Top 5 Things to Do This Weekend

Critical Mass Phoenix @ Steele Indian School Park
We’re all for promoting clean air and bicycle safety, but peddling through the streets of downtown Phoenix with dripping sweat stinging your eyes doesn’t sound like a cool way to spend a Friday night. Luckily, it’s fantastic outside. Take advantage of the spring evenings while you still can, and join up Critical Mass, a free monthly bike meetup that starts at 6:30 p.m. on the last Friday of every month.

Opening Reception for “10 Cameras Project” @ Artspace Scottsdale

What would you be willing to barter for an unprocessed camera? Maybe a lot, if the pictures inside are of your precious nephew’s grade school play (or from the night you blacked out after having three too many sangrias and woke up in a stranger’s bathtub). Don’t expect anything quite that dramatic at the “10 Cameras” exhibit, a social experiment where ten disposable cameras were sent to ten artists — including Julie Anand, Dan Collins and New Times contributor Tania Katan — and used to take random photos. The undeveloped cameras were then bartered for goods. Peep all 270 photo prints, plus the mystery items that were traded for the cameras, at the opening from 6-9 p.m. tonight. Admission is free.

Arizona Opera in the Park @ Scottsdale Civic Center Amphitheater
If you always intend to make it to the opera someday, but can’t stomach the highbrow snobbery (“musical theater is bourgeoisie garbage, Muffy!”), check out Arizona Opera’s FREE production of

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Dragon Boat Festival @ Tempe Town Lake
Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Imagine being crammed in a tiny canoe-like boat with twenty other people, beating your oars to the sound of an ancient drum. This Saturday and Sunday, rowing teams from across the country will come together for Tempe’s annual Chinese boat race. It’s quite the spectacle, especially when one of the mythical creatures doesn’t exactly prove seaworthy. Free admission. Visit the Arizona Dragon Boat Association website for a complete schedule.