Hello downtown Phoenix people! It is I, your guide to downtown events, T.J. Triolo. I hope you’ve had a nice week. Now that it’s October, Halloween is approaching, which means soon it will be time to eat a lot of chocolate. I will always take an excuse to eat more chocolate. Halloween also means some interesting and scary events, including one this week. Mwahahahaha …
Macrame Wall Hanging with Weaving
Monday Oct. 15
6–9 p.m.
McKinley Club
800 N. 1st Ave.
I didn’t know this, but apparently, macrame and weaving are different things. This event combines the two into one art form, creating macrame wall hangings with weaving featured in them. By the end of this workshop, taught by artist Kaysie Codron, each participant will have their own wall hanging they create. Once you walk out of there, you’ll have a new decoration for your house or apartment that you can impress guests with by saying “Yes, I made that.” This event costs $125 per person.
Paint Party
Monday Oct. 15
7–10:30 p.m.
Unexpected Venue
734 W. Polk St.
Do you want to make art that will promote a festival that’s also for art? This party is for those who want to paint signs promoting the Grand Avenue Festival, an annual event celebrating the historic Grand Avenue arts district. Come for free, paint signs and coordinate live mural art for the festival while taking advantage of the light refreshments offered. If you go, do a good job with your art; this is the festival’s 10th anniversary! More information can be found here.
Rainbows Festival 2018
Saturday Oct. 20 and Sunday Oct. 21
10 a.m.–6 p.m. each day
Heritage Square
113 N. 6th St.
Here’s a big event celebrating the LGBTQ community: the Rainbows Festival! It’s the second largest LGBTQ event in Arizona. It will feature live entertainment, plus more than 150 exhibitors and sponsors, including food vendors. There could be more than 25,000 people over the weekend, and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the LGBTQ community. This is an event that I am excited to attend, considering that I’m gay. I’m looking forward to attending a pride event outside of ones sponsored by my school! This event is free.
PoeFest Séance 2018
Saturday Oct. 20
Starts at 10 p.m.
Hotel San Carlos
202 N. Central Ave.
It’s close to Halloween, and that means spooky events abound. PoeFest goes on throughout the course of October, all the way through Halloween. On Saturday is a séance with the goal of contacting Edgar Allen Poe’s soul. Contacting dead spirits sounds creepy to me, and there’s even a disclaimer waiving responsibility for “demonic possession, poltergeist attachment, or malevolent visitation.” Just be careful not to get possessed. This event costs $40.
Healing Meditation & Crystal Singing Bowls
Sunday Oct. 21
10–11:30 a.m.
Japanese Friendship Garden
1125 N. 3rd Ave.
Healing and calm are the order of the day here. Inspired by Eastern medicine, participants will get the experience of vibration healing from sounds made by crystal bowls. Lie down on the Earth, feel peaceful and be comfortable here at this relaxing event. I’ve never tried healing methods from crystal bowl vibrations like this, but I’m curious about the effects. I’d say if I went, I think I’d be picking up good vibrations! This event costs $25 per person.
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.
