Good morning, Tempe. School's out, the Summer Reading slate at the library is in full swing, and the week ahead is light on civic news and heavy on things to do.
- 🎬 Tempe Union's film students filmed graduations around the world. The district's Film and TV program steps off campus.
- 📚 A full week at the Tempe Public Library. Pokemon, fossils, a produce market, and therapy dogs.
- 🎓 ASU and Mill Avenue. Live music at Yucca Tap Room, comedy at the Tempe Improv.
- 🎸 Around the Valley. Rod Stewart tonight, and Pink Floyd lasers at the Marquee Friday.
Tempe Union's film students take graduations worldwide
Students in Tempe Union High School District's Film and Television career-technical program spent the season filming graduation ceremonies well beyond the East Valley.
Key facts:
The program runs through TUHSD, the district that covers the city's six public high schools.
Desert Vista and Marcos de Niza students are named in the coverage.
The program is led by Dr. Stacia Wilson, with students including Elizabeth Matuszewski and Marianne Kim.
It's the kind of work that usually stays invisible: someone has to shoot, edit, and stream the ceremonies families watch from a folding chair or a phone screen. Here, that someone is a high schooler with a TUHSD camera and a real production credit.
The week
The Tempe Public Library carries most of the week. A few worth circling:
- 🃏 Pokemon Hour, Monday at 5 PM. Kids ages 6 to 16 play the trading card game. Bring a deck or borrow one.
- 🥬 Farm Express, Tuesday at 1:30 PM. A mobile produce market in the library driveway. Cash, card, and SNAP/EBT, with buy-one-get-one up to $20 on EBT.
- 🦖 Fossil Fest, Tuesday at 2 PM. A glow-in-the-dark dino party with a fossil dig and rock-painting from artist Lily Reeves.
- 📖 Friends of Dorothy Book Club, Tuesday at 6:30 PM. The LGBTQIA+ reading group meets in the Desert Willow Program Room.
- 🔬 Maker Lab, Wednesday at 3 PM. Hands-on VR, 3D printing, and laser cutting for teens.
- 🌵 Teen Talk: ASU Naturespace, Thursday at 2 PM. ASU's Naturespace Library brings rare specimens and a look at college and career paths.
- 🐕 Paws 2 Read, Thursday at 3:30 PM. Therapy dogs Finn and Roxy take reading slots in the Learning Lab. Sign-up starts at 3:15.
Storytimes run most mornings (Family, Preschool, Toddler, and the bilingual Cuentos Contigo on Friday), and the weekly writing groups continue: Duane Roen's poetry workshop Tuesday evening, and Writers Connection Friday afternoon.
🎓 ASU and Mill Avenue
Campus events, Sun Devil sports, and what's playing down on Mill.
Yucca Tap Room. Tempe's original live-music room has run shows in a small space for more than 40 years. Check the monthly lineup for local and national acts. Details.
Tempe Improv. Stand-up with a full dinner-and-show setup. A reliable night out when the heat keeps the patios empty. Details.
Around the Valley
A few picks worth a drive this week, and one that's basically in the backyard.
Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular. Marquee Theatre, Tempe. Friday, 7 PM. The full catalog under a laser rig, and it's the closest one on this list. Tickets.
Rod Stewart. Mortgage Matchup Center, downtown Phoenix. Tonight, 7:30 PM. The Maggie May voice doesn't swing through often. Tickets.
Phoenix Rising FC vs. Louisville City FC. Phoenix Rising Stadium. Wednesday, 7:30 PM. Two of the better sides in the league. Tickets.
Dear Evan Hansen. Phoenix Theatre. Wednesday, 7:30 PM. The Tony-winning musical on a touring stop. Tickets.