Christmas Party

After the presents have been unwrapped and the family has gotten tired of gathering around the Christmas tree on December 25, head to Lux Central for a very indie holiday party. The Lux Christmas party kicks off at 9 p.m. with music from local DJs Ben Linsenmeyer, Sean Watson, JayDHD,…

Royal Icing

Clearly, Phoenix isn’t the place to go searching for a white Christmas, but you can still enjoy some of the perks of colder climes this year with the Desert Ice Skating Rink at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 East Princess Drive. The 6,000-square-foot rink is surrounded by an array of…

Rave Maria

You know, Mary and Joseph didn’t know where they were going on Christmas Day either. They just followed a star and the songs of angels until they ended up somewhere in the desert. Your adventure to the 15th Annual Mary X-Mas rave may be similar: You’ll look for a star…

Lit Lounge

Scottsdale’s award-winning story sharing slam Lit Lounge rounds out a year of high-energy true tale telling with a post-holiday performance. The monthly series gathers writers and artists — both local and national talent — to open up about life, love, and everything in between. Featured performers include Ali Liebegott, a…

Kadomatsu Workshops

When we first heard about it, we had to look up what kadomatsu is, too. We’ll save you the trouble. Usually placed as a pair at the entry to your home, kadomatsu decorations are a traditional part of celebrating the new year in Japanese culture. And the Japanese Friendship Garden,…

Bully Mammoth

Irreverent comedy is the best kind of comedy, especially when it focuses on the holidays. Think about it: Now is a time of joy, happiness, sadness, silliness, contemplation, thievery, and mixed emotions all washed down with plenty of mixed drinks, which, when rolled together can create a combustible combination ripe…

Fiesta Bowl Parade

The 2014 college football season marks the first time that a playoff system will determine a national champion. In lieu of computers, a committee of actual humans will select four teams to duke it out for the title. Yes, Condoleezza Rice is on that committee. The changes brought on by…

Kamen Rider Black

History is rife with dramatic splits between siblings: Cain and Abel, Remus and Romulus, Mario and Luigi. The tragic gravitas of brother being pit against brother meets Japanese monsters in Kamen Rider Black, which screens on Sunday, December 28. In the eighth edition of the Kamen Rider series, the criminal…

Arizona Coyotes vs. Philadelphia Flyers

It’s been a rough winter for the Arizona Coyotes. They started the season strong, but the wheels came off after Thanksgiving — the Yotes lost just about every game for the next month — and suddenly they seem like a long shot to make the playoffs. The Coyotes can claw…

Modern Gatsby Gala

This New Year’s Eve, we’re partying like it’s 1922, because resolutions can wait, responsibilities are for morning people, and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary cult classic is a fine theme for one last hurrah. Stop by the Modern Gatsby Gala on Wednesday, December 31, for a chance to dance in your…

Jay Pharoah

It’s hard to be a black guy on Saturday Night Live. There’s no splitting the workload — if a skit calls for someone playing Denzel Washington, that’s you. Kanye West? You. They want a skit featuring Jay-Z, Eddie Murphy, and President Barack Obama? Well that’s you, you, and you, baby…

Zoppé An Italian Family Circus

Who didn’t think about running away to the circus at least once when they were a kid? Thankfully, Zoppé An Italian Family Circus is making it easy to live out those childhood fantasies by bringing the circus to you. Led by sixth-generation circus performer Giovanni Zoppé, this one-ring circus will…

The Bright Side

Think your front yard light display is something to talk about? Think again. The West Valley has taken the idea of tinsel town to whole new heights with its annual all-ages event, Glendale Glitters. The seasonal community to-do invites visitors to walk through the city’s elaborate display of 1.5 million…

The Bright Side

Think your front yard light display is something to talk about? Think again. The West Valley has taken the idea of tinsel town to whole new heights with its annual all-ages event, Glendale Glitters. The seasonal community to-do invites visitors to walk through the city’s elaborate display of 1.5 million…

Desert Stages Theatre Presents Harvey

Some people assume that actors are good at lying in real life. Whether or not that’s so, you can tell an actor’s snowing you if he claims to have played the title role in the Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy Harvey. That’s because in the play, Harvey is an imaginary (or maybe…

Murder for Two

Professional theater companies have struggled fiscally the past several years, and one sign of that is all the plays with itty-bitty casts that they’ve been presenting. We sentimentally wish that more actors were getting paid, but until that happy day, we’ll enjoy the tours de force on display in Murder…

10 Best Art Exhibits We Saw in Metro Phoenix in 2014

The year’s best exhibitions included a fabulous diversity of artwork, from ceramics to mail art, shown in a nifty assorted of places. Think museums, library, galleries, shipping containers, pop-up spaces, and re-purposed spaces that once housed ice blocks and forensic evidence. Several of the exhibits we loved best featured works…

The Container Store to Open in Glendale

A photo posted by The Container Store (@thecontainerstore) on Sep 9, 2014 at 8:16am PDT Sit down. Take a deep breath. And get ready for some really exciting news, West Side control freaks. The Container Store is coming to Glendale…

14 Things to Do on New Year’s Eve in Metro Phoenix

Late night parties, midnight smooches, and paper horns blowing in your ear not really your thing? We get it. Lucky for you, there’s plenty to do on the final night of the year. From theatrical performances and stand-up comedy acts to burlesque shows and art exhibitions, it looks like metro…