Arts & Culture

Adults-only, no-brats access to the NFL Experience. Thu., Jan. 31, 9 p.m.-midnight, 2008…

There’s something about images of a burning book. It’s like seeing pictures of famine-stricken children or Hillary Clinton in tears. You know something is terribly wrong in the world. The Nazi book bonfires of 1933 awakened a spirit of outrage as soon as photos of brown-shirt students building conflagrations out…

Hmm, what does an event called Toxic Mondays imply? Stuffing your face with fake grub from the neighborhood fast-food joint? In Zuma Grill’s case, the shindig means that promoter Brian Durkee and bartender Wyatt Erwin get the place hoppin’ with ceiling-cracking DJ Circle and heavy pours of Stoli cocktails that…

Showcasing the odd yet appealing pairing of Mary J. Blige and Maroon 5. Thu., Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m., 2008…

Once again, models play some pigskin at halftime of the Big Game. Sun., Feb. 3, 2008…

Telling stat: The New England Patriots’ All-World (formerly All-Thug, purportedly All-Rehabilitated) wide receiver Randy Moss was held to a total of two — two! — catches in the Pats’ playoff wins against the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers. This was planned. As one TV sports sage wagged, sagely, the…

The division leading Suns host the struggling Bobcats. Mon., Feb. 4, 7 p.m., 2008…

Oh, we hope not. The Phoenix Suns’ December 17 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio represents one of the Suns’ few quality wins this season. But as piss-poor as they’ve played at times, the dudes from Planet Orange can take much of the sting away with a…

Two teams with some of the NBA’s best records — the Phoenix Suns and the New Orleans Hornets — battle at U.S. Airways Center. Sat., Jan. 5, 7 p.m.; Wed., Feb. 6, 7 p.m., 2008…

As one of the most prolific composers of his generation, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington wrote, throughout his long career, movie soundtracks (Otto Preminger’s 1959 Anatomy of a Murder is a great example), classical scores, and many individual tunes that are now considered American standards. More than thirty years after his…

“Jim Waid Recent Paintings” at Riva Yares Gallery: It’s easy to make the argument that we’re overstimulated. With TV, movies, and Wii, paintings really have to go the extra mile to stand out. Jim Waid’s nature-inspired paintings, while static, offer an escape into a whimsical world of fantastic landscapes and…

America! The Complete Series (RHI) Barney Miller: The Complete Second Season (Sony) Best Actress Collection (Fox) Best Picture Academy Award Winners Collection (Fox) Blonde Ambition (Sony) Butterfly Collectors (Koch Vision) The Catherine Cookson Anthology (Koch Vision) ER: The Complete Eighth Season (Warner Bros.) The Game Plan (Disney) Hawaii Five-O: The…

Confessions of a Superhero (Arts Alliance) As one of those quoted on the package (“A more beautiful documentary you’re unlikely to find”), I can only reiterate my earlier praise: Matt Ogens’ doc, about mortals dressed as superheroes trolling Hollywood Boulevard for tourists’ loose change, is stunning to look at —…

Not too long ago, I lost a very lucrative job here in Arizona because I speak English. That’s right. I had a great offer from a worldwide education television channel in Scottsdale that took the job away from me when they realized Spanish is my second language — not my…

There’s a point at which every fad overstays its welcome. Could it be that Guitar Hero is already just a sour note from being booed out of America’s living room? For evidence, look no further than the plethora of GH cash-in products hawked at this month’s Consumer Electronics Show in…

With its soccer-mom Stepford wives and bland strip malls, Chandler ain’t no Milan. Truth hurts. But one of the suburb’s shining lights, Bistro@Kokopelli Winery, 35 West Boston Street, brings a taste of lo stivale to Chandler with its Italian-American Festival. The fest features Chianti and Pinot Grigio tastings, sumptuous cuisine,…

Folks who are older than dirt might remember those balsa-wood airplanes sold at the five-and-dime — another fading memory. The balsas were pretty high-tech then – they flew – but now it’s all about who has the biggest stick. Joystick, that is. Big girls and boys show off their newfangled…

We’ve noticed a pattern in world-music criticism these days, especially pieces penned by American audiophiles. Anytime an album from Africa is reviewed, the terms “groove-oriented” and “polyrhythms” appear, ad nauseam. That’s good and all, but can y’all change it up a bit? Just a little? Thank you very much. The…