Hello downtown readers! It’s T.J. Triolo, your guide to local events here. I’ve got another round of them coming up this week for you because even though I’m on winter break, my writing skills certainly aren’t. Besides, I need to have a constructive way to spend my time besides working extra shifts in a restaurant, so here are your events this week!
Beginning Cheese Making
Tuesday Dec. 11
6–8 p.m.
GenuWine Arizona
888 N. 1st Ave. Ste. 101
Let’s begin with something most of us can agree on: Cheese is great. If you don’t think so, I’m sorry. I used to be in your shoes years ago, but I’ve been converted to the way of the cheese. This class will teach you how to make three different types of your own with a group of four to five students, which sounds like it would be very useful. This event costs $35.
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker
Wednesday Dec. 12
Starts at 7 p.m.
Comerica Theatre
400 W. Washington St.
I think most people know the story of The Nutcracker, the classic ballet story about a toy nutcracker, some kids, other toys and an evil mouse king. These Russian dancers tour the United States every holiday season spreading dance and holiday cheer. The Moscow Ballet decided to come do a performance in Phoenix this Wednesday and show us how it’s done. Tickets cost $18–$85.
Phoestivus 2018
Thursday Dec. 13
5–10 p.m.
Phoenix Public Market
721 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix Public Market is hosting its ninth annual Phoestivus. That looks a lot like “feast” to me, but I know it’s actually a festival named after Seinfeld’s “Festivus,” which I can’t say I’ve ever seen. It’s a holiday market that attracts thousands of people to buy local goods that are perfect for giving to people as gifts for whatever December holiday you celebrate. Admission is free.
The Star Wars Holiday Special: UFF Presents
Friday Dec. 14
Showings start at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
FilmBar
815 N. 2nd St.
I have wanted to watch this for a while now, mostly out of curiosity regarding how bad this can possibly be. George Lucas hates that it even exists, which is a sign it must be pretty bad. It still involves the Skywalker twins, Han Solo and Chewbacca, plus Chewbacca’s family. For some reason, they’ve never been mentioned in the regular Star Wars movies. I wonder why that is? Come check it out and decide for yourself whether it should be a treasured holiday movie or never seen again. Tickets cost $12.
Downtown Phoenix Evening Happy Hour Tour
Sunday Dec. 16
Starts at 5:30 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
15 E. Monroe St.
This sounds really good. It’s a tour of five different restaurants around downtown, where you get to eat and drink stuff from each one. A variety of restaurants are included, with everything from Thai food at Thai Basil to British pasties from the Cornish Pasty Co. If you haven’t had a pasty, go on this tour. They are delicious, and therefore worth trying. Tickets cost $75.
Contact the reporter at thomas.triolo@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.
