Downtown Digest: Speakers and sneakers

Hello my downtown Phoenix people! It’s T.J. Triolo, your downtown Phoenix guide. I’ve got some great events this week in the Downtown Digest. The January weather is perfect for outdoor activities, and I have a very big one here that runners in particular will love.

Arizona Speaker Series
Wednesday Jan. 16
Starts at 7:30 p.m.
Comerica Theatre
400 W. Washington St.
The Arizona Speaker Series brings together some of the brightest thinkers from different disciplines to speak about things. You know, things like “issues” and “concepts”; important stuff like that. This Wednesday the series is bringing James Comey, the former head of the FBI, to speak at the Comerica Theatre. Given the FBI’s investigations into powerful government figures, this will probably be a speech you don’t want to miss. Tickets cost $149–$599.

Dare to Dream: Disney on Ice
Thursday Jan. 17–Sunday Jan. 20
Showings at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday
Talking Stick Resort Arena
201 E. Jefferson St.
Spoiler alert: I’ve never seen Disney on Ice. If you haven’t either, here’s your chance! Basically, it’s a show featuring a lot of skating Disney characters in a big crossover. I love crossovers of fictional universes, so this sounds amazing. Mickey and Minnie Mouse will host the show, which also features characters from Moana, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. Tickets start at $20.

MLK Awards and Scholarship Breakfast
Friday Jan. 18
7–9:30 a.m.
Phoenix Convention Center
100 N. Third St.
It’s getting close to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when the country celebrates the life and legacy of one of the greatest civil rights activists in American history. Arizona holds an annual MLK Celebration event each year. This year’s Awards and Scholarship Breakfast honors local citizens working to change their communities for the better, with three different awards handed out during the event. Tickets cost $108.40 per person.

Rock N’ Roll Marathon
Sunday Jan. 20
Starts at 7:50 a.m.
Arizona Center
400 E. Van Buren St.
The Rock N’ Roll Marathon is a big deal here, and as the name implies, it’s an actual running marathon. The event features more than just the marathon (and a half-marathon and 10k run), with a health and fitness expo and a concert at the finish line. If you want to do this marathon, you’d best get into shape for it! This event costs $122 for the half-marathon, $142 for the marathon, and $72 for the 10k.

PHXART Amplified 2019
Sunday Jan. 20
Starts at 12 p.m.
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Ave.
This seems like an interesting and innovative art event! It features a lot of performance art, including acoustic, experimental and live performances. To be honest, I’m not sure what experimental art is. It sounds interesting to me, and would definitely provide more movement in art than a static painting.  Tickets cost $13 for people 21 and under, $23 for people over 21.

Contact the reporter at thomas.triolo@asu.edu.