10 Favorite Boutiques for Holiday Shopping in Metro Phoenix

With the holidays in full swing (and our endless shopping lists in hand) we’ve wrangled this list of 10 boutiques in the Valley that will make any remaining gift-buying trips a breeze. 10. Poor Little Rich GirlWhat: Poor Little Rich Girl deals in lightly used, and usually pretty new, designer…

Smash-Dance

Ballet often comes off more stuffy than captivating, with mental images of crankily prancing, poorly fed girls overshadowing the verve and artistic innovation of dancers like Mikhail Baryshnikov and Twyla Tharp. And, honestly, re-watching the final season of Sex and the City solely for Baryshnikov’s international tryst with Sarah Jessica…

Double Vision

Flashy shoes. Boobs. Identical twins. Things that come in pairs seem to be natural attention grabbers. While The Sklar Brothers don’t boast chestiness or a particularly keen fashion sense, they do fall into the third category. The comedic carbon copies — first names Randy and Jason – will riff on…

Black Silk and Velvet Party Dress at Annie Boomer Vintage

Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: Little black dresses have been all we can think about since attending Dennita Sewell’s lecture on the fashion staple. This LBD from Annie Boomer Vintage fits the…

Dennita Sewell’s Five Facts You Didn’t Know about the Little Black Dress

Phoenix Art Museum’s fashion curator Dennita Sewell dished out the history of the little black dress during the LBD cocktail party on Friday at Scottsdale’s recently opened Saguaro hotel.After imbibing, chatting, and snatching a few hors d’oeuvres, attendees sat down, facing mannequins dressed in a collection of LBDs from Robert Black. Sewell…

Top 5 Things to Do This Weekend

As the holidays approach, we relish every opportunity to get bundled/gussied up and celebrate. Whether that means attending a limited screening of an indie flick or a rooftop bash, anything to get out of the house (and save moolah on those heating bills) sounds good. For a solid weekend of going…

Five Neil Hamburger Jokes to Tell at Your Own Risk

Neil Hamburger’s set at Crescent Ballroom last night was precisely what the crowd wanted: The suited and combed-over comic (the alter ego of Gregg Turkington) went on a high-energy roll, churning through offensive pop culture jokes with unexpected, often shocking, punchlines, with plenty of mucousy throat clearing.”I’ve been diagnosed with…

Five Must-See Movies in December

Sometimes it’s a one-night deal, and sometimes they stick around for weeks, so when it comes to seeing an independent film at a local theater, planning ahead is crucial.That’s why we’ve wrangled must-see flicks screening in the Valley this month. Prep your bowl of buttery popcorn and check out our…

Glad-Banding

Everyone has their favorite holiday song, whether it’s the classic, jovial “Frosty the Snowman,” or the jazzy, bittersweet “Christmas Time is Here.” For a dose of the two festively combined, Jeffrey Hattrick (resident master of tea ceremonies Ritz-Carlton) and all-musical-terrain pianist Nicole Pesce will return to Herberger Theater for their…

Black Friday

Slip into your favorite little black dress for an evening that will celebrate the iconic, ever-chic fashion statement. The cocktail party includes an exhibition of LBDs from Fashion by Robert Black, and a lecture from Phoenix Art Museum’s Fashion Curator Dennita Sewell on the history of the versatile and accessible…

Raw Hamburger

Aggressively off timing, persistent throat clearing, alternating brutal and non sequitur punch lines drawling from a frowning mouth. With combed-over greasy hair atop a sweaty, contorted face, Gregg Turkington’s anti-comedy alter ego Neil Hamburger asks the important questions; like “Why did god give Smash Mouth three top ten hits?” and…

Rug Runners

Followers of The Dude and his abiding, “whatever man” ways no longer need to cross state lines to celebrate The Coen Brothers’ quotable comedy The Big Lebowski. Granted, we aren’t getting our own offshoot of Lebowski Fest. But a screening during Cult Thursdays at FilmBar is a step in the…

Beaded Grecian Cocktail Dress from Meat Market Vintage

Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list.What: The hunt for an all-purpose, glamorous dress for holiday parties ends here. Skip go-to festive brights like red and green in favor of creamy, wintery white in…

Top 5 Things to Do This Weekend

Take a break from pulling your hair out over your holiday shopping list, all those sweets that need baking, stressing over what to wear for the already-started holiday party season, and have some fun this weekend. Here are your best bets:Stray Cat Christmas! @ Go-Kat-GoVintage shop Go-Kat-Go and AZ Retro Rescue…

Six Gifts for the Fashionista

Fashionistas are a picky breed. They love clothes, shoes, handbags, and jewelry, but tailoring gifts to suit their taste (not to mention ever-changing trends) can be a daunting task.Here are a handful of local finds that will leave even the pickiest beaming with holiday happiness. 1. Tie Cardigan by BobiThis…

Five Local Lectures That’ll Up Your IQ in December

Whether you’re looking to become an expert on a subject or just want to have something to wow your pals with over drinks, here are five lectures for aspiring poindexters during December.5. The Sweet Science of BakingAvid bakers and aspiring Betty Crockers prepping for holiday bake-athons will get a scientific…

Jam Session

A recent study by finance website Bundle found that Scottsdale residents are some serious shopaholics, spending more money on average per month than the fashion-obsessed in New York and Los Angeles. The result of all that dough spent? Gaggles of women prancing around like Absolutely Fabulous duo Eddie and Patsy…

Intelligent Design

Google an image of architect Fay Jones’ masterpiece Thorncrown Chapel. The non-denominational Arkansas house of worship is one of the most famous designs from the American Institute of Architects- awarded Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice. Bucking the tendency of successful architects to gravitate toward towering skyscraper projects, throughout his career Jones…

American Beauty

Not many fashion shows have the potential to thwart cultural expectations, but during Native Style: Where Fashion is Heard there’s a good chance that will happen. The vintage and contemporary pieces that will be included in the fashion show aren’t what most would imagine Native American fashion looks like. They’re…

Have Your Cake

Avid bakers and aspiring Betty Crockers prepping for holiday bake-athons will get a scientific breakdown of kitchen chemistry when Urban Cookies owner Brady Breese discusses how ingredients react to form delicious cookies, cakes, and pies while in the oven. Fri., Dec. 2, 7 p.m., 2011…

Zasha by JudeFrances Enamel Quilted Cuff

Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: This black and white cuff comes from high-end jewelry designer duo JudeFrances’ diffusion line Zasha. When Ken Downing lectured at Phoenix Art Museum last month, he…