Arts & Culture

The Worcester, Massachusetts-based artist exhibits new work. Wednesdays-Saturdays; Wednesdays-Saturdays. Starts: April 3. Continues through April 30, 2010…

Phoenix Film Festival is 10 years old. Time to hit this mofo. Look, they’re showing around 150 films from 21 nations. Not a typo! And 2010’s PFF introduces the Opening Night Gala where the annual Visionary Award will be presented. The first award goes to Dan Harkins — maybe you’ve…

Before saying that the Maricopa County Fair is the red-headed stepchild to the Arizona State Fair, you should check out what’s going down at the former, which kicks off from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 14. Not only are there minor-league motocross races, but there’s also a pie-baking…

Ready, set … gorge! Today marks the kickoff of the 32nd annual Scottsdale Culinary Festival, which showcases six days of fine wines, celebrity chef dinners, and tastings galore. More than 40,000 people came out for the festival last year, and there’s a special event for everyone’s palate. The only remaining…

There are some folks who instantly bust a move as soon as a jam comes on. Then, there are those who hug the wall in public but get their hip-shaking Beyonce on in the privacy of their living rooms. Both types are welcomed and encouraged to show up to the…

The Far East used to be known as a place of great wisdom, mystery, and beauty. Now, Asia’s only in the news when Angelina Jolie adopts a kid, Toyotas start driving themselves, or China gives the finger to Google for not censoring searches. Sigh. Forget that news and experience the…

Rotund filmmaker Kevin Smith oughta invest in an XXXL bulletproof vest, because lord knows he gets plenty of flak. Critics love bashing the Clerks director’s oeuvre and countless bloggers have denounced his recent jihad against Southwest Airlines’ “person of size” policy after he got booted off a flight in February…

Everyone has a story: the dude asking for change tells us about his failed Motown group, the lady waiting in line speaks of a promising sports career cut short by an injury, and the limo driver in the dive bar fondly recounts touring the country as a child soprano. We…

Plan a solo desert hike and take your pick of potential disasters. You could stumble across a pissed off rattler, get lost and have to foot the bill for a rescue chopper, or sever your finger on a sharp plant like TV idiot, er, “explorer,” Bear Grylls. Avoid all that…

Whoa. Yummy. Those words are exactly what smacked across our lips when reading about the inaugural Arizona Barbecue Festival. You can pony up a ten spot and eat your ass off as well as participate in grilling seminars, whiskey tastings, and a Texas Hold Em’ poker tournament. Sat., April 10,…

Whoa. Yummy. Those words are exactly what smacked across our lips when reading about the inaugural Arizona Barbecue Festival. The two-day shindig kicks off with a V.I.P. event that gets foodies an up-close and personal gander at thirteen local chefs – such as Beau MacMillan, Eddie Matney, and Tracy Dempsey…

“When I moved here 12 years ago, I got called a biker — and that was a bad thing,” says Mark Bradshaw, owner of The Hideaway Grill and this year’s winner of the Arizona Bike Week hero award. “Now the scene’s changed. More people are riding, from shovelheads to RUBs…

Mixer for freaks and those who love BBQ. Sun., April 11, 12-6 p.m., 2010…

Horns and Halos presents this wicked night of fetish galore. The lineup of entertainment includes form NIN artist Chris Vrenna, The Strand, Evolution of the Kill, DJ Squalor, Club Zombie, LifeSuspended, Cookie’s Kabaret, and others. Fri., April 9, 8 p.m., 2010…

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Humanities at Bard College reads from her latest poetry collection at noon, and presents a public lecture at 5:30 p.m. Thu., April 8, 12 & 5 p.m., 2010…

Oh, all right. Following years and years of hating on NASCAR, we guess that we can admit that the car-racing activity isn’t too painful to watch after all. (Notice we didn’t say “sport.” We’re not fully converted, yet.) At the very least, we can see the appeal in said activity,…

Oh, all right. Following years and years of hating on NASCAR, we guess that we can admit that the car-racing activity isn’t too painful to watch after all. (Notice we didn’t say “sport.” We’re not fully converted, yet.) At the very least, we can see the appeal in said activity,…

Oh, all right. Following years and years of hating on NASCAR, we guess that we can admit that the car-racing activity isn’t too painful to watch after all. (Notice we didn’t say “sport.” We’re not fully converted, yet.) At the very least, we can see the appeal in said activity,…

It’s not enough just to own an old house. These days, we must celebrate it. For desert dwellers whose homes were built in the middle of the last century, that celebration comes in the form of the Modern Phoenix Home Tour + Expo hosted by Modern Phoenix, a clearinghouse and…

Yes, yes, you and everyone else in our desert valley have snotty noses, teary eyes, and scratchy throats these days. Well, suck it up, you big baby, because there is a kickass silver lining: our desert is in full, bloated, ridiculously beautiful bloom right now. Head to Desert Botanical Garden…

People love to party . . . for a good cause, of course. That’s why the fourth annual Red Light District Costume Ball gets bigger and better every year. Get decked out as a saint or sinner, pimp or ho, or in any other fetish garb during this charity extravaganza…

Say the word “ceramics” to most folks and they’ll show you their “I Just Work Here” coffee mug or tell you about the time they got high, went to a strip mall pottery studio, and painted pot leaves on a dog bowl. That’s great for a casual encounter, but there’s…