Sunday is Father’s Day, and surely many of you still haven’t chosen a present. Why not skip the inanimate object this year and take Dad out this Third Friday? With the handy-dandy light rail, getting from galleries to eats and drinks to Third Friday events is a breeze.
Whether Dad likes to party or take a quiet stroll through the city, Third Friday provides great opportunity for art viewing at your own pace, with live music and Phoenix’s nightlife just steps away.
Is Dad a fan of summer concerts? Have him prepped for a those blistering-hot amphitheater shows this summer by making a stop at Civic Space Park (light rail at Central Station) to see Dead West Radio rock the stage. The show starts at 7 p.m., and it’s free! Add to the experience by picking up a snack and a latte at Fair Trade Café in the park and perusing this month’s art show inside the A.E. England Building, attached to the park stage.
Modified Arts' chill vibe may be just what Dad likes. Photo courtesy of Modified Arts.
If rock isn’t Dad’s thing, Charlie Brand of Brooklyn-via-Phoenix band Miniature Tigers is making a rare stripped-down solo appearance (also free!) at the Heard Museum’s (light rail at Encanto Station) monthly NU event. Brand will be playing quieter versions of his band’s songs, most of which were conceived in a bedroom in Phoenix. Plus, he’s always good for some humorous (if slightly bizarre) between-song banter. The performance begins at 8 p.m., and the entire event (filled with art, museum exhibits, food and a lecture) runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Perhaps Dad would enjoy a quieter gallery setting. Modified Arts‘ (light rail at Roosevelt Station) newly renovated space looks brilliant at night, and the “Reality Reimagined” show debuts on Third Friday. The show, filled with international talent on a variety of mediums, promises “contemporary vision, sometimes irreverent, sometimes frank, and always compelling.” The gallery is open from 6 to 9 p.m.
A great way to wind down the night is with Eddie J. at The Duce (a short walk south of the Central/Washington or 1st Ave/Jefferson light rail stations). Eddie’s keytar stylings are unlike any other in Phoenix, and his baritone register can make any cover song a must-hear. Eddie jams at the Duce bar every Friday until 11 p.m., providing enough time for a perfect nightcap: An Old Fashioned or a Basil Gimlet handcrafted at the Duce’s vintage Chicago bar.
