March 1 promises to be the most Downtowniest day of the year. Here’s a guide to help you enjoy the maximum amount of Downtown with a minimum amount of Downtown hangover.
1. Leave Your Car at Home
Ride your bike. Ride light rail. Call Uber. Ride a beat-boxing unicorn for all we care. Just don’t give yourself the option of drinking and driving. #drivehammeredgetnailed
2. Eat Brunch!
Establishing a base is paramount if you’re going to have any kind of staying power. Recommended brunch spots include Breakfast Club, District American Kitchen & Wine Bar, Blue Hound, Chloe’s Corner and Vig Fillmore.
3. Drink Water
And anytime you think you’ve consumed enough water, drink more water.
4. Second Annual Health and Healing Festival at ALAC
Free and open to the public, this collaboration between ALAC, University of Arizona and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health explores the “art of being healthy” and will include a variety of lectures from professors and community healing artists, plus demonstrations of acupuncture, chalk and finger painting, Tai-Chi, poetry readings and healthy eating. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
5. Snack Time!
A slice of pizza at Majerle’s Downtown Pizza Lounge or a couple of tacos from Fuego will do just fine. Nothing too heavy. Lots of work left to do.
6. Mardi Gras Parade & Festival at CityScape
Check out the Fourth Annual Mardi Gras and Parade, which will headquarter at CityScape. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. revel with the help of a DJ curated soundtrack, creepy masks, vendors and, of course, beads. So many beads. The community parade starts at 4 p.m. so come down early to secure your optimal spectator perch. If you want to be in the parade fill out this form.
7. Drink Water
Seriously, you guys.
8. Art d’Core at Crescent Ballroom
The Art d’Core gala is a free, formal celebration of color and art in our Urban Core and features a guest address from Mayor Greg Stanton, an eye-popping virtual tour of Downtown art spaces and a partial street closure on Second Avenue to accommodate some extra special ArtLink-approved touches. The gala starts at 6 p.m. and entry is free but attendees are encouraged to RSVP here.
9. More Mardi Gras
After partying with Mayor Stanton, mosey back to CityScape to take advantage of Mardi Gras specials at hot spots like Copper Blues and Gypsy Bar. What, did you think Mardi Gras ended at 8?
10. Get home safely, then sleep through Sunday