Arts & Culture

The Halloween-themed par-tay features “scandalous burlesque” by Provocatease, “dark vaudeville” by Of the Earth, DJ spins by Djentrification, costume contests, and the Dark Noir Cabaret Show. Sat., Oct. 31, 7 p.m.-1 a.m., 2009…

These days, serious stage drama is scarcer than hen’s teeth. Fortunately, when Space 55 Theatre isn’t bringing the pants-wetting funny, the downtown troupe offers moving alternatives to musicals, farces, and sitting at home with CSI. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, it opens a comfort-zone-busting trifecta: Phillip E. Schmeidl’s The…

To the good people here in the States, Russia is generally equated with vodka, Communism, and Sarah Palin’s formerly “watchful eye.” Rock ’n’ roll? Not so much. Lucky for us, insanely popular (in Russia) band Mumiy Troll is determined to change that. MT’s catchy “rockapops” sound is kind of like…

Ah, the beauty of college football. Before the start of the 2009 season, there was a noticeable difference between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the California Golden Bears. In the eyes of preseason pundits, ASU equaled mediocre to bad while many figured that Cal could usurp USC’s seven-year reign…

Here’s a golf challenge: We triple dog dare you that you can’t land on the green in the dark. Sounds all Mission Impossible, right? Well, when the balls are fluorescent like they will be during the Night Flight Golf event at Palo Verde Golf Course, then it’s, like, mission possible…

Trying to relive your glory days is usually a mistake. It typically ends with you becoming that creeper who parties with high school kids. That cruel fact is what makes today’s game for the Arizona Cardinals so special. When they take on the Carolina Panthers in a rematch of last…

There’s no separation of church and scare at Final Destination IV. This guided walk-through depicts horrifying morality plays of sinning and eternal damnation, i.e. gay people worship Satan and abortions are a one-way ticket to Hades. These so-called “Hell Houses” are nationwide franchises preaching the literal translation of the Bible;…

These days, it seems like half of Arizona is on its way to pseudo-Tuscan McMansionville. It’s too bad, really, since mid-century modern architecture is found in exactly two places on earth: Palm Springs, California, and the Phoenix area. One local diamond in the rough, the Hotel Valley Ho, was barely…

The Grammy-winning vocal ensemble begins its 51st season by performing the works of Eric Whitacre, Morten Lauridsen, Tarik O’Regan, Gabriel Jackson, and their composer-in-residence Ola Gjeilo. Sun., Nov. 1, 3 p.m., 2009…

Someone’s always telling us the Apocalypse is right around the corner. First, there was the Heaven’s Gate doomsday cult, then the Y2K freaks, and now, John Cusack. Of course, we know what spectacular bullshit the first two were, so don’t spend your life savings on an underground bunker in prep…

The annual run through the pristine northeast Valley desert features six and a half loops on the 15.4-mile Pemberton Trail. A bit pricy, but spectacular — and it always sells out. Proceeds benefit the McDowell Mountain Park Trail Fund. Registration is required. Sat., Oct. 31, 6 a.m., 2009…

Gorgeously morbid images of Southwestern grave art by photographer Dick George. Oct. 30-Jan. 17, 2009…

The kickass troupe from Denver, known for its extreme athleticism, performs Rivers of Hope. Based on Blood Memories by choreographer Donald McKayle, the program draws comparisons between the Nile and Mississippi rivers and how they define life within their gravitational pulls. Fri., Oct. 30, 8 p.m., 2009…

Golfland SunSplash, usually the second-happiest place on Earth, has once more reinvented itself for All Hallows with The Gauntlet, a 5,000-square-foot maze re-creating the bubonic plague of the 1300s. Horrifyingly, the Black Death left its 75 million victims with decaying flesh, dark, scabby spots all over their bodies, and inflamed…

I recently dug up the old recordings of my college band, The Hobo Kin, and gave it a listen. The entire thing was fuzzy and sounded like it was recorded in a closet, because parts of it were. If you listen close, you can still hear the band whose album…

The third annual event features a community altar, live music, and — at its heart — a Mercado that’s one of the top places in the Valley to pick up Day of the Dead merch. Sat., Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 1, 12-5 p.m., 2009…

Party with the Gecko Brothers, Santanico Pandemonium, and an array of blood-sucking party monsters at Dos Diablos’ wicked Halloween wingding. A prize of $100 will be awarded to the winner of the “Best Salma Hayek Snake Dance” competition, while $50 cash prizes go to those who’ve dressed to impress in…

The Valley’s first-ever Vice party was so nice, they’ve decided to do it twice. On he the heels of last week’s Desert Bender party at Blackforest Mill, the hipster ‘zine Vice is presenting another swank soiree, this time at Tempe’s Yucca Tap Room. Touch & Go superstars Crystal Antlers will…

It doesn’t take long to get into El Ten Eleven. Hell, I was hooked a few songs into the L.A. post-rock duo’s self-titled debut. Then, toward the end of my listen, I got a call from a blocked number. It was “Dave,” who had dialed the wrong number, but didn’t…

I respect the hell out of whoever books the concert series at the Arizona State Fair. Though I’m sure the something-for-everyone policy that steers the decision-making process must be a pain and likely leads to grumbling from nearly everyone, you’d have to be a seriously joyless indie snob not to…

Fete the dearly departed in at this ginormous Dia de los Muertos celebration that will take up the entire MAC complex. Mucho entertainmiento and activities are scheduled for the two-day event, including mariachi groups and traditional musicians, folklorico dancing, workshops and artist demonstrations, sugar skull-making classes and other arts and…

The sports author (Now I Can Die in Peace: How ESPN’s Sports Guy Found Salvation and More, Thanks to the World Champion (Twice!) Boston Red Sox) signs his latest, The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy. Tue., Nov. 3, 7 p.m., 2009…