Mosey south of Thomas Road and west of Seventh Avenue you may notice something unusual happens: The houses suddenly become breathtakingly beautiful. That’s because you’ve entered the Encanto-Palmcroft historic neighborhood. But there’s more to this area than just being really, really, ridiculously good looking. And you can plan on finding…

Imagine biking through Tempe: Lights sparkling off the lake, wind rushing through your hair, and coarse, wooly fabric rubbing against your skin. If this sounds desirable to you, then we must tip our bowler hats, raise our pipes, and suggest you participate in the annual Tweed Ride. Tempe Bicycle Action…

On Thursday, March 26, downtown Phoenix will host an epic, poetic battle. But we’re not talking about Trojan War status here. We mean an epic battle of poets, the Convergent Arts Slam hosted by Truth B. Told. Witness the competitors of this biweekly event turn their words into swords as…

In a relatively nondescript complex of half empty office spaces on Baseline Road, two women are creating art on machines that haven’t changed for hundreds of years. Cindy Iverson and Jeryl Jones opened Phoenix Print Studios just a few weeks ago in Tempe, but they have been letterpress printing and…

After you’ve shed your winter cardigan, but before you’ve started your spring cleaning, you may be feeling a bit lackluster, maybe even flavorless. It is common, it happens to everybody, and it’s not a big deal. Phoenix Center for the Arts and Flamenco Por La Vida have teamed up to…

Just the name “Deft Collective” is enough to pique our interest and have us looking into this show at Retrofit Creations. Twenty-three artists will be showing, including Christopher Conte with his steampunk-y arachnoid sculptures, brothers Chet (a.k.a. “Painter of Dark”) and Rick Zar, who works mostly with light and glass,…

Don’t let the name fool you. The 27th Annual Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival is way more than just ostriches. Sure, they have the ostrich races one would expect at such a festival, but they also have ducks, tigers, and sharks. Oh, and The Birdman from Las Vegas, a high wire…

Phoenix, get ready to start your engines as NASCAR takes over the Phoenix International Raceway, 7602 South Avondale Boulevard in Tolleson, the weekend of Friday, March 13. Whether you’re going all out and camping in an RV or bringing your lawn chairs and blankets to take over a spot on…

They say it takes two to tango. Well, apparently it also takes two to put on an incredible dance and string show. (We’re talking about the instruments, people.) Mesa Arts Center will host just that when the forces of EPIK Dance Co. and Simply Three join for Simply EPIK on…

In the grand scheme of things, 15 years doesn’t seem that significant. But when you’re talking about a city as relatively young and evolving as Phoenix, 15 years is an eternity. Not many have lasted downtown long enough to tell exactly how things were a decade or so ago, but…

For a third year, a section of the Arizona Canal will be filled with art, light, and of course water during Canal Convergence 2015. The four-day event features interactive pieces and installations along the canal between the Soleri and Marshall Way bridges near the Scottsdale Waterfront, 7135 East Camelback Road…

Somehow people still imagine Arizona as a place where cowboys spend their days riding horses, wrangling cattle, and strutting around in chaps. Well, starting Thursday, February 26, they may be right as the 62nd Annual Parada del Sol Rodeo takes over WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 North Pima Road. Cowboys, gals,…