If Bob Ross were alive today, he'd be painting happy little trees all over the place in ecstatic fervor for all the arts and culture happenings in Phoenix. To help you see the forest for the trees, here's a recap of the top arts and culture stories of the week.
Phoenix Suns Dancer and Manager Have Tips for Auditions on August 17
Say what you will about professional cheerleaders, but these women take their job seriously. And they have to, since being a Phoenix Suns Dancer requires a lot more than just good looks and dancing ability. Don't believe it? We asked veteran Suns Dancer Brittney and Suns Dancer manager Taryn Carmichael for a few tips and the inside scoop on what to expect when auditions for the 2013-2014 Phoenix Suns Dancers roll around on August 17.
--Lauren Saria
5 Easy Hikes for Beginners in Metro Phoenix
For either those not quite ready for the butt-kicking that some mountains around the Valley provide or others who simply want to try a new thing, there are plenty of easy hikes in Phoenix for the novice hiker. With proper hiking shoes, a good amount of water, and comfortable clothes, these five hikes (listed from easiest to most challenging) are feasible for any beginner looking to explore the desert trails in metro Phoenix.
--Nina Gruber
Floating around in our cabinets is a magical ingredient that can help deodorize, exfoliate, and cleanse. Let us introduce to you: baking soda. This chemical compound, whose proper name is sodium bicarbonate, can be a key ingredient in your beauty regimen just as readily as a batch of chocolate chip cookies.
This white powder works differently when mixed with acids or bases. Mildly abrasive and pH-balancing, baking soda helps to neutralize acids, oils, and odors. And that means you can use it lots of different ways. Here are five beauty remedies to try with the everyday ingredient hiding in your cupboard.
--Gigi Arredondo
5 Favorite West Valley Vintage Shops
This summer we've rounded up our favorite vintage shops by neighborhood: East Valley, Scottsdale, Roosevelt Row, and Seventh Avenue. Our last stop is the West Valley -- and it does not disappoint.
Here are our five favorite vintage shops on the west side. --Laura Armenta
Former Meat Market Vintage Co-Owner Cory Martinez Launches Luxie Vintage
For better or worse, sometimes high school nicknames never wear off. In the case of Cory Martinez, hers was more swell than square. Luxie, a reference to Lux Interior of The Cramps, caught on and never went totally away.
Now it's resurfaced as the name of Martinez's recently launched vintage clothing shop.
--Becky Bartkowski
