Some movies seem to be put on this Earth just for actors. You look at the synopsis of a picture, and you think, “Well, it could be okay,” but then you notice who’s in it — maybe a performer you like but haven’t seen in a while, or someone you…
If older man/younger women matchups make many people uncomfortable, the older man/much younger women combo tends to make them apoplectic. It would be impossible for Nabokov to publish Lolita today, now that all of life, and all of art, must be arranged, categorized, and restricted as a way of protecting…
Since it’s the kind of slow-building movie whose very premise is something of a spoiler, a pretty delicious one, let’s get the consumer-guide jazz out of the way first. Hilary Brougher’s YA-ish horror satire/romance/whatzit Innocence, adapted from Jane Mendelsohn’s novel, boasts a wicked setup, some strong performances, several gloriously bloody…
The Identical is Elvis slash fiction that could have been written by a spinster church organist. Its premise is intriguing: What if Jesse Presley, Elvis’ twin brother who was stillborn at birth, was in fact secretly given to a traveler minister (Ray Liotta) and his infertile wife (Ashley Judd)? What…
Everyone needs a break from cooking, even restaurants. Lucky for the boys over at Clever Koi, they have friends in fine-dinning establishments. This week, the Asian gastropub’s is handing its Day Off Dinner series to Crudo chefs Cullen Campbell and Micah Olson. The special guests will bring their own signature…
There is an urban legend surrounding Judo master and ponytail debonaire Steven Seagal that goes like this: On the set of Out For Justice (great movie), Seagal boasted that as a result of extensive training, he was impervious to shime-waza, or chokes. Skeptical, the stunt coordinator on set called his…
Summer ends with a splash this Labor Day weekend at downtown Phoenix’s Hotel Palomar and Lustre Rooftop Garden bar. The CityScape staycation spot is hosting two parties on Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31.Bringing the “100 Days of Summer” three-month-long event to an end, the Last Day’s of Summer…
Jeff Slim is interested in finding the realm where traditional values and modern concepts collide. His latest exhibition, titled “Beyond the Reed,” references a Diné creation story in which the Diné people must travel through a reed to enter this current world.It’s a fitting backstory for the show; Slim says…
The patio becomes a pop-up beer garden at Ingo’s Tasty Food this Labor Day. The newest addition to La Grande Orange’s Arcadia corner is celebrating summer with an extensive beer garden for experienced drinkers and newbies alike. Dozens of beers from Lagunitas Brewing Company, Black Market Brewing, North Coast Brewing…
Cloisonné is a French word, but it’s used to describe an art-making technique that now exists virtually world-wide. The ancient method of decorating metalwork objects using gemstones, glass, or vitreous enamel originated in the Near East as a jewelry-making practice, but it spread to include wider geographies and more complicated…
The words “endless” and “summer” probably conjure up an idea that most Phoenicians aren’t too hot on. Given our unique climate conditions, summer is the last season we’d lend to the whimsies of youth eternal. Hop just one state to the west, however, and The Endless Summer starts to sound…
Comic book movies have reigned at the box office, but it was artist Jack Kirby’s larger-than-life creations that seemed to jump off the page in cinematic ways. The King of Comics will be celebrated at Samurai Comics on Thursday, August 28, which would have been his 97th birthday.Kirby passed away…
It hardly seems dignified that powerhouse college football teams open their seasons against creampuffs. C’mon… Nebraska against Florida Central? Oregon vs. South Dakota? And closer to home, there’s ASU Sun Devils against Weber State, who went 2-10 last year in the paltry Big Sky Conference. These “games” seem simply set-up…
Forget being king of the mountain. The new landscape hierarchy lends itself to king of the curb, the skateboarding elite who can ride the rails and ollie to a standing ovation. This summer, Red Bull is teaming up with Cowtown Skateboards in a search to crown the Red Bull Curb…
Phoenicians with an eye for striking street art know La Muñeca’s work well. The artist, whose nom de guerre translates to “the doll,” is known for both her mural and wheat paste works that often depict women. Strong, subtle, and intimate, her style is politically and personally motivated. And that’s…
It’s the belief of the fun folks at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art that if you’re good (a.k.a. creative), then you should have plenty (a.k.a. some cash to take your creativity to the next level). That’s sorta the premise behind the cultural institution’s Good ‘N Plenty Awards, which are grants…
Are you not entertained? Then perhaps you should check out the Cerberus Cup, where long form comedy takes on a competitive edge. In this event, nine three-person improv teams go head to funny bone with 15 minute sketch performances that take regular improv to the next level. Ultimately, the audience…
Time to raise a glass (and a fork) to Valley chefs and the return of Phoenix Cooks. This year’s edible agenda will feature a wide range of workshops including “Stir-Fry Frenzy Presented by The Arizona Beef Council,” “Making Fresh Pasta with Executive Chef Steven Butler of Tanzy,” “Interactive Wine Experience,”…
For as popular as Mixed Martial Arts have become, there’s something to be said for a pure martial arts competition. There’s a certain art to fighting in a single style that gets lost in the mish-mash of fighting styles you’ll see in a typical MMA fight. For the purists, it…
Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 20. Mike Olbinski. Photographer…
Phoenix artists are no stranger to The City Different — that is Santa Fe, New Mexico. And last week some major things happened for Phoenix artists in the Land of Enchantment. During the third weekend of August, artists, and creative types gather in New Mexico for the annual Indian Market,…
The dog days of summertime officially come to an end a few days from now, which certainly is reason enough to celebrate. Here’s another: It’s also Labor Day weekend, and that means around 72 hours of work-free bliss, if you’re fortunate enough to have all three days off. Your friends…
