21 March 7th–March 13th, 2019 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | Contents | FeeDBACK | oPInIon | neWs | FeAtURe | Night+Day | CULtURe | FILm | CAFe | mUsIC | THU 3/7 ▼ LITERATURE WRITE STUFF There’s a fabulous first Thursdays tradi- tion at Valley Bar inspired by 17th-century French salons devoted to philosophical discourse. It’s a Get Lit gathering presented by Four Chambers Press, with a different theme each time. Head to the Reading Room, located inside the Rose Room at Valley Bar, 130 North Central Avenue, if you want to join the conversation happen- ing at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 7. The free event, for ages 21 and up, is a casual foray into local literary culture. If you wax more poetic with cocktails, you’ll have to buy your own drinks. But there’s no charge for the lively exchange of ideas. Poet and ASU faculty member Rosemarie Dom- browski will be in the house. Arrive early to assure you get a seat. Visit valleybarphx. com. LYNN TRIMBLE ▼ COMEDY NOT SUCKY This Week Sucks Tonight, hosted by Anwar Newton and Michael Turner, has been tak- ing place on Thursday nights for two years. Credit the local comedians for putting on a great show week after week when most of their audience still has to get up for work Friday morning. The duo are moving their weekly news roundup to its new home at Stand Up Live and bringing Tony Tripoli, Derek McFarland, Zack Lyman, Ben Anderson, Luis Alvarez, and maybe a few drop-in guests to celebrate. The laughs begin at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, at 50 West Jefferson Street. This is a free event with no drink minimum For more information, visit thisweeksuckstonight.com. JASON KEIL FRI 3/8 ▼ ART WHO RUN THE WORLD? If you are looking for a creative way to cele- brate International Women’s Day, the Phoe- nix Art Museum is creating a special slate of events to highlight the work of female artists. Giovana Aviles, the Mexican-born visual artist known for her inspired fashion statements, will be giving a talk. There will also be a screening of the film Wadjda by Haifaa Al Mansour and a happy hour at Palette, the restaurant located inside the museum, from 3 to 6 p.m. This event goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 8, at 1625 North Central Av- enue. Admission is $14 to $23. For more in- formation, visit phxart.org. JASON KEIL ▼ SPORTS MOTORHEADS NASCAR fans of the Valley, get your mo- tors running. The sport’s biggest drivers will cruise into the Valley starting on Fri- day, March 8, for three straight days of events at ISM Raceway, 7602 South Avon- dale Boulevard in Avondale, during this year’s TicketGuardian 500 NASCAR Week- end. Race car superstars like Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Larson will put the pedal to the metal and make left turns aplenty as they compete for their share of glory, prize money, and a better standing in the ongoing Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Things get kicks off on Friday with the Gatorade Pole Day practice session, which starts at 4:15 p.m. and will feature all of weekend’s racers participating. NASCAR’s biggest up-and-comers will take over the track during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 9. It all leads up to the TicketGuardian 500 at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, which will offer 312 laps of hard-driving action. Tick- ets price vary for each race and a variety of fan activities will be offered throughout the weekend. Call 866-408-7223 or visit ismraceway.com for tickets and more info. BENJAMIN LEATHERMAN ▼ FESTIVAL GET LOW The 31st annual Chandler Ostrich Festival is a three-day celebration of the suburb’s re- lationship with the flightless bird. This year, it will be all about Apple Bottom Jeans and boots with the fur, because Flo Rida is bringing his Miami flow to the east Valley on Friday, March 8. Soul leg- ends The Commodores and singer-song- writer Andy Grammer round out the rest of the weekend’s lineup. If getting low at Tumbleweed Park isn’t your thing, bring your family for the pony rides, pig races, and the ostrich exhibit. The fun goes from 2 p.m. to midnight on Friday, March 8, at 2250 South McQueen Road in Chandler and continues through Sunday, March 10. Tickets are $8 to $65. For more information, visit ostrichfestival. com. JASON KEIL ▼ CULTURE I SPY Ever spotted a cactus cam while driving through Paradise Valley? Turns out, there really are spies in the desert. And storytell- ers for the Welcome to Night Vale podcast decided they’d make a fabulous theme for a world tour. “Welcome to Night Vale: A Spy in the Desert” comes to The Van Buren, 401 West Van Buren Street, at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 8. The tour features a new story about a surreal desert town filled with se- crets, and every performance incorporates the audience into the tale somehow. You’ll never hear it on the podcast, by the way: This particular bit of fiction is only for tour attendees (who need to be at least 13 years old). Tickets are $32.50. Visit thevanburen- phx.com. LYNN TRIMBLE SAT 3/9 ▼ FESTIVAL MAGICAL BEER Initially, the Wizards and Witches Beer Fes- tival was described as an event inspired by a certain fictional character known for his work with wands. It’s unclear if the dark lords of copyright came down to transfig- ure the name of this party, but the organiz- ers decided to cast a name-changing charm just in case. There will be plenty of photo opportunities, cosplay, food, and Adult Butterbeer, of course. Drink up from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Satur- day, March 9, at the Monarch Theatre, 122 East Washington Street. Tickets are $35 and will only be sold to those of legal drink- ing age. For more information, visit rock- starbeer.com. JASON KEIL ▼ CULTURE LOCAL LUAU Escape to the islands, as the free two-day night day W e e k o f M a r c h 7 - 1 3 , 2 0 1 9 w w w . p h o e n i x n e w t i m e s . c o m / c a l e n d a r SPIES LIKE US “Welcome to Night Vale: A Spy in the Desert” at The Van Buren, see this page. Lynn Trimble
