Arts & Culture

Noted art historian Marilyn Stokstad presents a grand tour of European medieval and Renaissance architecture. Sat., May 2, 2 p.m., 2009…

The nightlife series showcases a different Dale Chihuly sculpture and Chihuly-inspired cocktail weekly. This week’s featured sculpture: Saffron Tower. Cocktail: Amaretto Stone Sour. Entertainment: Dry River Yacht Club (pictured). Thu., April 30, 5:30-8 p.m., 2009…

As a card-carrying Dave Matthews hater, you should know something about yourself: You don’t really hate Dave Matthews. Oh, you beg to differ, but it’s true. One cannot genuinely loathe the mellow South African and his eponymous, Grammy-winning light-rock foursome, The Dave Matthews Band, any more than one can genuinely…

Not every rock, pop, or rap tune sounds good jazzified. For instance, hit up your local radio dial for that yucky thing called smooth jazz, then grab the barf bag. But Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine, the LOL cover band from the nation’s capital of jazz corniness, Los…

It may be a bit dated after nearly two decades and about two gazillion performances around the world, but the simple notion behind Stomp remains as brilliant now as it was when the troupe formed in the UK back in ’91: a full-on rhythmic assault of body language with almost…

The best thing that’s happened to Peter since he returned from the war is meeting Agnes. Their love story unfolds in playwright Tracy Letts’ Bug, but it’s not the sort of romance one would find on, say, Lifetime Television for Women. This story includes an abusive husband, who follows Agnes…

Our little slice of scorched Earth offers little in the way of refinement during the summer months. One lingering touch of erudition — that’s erudite lite — is Theater League’s Broadway musical series. Come about now, when our other options are pool parties or knuckleheaded movies, we like the notion…

The annual nighttime event features a three-mile fun run/walk, an 8K, and a post-race concert by Big Nick and the Gila Monsters. Proceeds benefit Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Sat., May 2, 7 p.m., 2009…

Do the “Time Warp” yet again with Come As You Are, the local troupe that performs in synch with the ’70s camp classic. A spokesperson for the cinema says the troupe will be “pulling out all the stops” at this special 150th performance, including a “virgin sacrifice” prior to the…

The reigning champions of the National Football Conference celebrate with a public practice, an autograph session for kids 12 and under, and appearances by the Cardinals Cheerleaders and team mascot, Big Red. Sat., May 2, 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m., 2009…

See the modern-day supernatural horror flick, set and filmed in Arizona, before it hits wide release. Brian Pulido wrote and directed. It stars Clare Grant (Masters of Horror), Bill Moseley (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre II24, Candyman). A Q&A with Pulido and the cast follows the first show. Sat., May 2,…

For those of us who hold tight to an outcome and won’t let go until somebody hacksaws off our claws, we all should take a lesson from Chris Mars, former percussionist for the long-defunct, genre-defying band The Replacements. You see, Mars is done with music. Period. Don’t even ask about…

For those of us who hold tight to an outcome and won’t let go until somebody hacksaws off our claws, we all should take a lesson from Chris Mars, former percussionist for the long-defunct, genre-defying band The Replacements. You see, Mars is done with music. Period. Don’t even ask about…

Iraq is still a mess and the Taliban’s busy breaking treaties with Pakistan, but artist Pam Harrison holds out hope for global peace. Or maybe she’s just a revisionist. Either way, you should check out her towering ceramic peace totems and fabric-covered maps imprinted with words of love and happiness…

Live music will be provided by the musicians of the Chris Parker Project (pictured) at this massive Mexican-themed celebration. A variety of mariachi and salsa bands, promo giveaways, food and drinks, and other fun stuff is also planned. Tue., May 5, 3 p.m.-2 a.m., 2009…

Get your groove on with DJ Skandalis and DJ Astonish spinning cumbia, merengue, salsa, bachata, hip-hop, and reggaeton. Specials include $2 Tequila until midnight, and $2 Mexican imports and 50-cent Tecate until 11 Saturdays, 9 p.m., 2009…

For a town with the Hispanic presence of Phoenix, we see far too few big-name Latino/a musical acts. The folks behind the annual Food City Cinco de Mayo Festival are remedying that dearth with their 16th annual blowout, which features Grammy-winning supergroups Los Horoscopos de Durango and Montéz de Durango,…

Chris Reid (a.k.a. Kid of Kid-N-Play fame) headlines the Cinco de Mayo Comedy Fiesta, which also features Jill-Michele Melean from Reno 911, MADtv cut-up Johnny Sanchez, and Rudy Moreno. Tue., May 5, 8 p.m., 2009…

An exotic selection of music from Spain and Latin America will be offered by the brass ensemble, including the Xavier Cugat Orchestra’s El Cumbanchero, the Marcha de Zacatecas, Raphael Mendez’s La Virgin de la Macarena, and Silvestre Revueltas’ symphonic poem Sensemayá. Sun., May 3, 3 p.m., 2009…

For us, the name Black Carl evokes images of Carl Weathers from Predator wailing on the harmonica while Family Matters’ Carl Winslow, in full police regalia, belts out soulful tales of pain and hammers out blues notes on the guitar. While Tempe’s version of Black Carl may lack former celebrities,…

One of the biggest parties of the entire Cinco de Mayo holiday will likely be happening at north Scottsdale location of Salty Señorita, where the tequila will be flowing like water and plenty of off-the-chain action is promised. Live music will be provided by Valley rockers Shallow Water (pictured), while…

What’s there to like about summer in Phoenix? 1) Salt River Tubing at Salt River Recreation. 2) Hmmm. No, that’s about it. After a winter of wearin’ friggin’ sweaters, we’re ready to work up a proper sweat, then plop our butts in one of Salt River Rec’s oversize tubes for…