Clapton, Hendrix, Page, Montgomery, Christian, Reinhardt. Don’t worry, most folks glazed over while reading the back half of that sentence. But, as jazz enthusiasts have lamented for years, guitarists Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, and Django Reinhardt — among others — are equally deserving of that prestigious “household name” status as…

It’s tough to think of an analogy that conveys how quickly and efficiently Phoenicians recede indoors for the summer only to emerge in late September like nothing ever happened. Ron Howard’s hairline comes to mind. And since stores are well aware of this, they often pull out all the stops…

For Britain, most of the 19th century was marked by peace, growth, and, above all, opulence. We layfolk might be familiar with that time in British history as the Victorian Era. But there are two sides to every story.American author Alex Grecian has taken it upon himself to tell the…

There aren’t a lot of sports institutions whose rulebooks explicitly state, “speedos only.” Thank God. Sure, the Cards’ linemen are athletes, but “Speedo only” athletes they are not. Mixed Martial Arts athletes, however, embrace a workout regimen grueling enough to terrify even the most ardent of gym rats. Thus their…

It certainly feels like there’s a lot of events using the First Friday model nowadays, but keeping track of Second Saturdays and Twelfth Tuesdays gets pretty cumbersome. So much so that, like most technologically dependent humans, you’ve probably thrown a few worthwhile events into your iCalendar and handed your scheduling…

If you can imagine a sport that combines the brutality of the NHL with the recklessness of NASCAR, only with more fisticuffs, more collisions, and a lot more mascara, you might be imagining the Arizona Rollergirls. Somehow these flat-track speed demons package all that brutish beauty into each of their…

For most of us, our daily lunch break is hardly glamorous, much less cultured. Unless, of course, you packed some aged Gouda. Which is why the Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe Street, is encouraging patrons to “think outside the lunch box” with its Lunch Time Theater series. Six bucks…

A good rule of thumb for Cinco de Mayo: If you can correctly spell “chihuahua,” then you need another margarita. In fact, if you can correctly spell your first name — well, you get the picture.Fortunately, you’ll be able to get your fill of tequila and tiny dogs on Saturday,…

It’s fair to argue that science fiction hasn’t merely reflected popular culture; it has often shaped it. By engaging our imaginations with fantastical technological trajectories and visions of the future, it frequently serves as a template for life’s imitation of art. While often wildly inaccurate, is there any artistic genre…

While so much of Latino culture has been embraced and integrated into everyday life here in Arizona, there’s one biggie that hasn’t broken through yet. Really, when was the last time you spotted a Salsa song on the Top 40? Or didn’t blow by the Spanish stations on your FM…

While there may be plenty for outsiders to scoff at (wacky politicians, questionable legislation, sheriffs named Joe), there are still a few things that make Arizona pretty appealing. In fact, Arizona’s rich landscapes, famous highways, and mostly beautiful weather make our state a downright oasis for any biker thirsty for…

It’s easy to be a cynic these days. It’s as if the unrelenting assault of negativity that characterizes television news has thrust its way into every imaginable medium so that not even the craftiest curmudgeon can elude its reach. If only there were an elixir, a fix for the soul…

It sure feels like a distant memory now, but just a few months ago the prevailing wisdom amongst NBA insiders was that the Phoenix Suns would be swan-diving their way to the bottom of the barrel in hopes of fishing out some top-notch draft picks. Instead, the gritty, over-achieving squad…

If George Clooney, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, and Bill Murray all sign off on a movie that doesn’t have Wes Anderson or the Coen Brothers attached to it, then it must be something special. We’ll leave it up to you to decide how well the jaw-dropping cast of The Monuments…

So, not only are you scratching your head wondering where the first two months of 2014 have gone, but now your fingers are glistening with salty, foreboding little beads of sweat, gently reminding you that the mercury is once again rising. Fortunately, you still have about a month to get…

So, apparently, all that pretty stuff that peppers the horizon on the outskirts of town is called “the outdoors,” and some folks even consider it great. Indeed, the scenic mountains and desert terrain that surround us aren’t just something you learn about when you’re camped out on your couch burning…

For many of us the budget’s tight this time of year. Still reeling from our holiday hangovers, we lock down our pocketbooks, put our credit cards on an aggressive diet and some of us even begin to make good on our New Year’s resolutions.Well, this weekend should just about spoil…

Almost exactly one year ago, the Harlem Globetrotters paid a visit to US Airways Center, bringing with them their zany, high-flying brand of exhibition basketball. Concessions were sold, people were entertained, and for a brief moment there was a basketball team in Phoenix worth watching, even if (spoiler alert) the…

There aren’t too many places in this wondrous hemisphere of ours where one might attend a pool party in February, let alone a pool party hosted by the Mayor. Lucky for you, Phoenix is one of those places. And regardless of how you feel about our Mayor gallivanting about in…

On Thursday, January 23, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is hosting a Steampunk Ball. If you happen to be a steampunk fan, then you’re probably quite well aware of this and may kindly excuse yourself from the following description, which you’re likely to scoff disapprovingly at anyway.For you remaining…

Heading into the 2013-14 NBA season it was common knowledge that a handful of teams had hurled themselves headlong into rebuilding mode, dumping contracts and gobbling up first-round picks with a voracious eye for the famously loaded 2014 draft. Atop that list was the Phoenix Suns. But no one predicted…

Hyperbole is no stranger to art. For example, when The Proclaimers proclaimed that they would “walk 500 miles,” we all knew they were fibbing. Besides, Scots don’t walk miles, they walk kilometers. Conversely, playwright Amy Herzog’s delicately wrought work 4000 Miles does tell a tale of a man traveling a…