A Vampire Tale
- Thursday, Oct. 20 through Saturday, Oct. 22
- 7:30 p.m., additional showings Friday and Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
- Phoenix Theatre: 100 E. McDowell Road
- Getting there: Rail — Central and McDowell stop
- Regular Price: $25, Discount Price: $15 (ShowUp.com)
Recommended if you like: modern dance, vampires
Dim lighting, coffins in plain sight, spooky background music: it doesn’t take long for audience members of Lisa Starry’s “A Vampire Tale” to sense a dark twist looming in their future. “A Vampire Tale” has been performed for eight years and is presented by Scorpius Dance Theatre. The small setting of Phoenix Theatre’s Little Theatre makes every audience member feel as if they are part of the show, with performers practically dangling above their heads. The “klan” of vampires reaches into the audience during most of the dance numbers, providing an engaging opportunity, especially for front row audience members.
St. Vincent
- Thursday, Oct. 20
- Doors open at 7:00 p.m., show starts at 8:00 p.m.
- Crescent Ballroom: 308 N. Second Avenue
- Getting there: Walk — 2nd Avenue and Van Buren
- Price: $17 to $20
Recommended if you like: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Riot Grrl, thick rock guitar riffs
This Thursday, buzz artist Annie Clark – who records under the name St. Vincent – roars into town on the strength of her critically-acclaimed third album, Strange Mercy, following her sold-out performance a year ago at the Rhythm Room. Early in her career, Clark collaborated with the Mountain Goats, Sufjan Stevens and the Polyphonic Spree before finding her own super-charged voice on her solo debut Marry Me. Since then, Clark has been on a non-stop push to the top, coupling a pixie look with meaty lead guitar and surprisingly bold vocal yelps. If stellar reviews from music magazines Spin, Pitchfork, Village Voice, the A.V. Club, and Popmatters aren’t enough to drag you to the show, use this as a chance to check out the brand new Crescent Ballroom, finally open after months of hype in the local media.
PoeFest
- Thursday, Oct. 20 through Monday, Oct. 31
- Thursday through Monday 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.
- Soul Invictus: 1022 NW Grand Avenue
- Getting there: Bike — Grand and 10th avenues
- Price: $15 with student ID
Recommended if you like: Halloween, spooky poetry, underground theater
PoeFest is the third annual Edgar Allan Poe Festival presented by Arizona Curriculum Theater. Set in a 19th century asylum for the criminally insane, PoeFest presents the works of Edgar Allan Poe in a chilling new way. Featured stories include The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, Hop-Frog, and The Premature Burial.
The Visual Art of Mark Mothersbaugh: Rugs! Rugs! Rugs!
- Opening Friday, Oct. 21 (part of Third Fridays art walk)
- 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- The Trunk Space: 1506 NW Grand Avenue
- Getting there: Bike — 15th Avenue and Grand
- Price: FREE
Recommended if you like: rugs, bizarre art, Devo
If the name Mark Mothersbaugh sounds familiar, it’s with good reason. This month, the Devo frontman, Yo Gabba Gabba! correspondent and internationally-recognized pop artist returns to Phoenix. This time, rather than bringing his traditional array of graphic works and paintings, Mothersbaugh is presenting a show of artful area rugs, each sporting a unique, bizarre design similar to the work all have come to expect from the madcap multimedia artist. Strange? Yes. Unexpected? Yes. Worth a look? Absolutely.
Arizona Humanities Festival
- Saturday, Oct. 22
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Civic Space Park: 424 N. Central Ave
- Getting there: Walk — Right across Central Avenue near campus
- Price: FREE
Recommended if you like: multiculturalism, ethnic music, interesting literature
As part of National Arts and Humanities Month, the Arizona Humanities Council brings you a festival of a myriad of cultures, all in the heart of downtown. The event celebrates the unique melting pot of culture in the Phoenix area, featuring performances, art exhibits, storytelling, film screenings and much more throughout Civic Space Park, the A.E. England Building and the Cronkite building. Events include performances by the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, a film about Native American skateboard culture, a lecture on hip-hop in America and mythical storytelling from the Arizona Republic’s Storytellers project. With so many events happening in one place, all are bound to find a variety of interesting works.
Meet the Artist: Andrea Modica
- Saturday, Oct. 22
- 2 p.m.
- Phoenix Art Museum: 1625 N. Central Avenue
- Getting there: Rail — Central and McDowell stop
- Price: Free with museum admission
Recommended if you like: art, intellectual discourse
Contemporary photographer Andrea Modica will discuss her work, including a series of portraits of teenagers, “Best Friends.” The artist is currently a professor in the photography department Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Grand Avenue Festival
- Saturday, Oct. 22
- 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Grand Avenue between Seventh and 16th avenues
- Getting there: Bike (Pedi-cabs also available along Grand Avenue)
- Price: FREE, $10 for historic building organized tours
Recommended if you like: historic buildings, local art, edgy culture
Everyone knows about the Roosevelt Row arts scene. It’s time to try something new. It’s been said that while art gets sold on Roosevelt, it gets made on Grand. Beautifully restored storefronts and industrial buildings provide the framework for the most unique street in Phoenix. Spend the day getting to know a new scene, with over a dozen shops, galleries and studios open to the public and bustling with activity. This year’s third annual festival features live music at three venues, a self-guided mural tour, the “Trashy Sculpture & Hanging Gardens & Woven Fences, Oh My!” exhibit of recycled sculptures along the street, two evening fashion shows exclusively featuring local designers and tours of repurposed historic buildings.
Phoenix Food Truck Festival
- Saturday, Oct. 22
- 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- A.R.T.S. Project #1: 408 E. Roosevelt Street
- Getting there: Walk — Roosevelt between Fourth and Fifth streets
- Price: $30 in advance at rooseveltrow.org, $35 at the door
Recommended if you like: local food, live music, socializing
You’ve fallen in love with the trucks at Food Truck Friday at the Phoenix Public Market near campus, so here’s the next step. This event partners Roosevelt Row’s Adaptive Reuse of Temporary Space (A.R.T.S.) project with the runaway phenomenon that is the food truck. With a ticket, attendees can enjoy portions from over 30 Valley food trucks, access to the Four Peaks Beer Truck and Dos Cabezas Winery (for those of age) and live music from five local bands, including Valley favorite Dry River Yacht Club. Sample food from old favorites like Short Leash Hot Dogs, beet strEAT, Hey Joe! Filipino Street Food, Emerson Fry Bread and Sweet Republic, but don’t forget to try something new from trucks like Duck, Duck, Pig; Pizza People and Shine Coffee.
Events compiled by Connor Descheemaker and ShowUp.com
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