Changing Hands Bookstore -- Around Town -- Updated Weekly

September 1 through April 30

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park

Directions

more info

First and Third Sundays

The Phoenix Theosophical Study Group

website

602.954.8525.

Every Monday

Southeast Valley Fiction Writers

audrey@audreyrlwyatt.com

FREE.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

8:30am Mondays, 9:00am Wednesdays, 7:15pm Thursdays Nithya Yoga for Being Yoga Classes. No experience needed. Cost: $10-$12/class. Location: Gilbert Yoga, 6 E Palo Verde St, #12, Gilbert. More info: GilbertYoga.com or 480.225.1881.

Every Saturday, October through May

9-10:30am Yoga at the Farm at South Mountain is held in a pecan grove among the quail and rich aromas of the farm's cafes. All levels welcome. Please bring your own mat. Cost: $12 per class. Location: The lawn of The Retreat @ The Farm at South Mountain on 32nd Street, just south of Southern. More info: contact the instructor Dr. Nancy Siefer, 480.577.1439 or Cindy, 480.326.0658.

Ongoing through November 29

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) presents: Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth - The shimmering “Soundsuits” of Chicago-based artist and former Alvin Ailey dancer Nick Cave are multi-layered mixed-media, wearable sculptures named for the sounds made when worn. Reminiscent of African and religious ceremonial costumes as well as high fashion, they are made using scavenged ordinary materials that Cave re-contextualizes into visionary masterpieces. These works explore issues of ceremony, ritual, myth and identity through a layering of concepts, highly-skilled techniques and varied traditions. More info: 480.874.4654 or smoca.org.

Ongoing through January 24, 2010

From the Collection of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art: Unexpected Wegman - Mention artist William Wegman and many people think of his quirky photographic images of Weimaraner dogs. Unexpected Wegman, however, highlights another side of this charming and insightful artist. SMoCA is fortunate to have over forty-five works by Wegman in its collection, produced with Segura Publishing Company. From light-hearted renderings of the artist’s studio to quirky pictorial narratives, these works offer an unusual window into Wegman’s playfully inquisitive thinking. And don’t worry -- along with the other kooky animals, those fun-loving dogs always seem to make their way into the story. More info: 480.874.4654 or smoca.org.

October 29 - March 2010

Descanse en Paz: The Homemade Grave Marker in the American Southwest, an exhibition of the photographs of Dick George. For millennia people have created markers for burial sites. At the most basic level, they do so in order to assure finding that precise location in the future. At deeper levels, however, they select or construct markers as a symbol of the person who died, of those who survived, of their relationship, and maybe even more. In search of these surprising and often beautiful markers, Dick George has traveled more than 30,000 miles throughout the Southwest and visited some 400 rural cemeteries. This exhibition presents his best from among thousands of photographs. Cost: Free on opening night, $6 museum admission required thereafter. Location: Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, 4619 E. Washington Street, Phoenix. More info: Phoenix.gov.

Saturday, November 21

9am-2pm Open Air Market at Harper's Nursery and Oscar's Coffee Bar, featuring a free garden class at 10am, live music in the garden throughout the day, Mollie's Tamales, Amy's Pottery, Wild 4 Sherbit, and more. This month's community recipient of a portion of the procedes is the Scottsdale Unified School District Holiday Angel Program. Location: 2529 N Hayden Road, Scottsdale. More info: 602.538.2922.

12pm Phoenix Writers Club presents Barbara Peters, Poisoned Pen Bookstore owner and publisher, sharing her expertise in publishing and owning a bookstore and the dynamics of working with authors. Location: Central Grille, 8525 N. Central, Phoenix. Cost: $15 for members, $20 for guests. RSVP: required by November 19 to Neeliepubl@aol.com or 623.561.6751.

Sunday, November 29

3pm The KOG Concert Series Presents Lynn Aspnes, Associate Dean in the Herberger College of the Arts and Professor of Harp for the School of Music at ASU together with ASU harp students. Location: King of Glory Lutheran Church, 2085 E. Southern Ave., Tempe. This event is open to the public. Cost: A free-will offering will be taken. More info: Cyndee Chaffee at 480.838.0477 or kogaz.org.

Sunday, December 6

2-3:30pm Our Thirst for Meaning: A Talk by Tim Boyd sponsored by the Phoenix Study Center of the Theosophical Society in America. To be human requires a sense that life and its countless experiences have meaning. The person on a spiritual path chooses to engage in a process of discovering ever-deepening layers of meaning. To do this requires certain tools. One powerful tool is mantra—words, which "protect the mind." In this talk we will examine our need for meaning and the relationship of mantra to our unfoldment. Tim Boyd, is the Vice-President of the Theosophical Society in America, conducted interviews for the Eternal Quest radio series. Tim is a founding member of a spiritual community that was active for more than 25 years, working with at-risk youth, and establishing organic food gardens on vacant lots. He has conducted workshops throughout the U.S and in Asia. Cost: No fee, but donations are appreciated. Location: Little Rangoon Restaurant, 7000 E. Shea Blvd., Suite C-1580 Scottsdale. More info: 602.954.8525.

Friday, December 11 and Sunday, December 13

7:30pm "Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Roses", a concert opera by Arizona composer James DeMars, will be performed at the Phoenix Art Museum. Based on the story of the appearance of Our Lady to the Mexican native Juan Diego, this work will feature Metropolitan Opera veteran Isola Jones as Our Lady of Guadalupe and Robert Breault, one of America's leading tenors, as Juan Diego. The concerts are presented and produced by Canyon Records and Phoenix Art Museum. Tickets available at GuadalupeCelebration.org, at Changing Hands Bookstore 480.730.0205, and at the door. Location: Phoenix Art Museum at McDowell Road & Central Avenue, 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

Sunday, December 13

11am A Chanukah Brunch. Celebrate the season with the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation! Event features a roving magician, menorah lighting at each table, grab bags for kids, and a sumptuous brunch of lox, bagels, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and French toast, with apple cobbler dessert. Adults and children from the entire East Valley (and beyond) are welcome. Cost: $22 adults, $11 kids 6 to 12, free for kids under 5. Location: Oakwood Country Club, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd., Sun Lakes. RSVP: required at Judy 480.883.9393 or Shirley 480.802.0007.