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2.01.2011

This Weekend's Out and About Events

If you’re looking for a night out and about with friends or a special someone, there’s loads to do! You can have some fun for free at the Arizona Science Center, Japanese Friendship Garden, Children's Museum of Phoenix, or at MCC’s Astronomy Night; you can attend a rose auction, a film screening, or a lunch concert; go hiking and star gazing, check out some awesome art in downtown Phoenix, or visit a chocolate lover’s paradise in Glendale. (Shhh! I’ve even slipped in a tip  about a free coupon class this Thursday!) All happening this weekend. Keep reading for details on each event.

Free Outdoor Lunch Concert
Feb. 3rd, 12:30pm-1:30pm, Wells Fargo Garden at Mesa Arts Center
This Thursday the free outdoor concert series presented by the Mesa Arts Center will resume. This week’s concert features Nazim Rashid & New Renaissance in "An Acoustic Jazz Experience". More info found here.

Adults’ Night Out at the AZ Science Center
Feb. 4th, 5:30-9pm, Arizona Science Center (Phoenix)
This Friday you can get in for free at the Arizona Science Center! (Although it’s free for everyone, they request that you leave children at home for adults-only night.) Their own website describes it best: “Enjoy the Center’s 300 hands-on exhibits, watch an IMAX film and engage your intellect in a thought provoking presentation. It’s social, it’s science, and it’s all with people your own size!” Information from here.


Free Admission to the Japanese Friendship Garden
Feb. 4th, 4pm-7pm, Phoenix
At the Japanese Friendship Garden- Ro Ho En – you’ll find 3 ½ acres of beautiful scenery and culture. The Garden features 1500+ tons of hand-picked rock, stone footbridges, lanterns, 50+ varieties of plants, flowing streams, a 12-foot waterfall, a Koi pond with hundreds of colorful fish, and a tea garden and tea house. This event is part of the First Fridays art events in Phoenix. More info about the Japanese Friendship Garden website here. Info from here and here.

Astronomy Night at Mesa Community College
Feb. 4th, 6pm-10pm, MCC’s Physical Science Bldg.
I just love hearing about free events! We’ve mentioned this one before on the blog but it’s worth mentioning again.  At Astronomy Night, first you can check out a quick 30-min. show in the planetarium called “Two Small Pieces of Glass” which talks about the history of the telescope. (The show starts at 6pm and repeats every half hour ‘till the last showing at 9:30pm) You can also watch another documentary 50 minutes long – “Blast!” on the BLAST balloon-born telescope flights. “Blast!” is shown at 6, 7, 8 and 9pm. All tickets are free on a first-come, first serve basis; no reservations required. And if the skies are clear, there is a telescope viewing of the moon, planets, and other celestial sights.  For more info with map and parking directions, go here

Chinese New Year Hike & Stargazing
Feb. 4th, 6-8:30pm, Estrella Mountain Park, Goodyear
Info from their website as follows: “It's the Year Of The Rabbit and so bunny hop over to this fun hike! The Toothaker Trail is a rugged, slight elevation 3 mile loop with great dark sky. Follow signs to the trailhead parking lot west of the Rodeo Arena. Learn your sign of the Chinese zodiac and who you are compatible with. We will have Chinese Moon Cakes to taste before going off on the hike and hear some tales the Chinese tell about the sky. Oh yeah, we will look at the stars for a while too! Gung hay fat choi!” A $6 per vehicle entry fee applies. Info taken from here.

First Fridays in Phoenix
Feb. 4th, 6-10pm, downtown Phoenix
Take a free tour of the galleries, studios, art spaces, and more in downtown Phoenix as party of First Fridays. It’s been going on since the 80’s and there’s always so much to see. . (You can also catch a more family-centered version of this event on the following day in Saturdays After, which Marily mentioned in yesterday’s post.) For tips on maps, planning, and parking, go here.

Free Admission to the Children's Museum of Phoenix
Feb. 4th, 6-10pm, Phoenix
Also part of the "First Fridays" events is free admission to the Children's Museum of Phoenix. More details here

Glendale’s Chocolate Affaire
Feb. 4th – 6th; times vary; downtown Glendale
Two words aptly describe this event: chocoholic’s paradise. An awesome prelude to the most romantic holiday of the year, this event features local, regional, and national chocolatiers; wine tasting, horse-drawn carriage rides, romance novelist workshops (which includes a meet-and-greet with the authors!), exciting live musical entertainment, arts and crafts for the kids, face painting, a rock-climbing wall, and a couple different art contests as well.  For more details and a schedule of events, go here.

So – for all you readers – I’ve heard about this event for many years now but have yet to attend. I’m hoping it will happen this year though! Have you ever been? What did you think of it?

Rose Auction
Feb. 5th, noon, Mesa Community College (MCC)
This Saturday check out the rose auction at MCC’s Kirk Student Center at Southern & Dobson. Auction preview is at noon and bidding begins at 1:30pm. Many rare and high quality roses are available. Visit with rose experts and registered bidders can enjoy a tea and refreshment table. More info here.

“Wake Up” Film Screening
Feb. 5th, 7pm¸ Dobson High School
Changing Hands bookstore presents this special screening of the documentary film “Wake Up”, a story about a man named Jonas Elrod who although lead a fairly ordinary life woke up one day to the presence of angels, demons, auras, and ghosts.  The film explores his travels across the country in an effort to find answers to his questions. After the screening there will be a Q&A session with Mr. Elrod, and U of A’s  Gary Schwartz and Catherine Yunt. Tickets are $10. Details found here.
   
Free Coupon Class This Thursday
Feb. 3rd, 10am, Gilbert
While this technically doesn’t fall under our “Out and About” feature for adults, I just had to post this anyway. Coupon Sense is offering a free class to help you learn how to save 50-70% off your monthly grocery bill. Snacks provided for kids. Call 480-539-4828 to register. Thanks to this source for passing the info along.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Az On The Rocks is an indoor rock climbing gym in Scottsdale, Arizona. This New Year they have come up with a number of events for parents and kids to enjoy.

Parent's Night Out

AZR is having Parent's Night Out on Friday February 4th from 6:00-11:00pm.
Drop the kids off and they will climb, play games and eat pizza provided by Papa John's while you enjoy some alone time.
Cost: $40 first child, $20 each additional sibling
Pre-registration is required. Must be registered by Wednesday February 2nd at 10pm.
Contact Stephanie@azontherocks.com or visit www.azontherocks.com to register.

After School Rock Climbing Classes
The New Year is underway and life is getting back to normal, which means that the K.L.I.M.B. classes are back. Kids Learn to Improve Mind and Body classes are a great way to keep your child active after school. Not only are the K.L.I.M.B. class’s great exercise, but they also help promote self-esteem.No experience is necessary. All ability levels are welcome.
Session 2: February 8th-March 3rd
TUESDAY: 4:00-5:00p 1st-4th grade, 5:00-6:00p 5th-8th grade
THURSDAY: 4:00-5:00p 5th-8th grade, 5:00-6:00p 1st-4th grade
PRICE: $50 for members, $85 for non-members
Classes run in four week sessions, with one class per week.
For more information, or to register contact Ryan or visit www.azontherocks.com

Elevation Motivation, Rock Climbing.
AZR's new ongoing climbing challenge began on January 2nd and we have been blown away by the dedication and determination of those participating. The Elevation Motivation is a 6 month long challenge designed to help push participants past their current abilities, to take their climbing and level of fitness more seriously by providing CASH PRIZES! Each month, the participant who climbs the most amounts of feet will win $500 cash. At the end, the participant who climbed the most amount of feet overall will win $1,000. And there is a family option too. Because this is an ongoing challenge, you can register at any time. Are you ready to see just how motivated you are?
Visit www.azontherocks.com to register.

EVIT News said...

Ohhhh, I LOVE Glendale's A Chocolate Affair! Such a great event. Thanks for keeping us up to date on all the local events!
-Meghan