Hello downtown Phoenix people! It’s T.J. Triolo and I’m back with more things for you to do this week. So if you’re going to be bored out of your mind never fear, I’m here to save you, because it’s time for the Downtown Digest!
ArtPrize Phoenix Pitch Night
Tuesday, May 22
Starts at 7 p.m.
FOUND:RE Phoenix
1100 N. Central Ave.
Five artists. A $5000 prize. Who will win? Five artists from Arizona will compete by pitching ideas for large art installations for a chance to compete in the national contest. The money for the winner is intended to help them build their installation for the 10th ArtPrize competition at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, where the public will vote for a winner and the juried awards total $500,000. This is a free event.
Ancient Sex – Pompeii Uncovered Lecture Series
Wednesday, May 23
Starts at 5 p.m.
Arizona Science Center
600 E. Washington St.
If you think a culture saturated with sex is a modern invention, think again. Go back a couple thousand years into the past to the Roman Empire and see what their culture thought about sex. This talk focuses on the role of sex and gender in Roman culture, including gladiators’ combat. Entry costs $14 and includes admission to the Science Center’s Pompeii exhibit.
Health and Wellness Fair
Thursday, May 24
Starts at 10 a.m.
Renaissance Square
2 N. Central Ave.
For those who want to see the latest and greatest technology and information medical companies have to offer, here’s an event you could even go to on your lunch break. Participating organizations include the American Lung Association, Lifestart Wellness Network, Urban Eye Care and others. Even if you don’t consider yourself healthy, this might be the perfect time to start and see what you can do to improve your health. Admission is free.
Phoenix Comic Fest
Thursday, May 24 – Sunday, May 27
Starts at 9 a.m. each day
Phoenix Convention Center
100 N. 3rd St.
Formerly known as Phoenix Comicon, it’s the same convention with a different name. I’ve gone the past two or three years in a row and if you haven’t been here yet, I urge you to go. If you’re into nerd culture of any kind, be it anime, comics, video games, Star Wars, Doctor Who or all of the above, then you’ll love it here. There are events of all kinds going on every day along with dozens of vendors and displays.Tickets cost $40 – $350 depending on how many days purchased and what level of pass is bought.
Luau Pool Party
Saturday May 26 and Sunday, May 27
11:30 a.m. to 5:30pm each day
FOUND:RE Phoenix
1100 N. Central Ave.
If you’re ready for the long weekend thanks to Memorial Day, come relax and take solace in the fact that you don’t have to go back to work on Monday. A DJ and poolside barbecue will be part of the event, and the description says “Hawaiian attire encouraged.” So if you have a Hawaiian shirt that hasn’t been used in a long time (the last time I wore mine was actually in Maui last year), give it another use and enjoy the pool. Not to mention if that event is free like this one, that’s just icing on the cake.
<strong>Correction: A previous version of this story listed the wrong date for the ArtPrize Pitch night. It has since been corrected.
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.
