As spring makes a quick appearance in Arizona, the days for camping and hiking are perfect (and numbered). Luckily, there are tons of places just outside of the Valley where you can take advantage of the natural beauty, gorgeous weather, and off-the-beaten path hikes, including Oak Flats…
Robots have long been a subject of pop culture fantasy. Think “Short Circuit,” “Robocop,” Mr. Roboto, Isaac Asimov’s famed “I, Robot,” and how can we forget Adult Swim’s oddly addicting “Robot Unicorn Attack” game? This Friday, March 25, the robot madness is coming to Phoenix as the robot-themed art exhibit,…
City Market Deli opened yesterday at SkySong in south Scottsdale. Build-your-own omelets, breakfast burritos and sandwiches round out the breakfast menu along with a variety of Starbucks coffee drinks and teas. Lunch is really where this new restaurant could excel, because, for the most part, the SkySong area is seriously lacking in…
Pinnacle Peak trail is for tourists — the well-manicured trail is lined with an almost unnatural variety of desert plant species, which are all labeled, and is heavily traveled by people … in jeans. (Note: If you can hike in jeans, you’re not really hiking.) The trail head features a…
All of the paperwork’s been filed and HeatSync Labs, Chandler’s collaborative hackerspace, has officially gained nonprofit status this week … now all they need is a new lab. The brain trust has outgrown Gangplank (the Chandler-based co-op space), which has been their home for the last year. And the group’s…
Last night, representatives from the Phoenix Film Festival gave an audience at the Phoenix Art Museum a sneak peek at a few short films in the Arizona, Animated and Foreign categories. If you didn’t catch them last night, you’ll have a second chance during the festival, March 31 through April…
The end is nigh. Doomsday is upon us! The Apocalypse has begun – for oysters, at least. Scientists recently declared wild oysters functionally extinct. 85 percent of the reefs they live on have disappeared due to disease or over-harvesting. Luckily for Americans, 75 percent of the world’s remaining wild oysters…
When Gangplank, the Chandler-based co-working and event space was tagged, its collaborative occupants decided to take matters into their own hands.”The city painted over [the tag] with regular brown paint, but that just means it’ll be right back up in a few days,” says Mike Benner, Gangplank Jr. Initiative Head…
Last night the Phoenix Film Festival announced that it will screen “Starting at the Finish Line: The Coach Buehler Story” for its Opening Night Gala. The film is produced by Phoenix Suns star Grant Hill, who will be in attendance for the gala, along with the film’s director and Coach…
I didn’t make it to the end of South Mountain’s Alta Trail on Sunday. I wasn’t sick. I wasn’t even tired. I was bored. There’s nothing particularly wrong with Alta Trail. The 4.5-mile trail meanders along the desert floor and then up and over some of the smallish peaks of…
In honor of the Devour Phoenix bartender competition tonight, Richie Moe, mixologist and partner at Citizen Public House, gives us the inside scoop on drink accents. Moe calls drink accents seasoning for cocktails, like adding salt or pepper. It won’t dramatically change the taste, but it will, “add mouth-feel and…
Baja Beach Bar recently celebrated its grand opening in Scottsdale, and added yet another beach-themed watering hole to an endlessly ocean-starved audience. The concept, the drinks and the decor certainly weren’t anything new; this beach bar is like any other overly decorated, cheesy beach bar in town. But the place was still…
The McDowell Mountains may be in the middle of the city, but when you’re at the top, you can still soak in a good dose of landscape and seclusion. The mountain’s Sunrise Trail is one of the more popular trails and cuts through the south area of the range. The…
Besides going thrift store shopping and drinking excessive amounts of iced coffee, New Times blogger Megan Dobransky and her ninja city employee friend, Martha Falbo, go to the movies. (Actually, this is the first time they’ve ever gone to a movie together.) Megan: So, should we talk about the movie…
Erik Nicewarner wants your bike — if it needs fixing, that is. Nicewarner owns Velo Van, a mobile bicycle repair shop, and although the idea’s been in the making for months, it’s only been officially in business for a few weeks.He says the concept is easy: Call or e-mail Nicewarner…
Sven Slab on the north side of the McDowell Mountains is one of the most popular granite rock climbs in Arizona. It’s also good for beginners (and good thing because while I’ve been indoor climbing for about five months, the mountains and I will agree — I’m still a newbie)…
South Mountain is a unique hiking area because of its variety of trail lengths, difficulty and sheer number of options. Both beginners and seasoned hikers can find something to satisfy their getting-outdoors urge. Mormon Trail is one of those happy medium trails. It’s difficult at some parts and climbs pretty…
This Sunday’s Great American Lawn Sale in Tempe is like any great yard sale … on steroids. Mood Swings Salon & Skin Spa joined forces with Brand X — both are remodeling their spaces so they have tons of fun stuff — to bring the community a large-scale steal.Added bonus:…
How can we count the ways we love Irrational Fears? It’s full of deep, dark secrets, personal confrontation, terror, intrigue, and a picture of a bunch of naked people. Irrational Fears let users divulge their quirky fears, strange worries, and personal strife to owner and Irishwoman Sarah Malone who posts…
Mark your calendars: The Red Hot Robot grand opening on March 5. The toy-gallery-turned-gift-shop announced that their new space will be the corner of 16th Street and Bethany Home Road. Their new neighbors will include hometown favorites Vig Uptown, Cupcakes by Design, Luci’s Healthy Market Place and Hobe Meat, which…
Warriors aren’t made every day — but they are tested during an intense 5-kilometer race with a heavy dose of mud, barbed wire, obstacle-dodging and, oh yeah, fire. What began as a Midwest tumble in 2008 quickly grew into Warrior Dash, which will take over one city per month in…
The 32nd Contemporary Crafts show will open at the Mesa Arts Center tonight with an artist talk by Stephanie Trenchard, light refreshments and a cash bar. So what makes a craft contemporary? “To me, ‘contemporary crafts’ means work done by contemporary artists in the areas that have been traditionally defined…
