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TOP25By Connor Dziawura
THROUGH AUGUST 7 Celebrating the slowest, smallest and weakest creatures in the animal kingdom, this exhibition features wildlife educators and animal care staff with live animal demonstrations including a live sloth, hedgehog, iguana and more, giving an upclose look at the animals and other educational info. All Arizona Science Center guests older than 24 months are required to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.
Arizona Science Center’s Sybil B. Harrington Gallery, Level 3, 600 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 602.716.2000, azscience.org, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, $6.95-$8.95, or free for kids 3 and younger; general admission ticket required
THROUGH DECEMBER 31 With a combination of paintings, photographs, installations and digital media sourced from collections of the Phoenix Art Museum, the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation and local artists, “Breaking Up” is about, well, breaking up, so to speak — but not in the way one might think. Phoenix Art Museum describes the exhibit as exploring “themes of deconstruction and fragmentation through (artists’) evolving practices.”
Phoenix Art Museum’s Katz Wing for Modern Art, 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.257.1880, phxart.org/exhibition/breakingup, see website for museum hours, included with museum admission
Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt
MARCH 3 An all-star lineup, this 2022 world tour features Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist and Boldy James. Earl Sweatshirt just released his long-awaited new album “Sick!,” while the always prolific producer The Alchemist and rapper Boldy James are hot on the heels of multiple collaborative projects. Action Bronson, on the other hand, is known across all areas of entertainment — more than a decade in the rap game, cooking and hosting television series.
Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.0607, luckymanonline. com, 6 p.m., $60-$80
"The Batman"
OPENS MARCH 4 Reportedly taking more of a noir, detective angle, writer-director Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” features an all-star supporting cast of Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, the caped crusader; Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman; Paul Dano as Edward Nashton, aka the Riddler; Jeffrey Wright as GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard as Gotham District Attorney Gil Colson; Jayme Lawson as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; Andy Serkis as Alfred; and Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, aka the Penguin. Rated PG-13 for strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language and some suggestive material.
In theaters, thebatman.com
MARCH 4 TO MARCH 13 “I think I can!,” as the famous saying goes. Why, it’s the Little Engine That Could! Join the Great Arizona Puppet Theater for this child-friendly puppet show retelling the famous story.
Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham Street, Phoenix, 602.262.2050, azpuppets.org, 10 a.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, $6-$12, or free for infants
M3F Festival
MARCH 4 AND MARCH 5 All proceeds go to charity at the annual McDowell Mountain Music Festival, which this year boasts a star-studded lineup including Zhu, Leon Bridges, Kaytranada, Jungle and a host of other popular musicians across its two days. Plus, there will be yoga classes, daily drum circles, a kids zone and, of course, food trucks and a beer garden.
Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver Street, Phoenix, m3ffest.com, gates open at 1:30 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday, $85-$410
Harlem Globetrotters
MARCH 5 AND MARCH 6 As part of the Spread Game Tour, the skillful Harlem Globetrotters are hitting courts around North America in honor of the late Curly Neal. These entertaining players are bringing their brand of performative basketball to the Valley to give two chances to see them in action — Downtown Phoenix and Glendale.
Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.7800, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday; Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 2 p.m. Sunday; harlemglobetrotters. com, $20-$106
Persian New Year Festival
MARCH 5 Now in its fourth year, this annual, all-ages celebration of Persian culture features MCs comedian Tehran and Leila Parnian, music from DJ Vahid Shad and singer Hengameh, cultural art and dance performances including Ballet Afsaneh, kids activities and plenty of food. A portion of the proceeds benefit Kids Inspire Difference, a local, youth-led nonprofit that empowers teens and brings attention to social justice issues. Pre-register online for a free hot tea.
Scottsdale Waterfront, 7135 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, persiannewyearfestival.org, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., free admission
courtesy of the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children, Volanti Scottsdale and fitness trainer Sofia Demski. Brunch includes an afterclass drink and entry into a raffle with prizes from Lululemon, Gooder Goods Café, Puro Tequila and more. Proceeds benefit the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children. Check-in begins at 8:15 a.m.
Volanti Scottsdale, inside the Scottsdale Airport, 15000 N. Airport Drive, Scottsdale, lu.ma/ yogaandbrunch, 8:45 a.m., $25
Art d’Core Gala
MARCH 11 The ninth annual Art d’Core Gala is hitting midtown Phoenix with the theme “Forces of Attraction.” The gala — the signature event in Artlink’s 34th annual Art Detour art walk — also doubles as the opening night of the Art d’Core Exhibition. The evening will feature a combination of visual, performance, fashion, culinary and musical works in a neverbefore-seen 80,000-square-foot venue, showcasing all Arizona has to offer arts and culture.
Park Central, 3121 N. Third Avenue, Phoenix, artlinkphx.org/ art-detour/gala, 6 to 9 p.m., $125
"Drive My Car"
Best Picture Film Fest
MARCH 11 TO MARCH 24 Ahead of the 94th Academy Awards, set for March 27, nine of the 10 Best Picture nominees will be screening at participating Harkins Theatres locations. Films include “Belfast,” “Don’t Look Up,” “Drive My Car,” “Dune,” “King Richard,” “Licorice Pizza,” “Nightmare Alley,” “The Power of the Dog” and “West Side Story.” Individual tickets cost $5, or an All-Access Pass — which includes one ticket to each film — is $30. The final nominee, “CODA,” is available to stream on Apple TV+.
Various Harkins Theatres locations, harkins.com, $5-$30
MARCH 12 AND MARCH 13 Ireland's music and culture meet during this two-day special event at the MIM. From morning through the afternoon, the museum will play host to Emerald Isle-themed programming, from musical and dance performances and workshops to crafts, a special lunch menu and more. View the full itinerary online.
Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, mim. org, 480.478.6000, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., included with paid museum admission, free for members
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers
MARCH 13 This home game sees the Suns versus the Lakers, with a chance to see the two teams hit the court on ESPN. But that’s just not the same — snag a ticket and take to the floor seats to see the teams up close and personal.
Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, 602.379.7800, nba.com/ suns, 6 p.m., $140-$1,899
MARCH 16 Over two decades and 11 seasons later, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is still a fan favorite. Recall the hilarious, uncomfortable situations Larry David and friends find themselves in with this trivia event, which is free in Valley Bar’s Rose Room. With host Corey G, compete to win prizes and concert tickets. Craft cans will be $1 off. Signup starts at 6 p.m.
Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.368.3121, valleybarphx.com, 7 p.m., free
OPENS MARCH 18 Ti West, the filmmaker behind the 2009 cult classic “The House of the Devil,” is back with “X.” Judging by its trailer, the film harks back to the sleazy atmosphere and rural Texan setting of the original “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” Set in 1979, Mia Goth, Jenny Ortega, Brittany Snow and Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) star in the film, which is about a group of young filmmakers fighting for their lives after their reclusive, elderly host catches them making an adult film. Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language.
In theaters, a24films.com/films/x
Good Life Festival
Starship; and Fran Cosmo and Anton Cosmo, formerly of Boston, with support from Nate Nathan and the Mac Daddy-O’s, Good Life Festival will also have wine, craft beer and bourbon tasting; a variety of food; and shopping. Doors open at 2 p.m.
Schnepf Farms, 24810 E. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek, thegoodlifefest. com, 3 p.m., $75-$120
Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Crawl
MARCH 19 Individuals 21 and older can imbibe in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in either Scottsdale or Tempe. As the official holiday is on a Thursday, this event is appropriately saving the partying for the weekend. Crawlers will get a venue map, custom Lucky badge and lanyard, as well as two complimentary drinks or shots. Plus, cover will be waived at all venues, which will feature drink and food specials. The costume contest isn’t one to be missed either, as there’s a $1,000 grand prize. Stick around for the after party.
Various locations in Scottsdale and Tempe, crawlwith.us, 4 p.m. to midnight, $10-$15
Desert Roots Craft Beer & Music Festival
MARCH 20 Craft beer, hip-hop and reggae will meet at this festival, which pulls together Cypress Hill, Common Kings, Katastro, Fortunate Youth, Arise Roots, Bikini Trill and The Irie with a whole host of breweries. There will also be plenty of food vendors, including vegan options. Beer tasting passes cost an extra $10; and VIP passes provide early entry, plus other perks. Parking is $10 per vehicle.
Scarizona Scaregrounds, 1901 N. Alma School Road, Mesa, desertrootsfest.com, 1 to 8 p.m., $39-$150, or free admission for kids 12 and younger
Arizona Coyotes vs. Seattle Kraken
MARCH 22 The ’Yotes take on the Kraken in the first edition of the Local Artist Hat Trick Series. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive an exclusive cap, courtesy of Gila Riva Resorts & Casinos, designed by local graphic designer Sage Aune to highlight Gender Equality Month and amplify women who are driving the sport of hockey forward. ESPN+ and Hulu will also broadcast the game.
Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, 480.563.PUCK (7825), nhl.com/ coyotes, 7 p.m., $27.50-$392.50
Benny the Butcher
MARCH 25 Griselda’s takeover continues. Benny the Butcher, one of the star talents from the independent label and hip-hop collective, is the latest to come to the Valley. Always prolific, like his label cohorts, Benny dropped a couple EPs and a collaborative project last year, and now, the fourth installment of his “Tana Talk” series is reportedly on the way.
The Nile, 105 W. Main Street, Mesa, 480.494.7580, theniletheater.com, 8 p.m., $30-$135
"Everything Everywhere All at Once"
OPENS MARCH 25 From the brilliantly confounding minds of Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), the writer-director duo behind the quirky “Swiss Army Man,” this film seems to up things to a whole new level. Synopsized as “a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes,” its trailers reveal it as something much bigger — a highconcept martial arts epic spanning the multiverse. The cast also features Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis. Rated R for some violence, sexual material and language.
In theaters, a24films. com/films/everythingeverywhere-all-at-once
KNIX Barbeque & Beer Festival
MARCH 26 This year’s Barbeque & Beer Festival combines music by Lee Brice, Park McCollum, Kameron Marlowe and Jacob Morris with over 20 BBQ pitmasters, beer, spirits, novelty food items and a kids zone. A portion of the proceeds benefits Greater Cause Foundation. All tickets purchased for the 2020 event will be honored. See Page 37 for more info.
Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Road, Chandler, chandlerbbq. com, noon to 10 p.m., $20-$225
World Championship Hoop Dance Contest
MARCH 26 AND MARCH 27 This annual contest respects the art of hoop dance, which has roots in healing ceremonies, traditions and practices of multiple Indigenous communities, as much as it celebrates the creativity and growth dancers have brought the form over the years. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners in each of the five divisions. Registration is open through March 14, and tickets are available for those who just wish to observe.
Heard Museum’s Libby Amphitheater, 2301 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.252.8840, heard.org/ event/hoop, 8:30 a.m., $9-$22, or free for kids 5 and younger
MARCH 30 Over 20 years after its much-toosoon cancellation, “Freaks and Geeks” remains a cult classic, having jump-started numerous careers, including Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel. For free in Valley Bar’s Rose Room, remember favorite moments from the series with trivia host Corey G while competing to win prizes and concert tickets. Craft cans will be $1 off. Signup starts at 6 p.m.
Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.368.3121, valleybarphx.com, 7 p.m., free
"The Pez Outlaw"
Phoenix Film Festival
MARCH 31 TO APRIL 10 The Phoenix Film Festival is back, tied in with the International Horror & Sci-Fi and Arizona Student film festivals. On the road to normalcy after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic the past couple years, this year’s event is planned to feature over 200 feature and short films, not to mention parties, panels, awards and Kids’ Day. See Page 12 for more info.
Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, 480.513.3195, phoenixfilmfestival.com, times and prices TBA
UPFRONT | CITY | TRAVEL | ARTS | DINING | BREWS & SPIRITS | CASINOS | SPORTS | FAMILY | MUSIC | NIGHTLIFE | IN CLOSING
BREWS & BAGPIPES
Celebrate all-things Chicago at this fest
Jim McMahon
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski (5 p.m.); REO Survivor, an REO First-generation college students can struggle transitioning successfully from high school to college, including wading their way through financial Speedwagon and Survivor tribute (7 p.m.); and Chicago Rewired, a Chicago tribute (8:15 p.m.). The Valley band Palomas performs at 2 p.m. The live music show will kick off with bagpipers performing in celebration of aid, according to Elizabeth Paulus. St. Patrick’s Day.
But her Mesa-based organization, The day prior, starting at 6 p.m. College Bound AZ, is helping with that Friday, March 18, College Bound AZ through myriad programs. is hosting Party with a Purpose!, an
Paulus and her husband, Gerald, plant exclusive pre-party with legendary a seed with eighth grade first-generation Chicago Bears quarterback and Arizona students, letting them know college is resident Jim McMahon. With a $100 possible and they are going to go. ticket, fans can attend a meet and greet
Through College Bound AZ’s program with McMahon and have food and Rise Scholars, the couple gives laptops drinks from 6 to 8 p.m. to the lowest income demographic. Other activities include “Coleslaw They streamline the college application Carey” cornhole, a kids zone, sports process and take them on college tours. memorabilia sales, a VIP lounge and
Finally, they provide food boxes on the food vendors community college level to address food Party with a Purpose! also will have insecurity. silent and live auctions, a 50/50 raffle
“About 60% of students in the and live music. Carvin Jones and community college system are food Ocean’s Rat Pack will provide the insecure,” says Paulus, a Chicago native. entertainment. “Our food box program helps relieve Last year’s fundraiser was held in a one of the stressors and burdens of pub, so this year the couple decided to completing their education. They did a take it a step further and turn it into a study in our state: 60% of students are music festival. food insecure, and 13% are homeless.” “There are a lot of people from
To raise much-needed fund, College Chicago here,” Paulus says. “I thought Bound AZ is throwing Chicago Fest this could have a lot of momentum. West, a celebration of all-things Windy We decided to grow it to the next step, City from 2 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, so we’re taking it out of the pub and March 19, at the Mesa Convention putting it into a music festival that’s at Center. the Mesa Convention Center.
Featured performers are Bluesman “We need these funds to buy laptop Mike and the Blues Review Band (3 computers or provide scholarships.” p.m.); Breakdown, a Tom Petty tribute The couple founded College Bound AZ in 2010, after they observed lowincome students struggling to figure out how they could get into college using the benefits that were designed for them.
“It’s just a little more complex than your usual high school assignment,” she says. “So, by virtue of watching them struggle and realizing that number of low-income students, we walk them through some of the steps for their college applications.”
Last summer, the Arizona Legislature approved the Arizona Promise Program, which provides scholarships for lowincome students to cover tuition and fees at ASU, UA or NAU.
“That’s great, great news, right?” she says. “Well, these are kids who have never set foot on that university. Now you’re going to send them fully funded? I love it. But if you’ve never stepped foot on a university campus, oh, my gosh, it’s its own little city.”
These students are more than intimidated.
“So, the need for our program is even more important than it ever was before,” she says. “There’s a bigger population of students with this wonderful potential and a system that’s trying to help them that also is its own barrier in some ways.”
Paulus says her job is gratifying, and she wants to raise awareness of College Bound AZ.
“It’s amazing to watch these students succeed,” she says. “It’s more gratifying than I imagined.”
Palomas
Chicago Fest West
WHEN: 2 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19 WHERE: Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center Street, Mesa COST: Tickets start at $12 INFO: chicagofestwest.com
Ultimate VIP Pre-Party
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, March 18 WHERE: Hob Nob Sports Grill, 7200 Chandler Boulevard, Chandler COST: $100 INFO: chicagofestwest.com
Phoenix Film Festival inching its way toward normalcy
By Connor Dziawura
“Oh, here we go again,” the Phoenix Film Festival’s Jason Carney remembers thinking leading up to last year’s event. Delayed from its usual spring setting to late summer, he says the annual festival came right as concerns were mounting due to the COVID-19 delta variant.
Thankfully, the event performed well — better, in fact, than the previous year’s event, which had itself been delayed and dissected into a smaller version of itself amid the pandemic’s early waves.
Carney, the festival director, remains hopeful for this year’s 22nd annual Phoenix Film Festival, which returns to its usual spring setting at Harkins Scottsdale 101 from Thursday, March 31, to Sunday, April 10. The International Horror & Sci-Fi and Arizona Student film festivals are once again tied in.
And Carney says he’s still seeing the enthusiasm filmmakers and audiences had toward last year’s festival this time around.
“Audiences were crazy enthusiastic — and so were the filmmakers,” Carney says of 2021. “Many of these filmmakers, they played other festivals, but all of them had been virtual. This was the first time for them to have an audience, and so their excitement level was really high, and many of the audience members hadn’t been back to the movies yet, and so they were really excited. It was just like some kind of crazy movie love fest.”
This year’s diverse lineup is projected to include more than 200 works spanning local, national and international productions, plus appearances from guest filmmakers. And over the festival’s 11 days, audiences will be able to see films from all over the world compete for awards.
Films range from feature length to shorter projects, encompassing mediums and genres like live action, animation, narrative stories, documentaries and college productions — or, “kind of a little bit of everything,” as Carney puts it. The inclusion of the annual International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival lends credence to genre pictures.
Highlights, according to Carney, include director Dan Mirvish’s Watergate thriller/dark comedy “18 1/2” and the “wildly entertaining” documentary “The Pez Outlaw,” about a smuggling operation of rare Pez dispensers from Europe into the United States in the ’90s.
“You want to come to a festival and you don’t want to see a bunch of dramas or you don’t want to see a bunch of dark documentaries,” Carney says, emphasizing the variety. “You want to be able to see some light stuff, too. And so it’s important for us to program some romantic comedies, you know what I mean? There’s a place for that, and you want to lighten up; you want to have an enjoyment of your day.
“You’re going to see these powerful, amazing performances of trauma, but like, hey, let’s cleanse our palate and see something that’s going to make us laugh or see a documentary that’s going to raise awareness or just give us a good feeling.”
The recent Unified by Film category, on the other hand, has been rebranded and expanded as Community Spotlight — with the hopes of showcasing the diversity of filmmakers from the African American, Latinx, Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ+ communities.
The idea, Carney says, is to work with and promote nonprofits in those communities to create opportunities and raise awareness of the issues they face, while also giving those communities the
opportunity to see films with their same world view.
“It’s nice to see yourself represented on screen in some regard or at least getting that vision and having that commonality with the director of films,” Carney says. “There’s plenty of 30-year-old white guys making movies out there. So it’s good for us to do that and not only just do it for the sake of doing it, but really commit to it and be part of these communities and grow this thing.
“We just try to do it a little bit more each year, and I’m just really proud of our organization and our commitment to it. It’s never been just a one-off thing; we want to transform it and continue to grow it. So you can count on that happening again this year.”
The Arizona Student Film Festival is set for Saturday, April 9. The annual competition screens short films created by grade school and high school students, with one high school winner to receive a $1,000 scholarship.
“It’s always a fun day at the festival that Saturday morning,” Carney says.
“It’s just exciting to not only have the opportunity for these young filmmakers to have their films on the screen, we get to see the family, their parents, their siblings, their grandparents, they’re all there and they’re all supportive. It’s just such a great feeling, and we’re just really proud of that program for sure.”
Notable this year, beyond films, is more of an emphasis on the social aspect that had been reduced the past couple festivals. While last year’s audience was not the size it had been just a few years back, Carney says it “set the tone for us just kind of moving forward and setting us up for hopefully an even bigger comeback this year with the return of our Party Pavilion, which we haven’t
"Anaïs in Love"
been able to do since 2019.”
The opening weekend Party Pavilion, he says, is back with some changes aimed to ensure comfortability and openness. Highlights are the Opening Night cocktail party; Friday’s Industry Night, which Carney calls “the biggest networking event of the year for the state”; and the Saturday night Film Prom.
“It’s kind of fun to intermingle that with so many great films we play,” Carney says.
Free educational filmmaker panels will also be set up in the theater on each weekend. Plus, there’s the free Kids’ Day the first Saturday morning, April 2, another opportunity for connection — and education. Carney says the festival works with area film schools to set up hands-on filmmaking experiences.
“We try to do a whole thing where it’s different parts of the filmmaking so it’s educational and fun, and it’s a wide enough variety so they can kind of go from station to station without waiting forever to do an activity,” he explains.
After a great 2019 and then a quick scaling back of the festival’s many activities due to the pandemic, Carney feels the pieces are moving for the Phoenix Film Festival to remain on track toward a successful future.
“2022 gets us another step towards where hopefully we were and get us back on our big growth mountain that we’ve been climbing over the years.”
Phoenix Film Festival
WHEN: Various times Thursday, March 31, to Sunday, April 10 WHERE: Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix COST: See websites for more information INFO: phoenixfilmfestival.com, horrorscifi.com, azstudentfilmfestival.org
