All right bibliophiles, hold on to your book jackets. We’ve all been told not to judge a book by its cover, but Awful Library Books is breaking the rules. The online catalog is maintained and narrated by two librarians from Michigan, whose only criteria is that the books, found in actual library…
This week, in the (very long) list of “ways to not pick up women while riding your bicycle,” comes the Uberhood. Just in time for the potentially rainy day, the Uberhood is an oblong umbrella that fixes to your handlebars for a “smooth” ride in sunshine or rain. Details not mentioned: – The…
Vintage voltmeters and pressure gauges get a whole new lease on life in the garage of Aaron Voigt’s home in Mesa. Ditto for knobs and dials from antique appliances, old bicycle gears, automobile parts, suspension springs, and various other castoff bits from old devices. The 30-something spends hours at a time…
Art walks are more often about people watching and shenanigans and less about the actual art. We’re here to guide you through both. Presenting our very own Field Guide — an evolving guide to art walks around town.From time to time, we’ll introduce some of our favorite spots and dish out some…
Antique Trove is a junk drawer of vintage goods. The 23,000-square-foot haven of forgotten furniture and once-loved knickknacks is crowded with weird inventory from more than 140 vendors. It’s easy to get lost (and even easier to find something you never knew you were looking for). Old magazines are stacked next to…
State Bicycle Co. – Night Riders (full edition) from State Bicycle Co. on Vimeo.The two-wheeled adrenaline junkies at State Bicycle Co. took to the streets over the weekend, in very-timely, spooky garb. The local bicycle company’s known for drool-worthy photo contests and videos that feature their custom bicycles, sponsored local riders,…
To the guaranteed glee of antique hoarders everywhere, Art Intersection’s Carol Panaro-Smith and Josie Cirincione are going on an afternoon of local antiquing — and they’d like to take you along. “Vintage ephemera and found objects are a great source of inspiration to mixed-media artists,” Panaro-Smith writes. “The field trip objective is…
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: These ’70s roper-style boots are beautifully broken in and perfect footwear for the Southwestern trend we’re seeing a lot of this season (think: dangling fringe, earthy prairie tones,…
As a longtime fan of rockabilly and pin-up classiness, Alicia Lopez enjoys incorporating rip-roaring style and sexiness into her clothing choices and fashion work. The 30-year-old designer and model also is big on incorporating Mexican influences whenever possible and uses her creations to make a statement about her heritage, promote…
You couldn’t swing a bag of candy without hitting a costumed character this past weekend during the buildup to Halloween, particularly at local bars and nightspots. Countless revelers and nightlife patrons embraced the spirit of the scary season and donned alter egos and colorful outfits for the evening. Not every costume…
Unlike art walks, the State Fair is ALL about people watching and circus acts. So grab a camera and a bottle of TUMS — here’s a peek at our Field Guide to the Arizona State Fair: click on the image (or right here) for a full-sized versionCheck out the full slideshow here and…
The life of a domesticated animal may seem like one of total bliss, but that ain’t always the case. While it’s true that most pets are fed, groomed, and tended to by their owners (the responsible one, at least), they’re often subject to the various whims and emotional mood-swings of…
Let’s face it: the chances your brilliant idea for this year’s Halloween costume is even the slightest bit original, are slim to none. Whether your rags are as obvious as an #occupywhatever protester, or as obscure as a sad reenactment of Edgar Allan Poe (Edgar Allan, who?), chances are, someone, somewhere, is…
Potential costume contest participants be warned: local creatives Steve Weiss and Abbey Messmer are back in the studio and working on their get-ups for Halloween. The duo, known for their annual mutant pinata creations and individual projects (Weiss is the indie film programming guru at No Festival Required; Messmer’s a local painter),…
Chris Birkett is used to people driving slowly past his North Scottsdale home around this time of year. Not only do folks lay off on the gas pedal, they also have a tendency to make hasty U-turns to get another look. Such driving maneuvers shouldn’t come as a surprise, since…
Phoenix fashionistas (and their mostly bored boyfriends) turned up to the Phoenix Art Museum to hear Neiman Marcus’ fashion director, Ken Downing, talk trends. The effervescent string bean of a man walked the hundreds in attendance through slides of runway shots illustrating overarching themes and ideas shared by different designers,…
The Vogue shoe closet — Carrie Bradshaw thought it was an urban shoe myth, but the maker’s of the documentary God Save My Shoes are going to let you peruse the rows upon rows of designer shoes hidden in the depths of Vogue’s New York offices. It’s not a shoe myth anymore…
Zinnias at Melrose is one of the Valley’s largest antique shops at Indian School Road and Seventh Avenue, the unofficial starting line of the antique-lined Melrose District. The a two-floor, 15,000-square-foot warehouse is less boutique and more enormous closet, where garage- and estate-sale finds are given a second chance by more than 30 vendors,…
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. This week we hunted down three gems that could be styled as Halloween costumes. Whether you’re looking to add fun touches to your already-planned getup, or you’re in desperate…
Welcome to the latest, greatest example of “how to waste your money in a corporate coffee giant” — the coffee spill tee.To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Starbucks brain trust wrangled 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner and fashion designer Alexander Wang into “reimagining” the logo for a special edition of women’s soft knits. It then successfully…
The caffeinated, sugar-induced craft bonanza that is Coffee, Cookies & Crafts will usher in a marathon of holiday-themed gifts, craft supplies, and interactive activities in Downtown’s Bragg’s Pie Factory. And while the event’s November 19 date isn’t quite past the threshold of “accepted beginning of post-Thanksgiving holiday pandemonium,” we’ll be the first to…
Halloween house parties can be very memorable affairs. It’s safe to say, however, that you’d probably like to be remembered for having a killer costume instead of being the dolt who spoiled the affair after puking in the closet or wearing an offensive outfit. Since it’s likely you’ll be heading…
