The Fourth of July is over. Nothing to do now but clean up all of the celebratory fireworks debris from the city parks and get ready for another fun and exciting weekend in Phoenix. If you have remotely considered taking in the Phoenix art scene, but were waiting for the right time to get downtown; no more procrastination! Now you have the motivation. First Friday Artwalk in downtown Phoenix is this Friday, July 6, 2012. While there really is no official start time, the Artwalk usually runs from 6pm to 10pm. This is by far the best time to experience the Phoenix art scene, as most of the galleries are open in the evening to display the work of local artists, as well as several special engagements, installations and presentations in the galleries and some spaces rented just for First Friday. There is plenty of free parking at the Burton Barr Library, and a short, 1-block walk south will take you to the Roosevelt Row art district. You won’t need a map as you dive right in, discovering different galleries as you venture down Roosevelt. If this scene just isn’t happening for you, flag down the free ‘Ollie the Trolley’ and hop on. Tell the guide where you’re headed and they will take you to several other different Artwalks on their route, including downtown and the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural center. Or, head west to the galleries and night spots of Grand Avenue. This is the weekend you’ve been waiting for, experience Phoenix First Friday! For maps and a listing of venues, visit artlinkphoenix.com
Along with the First Friday Artwalk, there are several other events lined up for a great weekend of sports, music, art and science in downtown Phoenix. Among some of the highlights:
Catch the opening of the MathAlive! exhibit this weekend at the Arizona Science Center.
Math geeks; stand and be recognized as the Arizona Science Center opens it’s latest interactive exhibit MathAlive!, a highly entertaining, interactive traveling exhibition that allows visitors to experience math in action. MathAlive! will open Sunday, July 8, at the Arizona Science Center and it will be the first West Coast stop of the exhibitions 15-city tour. Presented nationally by Raytheon and sponsored locally by JPMorgan Chase and APS, this featured exhibition will be located in the Sybil B. Harrington Galleries. The 6,500-square-foot exhibition brings to life all the various types of mathematics at work, whether in design, application or use, and behind the things kids love most – video games, sports, design, music, entertainment, space and robotics. The exhibition uses immersive and innovative technologies to create fun experiences that help visitors understand how math is used in countless ways. Highlights include a downhill race in which visitors literally ride snowboards and a photo stage on which visitors can capture their own image in a 360-degree freeze action photo, in the style made famous in contemporary action movies. Free for members, $5 for non-member adults, $4 for non-member seniors and $3 for non-member kids. For info: 602-716-2000. www.azscience.org
There’s no better way to continue the vibrant, patriotic feeling of Independence Day then spending the weekend enjoying Americas favorite pastime. Head over to Chase Field and watch the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Los Angeles Dodgers for a four game series beginning July 5th and wrapping up on July 8th. History could be in the making during this series, as the L.A. Dodgers have just slipped into first place. Tickets are $8-$135. 602-462-6500. www.dbacks.com
For a most definitely memorable music experience this weekend, check out the Crescent Ballroom this Sunday, July 8th as Latin Grammy and ‘MTV-Latin America award winning artist Mala Rodriguez takes on Phoenix during the Dirty Bailarina Tour. Rodriguez won ‘Best Urban Song’ for her single “No Pidas Perdon” at the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards. Guest artists include Shining Soul, Flamenco Por La Vida, Musa Mind and DJ Melo. Already legendary in Spain, Rodriguez’s brand ‘flamingo music’ inspired hip hop has made her a mainstay in the Spanish music scene since the late 1990s. Don’t miss your chance to see this Latin Queen perform in Phoenix. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. 602-716-2222. www.crescentphx.com