Hello downtown Phoenix people! It’s T.J. Triolo, your resident events guide here to enlighten you about things you should be doing. I’ve got a lineup of more stuff for you to do, and if none of it interests you, then I can send you some entertaining YouTube videos involving one of my favorite Pokémon, Drowzee.
The Mayor’s Arts Awards
Thursday Oct. 10
Starts at 6:30 p.m.
Margaret T. Hance Park
1202 N. Third St.
If you haven’t kept up with the downtown Phoenix arts scene, here’s a chance to make up for the shame you’re probably feeling as the Mayor’s Arts Awards approach. Come see the nominees here, and find out who ultimately wins in different categories. Money raised at the event supports the Phoenix Center for the Arts, which provides art programs, financial aid and scholarships to local artists. After all, someone has to help keep Phoenix beautiful so it doesn’t turn into a generic sea of brown! Tickets cost $125 for individuals, $1,000 for a table.
City Lights Movie Nights: Coco
Friday Oct. 11
Starts at 6 p.m.
CityScape
1 E. Washington St.
It’s another movie night at CityScape. This time CityScape is showing Coco, the perfect movie for the Dia de los Muertos season! I cried when I saw this movie in the theater. If you want to cry in public to watch this showing, just be sure to have a supply of tissues and a blanket nearby! Pre-movie activities start at 6 p.m., and the movie starts at 7 p.m. The event is free with a recommended donation of canned food to St. Vincent De Paul.
Otsukimi Moonviewing Festival
Friday Oct. 11 and Saturday Oct. 12
6:30–10 p.m. each day
Japanese Friendship Garden
1125 N. Third Ave.
Live performances, access to the private tea garden and Asian food and drinks are all part of this special event the Japanese Friendship Garden hosts every year. There are also art installations in the garden. This sounds like a great way to spend a relaxing evening while enjoying some culture! Tickets cost $30 in advance or $35 at the gate. There are discounts for garden members.
Beatles vs. Stones: a Musical Showdown
Friday Oct. 11
Starts at 7:30 p.m.
Orpheum Theatre
203 W. Adams St.
Here’s a question for classic rock fans: Are the Beatles or the Rolling Stones better? This musical faceoff features Beatles tribute band Abbey Road against the Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction. This will be an interesting showdown for sure; I don’t know which side to pick, considering that I like both the Rolling Stones and Beatles a lot! Tickets cost $30–$75.
2019 PHXDW Conference: Evolve Design
Saturday Oct. 12 and Sunday Oct. 13
8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m. Sunday
Phoenix Convention Center
100 N. Third St.
If you like things to actually look good, you can thank designers for that. If you are a designer looking to share ideas and learn from other people, this conference is for you. It’s organized by AIGA Arizona to celebrate Phoenix Design Week. I do not understand design very well myself, and usually my aesthetic choices are not great, so I’ll leave this one to the professionals! Tickets cost $149–$399.
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.
