Move over, Tyra. Tempe is about to get a little more fierce when the Fierce Reads Spring 2015 tour arrives on Thursday, May 14, at Changing Hands. Four young-adult authors will discuss and present their new books, ranging from stories of revenge to a girl trapped on an island where…
Phoenix artist Bill Dambrova recalls doing a short stint as a Phoenix Art Museum guard during the early ’90s. The maroon blazer he was expected to wear at the time was a far cry from the shorts and T-shirt we found him sporting during First Friday in May. The orange…
Herakles: Work In Progress If you think you’ve got drama, please look at any one of the myths from ancient Greece and count your blessings accordingly. That is, unless you’ve got children being born from your thigh, family members turning into animals, and a trip down to Hades you’ve been…
“I’m over people who think they’re funnier than the movie,” says LA Weekly film critic Amy Nicholson, in the wake of her recent piece, “Stop Laughing at Old Movies, You $@%&ing Hipsters.” Joining her — *in the same room, for the first time ever on the podcast* — as usual…
Sara Cochran will serve as Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art’s interim director and curator when current director Tim Rodgers leaves the museum on May 18, according to a May 6 announcement from museum officials…
According to our calculations, at least 176 days remain until Halloween rolls around, which might seem like an absolute eternity to some folks. Then again, if you’re the organizers of the the Mad Monster Party — the annual convention focused on horror flicks and slasher films — every day is…
Phoenix, you rock. Finding up-and-coming creatives making waves in the Valley’s performing art, visual art, design, culinary art, and music scenes for this year’s Big Brain Awards was almost too easy. Narrowing down that list to 15 gems who could use cash for their projects was a bit tougher. But…
Sofía Vergara is built like an amphora, a living testament to the form ceramicists throughout the centuries have adored. In the fleet and gloriously ridiculous comedy Hot Pursuit, Vergara plays Daniella Riva, a mobster’s wife who needs to be escorted from San Antonio to Dallas, where she’ll testify against the…
Depending on whom you talk to, we live in an era of conformity or one of anything-goes individuality; in a golden age of television or the brightest of movie galaxies. But just about everyone will agree that we’re ruled by screens of all sizes, which means it’s harder than ever…
Diane Keaton thinks her new film is delightfully ironic. Richard Loncraine’s 5 Flights Up is the latest in that burgeoning genre, Retiree Real Estate Romantic Comedy, where cool, gray-haired New Yorkers realize they can barely afford to live in the city where they fell in love. Keaton plays a teacher…
One of the most inspired ideas in late-middle Woody Allen pictures comes in Deconstructing Harry, a movie about how Allen loves Bergman, hates Philip Roth, and isn’t quite clear on what “deconstruction” means. Allen stages passages from fiction written by the protagonist, a novelist named Harry. One features Robin Williams…
What happens in the studio, shouldn’t always stay in the studio. Studio Visit Q+A is a weekly series that profiles artists in their studios. We ask them questions, they provide answers, and then we have a nice discussion about their work. This week: Phoenix artist Bill Dambrova. Artist Bill Dambrova…
Okay, it’s officially May now — five months into the year and Tax Day is well behind us. Hopefully your refund has already arrived, but don’t feel like you have to spend it all just yet. We’ve got three events to keep you entertained and cultured without requiring you to…
The street art that’s relatively common around certain parts of Phoenix, including Roosevelt Row, is typically a whole lot harder to come by in Scottsdale. But that’s not the case this week, as Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art features works created by some of the best known street artists in…
Tania Katan’s life has gotten a lot busier over the past few days. As she puts it, “Trending is exhausting!” Just three months ago Katan joined the Scottsdale-based software company Axosoft after working as curator of performing art at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Last week, one of her first…
The gallery doesn’t exactly say, “come and play,” but the childhood desire haunts the dimly lit room. Thin, colorful fabrics hang from the walls displaying delightful everyday objects enmeshed in a combination of retro and whimsy. Pattern Play: The Contemporary Designs of Jacqueline Groag hides in a second-floor gallery of…
If you’re looking for a good laugh on Mother’s Day, you may want to head to the Crescent Ballroom around 8 p.m. An improvisational comedy show called The Switch will be making its Phoenix debut, and its not the kind of thing you’ll want to miss. A few years ago,…
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art officials announced on Monday, May 4, that museum director Tim Rodgers will resign. Rodgers, who’s been with SMoCA for six years, leaves his position effective May 18. SMoCA associate director Sara Cochran is reportedly in talks to serve as interim director…
May’s First Friday brought some pleasant surprises, from more time with the Hot Box Gallery and Halt Gallery shipping containers before their summer hiatus to an exhibition of artwork by students at New School for the Arts and Academics . The Roosevelt A.R.T.S. Market was in full swing with food…
Ultimate Star Wars Whether you’re a frequent contributor to Wookieepedia or you’ve never even heard of Jabba the Hut, you can always stand to brush up on your Star Wars history. As part of Children’s Book Week at Changing Hands Tempe, 6428 South McClintock Drive, Lucasfilm writer Adam Bray and…
We get it. First times can be scary. And when you’re buying your first home, nothing spells panic attack like shaving off most of your savings for a down payment. But thanks to the many affordable up-and-coming neighborhoods in Phoenix, easing into domestic life doesn’t have to be so daunting…
For many seasons, the spring lineup for Ballet Arizona has included a program of all George Balanchine works. It’s a reflection of artistic director Ib Andersen’s roots — which include dancing under Balanchine as a principal with New York City Ballet during the 1980s. This year’s All Balanchine opened Thursday,…
