Hula hoops and neon?

When folks gather for this week’s Friend Raiser for Rising Youth Theatre, they’ll be surrounded by retro flair from hula hoops to gymnasium risers. Their fundraiser with a friendly twist takes place Thurs, Aug. 23 from 6-8pm at The Duce in Phoenix, a joint named for the produce once processed there.

I’m told the event, with $12 tickets online or $15 tickets at the door, will feature performances by Rock Steady Crew and minibosses, and that Rising Youth Theatre will get 10% of proceeds in the eats department. Also that the party, complete with nifty games, is fit for all ages.

It’s a fun chance to introduce your kids to vinyl seating, hand-operated kitchen appliances, aluminum bathroom doors and t-shirts for bands that never claim to move like Jagger. Plus retro bikes and motorcycles, a one-time boxing ring and oodles of quaint objects like cookbooks sporting women with beehive hairdos.

The Heard Museum chose gala over grunge (grunge good, mind you) for its annual fundraiser taking place Sat., Oct. 20 at 6pm. The Moondance Gala features “an evening of elegance and glamour” with performance by Mogollon. Leave the hula hoops, even those covered in bling, at home that night as the museum honors Senator Jon and Caryll Kyl.

Come Sat., Nov. 3, you can get your neon on with the Phoenix Art Museum, which is presenting its annual black tie dinner dance. Those of you who’ve still got glow-in-the-dark necklaces from your last Jimmy Buffet concert in the freezer should leave them there. The pARTy starts at 6:30pm that night, and neon will be one of the star attractions.

Bernadette Peters, who needs no neon to glow, is coming to town with music director Marvin Laird to perform at this year’s ARTrageous event benefiting arts education and outreach programs for Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. The Sat., Dec. 1 shindig starts at 5pm, and the concert is scheduled for 8:30pm.

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix presents its inaugural Kid at Heart gala Sat., April 6, 2013 at 6pm. I’m told to expect a whimsical circus with a “Cirque de Musée” theme. So maybe, just maybe, I can whip out the old hula hoops after all.

— Lynn

Note: If you actually remember seeing Jimmy Buffet do a concert in a freezer, you’ve got more than neon on the brain. My apologies to folks like Grammar Girl who flaunt the fine print of finessing the English language.

Coming up: Spinning a yarn, Prime time for poets

Art meets journalism

Student artwork from Desert View Learning Center in Paradise Valley

Journalists from around the state gathered Saturday night at a funky little joint called The Duce to recognize the “best journalism in Arizona” during 2011. A decade ago, journalists gathered at the Heard Museum. Journalists get around, and so does the Arizona Press Club Awards Party.

Several journalists were recognized for coverage of the arts — some in the “metro” (larger circulation) category and others in the “non-metro” (smaller circulation) category.

DVLC student artwork

Congratulations to Dr. Donald J. Behnke of Green Valley News and Sun for taking first place in non-metro arts criticism. Also to Cindy Yuth of Najavo Times for earning first place in arts reporting. Navajo Times went home with several awards, and top billing on my revised “good stuff to read” list.

First place for metro arts criticism went to Margaret Regan with Tucson Weekly, while first place awards for metro arts reporting went to Ed Masley of The Arizona Republic and the staff of Phoenix New Times for “Chow Bella.” I’m already reading that last baby.

Several Raising Arizona Kids journalists were honored as well — but I leave sharing that happy news to founder, publisher and editor Karen Barr. I’ve already got next year’s ceremony on the brain, and visions of rotating back to an arts-related venue.

I’ve been to a couple of amazing Childsplay shindigs at Tempe Center for the Arts, where I also enjoyed last year’s AriZoni Awards ceremony. And it’s fun to imagine all those Arizona journalists making their way through the “noodle forest” at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this year’s awards, including Jill Jorden Spitz (contest chair) and Becky Pallack (awards reception chair). Both work for Arizona Daily Star and serve on the Arizona Press Club board of directors.

But most of all, thanks to everyone who reads and appreciates the work.

— Lynn

Note: Click here for a full list of Arizona Press Club award winners.

Coming up: Arts criticism meets youth theater, Lullabies on Broadway, Playwright profiles