Sarah Ventre

Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Qualifying Round at Arizona Mills Mall

Concert Review: Frock 'N Roll

BY SARAH VENTRESarah Ventre​ I have to admit, in a quiet, whispered voice, that I actually don't like Halloween. Trust me, I've tried. I've had no traumatic experiences around the event, or anything that should conceivably prevent me from enjoying the holiday that everyone else so loves. Sure, ... More >>

Rockaroke, Suns Viewing Party, Domo, Deathface, and Other Memorial Day Weekend Thrills

Expect to see this kinda scene at the Sail Inn in Tempe tonight during rockaroke.​The Yucca Tap's loss is the Sail Inn's gain. In case you're not up on the comings and goings of the Valley's music scene, local legends the Zen Lunatics packed up their popular -- and award-winning -- rockaroke nigh ... More >>

Why Your Pizza Delivery Guy Hates You

Jasmine HobeheidarWhaddaya mean "no tip?"​ They work hard to deliver hot, cheesy goodness to your front door and expect only a paltry tip in return. They are pizza guys and their stories deserve to be heard. The following is the tale as told to me by such a pizza guy. Should he attach his name to ... More >>

Why Your Starbucks Barista Hates You

http://collegecandy.files.wordpress.comPlease, don't spoil her day. ​When Starbucks comes to mind, the avalanche of associations is unavoidable. But whether you adore the behemoth company or foam at the mouth in a crazy fit of wrath whenever you hear its name, well, no one actually cares as much a ... More >>

Bob Log III, Adam Arcuragi, Sticky Fingers' Michael Jackson Tribute, and More

The ladies love Bob Log III, who's scheduled to perform at Chopper John's on Saturday Night.​Although downtown may or may not be ovah (depending on the particular mood of our fair editor Martin Cizmar), but in the meantime, East Phoenix might just be coming alive when it comes to live music. In a ... More >>

Brownie Showdown: Joy of Baking

When we heard about the 26-page Pentagon brownie recipe published recently, we couldn't resist trying to bake them. Emphasis on trying. What better time for the next Chow Bella Showdown? We gathered the staff and got them baked -- er, baking. Whose cuisine will reign supreme? Tune in all week to se ... More >>

Secret Cities, Secretions, Secret Parties, and Other July Fourth Weekend Thrills

Sac-Town punkers The SecretionsFirst Friday in Downtown Phoenix (Friday):Music editor Martin Cizmar has already filled you in about Shawn Anderson's killer show later tonight at tonight's edition of the monthly art walk, but that ain't the only gig going down. In addition to the rockers of the Mader ... More >>

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 7/15 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. Who was the real star of the show at Saturday night's Kings of Leon concert? What will Lindsay Lohan's best car ... More >>

New Hooves T-Shirt Inspired By Black Cactus Haters

​This week's music feature about the Black Cactus Records clique has been causing a little stir, mostly because of a few quotes aimed at various local movers-and-shakers the Cacti aren't big fans of. Chief among them is Hooves, a band notorious for their drunken antics (read Jason Woodbury's feat ... More >>

Why Your Busboy Hates You

Carol Blonder Cinder-fella ​In the tradition of Sarah Ventre (Why Your Cocktail Waitress Hates You), as well as our anonymous Starbucks barista and pizza delivery guy, the quintessential busboy shares his anecdotes of restaurant service and Why Your Busboy Hates You, as told ... More >>

Former New Times Music Intern Cops to Never Having Heard Pet Sounds on NPR Blog

​Sarah Ventre seemed like a great intern.She was hard-working, talented and friendly. Many of us at Phoenix New Times grew quite fond of her. The team of bloggers that brings you Up On The Sun was all incredibly happy for Sarah when she was offered a coveted internship at NPR's All Songs Considere ... More >>

Tom VandenAvond, Frequis, WTFunk Friday, and Other Events This Weekend

Benjamin LeathermanA typical night at TT Roadhouse, which is putting on a major party this weekend.One year ago, many fans of the TT Roadhouse such as myself probably had a major Malox moment going. Rumors were circulating that Brad Henrich, the longtime proprietor of the notorious Scottsdale dive ... More >>

Gospel Claws @ Sail Inn

Benjamin LeathermanA typical night at TT Roadhouse, which is putting on a major party this weekend.One year ago, many fans of the TT Roadhouse such as myself probably had a major Malox moment going. Rumors were circulating that Brad Henrich, the longtime proprietor of the notorious Scottsdale dive ... More >>

The Queers @ Chasers

Benjamin LeathermanA typical night at TT Roadhouse, which is putting on a major party this weekend.One year ago, many fans of the TT Roadhouse such as myself probably had a major Malox moment going. Rumors were circulating that Brad Henrich, the longtime proprietor of the notorious Scottsdale dive ... More >>

2 Tone Lizard Kings Carry the Torch for Arizona's Ska Scene

Benjamin LeathermanA typical night at TT Roadhouse, which is putting on a major party this weekend.One year ago, many fans of the TT Roadhouse such as myself probably had a major Malox moment going. Rumors were circulating that Brad Henrich, the longtime proprietor of the notorious Scottsdale dive ... More >>

2 Tone Lizard Kings Carry the Torch for Arizona's Ska Scene

Benjamin LeathermanA typical night at TT Roadhouse, which is putting on a major party this weekend.One year ago, many fans of the TT Roadhouse such as myself probably had a major Malox moment going. Rumors were circulating that Brad Henrich, the longtime proprietor of the notorious Scottsdale dive ... More >>

Top 25 Lists of 13 New Times Contributors

Benjamin LeathermanA typical night at TT Roadhouse, which is putting on a major party this weekend.One year ago, many fans of the TT Roadhouse such as myself probably had a major Malox moment going. Rumors were circulating that Brad Henrich, the longtime proprietor of the notorious Scottsdale dive ... More >>

Rebecca Black's Only Fan Lashes Out at Writer

​​Thank you, dear readers, for occasionally taking the time to give us at Up On The Sun some feedback on our writing. When I was growing up, my parents always told me that it's impossible to please everybody. Boy, were they right. Unfortunately it's impossible to please all of our readers, whic ... More >>

Listen: Billie Maxwell and the Maxwell Family Orchestra

Billie Maxwell: The first cowgirl singer. And she's from Arizona.​This week's feature is on the very first recorded music made by someone from the state of Arizona. The music of Billie Maxwell and her family comes from eastern Arizona's White Mountains and was put on wax in the l ... More >>

Billie Maxwell, Aaron Lewis, Arcade Fire, Talib Kweli and More in This Week's Issue

Billie Maxwell and her family band.​Sarah Ventre went in search of the story of the oldest record ever made by an Arizona artist in this week's issue. Those records were made by original cowgirl singer Billie Maxwell and her humble family band from Eastern Arizona in the 1920s.To do that, Sarah sp ... More >>

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. at the Rhythm Room on Wednesday, June 1

Photos by Maria VassettDale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.​Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.The Rhythm RoomWednesday, June 1, 2011Spoiler alert: If you're at all up to date on any recent NASCAR happenings, there will be a totally corny comparison later in this review. For now, however, I will focus my energies on what to ... More >>