It’s that time of year again, like it or not. Flip-flops are out in full force, tank tops are trumping turtlenecks, and carnivorous culinarians are unleashing their “I’m Grillin’ So Everyone’s Chillin’” aprons. Sounds like the perfect time to crack open a cold one, fire up the flames, and stage…
There’s no better time of year to be outdoors than on the perfectly temperate evenings we’ve been blessed with lately — especially when you’re surrounded by desert serenity, gourmet food, glowing margarita glasses to light your way, and the soothing unplugged sounds of local rock icon Roger Clyne. Desert Botanical…
Childhood and adolescence are absolutely overloaded with watershed moments: Your first kiss, the inevitable “birds and the bees” discussion with the ‘rents, and, of course, the first time you watch Star Wars. For local artist Nathan Nelson Ross, the pimpest moment of pre-adolescence came when he first saw the words,…
Remember when galley slaves rowed boats to cadences beaten on drums by huge, sweaty guys, instead of instructions barked by a Yale Bulldog with a bullhorn? Neither do we. Still, there’s nothing quite like a boat with a drummer, as you’ll see and hear at the eighth annual AZ Dragon…
Tourists see the master planned communities and bland brown strip malls around Phoenix and assume that nothing but cacti existed here pre-1980. But locals know the truth — that among the modern monstrosities are marvels like the historic downtown Encanto and Palmcroft neighborhoods of Central Phoenix. The vintage ‘hood, which…
Forget her music; the most fun part about being a Lady Gaga fan is having the excuse to dress up like a complete wacko for the Facebook paparazzi whenever the eccentric songstress comes to town. After her show, you can bet a bevy of hardcore fans sporting blond wigs, ripped…
If this season’s square-toed ballet flats and romantic, flowing dresses are any indication, the worlds of ballet and fashion are colliding. Ballet Arizona Artistic Director Ib Andersen merges couture and classical ballet in a new piece titled Symphonie Classique, part of the “Modern Masters” showcase the dance company is presenting…
Every couple suffers through periods of the “bedroom blues” sometimes. Maybe his compass doesn’t point north anymore – or maybe your threesome fantasies went south after she brought home a handsome doctor instead of the naughty nurse you were expecting. Whatever the cause for your personal boudoir blahs, you’ll feel…
The term “crazy” gets thrown around pretty loosely these days. You can be crazy as a bedbug, crazy like Charlie Sheen, or be so crazy that someone wants to have your baby. All pop culture references aside, what does it really mean to question your mental state? ,p> Through the…
What does this year’s Tempe Guitar Show have that last year’s didn’t? Juice and jams. “The event’s in a parking lot, so it’s tough to get electricity to all the exhibitors,” says event coordinator Orin Portnoy. “But this year, more than half will have it, so folks can try out…
At first glance, Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers looks like another semi-autobiographical intergenerational family comedy meets coming-of-age story. Peer a little closer and you’ll find a play that’s less autobiographical—and less overtly sentimental—than most of Simon’s other plays. This is Simon at the top of his game, the play that…
On paper, the only differences between Suns point guard Aaron Brooks and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets are about four months, half an inch, and ten pounds. It’s the gap on the court that has Brooks seeking to restart a once-promising career as Steve Nash’s understudy in Phoenix,…
If you’re checking the NHL’s Western Conference standings, be sure not to blink. A couple of weeks ago, the Phoenix Coyotes were one of the top teams in the conference and were jockeying for home field advantage in the playoffs. After two weeks of mediocre results, the Desert Dogs now…
The Tony-winning Broadway classic comes to ASU’s Gammage Auditorium for a special four-night engagement. March 29-April 3, 2011…
Arizona State University faculty advisor Michael Stancliff is as excited about social networking as that aunt of yours who just discovered how to put photos of her prized poodle up on Facebook. Stancliff says that “justice work happens along paths of activity and organization that are dynamically at work in…
Thank goodness Conspire, one of our favorite smoothie shops and hang-out spots, is reviving the normally comatose downtown Wednesday nights. The Conspire Over-the-Hump Day Open Mic features local wordsmiths doing their thing. Wednesdays, 8 p.m., 2011…
Everyone loves hitting the bar on “industry night” because you can usually take advantage of the killer drink specials, even if you’re not in the bar/restaurant scene. Still, it would be nice to find a night dedicated to your own industry. Now, thanks to Encore 24’s Fashion Fridays, all you…
We’ve got a serious case of the Sundays, and we need the soulful twilight ministrations of Paisley Yankolovich’s The Liberal Soul. Pastor Paisley is a disciple of God and devotee of Burt Bacharach, but we also sense a costuming collision of Mildred Pierce and Liza Minnelli. Delighting in catty metaphor…
Who needs to tune into a TV series every week to get in touch with our inner 1960s diva? Thanks to The Duce, we can easily throw on some pearls and red lipstick to create some Donald Draper-like drinking debauchery of our own. The bar-gym-store-restaurant concept at 525 South Central…
Just in time for the Halloween season, Chandler’s San Tan Brewery will be screening all sorts of horror flicks and scary cinematic experiences during its weekly Movie Night Monday event during October. First up is the 2005’s blood-soaked black comedy Feast, where the patrons of a rural bar must fend…
Downtown’s skyline is forever changing, and one of the best (and least known) places to check out the view is from Bar Smith’s rooftop perch. Especially on Wednesday nights during The Scenario, which features an urban soundtrack spun by resident DJs Pickster One, Ellery, and Hartbreaks. Ogle at the construction…
By day, Phoenix’s Cat Woman goes by Kate Benjamin, owner of the online Modern Cat Studio and advocate of all things Grand Avenue. She was featured in our Best of Phoenix 2010 for her keen sense of cat style and her seeming superpowers in the downtown scene. This week, she…
