Breaking Ground 2015

Now in its eighth year — just as captivating and clever as always — the 2015 contemporary dance and film festival Breaking Ground returns to Tempe for an inspired night of performing arts. Winner of last year’s New Times award for Best Dance Festival and produced by local company CONDER/dance,…

Scottish Highland Games

Men, it’s time to get your kilt on and see what you’re made of. We’re talking about the annual Scottish Highland Games—a show of strength, not just physically, but also culturally. Expect traditional Scottish music, from bagpipes to drum and fife corps, along with fine Scottish dancing. Food, games, and…

Bobby Lee

It wasn’t a lifelong dream or some twist of fate that thrust Bobby Lee into comedy — it was convenience. When the coffee shop where a young Lee was working closed in 1994, he simply went next door to apply for a job. That neighboring business just happened to be…

Phoenix Festival de España

After you’ve shed your winter cardigan, but before you’ve started your spring cleaning, you may be feeling a bit lackluster, maybe even flavorless. It is common, it happens to everybody, and it’s not a big deal. Phoenix Center for the Arts and Flamenco Por La Vida have teamed up to…

28th Annual AZ Touch of Class Miniature Horse Show

Two words: Mini. Horses. This weekend, you can see a selection of the top miniature horses in Arizona perform in driving, obstacle driving, jumping, roadster, halter, and costume contests (yeah, you read that last one right) at the the 28th Annual AZ Touch of Class Miniature Horse Show.The show will…

The Raising of America

For being such a wealthy nation, the well being of our country’s children is truly troubling. The Raising of America, a documentary series soon to debut on PBS, brings the quality education and the importance of healthcare back into focus. Hosted by The Alliance for Family, Friend and Neighbor Child…

Greg Esser on the State of the Arts in Metro Phoenix

When Jackalope Ranch issued a 10-question survey asking Phoenicians (and anyone with an opinion of Phoenix) to sound of on the state of the arts in the Valley of the Sun, dozens provided insights on what’s happening in the city’s creative realm. We’ll present a selection of survey responses here…

Rashaad Thomas on the State of the Arts in Metro Phoenix

When Jackalope Ranch issued a 10-question survey asking Phoenicians (and anyone with an opinion of Phoenix) to sound of on the state of the arts in the Valley of the Sun, dozens provided insights on what’s happening in the city’s creative realm. We’ll present a selection of survey responses here…

3 Free Things to Do in Phoenix This Week

Saving up for spring break? We can respect that. Lucky for those who want to go out without dipping into their vacation funds, metro Phoenix has plenty of free events happening on the daily. From beer-fueled talks among fellow nerds to art exhibitions, here are our top three picks for…

5 Artsy Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week

“Crumpled, Dented, and Crushed” “Crumpled, Dented, and Crushed” sounds like what happens to your car following a bad accident. This Herberger Theater Art Gallery exhibit isn’t far removed from that concept, though there is limited car-related art (and what’s there is perfectly wrecked). Mangled goods, so to speak, is the…

Kevin Vaughan-Brubaker on the State of the Arts in Metro Phoenix

When Jackalope Ranch issued a 10-question survey asking Phoenicians (and anyone with an opinion of Phoenix) to sound of on the state of the arts in the Valley of the Sun, dozens provided insights on what’s happening in the city’s creative realm. We’ll present a selection of survey responses here…

23 Best Festivals in Metro Phoenix This Spring

We don’t want to hear anyone say that Phoenix doesn’t have any culture ever again, and we’ve got a list of 23 festivals to prove it. This spring will be anything but uncultured in the metro Phoenix area. Phoenix has everything from a modern dance festival and celebrations of Spanish,…

30 Things to Do in Phoenix Before You Turn 30

Attention people in Phoenix under the age of 30: We have a list of things you pretty much need to do before you turn 30. Here are 30 things to do before you turn 30 (and if you’re over 30, you can still knock out some of these):…

15 Must-See Plays in Metro Phoenix This Spring

They can sing, they can dance, after all this is — well, okay, it’s not France, but Phoenix will get its fair share of talented actors taking to the stage for the spring season. Between Broadway musicals, Shakespearian adaptations, and centerstage comedies, we’ve found 15 good reasons to start buying…

Julie Akerly on the State of the Arts in Metro Phoenix

When Jackalope Ranch issued a 10-question survey asking Phoenicians (and anyone with an opinion of Phoenix) to sound of on the state of the arts in the Valley of the Sun, dozens provided insights on what’s happening in the city’s creative realm. We’ll present a selection of survey responses here…

5 Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Weekend

“30 Year Anniversary” In a world obsessed with orange being the new black, and Ariana Grande being the new Mariah Carey, and stupid-cute baby mini-zebras being the next fluffy pocket koalas or something, can we just take a step back real quick and admire something for being what it is?…

8 Must-See Art Shows in Metro Phoenix This Spring

An artist who created a fictional queer family history. An artist best known for rendering soup cans. An artist who works with bits of screen and guitar strings. They’re all part of spring exhibitions in metro Phoenix, which invite reflection on everything from the commodification of nature to the cult…

Jake Friedman on the State of the Arts in Metro Phoenix

When Jackalope Ranch issued a survey asking Phoenicians (and anyone with an opinion of Phoenix) to sound of on the state of the arts in the Valley of the Sun, dozens provided insights on what’s happening in the city’s creative realm. We’ll present a selection of survey responses here over…