section editor. I also write the Downtown Digest, a weekly column with things to do, with experience writing news articles and creating news videos as well. Graduating from ASU in May 2020.
