If all that vanilla's drying out your taste buds, try a taste of the Icehouse's Fetish Ball II on Saturday, October 9, which promises a salacious exhibition of fire dancers, whipping demos, fetish fashion shows, exotic dancers, and full-body suspension. Erotica wear is required, and vendors such as SteelLinks, Plush Living, and Lace & Leather will be on hand. There's also an "All Night Battle of the DJs," featuring U.K. hardhouse, electro breaks, speed core, and sex house music. It's an open environment, but some things are off-limits: namely, public nudity and sex. "It's not gonna be a fuck party," says Mitch Palmer, co-founder of TNG, the primary sponsor of the event. "We are trying to promote a very healthy, sane exchange of fetishes." The 18-and-over, alcohol-free event starts at 8 p.m. at the Icehouse, 429 West Jackson. Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Visit fetishball.tng-arizona.org for details. -- Niki D'Andrea
Dancing For Dollars
Nebellen busts some moves at Fox Sports Grill
Fri 10/8
Members of the Nebellen Dance Company are more than willing to dance for dollars. Unfortunately, there won't be any G-strings, and onlookers aren't encouraged to shove sweaty wads of cash directly into the dancers' underpants. This crew is legit! They're showing off their moves, a mix of hip-hop, rave, liquid and b-boy, at the "Night Out With Nebellen" fund raiser at Fox Sports Grill, 16203 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale, on Friday, October 8. The show starts at 8 p.m. and includes a silent auction. See www.nebellen.com. -- C. Murphy Hebert
Mars Attacks
Musikmagiers aus Deutschland
Sat 10/9
Mouse on Mars invades The Clubhouse, 1320 East Broadway in Tempe, on Saturday, October 9. The Euro-trash German duo of Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma has created eight albums of complex electronica music, which features soft vocals, weird sounds and odd melodies. The two got started 10 years ago, and all their hard work has finally paid off: Now they get to headline the all-ages show that also features Peachcake, the Junior Boys, and Ratatat. Mouse on Mars has a beat (or two or three) that you can dance to -- especially if you've imbibed. Luckily, there is a bar for those 21 and older. The doors open at 7 p.m., and the bands will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 at www.luckymanproductions.net and $12 at the door. For more information, see www.mouseonmars.com. --C. Murphy Hebert
Drinking Game
Fleming's pairs 'gammon and wine
Sun 10/10
Danny Schertzer, the operating partner of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse at DC Ranch, 20753 North Pima Road in Scottsdale, has decided that he's going to single-handedly bring back backgammon. "I love 'gammon," he proclaims. And to prove it, he's hosting Wine and Backgammon Night on Sunday, October 10, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The restaurant will provide the game boards and a cheese platter, but the gamers will have to BYOW -- buy your own wine. Schertzer says the game is a cross between checkers, chess and craps, and it only takes a few minutes to learn how to play -- even if you've had a couple of glasses of wine. The gracious host will bring his own 'gammon game and offer tutorials to less-than-experienced players. Call 480-538-8000. -- C. Murphy Hebert
ET: Especially Terrifying
It's only a costume...or is it?
10/7-10/31
Alien abduction? We're all for it, except for the whole anal probing bit. Word has it, however, that the little green men at the "Alien Extreme" Haunted House and Corn Maze, 4011 South Power in Mesa, aren't so willing to spread the galactic goodwill. Throughout October, until Halloween, "Alien Extreme" will sic its "creepy, scary and gory" creatures on fright mongers as they tour the crash site of a UFO "Mothership," investigate an Area 51-style outpost, and flee for the 10-acre corn maze of crop circles. While "Alien Extreme" operator Rob Borucki says it's safe for expectant mothers to brave the close encounter, he doesn't think it's such a wise thing to bring the kiddies. "We have a recommended age of 10, and even that's pushing it," Borucki says. We'll take that as a challenge. Tickets for both the UFO crash site and the outpost are $10 for each haunt; $7 for the corn maze alone. Combo prices are available. See www.hauntedphoenix.com. --Joe Watson
