Weekend Fun

Posted on 02. Sep, 2010 by Tony Arranaga in Featured

UPDATE: New Events

Live bands battle it out against the backdrop of the fabulous Phoenix Art Museum, the Red Dress Tour hits Roosevelt Row and a popular photo essay exhibit highlighting 26 Blocks of Phoenix travels once again! These are just some of the events on my radar in this special First Friday edition of Weekend Fun along the light rail.

First Friday, September 3rd, 2010

The Train Tracks competition returns to the Phoenix Art Museum for Season Numero Dos. I’ve been watching the performances online and this season is going to be goood! In case you don’t know, Train Tracks is a competition where local bands take turns playing an acoustic set on the light rail. The public votes online for their favorite performance, and the bands with the most votes move on to the quarterfinal round at the museum. Live music set to the backdrop of fabulous works of art makes this one of my favorite events in the Valley! In between sets, be sure to check out the Cezanne exhibit which is currently on display. The Phoenix Art Museum is one of the premiere destinations for art and culture in the southwest and admission is free on First Fridays. From the light rail, deboard at the McDowell Station. The museum is directly across the street on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and McDowell. Good eats: The wine bar Cheuvront is just south of the museum and the piano bar My Florist Cafe which is five blocks to the west.

This month, you’ll notice a Good Eats note at the end of each entry. These links are suggested places to eat and drink within walking distance of the destinations mentioned.

Here are some other fun places to hit on a First Friday in Phoenix:

The Coe House (Central Station) will feature DJ MoLo with backup players Bryan Mok & Chanelle Richardson (aka The Epileptic Photographers), artwork by Jon Ashcroft and photos by Jason Garcia. Good eats: Local Breeze

Performance artist Kara Roschi takes YOU on The Red Dress Tour (Roosevelt Station), offering discounts at local businesses to promote walking on First Friday. Don’t forget to wear red! Good eats: Carly’s Bistro

The popular traveling photo essay exhibit depicting 26 Blocks in Phoenix makes a stop at the A.E. England Building (just north of Central Station) at Civic Space Park. Good eats: The Compass Arizona Grill.

My favorite Twitter guilty pleasure @saynomorgan (aka Morgan McNally) brings her art work Sometimes We Cock Our Heads… to SuTRA Midtown Yoga (Encanto Station). Good eats: Switch Wine Bar

UPDATE: Students from Barrett, the Honors College at ASU’s Downtown Campus, are Exploring First Friday on the Light Rail.

Saturday, September 4th

Bunky Boutique (McDowell Station) is celebrating a birthday this weekend, and you get the gift! 30% off selected merchandise through Monday. Good eats: Try Giant Coffee next door or Thai Hut around the corner.

Sunday, September 5th

What’s up, Sunday?

That’s about it from where I’m sitting. What do you have planned over the weekend? Be sure to post your favorite event in the comments below. Follow my First Friday on Twitter and use the hashtag #phxff. Information on how to ride the light rail can be found here and don’t forget about the 30 Days of Biking Challenge – hopefully you’re riding a bike to all the First Friday festivities. Have a great weekend!

Tags: events, First Friday, METRO light rail, PHOENIX LIGHT RAIL, things to do