Talking to strangers on a public-transit system is a crapshoot, as there’s an equal chance of finding rude urban professionals, chatty eco-friendly types, or folks that are straight-up batshit crazy. That’s why photographer and ASU student Sean Deckert rolled the dice when he decided to shoot black-and-white photos of people…
Satay is my go-to dish at any Thai or Pan-Asian restaurant. Made with chunks of chicken or beef broiled in spices and served with the crack of condiments — peanut sauce — it’s a dish everyone from picky five-year-old Susie to granny will adore. Yes, I am a peanut sauce addict,…
During the week, how long do you take for lunch? An hour? Fifteen minutes? Or do you simply munch away on a crappy microwave meal or a pitiful yogurt cup while still working at your desk? Yeah, don’t bother denying it. If you’re like most Americans, your weekday lunch has gone the way…
A couple of years ago, an e-mail circulated around featuring a hilariously misspelled and misinterpreted cake from the bakery department at either Sam’s Club or Wal-Mart (depending on who reported the story). That e-mail prompted budding cake decorator Jen Yates to create Cake Wrecks, a blog dedicated to professionally decorated cake disasters. Cut…
On a recent trip to the Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe, we spotted an unusual looking machine in front of Burlington Coat Factory. Apparently, they’ve been appearing at malls around the country over the past year or so. Labeled as a “Hurricane Simulator,” this baby recreates hurricane force winds up to 78MPH…
This past Tuesday night, Bookmans in Mesa held a VIP Tasting reception for media and friends of the store’s cafe. If you haven’t been to their Mesa location since the renovation late last year, Bookmans now has a cute little coffee shop in the front right corner of the store by…
It’s easier to bitch about the heartless CEO of your company who slashed health benefits or curse the tax man who’s threatening to take your car if you see them as faceless bureaucrats draining the souls of poor, defenseless Americans. Local artist Henry Bellavia takes a literal interpretation of “faceless…
Traffic is something Phoenicians battle every day. Some deal by listening to classical tunes in the frigid air of their Beamers. Others “go green” — and turn red from heatstroke — by biking. The unfortunates swelter in their classic VW Bugs, wishing for sweet, sweet death. With transportation such a…
It’s easier to bitch about the heartless CEO of your company who slashed health benefits or curse the tax man who’s threatening to take your car if you see them as faceless bureaucrats draining the souls of poor, defenseless Americans. Local artist Henry Bellavia takes a literal interpretation of “faceless…
We won’t pretend that fried ice cream is an authentic Mexican dessert. An exchange student friend assures us it’s not. But in America, and especially in Phoenix, fried ice cream has become a staple of Mexican restaurants — taking up precious dessert menu space alongside the more traditional flan and sopapillas. Not that we’re complaining. When done right…
Imagine hundreds of pre-teens in thick black mascara, fake fangs and themed t-shirts (plus a few out of place soccer moms) crowding together in one place to see the supporting actors in the film version of a bestselling book about sparkly vampires written by a Mormon mom from Arizona. Yeah, a few…
Earlier this month we presented a fun quiz in conjuntion with the review of Sue Chenoweth’s Spyhopping show at Scottsdale Museum of Contempory Art. Below are the correct answers to the quiz. If you participated, please email us directly and we’ll get you the details about how to claim your mini-prize: wynter.holden@villagevoicemedia.com. …
In searching for a new wedding location on their 1200-acre grounds, the folks at The Boulders Resort in Carefree may have accidentally stumbled upon an ancient religious site. Managing Director Michael Hoffman found the small grouping of boulders and decided it was the perfect spot to build an outdoor wedding venue called…
Yuca If you’ve ever had yuca frites, you know how sweet and appealing the starchy root (aka cassava or manioc) can be. Too bad it’s laced with cyanide. No, these delicious frites won’t put you in the hospital, but that’s because cooking the root prior to consumption breaks down the cyanide and makes it safe to eat. You have to wonder who…
This past Tuesday, The Melting Pot in Ahwatukee held a 10th Anniversary bash with complimentary wine, cigars and lots and lots of fondue. To help you wade through the 10-step experience that is The Melting Pot — and to showcase the food porn we captured during the anniversary event — we’ve compiled a…
Crafting gets a bad rap. While someone labeled as craftsperson might make gorgeous wood cabinets or exotic metal jewelry, people hear the word “craft” and immediately jump to conclusions involving doilies, glue guns, and popsicle sticks — you know, shit you made in third grade summer camp. Phoenix’s leading craft…
It’s hard to be incognito when you’re a performer. That’s why it’s better to be a visual artist — you can spy on people talking about your work without them even knowing. Local artist Sue Chenoweth gets a kick out of hearing guests speculate about her whimsical, childlike paintings. “People…
Crafting gets a bad rap. While someone labeled as craftsperson might make gorgeous wood cabinets or exotic metal jewelry, people hear the word “craft” and immediately jump to conclusions involving doilies, glue guns, and popsicle sticks — you know, shit you made in third grade summer camp. Phoenix’s leading craft…
International foods have found their way into the heart of American (and Phoenician) cuisine, from sushi rolls and ramen bowls to gelato and panini. For this week’s battle, we visited two places with international flavor — one a tiny vegetarian friendly cafe owned by a self-professed world traveler and the other a chic wine…
Ahwatukee’s Secreto is a secret no longer. Word of mouth is spreading about this New Mexican restaurant which quietly opened last Thursday in the former Havana Cafe spot in SE Phoenix (4232 E. Chandler Blvd., 480-706-2200). Secreto is named after a group of Franciscan monks who smuggled Spanish grapevines into New Mexico…
The BMW is a status car — a symbol of wealth, success and class. That is, unless you go wild with a can of paint and cheapen it up like a twenty dollar Walmart rug. This zebra-striped beauty is painted from bumper to bumper and even sports matching fuzzy zebra seat covers. Yee-haw!…
Just when you thought corporate marketing goons, er, “geniuses” couldn’t stoop any lower, this little gem shows up in local Fry’s grocery stores: Yeah, we know. Creepy…
