Sticker Phiends #4 Opening Reception @ Cartel Coffee Lab From corny bumper stickers to sticky graphic squares pasted on fire hydrants and telephone poles, there’s no better way to slap your thoughts, ideas and likes or dislikes out there for the world to see than with a good old-fashioned decal. With slick designs from…
Chef Payton Curry, infamously known for his adventurous Christmas reindeer and Easter rabbit dinners, is doing a total one-eighty this year. Miffed that Caffe Boa is continuing his tradition of butchering Bugs, Curry is opting to serve a Vegan Easter Dinner on Sunday, April 24 at Welcome Diner. Yes, you…
PERFORMING ARTS Theater Published author, actor, and director Tom Leveen prides himself on being edgy when it comes to art. He co-owned the now-defunct Chyro Arts venue, where he tackled issues of child molestation in The Woodsman and debuted the stage version of Closer (the Oscar-winning film that starred Natalie…
It’s true that sex sells — but so does misery. Turn on the boob tube or pick up a daily newspaper, and you’ll be bombarded with images of destruction, from a hurricane’s aftermath to a shooting victim’s corpse. London-based artist Dena Schuckit is inspired, rather than horrified, by these photos…
It’s true that sex sells — but so does misery. Turn on the boob tube or pick up a daily newspaper, and you’ll be bombarded with images of destruction, from a hurricane’s aftermath to a shooting victim’s corpse. London-based artist Dena Schuckit is inspired, rather than horrified, by these photos…
There are some mighty big brains in Phoenix, and we’re not just talking about the squad of engineering geeks our local universities attract. Researchers now believe that there are different types of intelligence not measured by IQ tests — including artistic smarts, which will be heavily represented at Artopia, a…
Last night, the 33rd Annual Scottsdale Culinary Festival kicked off with a glam opening bash at Shade at the W Scottsdale.The six-day food fest includes over a dozen events, from upscale chef dinners and a Friends of James Beard event to the weekend’s more accessible and affordable Great Arizona Picnic…
The Arrogant Butcher publicity machine is at it again. When the Sam Fox eatery first opened at downtown’s CityScape in mid-February of this year, the place was flooded with VIP parties that made it look like the most popular joint in town — before it even opened to the public…
We credit everything from Food Network to the national attention drawn by celeb chefs Beau Mac Millan and Chris Bianco to new restaurant concepts such as Cycle for the upswing in local culinary interest. Still, we were surprised when a new Penzeys Spices location popped up at the still-trendy Tempe…
[Editor’s Note: Following publication, Cycle’s PR representative Ty Largo contacted us to clarify that Chef Dan Moody gave notification well in advance that he would not be able to attend the event.] While the Valley has an established pop-up art gallery scene, this past weekend marked the debut of anything even close to a…
If you’re a relative novice, it can be difficult to know where to start. A quick trip to Phoenix Knife House at McDowell & Miller roads in Scottsdale and I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. Santoku, bread knives, chef’s knives, boning knives… If you’ve got a ton of cash to…
We love food festivals. Give us a good BBQ, wine, or generic culinary event every weekend and we’d never go hungry or bored. But the amount of overlap between culinary events in Phoenix is starting to be a concern. Take this weekend’s newly-christened The Original Taste festival, for example. After years of taking place…
There’s a new boss in town, located on Saddlebag Trail in Scottsdale near Axis/Radius and Suede. El Hefe, a play on the Spanish word for boss, opened its massive garage doors to the public on March 23, though the official grand opening wasn’t until yesterday. The “super macho taqueria,” run…
When a hot co-worker you’ve been crushing on offers to show you the “flora down under” on your first date, there are a few ways to react: test out your right hook, walk away disgusted, or get psyched for a visit to the bush. Of course, much of that reaction…
If you thought the rivalry between Mac and PC users was brutal, just imagine the potential for fights between punk kids in slasher film tee shirts and elitist, beret-wearing cinephiles at the 11th Annual Phoenix Film Festival. ,p> This year the weeklong event spotlighting modern, independent cinema merged with the…
Fans of steampunk swear that the genre is based on literature that merges steam-powered technology, science fiction and Victorian fashions, such as H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine and Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. We’re more inclined to believe that gearheads with a penchant for deconstructing clocks and chicks…
The results of his experiment are found in the “10 Cameras Project” group exhibition, on display at Art Space at Optima Camelview Village. Since the show was an experiment in intrinsic value, it’s easy to observe the developed photographs and make assumptions about what constitutes the “best” art.The brilliant turquoise…
Last week, Sprouts Wellness Restaurant and Juice Bar at Camelback Inn introduced a new “Cooking Nutritionally Smart” workshop series hosted by executive sous chef Brian Archambault and featuring beverage director Trudy Thomas’ organic cocktails. “Healthy? Organic? Oh, no,” lamented cameraman Jonathan McNamara upon hearing of the restaurant’s lower-calorie cuisine. …
After last week’s tragic experiment with burning cooking sushi rice, The Virgin was tempted to give up on the whole sushi making experience. But armed with a few helpful tips, I mastered the rice technique and moved on to the main event. If you’re looking to feed picky eaters or don’t trust…
[Editor’s Note: This blog was edited after Sweet Republic let us know that their truck will be on Roosevelt Row for First Friday, but not at Curry’s new restaurant opening.] Last week, former Digestif and Caffe Boa chef Payton Curry announced he’d found the perfect location for his new pop-up-restaurant…
Critical Mass Phoenix @ Steele Indian School ParkWe’re all for promoting clean air and bicycle safety, but peddling through the streets of downtown Phoenix with dripping sweat stinging your eyes doesn’t sound like a cool way to spend a Friday night. Luckily, it’s fantastic outside. Take advantage of the spring…
The premise of Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain’s gourmet dinner series, “Hollywood Bites” is pretty enticing: diners are treated to a meal prepared by our own local celebu-chef Beau MacMillan, alongside Hollywood royalty. With Lady Gaga in town this weekend, we wondered who this month’s featured celebrity would be. The diva…
