Holiday Lights: Arizona Celebration of Lights

​It’s the holiday season, which means lights are everywhere: On your neighbor’s house, decorating the local bar, and on buildings of downtown Phoenix. During the buildup to Christmas, Jackalope Ranch will be running the numbers on some of the best and brightest light displays around the Valley. You don’t need…

The Handmade, Crafty Lineup of Crafeteria 2011

The event, hosted by Frances in the Medlock Plaza on Central Avenue and Camelback Road, runs from 6 to 10 p.m. and plays by one rule: everything must be 100 percent handmade. (Weather note: if it rains tomorrow night, Crafeteria will take place on Saturday evening.) Crafeteria’s an annual gathering for arts and…

Zasha by JudeFrances Enamel Quilted Cuff

Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: This black and white cuff comes from high-end jewelry designer duo JudeFrances’ diffusion line Zasha. When Ken Downing lectured at Phoenix Art Museum last month, he…

Holiday Lights: The Coach House in Scottsdale

Christmas decorations are kind of a big deal each year at the Coach House in Scottsdale. So much so that the staff at the historic tavern started setting up the day after Halloween.  Such an head start is necessary, consider the massive amount of festive decorations that are involved. Practically…

What Are You Doing Here?

Happy Thanksgiving! We’re not really sure why you’re here, but we’re glad you are. Hope your day’s full of birds uglier than the one above. See you tomorrow …..

A Sneak Peek at Frances Studio’s Holiday Pop-Up

Owner Georganne Bryant says that for the end of November and throughout December, Frances Studio, which opened earlier this year as an accessory and shoe store between Frances and Smeeks in the Medlock plaza, will be a pop-up store full of festive decorations and unique gifts.Check out more pictures and…

Embroidered Handbag at Metro Retro

Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: This vintage canvas shoulder bag is just one of many fun accessory finds at Metro Retro in the Melrose district of downtown Phoenix. The seemingly plastic tortoise snap…

Surprise! Scottsdale is for Shopaholics

This just in (from the stuff you kind of already knew department): Scottsdale is a mecca for shopaholics. Sure, between its go-to mall for high-end designers, unique boutiques, and the need to dress up to fit in at any of them, fashion reigns supreme in the city that’s home to…

?Antique Plaza: Treasure Hunting in Mesa

Antique Plaza isn’t for the faint of heart. The two-story, 20,000-square-foot antique mall in the heart of downtown Mesa has about one sweet, modestly priced vintage find for every 10 shelves of miniature ceramic figures. Walking and sifting through every vendor’s tightly packed booth would literally take hours. But if you’re…

xkcd: What Your Favorite Map Projection Says About You

This week, our love for all things mapped was shared by Randall Munroe. The physicist-turned web comic illustrator created xkcd in 2005, and has since expressed daily scenarios and dilemmas in doodles.  On Monday, in celebration of mathematician and creator of the Waterman “Butterfly” World Map Projection creator Steve Waterman, Munroe proposed…

John Wind Brings His Vintage-Style Jewelry to Biltmore Fashion Park

There’s a good chance that, even if you aren’t sure who jewelry designer John Wind is, you’ve seen his work.Girly and vintage-inspired pieces from the Philadelphia-based accessory artist have been featured in InStyle and Oprah’s Gift Guide, and Anthropologie carries a selection of his dainty charms.Wind will bring a selection…

Mink Headband Hat with Ribbon Detail at Melrose Market

Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: This vintage mink headband hat is a simple (well, it’s less PETA-invoking than a bulky goat hair coat, anyway) way of sporting fur with some flapper flair. Fuzz…

Marcel the Shell with Shoes on (Part Two)

Praise to the higher powers of all-things-stop-motion: Marcel the Shell is back. A year after director Dean Fleischer-Camp and “Saturday Night Live” alum Jenny Slate released the small story of a seashell with sneakers, the two released a second video today. …

Local Artwork and Flavor-Inspired Designs at Project Ethos at the Mint

Project Ethos brought its trio of fashion, music, and art to Scottsdale’s Mint on Friday. A speedy fashion show, which included looks from event sponsors Frederick’s of Hollywood Swimwear and Cardiwrap, was the main event, while local artists Sarah Hurwitz (whose name was misspelled on the event’s flyer), photographer Davin…

Alibis: A Cologne for Cheating Men (Now Available at the Strip Club)

In today’s example of how to find out how dumb your girlfriend is while high-flying your douche bag flag after a late-night visit to the strip club comes Alibis. The new line of fragrances is the result of some serious brainpower behind Mavericks club in Cape Town, South Africa. Now available over the greasy…

Hip and Funky Finds at Retro Ranch

Every piece has personality at Retro Ranch. The Melrose District boutique is small but packed with a mix of Midcentury modern and Hollywood Regency decor — pieces with clean lines but bold colors, ornamental trimmings, and over-the-top patterns. Retro Ranch is thrifty and hip, with antique dinnerware stacked on top…

Splendid Cocoon Cardigan at Bunky Boutique

Each week Gem features one standout piece from a local shop. Whether it’s a jacket, necklace, or handbag, it’s on our have-to-have list. What: This open-knit, cocoon-style cardi from Splendid is perfect for late-fall layering, both over long-sleeve shirts and under heavier coats. It’s lightweight, but not paper thin, in a wintery,…

Stacie Lang’s Simple Fashion Inspirations

Stacie Lang will admit to staying in her workout clothes longer than she should, but the local wedding and lifestyle photographer  says she’s learned spending a few extra minutes while getting ready for the day is always worth it.”I firmly believe that the way you dress yourself in the morning directly effects your mood,…