Downtown Digest: Tea, community art and cocktails

What’s up my downtown Phoenix readers! ‘Tis I, the great T.J. Triolo. I’ve come from a faraway land to bring you events to do that I found in my travels. Okay, so maybe not so far away; I’m actually still downtown, but I did have to do some research to find you these events. So here you go!

Artlink Annual Meeting
Monday June 24
5–7:30 p.m.
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Ave.
Artlink is bringing the community in for its annual meeting, allowing the public to give input on the future of the Phoenix arts community. Cocktail hour will start the night off at 5, followed by the meeting starting at 6. If you want to see a community art project involving a giant statue of a Pokémon, this is probably the place to speak up and see if your idea is agreed upon by other people! This event is free.
Event link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artlink-annual-meeting-june-24-2019-tickets-61952552753

C.S. Lewis Lecture by Dr. Stephanie L. Derrick
Wednesday June 26
7–9:30 p.m.
Irish Cultural Center
1106 N. Central Ave.
Dr. Stephanie L. Derrick literally wrote the book on C.S. Lewis. She’s giving a lecture at the Irish Cultural Center about Lewis, and just reading about this event I learned something new: I didn’t know C.S. Lewis was Irish! I thought he was British. This makes me wonder: What if “The Chronicles of Narnia” were set in Ireland instead of Britain? Although I suppose that wouldn’t make sense, considering the bombing of Britain was essential to the plot of the series, causing discovery of the wardrobe in it in the first place … Hmm. This event is free, but donations are encouraged. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Event link: http://dtphx.org/event/?id=8392

Urbanized: Cocktails, Conversation and Community
Thursday June 27
Starts at 6:30 p.m.
FilmBar
815 N. Second St.
First things first: a documentary screening at FilmBar about urban living, featuring interviews with politicians, architects, city planners and others about taking a new approach to tackling the advantages and disadvantages in city living. After the movie is over, then it’s time for cocktails at Sazerac and conversation with local experts on the topic of urban living. Just be sure not to have too many cocktails if you want to be a valuable contributor to the conversation! Tickets cost $20–$25.
Event link: https://www.thefilmbarphx.com/movie/urbanized-cocktails-conversation-and-community

Indie Week AZ Bar Crawl
Saturday June 29
7–10:30 p.m.
Starts at Phoenix Public Market
Multiple locations
It’s time for a yearly campaign celebrating independent businesses known as Independents Week. Is there a better way to start such a celebration than a bar crawl to a bunch of local bars? Each bar even has a $4 drink special, which is perfect if you’re trying to save money like, say, on my inconsistent college income. The bar stops along the way include Phoenix Public Market, FilmBar, Sazerac, Jobot and Arizona Wilderness Brewery (which happens to have fantastic burgers too). There will be prizes given for participating in the bar crawl scavenger hunt as well! Attendance is free.
Event link: https://www.localfirstaz.com/events/indie-week-barcrawl

Family Tea
Sunday June 30
Starts at 1 p.m.
Irish Cultural Center
1106 N. Central Ave.

Enjoy tea, lemonade, live entertainment, tasty goodies (which I hope involve sugar) and being able to take home your own tea cup with your family. Tea with my family is something I’ve done plenty of times, whether at a tea room or just from my mom making tea the proper way with a teapot. My way involves putting a tea bag into water I heated in a mug in my microwave. I’m classy like that. Suffice it to say that the proper way is far better, so go drink some good tea! Tickets cost $5 per person.
Event link: https://www.azirish.org/family-tea/

Contact the reporter at tjtriolo@asu.edu.