Melissa Dunmore 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 Metro Phoenix This Week

Have you finished season three of House of Cards yet? Great. Now you can rejoin the rest of society. Don’t give us any excuses, because this week there are just too many good things going on and, wouldn’t you know, a lot of them are free. From talks about the…

7 Cool Things We Saw at Canal Convergence 2015 in Scottsdale

Truth be told, the coolest part about Canal Convergence 2015 was seeing people of all walks of life converge along the canal and surrounding parts to explore works of art and other cultural gems. For four days, from February 26 to March 1, the streets of downtown Scottsdale came alive…

5 Artsy Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week

“Loloma: Expressions in Metal, Ink and Clay” Charles Loloma was pretty much a badass in the jewelry world. While most expect Native jewelry to feature silver and turquoise, Loloma incorporated materials like pearls, ivory, and wood into award-winning designs and drew inspiration both from his own Hopi background and other…

5 Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Weekend

Dreamgirls If you don’t know anything else about the Tony-winning musical Dreamgirls, you’ve probably heard that song “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” When you contemplate Desert Foothills Theatre’s production, however, which closes Sunday, March 1, you might want to change the soundtrack in your head to “Maybe…

10 Rules for Vacation Hookups

It doesn’t matter if you’re headed for a weekend road trip an hour away or backpacking through Europe for a month, going on a vacation can be an awesome time. Sometimes, if you play your cards right, that vacation can be made even better by finding romance while you’re away…

A Star Comes Into Focus, but Focus Never Quite Does

If Grace Kelly had been raised by coyotes, she might have stalked the screen like Focus’ Margot Robbie, a va-va-voom blonde with bite. Robbie is too beautiful to play normal, too sly to play nice. Miscast as a shy saint in Craig Zobel’s upcoming Sundance hit Z for Zachariah, she…

Archer Sags into Middle Age in Its Sixth, ‘Unrebooted’ Season

TV shows aren’t too different from people in at least one respect: The longer they’ve been around, the less interest they tend to garner. But the sixth season of FX’s beloved spy spoof Archer is like few others. It’s an “unrebooting” of the previous year, in which creator Adam Reed,…

Parada del Sol Rodeo

Somehow people still imagine Arizona as a place where cowboys spend their days riding horses, wrangling cattle, and strutting around in chaps. Well, starting Thursday, February 26, they may be right as the 62nd Annual Parada del Sol Rodeo takes over WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 North Pima Road. Cowboys, gals,…

The SIC Sense Sketch: XXX Marks the Spot

Plays on grammatical errors, paranormal activity, or Bruce Willis and M. Night Shyamalan aside, this comedy troupe with a very punny name hits the stage for a new night of sketch comedy.A local comedy circuit staple for over five years, The [SIC] Sense Comedy Troupe returns to the stage with…

Top Doc Red Army Showcases the Height of Soviet Hockey

Sport is a natural metaphor for war. Two sides in two colors face each other on a field, each with their pride and their physical safety at risk. Their leaders scheme plans of attack, drawing arrows toward the enemy’s flank. And backing the teams in the stands — or, more…

Here’s a Silver Medal for This Exotic Marigold Hotel

Almost immediately after it was released, the 2011 stealth hit Best Exotic Marigold Hotel became more a punchline than a movie. Who knew “older” people were so starved for pictures featuring gorgeously shot exotic locales, not to mention people falling in love, falling out of love, or desperately hoping for…

Maysoon Zayid

Good news, Sun Devils, Maysoon Zayid is returning to her alma mater. The comedian, writer, and co-founder of the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival, who credits her BFA to Arizona State University, has made serious waves thanks to her “I can can” attitude. Although Zayid has made appearances on Comedy Central, CNN,…