What makes you happy?

This year, all of our events are about reframing and testing the bounds of what community newsrooms should be. And the swag at those events embody that, through stickers that lean into the grit and history of our community and their fight against mainstream coverage (like the one above), to cheeky and fun pins that show off our community's whimsy. All of these you can find at our upcoming events. You just have to show up. 

Happy Friday, LOOKOUT fam—

I’ve had a really good week, and I want to tell you why.

Earlier this year, I returned to a passion I had abandoned since high school: music.

I was a student at Arizona School for the Arts, where I studied piano and a few string instruments, and sang with the Phoenix Boys Choir. Music was a huge part of my life growing up. But after I graduated, I basically tossed it all aside.

Part of it was that I just wanted to get out to L.A., get high, and party until I felt ready to go back to school (which, by the way, took six years). The other part was simpler: by the end of high school, music had started to feel like a chore instead of something I loved.

Over the past few years, though, my various therapists (and yes, there have been many) have all given me the same piece of advice: find a hobby outside of work.

That’s easier said than done in journalism. It’s very easy for this job to become your entire personality. Some journalists reading this probably know exactly what I mean. Many of us see this profession as a calling, not just a job.

But after 16 years in the industry, you can forget what made you happy outside of the work.

So I decided to find that again through music. I dusted off an old 88-key keyboard, set it up in my guest room, and started making it a point to play every week—relearning chords and songs I used to know by memory.

And can I be honest? It’s brought me a lot of peace lately. I’m creating something that has nothing to do with the news cycle. Something that’s just for me.

I’m sharing this because recently a few readers told me they use the Weekly Kiki to find their own hobbies—from zine-making to crocheting—and how much joy it brings them to focus on something other than the terrors of the world.

It’s easy to get lost in the muck. It’s harder to find a branch and pull yourself out.

So if you haven’t yet, check out the events below. Find a little peace. Make some new friends. Build something that brings you joy.

Not sure where to start? Join us tomorrow at Dialog for the launch of our new series, We Were Here. You’ll learn something new, meet some great people, and there will be free food and booze. Not a bad place to start.

-Joseph Darius Jaafari
Founder, Editor in Chief
LOOKOUT

Your Kiki Calendar March 13-19

We've curated the entire week for you below with select events taken from our community calendar, which has everything below and more from across the state on our website. Click here to see the full calendar with links and tickets to the events!

Want to see your event highlighted below? Fill out our form. 

Editor's Pick of the Week 👀

We Were Here | Sat, Mar 14 | 1–4 PM | Phoenix
LOOKOUT and the AZ LGBT+ History Project put on an intergenerational conversation on sex work, past and present, at dialog. Legal, tech, moral, and artistic perspectives all in one room. Small bites + a free drink included. VIP cocktail hour tickets still floating around if you want to upgrade your experience.

🎟️ Get your ticket here

 Friday, March 13 

Tempe Festival of the Arts | 10 AM–5:30 PM (FRI-SUN)
Spring in Downtown Tempe hits different with 350+ artists, chalk murals, wine & spirits tastings, food trucks, live music, and yes — the legendary Bombs Car Club. Plan to show up and stay all day.
👉 See the full festival lineup

FUDOSA + Rubee, Mess.a.lina, Gnoolie, The (arc) Collective | Tucson | 7–10 PM
Friday the 13th gets lit. Albuquerque’s FUDOSA + local support, plus live flash tattoos. Alternative, disco, heavy psych — pick your vibe.

 Saturday, March 14 

Queer Communal Picnic | Hance Park | 10 AM–1 PM
Community, crafting, snacks, games, and fun queers in the park. 21+, safe for trans and nonbinary folks, allies welcome.
👉 More info here

 Sunday, March 15 

Tucson Festival of Books | UA Campus
Panels, indie authors, literacy booths, and the perfect excuse to leave your house and meet writers IRL.
👉 See the schedule

Yoga in the Greenhouse | Phoenix | 8–9 AM
Start your Sunday with a stretch + a free plant. Botanical market and food vendors afterwards.
👉 Grab a ticket

Wasted Ink Carving Club | Phoenix | 12–3 PM
Relief carving, block printing, and zines. BYO supplies or borrow theirs. No experience required.
👉 RSVP here

 Monday, March 16 

Highway Hypnosis @ Overdue | Phoenix | 7–10 PM
Queer SOV (shot-on-video) cinema featuring As The World Burns & Highway Hypnosis. Trancelike, horrifying, and unforgettable.
👉 Check it out

 Tuesday, March 17 

Poet Brews | Flagstaff | 7–9 PM
Open mic for writers: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, texts you shouldn’t have sent… anything goes. 21+.
👉 Sign up to read or listen

Everybody Lifting Club | Phoenix | 6–9:30 PM
Inclusive LGBTQIA+ + size-diverse fitness. Lift, sweat, and connect with a supportive crew.
👉 See details

 Wednesday, March 18 

American Teenager w/ Nico Lang | Phoenix | 6:30–8 PM
Discussion space honoring trans voices and lived experiences. Compassion and curiosity required. 
👉 RSVP here

Wily Writers | Flagstaff | 6–7 PM
Weekly writing group. Prompts, sharing, and constructive feedback — all skill levels welcome.
👉 Join the session

 Thursday, March 19 

Meet Chandler City Council | Chandler | 5–7 PM
LGBTQ+ folx and allies, meet the candidates and ask the questions that matter.
👉 RSVP for the meet & greet

thems. Writing Lab! | Phoenix | 7–9 PM
Archive, collage, hybrid poetry & prose. Bring your photos, leave your inner critic at the door. Pay-what-you-can, all skill levels.
👉 Reserve your seat

UPCOMING LOOKOUT EVENTS

Click on the pictures for more info. A reminder that paid subscribers get access to all our events, and exclusive perks at free events. 

We Were Here, a collaboration between LOOKOUT and the AZ LGBT+ History Project, explores Arizona’s queer history through music, culture and intergenerational conversation by pairing community elders with younger leaders doing similar work to bridge past and present. On March 14 from 1-3pm at dialog, the program turns to the power and history of sex work in Phoenix’s old Fruit Loop (now Roosevelt Row), featuring former workers and current community members in conversation about how the work has evolved, followed by a free public event and an optional $40 VIP cocktail hour at Rough Rider to continue the discussion. Click here for tickets.

Want to meet the whole LOOKOUT team? Join us March 20 from 9 a.m.–11 a.m. at Talega Coffee! We’ll have magazines, free swag, and we’ll buy your coffee if you grab a seat with us. RSVP here.

B_ _ _ _A

_ _ _A_ _

Hint: This Bronx-born Jewish and bisexual rights activist who was a sex-positive feminist is often referred to as "The Mother of Pride" for helping organize the Christopher Street Liberation March and Gay Liberation Front. 

Last Week's Answer: Jeanne Manford

LOOKOUT Publications, 221 East Indianola Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States

To unsubscribe from The Weekly Kiki, click here. To manage your newsletter preferences, click here.

LOOKOUT © 2025