Fairs and Carnivals

Deep-Fried Innovator "Chicken Charlie" Has Now Created A Krispy Kreme Sloppy Joe Doughnut Sandwich

Because deep fried Kool-Aid wasn't enough, a southern California fry fanatic is now making a Krispy Kreme Sloppy Joe doughnut sandwich. That's right, a glazed doughnut with Sloppy Joe meat and cheese in the middle. Gotta love America. See also: - Piggly's at the Fair Opens in Mesa, Deep Fried Oreo ... More >>

Backstreet Boys, ZZ Top, and More Announce Phoenix Shows

Earlier in May, Justin Timberlake announced he would be coming through Phoenix on his enormous solo tour, which set off a concert-excitement bomb the likes of which hadn't been seen since -- well, since those Prince shows, I guess, even earlier in May. More recently, the Backstreet Boys announced th ... More >>

MC Magic: The Pima County Fair Is About to Bring the Fairgrounds to Life

There's definitely something special about carnival rides and deep-fried foods that brings out the inner kid in all of us. I still remember living near 19th Avenue and Grant in Phoenix, about three miles south of the Arizona State Fairgrounds, and during that cool time of the year I would walk to th ... More >>

Fair Game

Piggly's at the Fair Opens in Mesa, Deep Fried Oreos -- and Just About Everything Else

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out -- and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened, sampling a few item ... More >>

The Sweet Potato Corn Dog and the Hunt for the Cap'n Crunch Burger: Eating the State Fair, Round 2

In the last Guilty Pleasures column, I was talking about going back to the Arizona State Fair to find a couple of tantalizing oddball items. I couldn't stop thinking about the sweet potato corn dog. And then there's that Cap'n Crunch Burger I saw on the map's food list. Just what the hell would it e ... More >>

Five Things to Eat and Drink This Weekend

Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We've got you covered. Check out what's on our plate. See also: - Ten Acres of Tacos at the Arizona Taco Festival - Food of the Arizona State Fair (Slideshow) - Eating the Arizona State Fair: Red Velvet Funnel Cake, Gigantic Ribs, Pineapple ... More >>

1200 Cows and Counting: Beyond the Fried Food at the Arizona State Fair

If you think Kelvin (Kelly) and Kathy Moss have a lot of kids (Anneke 19, Shelby 15, Sheridan 13, Regan 10, Katie 7, Jackson, 5 and Jensen, 7 months) wait til you hear how many cows they have. Their Mountain Shadow Dairy in Litchfield Park is home to 1200 Jersey cows. This family is definitely on th ... More >>

Eating the Arizona State Fair: Red Velvet Funnel Cake, Gigantic Ribs, Pineapple Lemonade -- and the Hunt for the Cap'n Crunch Hamburger

It's time again for the high holy days of Guilty Pleasures: the Arizona State Fair. Everywhere you look, there's some random foodstuff getting dipped in batter and deep-fried. This year, it seems like the food vendors held back a little bit. Gone were the chocolate-dipped scorpions and mealworm sand ... More >>

Fantastic Corn Dogs, With a Side of Cooler Weather

The Guilty Pleasure: Corn Dog (bacon-wrapped and double-fried if you dare). Where To Get It: Devil's Pantry, on Whiskey Row in Prescott. The Price: $3 small, $5 large, $2 extra for the bacon; cash only. What It Really Costs: Justification for a day trip to Prescott. Easy enough in summer. See Also: ... More >>

Last Night: The Devil's Carnival on Easter Sunday

I guess it shouldn't be surprising that The Devil's Carnival showed up in Scottsdale on Easter Sunday. After all, what better day for the gleeful underground horror, rock musical, freaks and geeks to get dressed up and go out to play while everyone else is decorating eggs and eating jellybeans? T ... More >>

Glen Leo Gagnon, Carnival Worker, Busted in Texas in Connection With Tucson Rape

A rodeo carnival worker was arrested on Sunday in Texas by the U.S. Marshals Service in connection with a January 7 abduction and rape of his Tucson girlfriend.Glen Leo Gagnon, 52, was taken into custody without a fuss at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo carnival on Sunday. Gagnon's now being hel ... More >>

Smashbox

Keeping Fair Food Safe (If Not Healthy) to Eat

​Scorpions dipped in chocolate, anyone? Larvettes in a box for you, dear? And how would you like to sample the chef's newest specialty, the Maggot Melt Sandwich? Only one event could bring us such fine fare: the Arizona State Fair. If you've tackled the exotic cuisine at this year's festivities, ... More >>

Five Reasons to See Darius Rucker at the State Fair Tonight

​Tonight's the night: Darius Rucker's coming to town. Now don't rule your eyes --anyone who digs country pop shouldn't miss the chance to catch Rucker perform. The guy's an anomaly, less because he's an African American in country and more because of his unlikely comeback stride. When was the last ... More >>

Cheesecake Choco-Berries: Fair Food Showdown

With the Arizona State Fair headed our way at week's end, we at Chow Bella decided on our latest  challenge: Create a "fair food" that kicks it up a notch. No one dared to cook with bugs, but we did have some creative entries. Check back later this week, when critic Laura Hahnefeld will choose ... More >>

Five Freaky Fair Foods: Maggot Melt Sandwich, Deep-Fried Energy Drinks, Chocolate-Dipped Pickles and More Coming to Arizona Next Week

​C'mooooon over, folks! Step right up! That's right, it's almost that time of year again. So, gather up the kids, put on your stretchy pants and grab some Pepto-Bismol. The Arizona State Fair is on its way, opening Friday, October 14. And we are ready to eat. This year, the genius minds that ca ... More >>

Weezer, Black Label Society, Keith Urban, and More Cancel Phoenix Dates

"(If You're Wondering If Weezer Will Play Phoenix On November 2) They Won't."​Look, I've had my differences with Weezer. The band has done some things in the past decade that I have a hard time forgiving. But Hurley, the band's last record, wasn't that bad, and I was into seeing them at the State ... More >>

Incoming: Alien Ant Farm, Old School Jam, Stephen Stills, Sublime With Rome, Wale

​There are only two kinds of people in the world: those who think Sublime will always be great and those who believe Sublime could only be great as long as Bradley Nowell was around (I guess there is a third kind, too -- people who hate Sublime, but forget about those folks).Either way, it's time ... More >>

Alleged Meth Head Busted Trying to Sell Fictitious Weed to Kids at Pinal County Fair

PCSOCayton Hart ​An alleged meth head was arrested on Friday after trying to sell some weed to a group of kids at the Pinal County Fair. The suspect didn't actually have any weed, but he did have a pocket full of crystal meth, an assault rifle, and a shotgun.About 10 p.m. Friday, a kid reported to ... More >>

Pet Peeve

Leave the beasts at home and jog a bit

Nostalgia, Miami, and Expose

Macy Gray, Third Eye Blind, Joe Sib, 2 Tone Lizard Kings, and Other Weekend Events

Macy Gray is scheduled to perform at CityScape on Friday.Macy Gray and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon hanging out at the same party?Such will be the case this weekend as the R&B star is scheduled to stage a free concert tomorrow night during this weekend's grand opening celebration of CityScape in do ... More >>

Old School Jam

Snoop Dogg at Arizona State Fair Last Night

Snoop Dogg Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fair Friday, October 29, 2010 Snoop Dogg gave the audience at Veterans Memorial Coliseum everything they wanted to hear (and then some) during his Arizona State Fair performance on Friday evening. Tha Doggfather busted out with all of h ... More >>

Chocolate-Covered Scorpions, Fried Butter, and Other State Fair Eats

Fair Enough

Check out boxing and Bret Michaels this weekend

Deep Fried Fun

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Incoming: Lady Gaga, A Perfect Circle, Snoop Dogg, Megadeth, Night Ranger

Oh Gaga...Let's not beat around the bush -- there hasn't been a new shows list in a few weeks. This doesn't really matter, however, since the shows will get announced one way or the other and you know what? Now's the time to announce them.It's easy to see that list is heavy with the big name acts, a ... More >>

Rural Routes

Eat a pie and chase a pig

PB-R U Gonna Drink That?

Suck down budget beer at the Rogue

Suns Griever

Fans hope for a turnaround when Portland comes to town

Day Drinker: Garnett's Rite Inn

Who says you have to wait until the sun goes down to have a good time? ​"Let's go to Garnett's," offered my good friend, Ronda, ex-co-proprietor of the recently departed Ruby Room and Day Drinker play-date on the discussion of our next venue. "It's kind of a rough place, though. At least it ... More >>

Festival Foods Services Brings Deep-Fried Twinkies to Mills Mall

​It was probably inevitable. In light of the excitement generated by deliciously bad-for-you deep-fried goodies traditionally found at the fair and at festivals, now there's a new restaurant called Festival Foods Services, dishing up said naughty treats all the time. And not ironically, it' ... More >>

Bone Portraits

Deep Fried Everything: Finding the Craziest Fair Food

Heather Hoch The epicenter of fair eats has a delighful view of the ferris wheel.​The Arizona State Fair always seems to attract some rather eccentric food vendors. There are a few running themes in fair fare this year, though. First, if you can batter something like a corn dog, it can be d ... More >>

Stevie B, Lisa Lisa, and Debbie Deb – You’ve Gotta Love the State Fair’s Old School Jam

Old School Showdown

Stevie B, Lisa Lisa, and Debbie Deb – You’ve Gotta Love the State Fair’s Old School Jam

Talkin' Trash

Let your genetic detritus shine forth at the Fair

What about Bob?

Folk rock legend finally gives Phoenix a show

Fair Warning

10 things to know before heading down to 19th and McDowell

Brewer Gives $1.7 Million in Stimulus Money to Fix Coliseum Roof so State Fair Events Can Go On

Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum​Governor Jan Brewer announced that she's releasing money from the state's Fiscal Stabilization Government Services Fund to finish repairs on the saddle-shaped roof of the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.Brewer says in a press release that she's pledged $1.7 mill ... More >>

Old World Phoenix Oktoberfest

TEXAZ Grill Pays Tribute to the Texas State Fair

It's no secret that the Lone Star State -- and all of its legendary down-home cooking -- is the inspiration at TEXAZ Grill. All year long, the place serves up chicken-fried steaks and barbecued brisket fit for any Texas-sized appetite.There's a little extra love right now, though, since the restaura ... More >>

Bob Dylan, American Idols, and Throwback Acts Dominate 2009 State Fair Concert Line-up

​ If you were one of the jilted music fans who got burned when Bob Dylan wimped out of his scheduled outdoor performance a couple weeks back, the folk rock legend has a way to make it up to you: He's putting on a free show...sorta. Dylan is set to perform at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum during ... More >>

Collison Course

Derby drivers make a full-metal racket at Buckeye’s Helzapoppin’

It's Still Fair Weather

Oedipus Wrecks

The Fair Necessities

Art snobs need not apply

Dungeons & Dragons