Ignite Phoenix at the Phoenix Art Museum, community cinema, and a great deal on tickets to see the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the St. Louis Cardinals this Saturday night at Chase Field! These are just some of the events on my radar in this edition of Weekend Fun along the light rail.

Friday June 11th

Ignite Phoenix 7 comes to the Phoenix Art Museum! The event showcases creative talent in the Valley of the Sun. 18 presenters are allowed 5 minutes and 20 slides to talk about their passion. The event is fun and inspirational event is a great way to meet some of the creatives who are doing great work in Phoenix. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is sold out, however you can still go to the after party which takes place at the museum immediately following the presentations (here). Parking is limited at the venue, so of course, you should ride the light rail to Ignite! The McDowell Station is directly across the street.

Saturday June 12th

Community cinema comes to Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix with a screening of Beyond The Motor City – a film about transportation issues facing Detroit. According to the Facebook invite:

The new documentary directed by filmmaker Aaron Woolf ‘examines how Detroit, a grim symbol of America´s diminished status in the world, may come to represent the future of transportation and progress in America. The documentary asks whether it´s time to fundamentally change the way Detroiters — and by extension all Americans — get around.

The event starts at 7:30 p.m. and yours truly will help moderate the discussion afterwards. If you’re a transit geek, or you just like to be around me, please come to the event!  :)  Ride the light rail to the see the movie – Central Station is directly across the street from the park.

Also on Saturday night, help root for the Arizona Diamondbacks at a doozy of a price! One of my clients, Doozy of a Deal, is partnering with the Dbacks to help you save up to 53 percent on tickets to Saturday’s game against the St Louis Cardinals. There’s an added bonus here: it’s Dan Haren Bobble Head Night! (Free stuff, woo hoo!) Purchase the tickets here using promo code ‘Doozy’ – and be sure to save even more money by taking the light rail into downtown. You can park at one of the METRO light rail free park and rides and then hop on the train to Chase Field. Deboard at either of the 3rd Street stations.

UPDATE:

Sunday, June 13th

This month, the Smunch crew breaks tradition! The group will head out on a Sunday and enjoy brunch at one of my favorite restaurants: St. Francis which is located near 3rd Street and Camelback (Camelback light rail station). Here are the deets for St. Smunchy Dines on Sunday at St. Francis. What is Smunch? Here’s how this fun event plays out: every month organizers pick a different restaurant in the Valley to host a Saturday brunch (or smunch) in an effort to help build community around our favorite subject – BREAKFAST FOOD! It’s always a fun crowd and a great way to make new friends here in Phoenix. Be sure to RSVP!

What are some other events that should be on my radar? Be sure to post them in the comments below!

Arizona Science Center

Children’s Museum of Phoenix

Coach and Willie’s

Chase Field

Kincaid’s

Phoenix Convention Center

Pizzeria Bianco

The Rose and Crown

Previous Explore Your Core featured destinations:

Central and Washington

Arizona Asian Festival Heritage Park (3rd Street and Washington light rail station)

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Pittsburgh Pirates Chase Field (3rd Street and Jefferson light rail station)

Outrigger Regatta Tempe Town Lake (Mill Avenue light rail station)

Phoenix Fringe Festival (various locations)

Information on how to ride the light rail can be found here.

• 19th Ave/Montebello – 794 spaces
• 19th Ave/Camelback –  410 spaces
• Camelback/Central – 135 spaces
• 38th Street/Washington – 189 spaces
• Dorsey Lane/Apache Boulevard – 190 spaces
• McClintock Road/Apache  Boulevard – 300 spaces
• Price Freeway/Apache Boulevard – 693 spaces
• Sycamore Street/Main Street – 802 spaces

A one way fare is $1.75, so if you plan on taking multiple trips on the train and enjoying some of the restaurants in our urban core and using train to take multiple trips during, then it’s best to buy a one day pass ($3.50, info is here). Fore information on tickets to see the Diamondbacks, click here.

I posted a list of ‘must visit’ restaurants near the METRO light rail (here). As a follow up, my friend Monika asked me for a list of must see destinations near the light rail. Monika has some friends coming to town and wants to show them places that are uniquely Phoenix.  Instead of providing you with my list of faves, I went to some friends and asked for their recommendations.  Turns out, we all have the same list of favorite places!

Hayes, Royal Coffee Bar: Burton Barr Library, Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum – because of their design and architecture

David, PHXRailFood: the Great Arizona Puppet Theater – because it’s a great place for kids and adults!

Brendan, brendanandloren:  the local shops at Central and Camelback ie Frances, Stinkweeds Red Hot Robot and Smeeks – totally unique to Phoenix

Seth, J Seth Anderson: the Botanical Gardens, the Heard Museum and Hanny’s

Aimee at Royal Coffee Bar: the Children’s Museum – because kids can just be kids!

Me, Light Rail Blogger: Matt’s Big Breakfast - their hash browns are just like dad used to make!

Jane, Practical Art: Practical Art!

Kathleen, aka the bundt lady: lunch at Chase Field (TGIFridays)

Jim, LRB guest blogger: West down Washington to visit Carnegie Library, Mining and Mineral Museum.

Taz, Bloomingrock :Burton Barr Library because of the architecture.

What are some of the places you like to take people who are visiting from out of town? Post your comment below!