El Mac to Paint New Mural at Mesa Arts Center in 2016

Famed muralist El Mac, who grew up in Phoenix but now lives in Los Angeles, has been commissioned by Mesa Arts Center to paint a mural at its venue. “We’re still in the design phase,” says Tiffany Fairall, associate curator for Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, which is located on the…

13 Biggest Celebrity Arrests in Phoenix History

There’s no shortage of celebrities in metro Phoenix, whether they’re the rich and famous who reside in our pricier locales (read: Scottsdale and Paradise Valley) or Hollywood stars paying visits to our parts as tourists. And every once in awhile, these swells run afoul of the law and find themselves…

An Arts and Culture Walking Tour of Downtown Phoenix

Though car culture dominates the Valley of the Sun, it’s undeniable that walking is one of the best ways to experience America’s sixth largest metropolis — especially during the winter. From hidden murals to public art works, repurposed warehouses, and one-of-a-kind boutiques just off the main drag, here are 10…

10 Best Winter Travel Destinations in Arizona

In the 2016 edition of New Times’ Winter Guide, we’ve rounded up our 10 favorite cold-weather destinations in Arizona. Arizona Snowbowl Arizona Snowbowl has been stepping up its game the last few years, adding snowmaking-equipment in 2012 and a new four-seat lift this year that should speed up lift lines…

11 Things You Should Do and See in Metro Phoenix This Week

New Times picks the best events and things to do in metro Phoenix from January 4 to January 10. “Ecosystem” Are you one of those people who sees bubble wrap and can’t keep your hands off its plastic pearls? That overwhelming desire to pop those little pods is something you must…

25 Best Arts and Culture Events in Metro Phoenix in 2016

Masses of nude bodies photographed floating in the Dead Sea, fine art paintings by graffiti artist El Mac, and plays performed on Valley Metro Light Rail trains — they’ll all be part of the 2016 arts and culture scene here in metro Phoenix, where works of visual and performance art…

5 Things Phoenix Dancer Liliana Gomez Can’t Live Without

For 32, dancer and instructor Liliana Gomez has a lot under her belt. She’s family- and community-oriented, patient, informed, and incredibly sweet. Gomez’s dance classes are bright and positive, billed as Contemporary Modern with Liliana Gomez on Monday nights at Metropolitan Arts Institute. She claps, she snaps, she laughs. She…

Inside The Metro Phoenix Homes and Art Studios We Visited in 2015

With our Personal Space and Studio Visit series, New Times gets an inside look at the homes and studios of some of metro Phoenix creatives, including up-and-coming visual artists, uber-famous musicians, and the design-obsessed. Here’s a look back at everyone we visited in 2015.  Paul and Keri Mosier’s Creative Haven…

5 Things to Do Outdoors in Metro Phoenix This January 2016

With January come ideas for resolutions and chances at new beginnings. Perhaps you’re ready to say goodbye to 2015 and ready to get fit in 2016. Or maybe you’re just looking to get outside, see some new things, and have a little fun while you’re at it. Either way, here…

Irma Sanchez Is Phoenix’s Guerrilla Street Art Tile Tagger

Artist Irma Sanchez left her Phoenix studio space early Wednesday afternoon on a mission. She was headed to a spot near Central Avenue and Buckeye Road, close to the neighborhood where she grew up, to install a set of three white tiles painted with black symbols and letters referencing a…

5 Art Shows You Should See in Downtown Phoenix This Week

Odds are, you’ll be spending part of New Year’s Day recovering from celebrating into the wee hours the night before. But there’s some serious incentive to bounce back by nightfall, when many downtown Phoenix galleries will be open for the first First Friday of 2016. Here are five new art…

5 Must-See Movies in Metro Phoenix This January

If one of your resolutions is to see more movies this year, we applaud your priorities and look forward to helping you achieve that goal — starting right now. There are several local screenings to check out in January 2016, as well as a couple of big releases to see,…

10 Nerdy Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This January

It’s officially the beginning of a new year, which means all your friends, family, and followers are blowing up your feed with vague “new year, new me!!” posts that indicate little to no significant life changes. This year, let’s mix it up and all resolve to spend more time learning…

15 Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week

New Times picks the best events and things to do in metro Phoenix from December 28 to January 3. Holidays at the Heard There’s no place like Heard for the holidays — for a few reasons. It’s one of the premier Native American art and culture museums, for starters. But during…

5 Free Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week

Congratulations on surviving the past week, Phoenicians. Holiday hangovers and burnout can be difficult to avoid, and with one more big holiday approaching we want to help make things as easy for you as possible. There are plenty of free alternatives to those pricey parties and lavish events happening this week…