National Public Radio

Phoenix Lifeguard-Diversity Program was "Mischaracterized" by City Employee, Says City

A week after being battered on the blogs for its lifeguard-diversity program, the city of Phoenix has responded by throwing one of its employees under the waterbus. Kelly Martinez, a recreation coordinator for Phoenix, "mischaracterized" the city program in a local National Public Radio report, say ... More >>

Theoretical Speaking

Excavating Heavy Metal's Blues and Jazz Roots

"The blues was like that problem child that you may have had in the family. You was a little bit ashamed to let anybody see him, but you loved him. You just didn't know how other people would take it." --B.B. King "Metal confronts what we'd rather ignore. It celebrates what we often deny. It indulg ... More >>

Alternative Station KWSS to Switch Frequencies, Moving From 106.7 to 93.9

Local low-power alternative station KWSS has announced that it's moving to a new home on the FM dial, shifting from 106.7 to 93.9 on Sunday, March 10. Home to shows like TMI (which I call into once a week to discuss music news and play selections), Mostly Vinyl with Johnny D, Driving with Gass, and ... More >>

Amber Rae Harrold, What Are You Listening To?

Amber Harrold Harrold is the owner of CamelBackpackers: A Phoenix Hostel. For more information, go here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? NPR or 106.7 KWSS-FM. What's the first album you bought? Salt-n-Pepa, Very Necessary. I remember ... More >>

The Secret to Safe Egg Nog

Egg nog seems like one of those things that should be slaying people by the score, just like egg salad sickens people around the 4th of July. But it doesn't and that's curious since sugar plus raw egg is pretty much the perfect environment to breed intestine-destroying bacteria. See Also: --Make P ... More >>

Punch Brothers @ Crescent Ballroom

My Stolen MP3 Collection Got Stolen

My house got robbed over the summer and among the items taken were my laptop and iPod. I had backed up none of my data. I would estimate I lost somewhere around 12,000 songs. It also feels safe to estimate that 95 percent of my MP3 collection was not purchased. It obviously sucked at first, losing ... More >>

Top Five Phoenix Food Stories of the Week

Every week, there's a cornucopia of Phoenix food news, features, and reviews to report here at Chow Bella. If you're like most people, you probably just don't have the time to get to all of it. It's kind of like those burgers at Old Town Whiskey; it just won't all fit in your mouth ... or in this ca ... More >>

Gabriele Bertaccini, What Are You Listening To?

Gabriele Bertaccini Bertaccini is the executive chef and president of Il Tocco Food and Culinary Mischief. For more information, go here. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Is it boring if i say NPR? Yes, I am an NPR junkie (especially ... More >>

8 Tips on Mixing the Perfect Cocktail from 4 Local Mixologists

What does the cocktail enthusiast with no bartending experience need to know to make an awesome craft cocktail? Lynne Rossetto Kasper -- the sonorous talk show host of NPR's The Splendid Table asked that question of four of the Valley's top mixologists at the Hotel Palomar last weekend, and she got ... More >>

Lynne Rossetto Kasper Dishes on a Caller Who Cooked a Turkey in Hot Tar and Being a Reluctant Rock Star

Lynne Rossetto Kasper -- longtime host of NPR's James Beard Award-winning The Splendid Table -- was in town over the weekend to help KJZZ with its pledge drive. When I mentioned to four different friends that I was interviewing her, I got the same excited (and clearly envious) response every time: ... More >>

Is Organic Food Better For You Than Non-Organic Food?

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Miss a question? Go here.The organic food industry continues to grow, and ... More >>

Phoenix's New Theater Season Looks for an Edge

63: Audrey Lasalle

From now 'til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers -- Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you'll know; for others, it'll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you're here, check out our 100 Creat ... More >>

As The Black Keys Take on Pizza Hut, We Wonder What Selling Out Even Means Anymore

See also: What Are the Ten Most "Spotified" Songs in Phoenix Last week, NPR blogger Emily White got a whole bunch of discussion started about how musical artists are and aren't getting paid. (We chimed in too, discussing music streaming service Spotify.) If White's thought, that my peers and I will ... More >>

Carolina Chocolate Drops Have Roots in Arizona, Too

The Valley Needs Culture Kitchen

Over the weekend, NPR reported on a company in San Francisco that is providing a service sorely needed in homes around the country. Culture Kitchen seeks to put bored grandmothers and housewives, well versed in the cooking arts of their home countries, to work teaching the current generation how to ... More >>

Beauty Trick: Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables

You've heard the old wives' tale that eating an abundance of carrots turns your skin orange. Well, it's really true. A study led by Ross Whitehead, a graduate student in psychology at Scotland's University of St. Andrews, discovered that if you eat lots of food rich in carotenoids (like carrots) ... More >>

The Worst Moments from SXSW 2012

The last few days, Village Voice Media's indefatigable music staff has been regaling you with stories of the best from SXSW 2012. In the midst of these discoveries, we've been culling another list: the worst shit. The acts that ranged from huge bore-fests to downright lame. Below, you'll find our cr ... More >>

Literal Band Names: Radiohead, Black Keys, Meat Puppets, and More

There are some weird band names out there, so we let our imaginations go wild to envision what some of these names would literally look like. We chose Radiohead as our jumping off point because love them or hate them, the band is playing at Jobing.com arena tonight, and it's sure to be one of the ... More >>

Pledge to KJZZ Today and You Might Win Meals at FnB, Noca, Barrio Queen and More

NPR pledge season is upon us again but KJZZ is breaking from their usual offers of vacations and iPads in favor of flavor. Anyone who pledges today has a shot at winning their "Foodie's Dream" package. They've managed to line up 52 top shelf restaurants for this promotion. The full list is here but ... More >>

Anti-Aging

Lisa Kasanicky, What Are You Listening To?

​Lisa KasanickyKasanicky is the founder of Arizona Spa Girls and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Girlfriend Getaways.  When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Uh, sadly, NPR but I'll switch it to 103.9 FM if the topic puts m ... More >>

Drink Wine with NPR's Peter Sagal and Support KJZZ's Youth Media Center

​First Press Arizona is throwing its 10th live fine wine auction and dinner on February 11 at Kierland Resort and Spa to benefit KJZZ's Youth Media Center. The smart and witty Peter Sagal, of NPR's game show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, will be the evening's host. Guests will live it up with liv ... More >>

Tempe's Vektor Gets Some Metal Loving From NPR

​NPR has a way of simplifying complicated ideas for the layman, be they the financial crisis or the intricate web of Republican frontrunner intrigue. When it comes to their profile about Tempe's sci-fi thrash metal four piece Vektor, they kept things uncluttered and uncomplicated: "Vektor: Extreme ... More >>

Chimichanga as Arizona's State Food? Five Foods to Put Up Against the Chimi

  ​As if living here weren't embarrassing enough, it seems Macayo's has started an advertising campaign a petition drive to make the chimichanga Arizona's official state food. Really?! It's still unclear that the deep-fried burrito can even claim its origins in Arizona (at le ... More >>

Drive-Thru

The Recipe Project Sets Recipes to Music

This last weekend on The Splendid Table, NPR's radio food show that airs here on Sundays at 2 p.m. KJZZ, the fabulous Lynne Rossetto Kasper interviewed Michael Hearst of the band One Ring Zero with a recipe project that marries food and music in an unusual way. Simply called "A Recipe Project," the ... More >>

Tumblr of the Week: The Whisperlights

http://www.thewhisperlights.com/​The Tumblr made by The Whisperlights, who we recently touched upon in a post about Drinkify, is worthy of a mention.The Whisperlights are a great local group that has a self-described "dreamy folky stadium pop" sound. We definitely recommend that you check them out ... More >>

Dayvid LeMmon, What Are You Listening To?

Jesse RieserDayvid LeMmon​Dayvid LeMmonThe photographer, who also shoots photos for our sister blog, Chow Bella, is the recipient of the Arizona Commission on the Arts' 2010 Artist Project Grant, is currently one of the City of Phoenix's selection for this year's ongoing 7th Avenue Streetscape pub ... More >>

Wild Flag Is Indie Rock's Female Supergroup

Wild Flag Is Indie Rock's Female Supergroup

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our September 29 Issue

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. What does NPR's music blog have to say about Sister Cities? What does Halocene's Addie Nicole think about winni ... More >>

Sister Cities Get Love From NPR

​Big ups to the folks over at NPR's All Songs Considered blog. Today they featured Sister Cities, the Phoenix band that our own Christina Caldwell wrote up back in August, telling the tale of the band's global roots and dream-pop sound. "If you're a band from the west coast, you play "sunny" mus ... More >>

The Stone Foxes @ Talking Stick Resort

Erika Delemarre, What Are You Listening To?

Erika Delemarre​Erika Delemarre The marketing coordinator for Entertainment Solutions, Inc., and the music director for Ignite Phoenix invites you to Ignite Phoenix After Hours this Friday, July 29 at Axis/Radius in Scottsdale. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, wha ... More >>

Penis Tequila: Liquid Courage for ex-Mayor of Tijuana Held on Gun Charges

scorpionmezcal.comIf penis tequila isn't your thing, there's always scorpions.​What do you call tequila made with three penises, scorpion poison and antlers if you're an alleged Mexican mafioso? Breakfast. Jorge Hank Rhon is a former mayor of Tijuana who ran for the governorship of Baja Californ ... More >>

Audie Cornish, NPR Reporter Partly to Blame for Errant Gabrielle Giffords Death Report, Gets a Promotion

Falsely reporting a congresswoman's death is apparently a great way to move up in the world of journalism -- just ask NPR's Audie Cornish. ​Following the January 8 Tucson shooting rampage, during which Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot through the brain, her husband, astronaut Mark ... More >>

Cafe: El Chorro Lodge

​It's hard to live in the Valley and not hear mention of El Chorro Lodge. If you listen to NPR, you've no doubt heard an announcer remind you not to forget the sticky buns should you take a trip to the well-known eatery. The thing is, this week's cafe column has us wondering if there's more to ... More >>

AZ DJs Pickster One and Melo Featured on Moombahton Massive Mixtape

​ I love NPR as much as the next fella (gotta get my Car Talk on), but every now and then their media coverage highlights something truly unique --case in point, last March, Sami Yenigun ran this story about moombahton, a DC-bred brand of dance-music that encompasses elements of electro, Dutch hou ... More >>

Beware the Imposter Chile -- And Don't Try to Sell It in New Mexico

lelonopo.com​We caught an interesting story this morning on KJZZ, the local NPR affiliate, about imposter chiles. Reporter Mónica Ortiz Uribe traveled to Hatch, New Mexico to talk to chile growers about a new law that makes it a crime in that state to lie about a chile's authenticity. Learn ... More >>

JRC, What Are You Listening To?

JRC​JRC The co-owner/founder of The Trunk Space invites you to Dr. Zombie's Movie Lab of Terror at the venue this Saturday, April 23. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? NPR. It's the the most "reasonable volume" news in the mornin ... More >>

Panda Bear: Tomboy

Panda Bear - Tomboy​The ides of April are upon us and they bring with them what I believe to be 2011's finest month for new music. No one release is as anticipated quite as much as Tomboy, the fourth album from Animal Collective founding member Panda Bear. We last heard from Panda Bear -- né Noah ... More >>

Odd Future at Billboard Magazine's Showcase: Ain't Shit Funny

​It was only because we both left his show early and in a huff that I got to shake hands with Tyler The Creator, the most interesting man in Austin this week. In case you're not following South By Southwest buzz closely, Tyler is the face of the festival's most hyped act, LA-based rap c ... More >>

Jimmie Dale Gilmore (a.k.a. Smokey from The Big Lebowski) Performs Live and More from SXSW

Jonathan McNamaraJimmie Dale's SXSW Showcase at the Driskell Hotel.​Remember Smokey, the pacifist who may or may not have stepped over the line while bowling in The Big Lebowski? He was the fidgety, silver-haired opponent who insisted The Dude mark it eight despite Walter's contention that his toe ... More >>

Christopher O'Riley on Ultimatums from Nuns, NPR, and the New Radiohead Album

​ Christopher O'Riley is a classical musician who creates piano arrangements of modern rock songs. He has released tributes to Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, and two Radiohead albums. His latest album, Out of my Hands, features the versions of songs by Nirvana, Portishead, Tears for Fears, The Sm ... More >>

Gabrielle Giffords Shot in Tucson. The Democratic Arizona Congresswoman Reportedly Was Alive at This Writing *UPDATED*

Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot this morning in Tucson.​*UPDATED* Click here for update.Democratic U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was one of at least 12 people shot this morning at an event at a grocery store in Tucson, NPR is reporting.Giffords was reportedly shot in ... More >>

A Common Wall Christmas

Pigeon John