Rail Life: blogs that make us happy

Nick Bastian loves Valley Metro Light Rail so much, he started a comprehensive blog dedicated exclusively to it. Want to know more about how budget cuts affect light rail? Need the latest light rail schedules? Not sure what shirt to wear on the annual “No Pants AZ Light Rail Ride”?…

Tania Katan, What Are You Wearing?

She’s best-known in some circles for taking off her shirt — and if you don’t know what we mean, you need to read her book, My One-night Stand With Cancer. But Tania Katan knows how to get dressed, too. What are you wearing right now?  Blue blazer, red pants, red…

Clintus McGintus: blogs that make us happy

Local digital and social media guru Clintus McGintus (nee Comer) keeps us abreast of the latest tech and geek meetups on his multi-media blog, clintus.me. And he does it with such flair and panache that no one can argue when he labels himself an “attention whore.” McGintus, 28, covers a…

Jason Hill’s Bikini Lounge Print: Buy It

  If we had any wall space left, we’d snatch this one up ourselves. Local printmaker and otherwise-amazing-person-and-artist-and-designer Jason Hill has his own etsy shop, which we’ve drooled over more than once. He’s got a signed print of the Bikini for sale for $20. Buy it.  …

Christa Severns, What Are You Wearing?

  If longtime Phoenician Christa Severns looks familiar, it’s probably just because you shop at Last Chance. What are you wearing right now? Ben Sherman jacket, brown pants, white polo and two strands of pearls. What is the last item of clothing you bought?Trina Turk dress from Last Chance. What item do…

Mercado Mexico in Guadalupe

Need a cow skull?Who doesn’t, right?If you’re in the market for cow skulls, Day of the Dead skeletons, hanging chili pepper bundles, and ceramic pots galore, Mercado Mexico is your jam…

Robert Black on Vintage Fashion and Phoenix Style

$125. Around here, the name Robert Black is forever linked to fashion. For years, Black ran the best-known modeling agency in town. When he sold that business, he let his passion for fashion really fly — opening a vintage clothing and accessory store, Fashion by Robert Black, in Scottsdale last October…

Nerdapalooza: 5 Geeky Events to Look Forward to in 2010

We’re done with resolutions to eat healthfully and quit our vices. This year we’re resolving to reconnect with our nerdolicious self — basically to let our geek flag fly. And it looks like we won’t be alone. 2010 is shaping up to be the year of the geek, with scores of filmmakers, software companies, sci-fi cons…

Top 5 Geeky Fashion Trends of the Decade

Pocket protectors. Highwater jeans pulled up to the neck. T-shirts with slogans like, “Ethernet (n), something used to catch the etherbunny” and “Got D20?”. Geeks aren’t exactly known for their fashion prowess, but that hasn’t stopped them from inspiring trends that would make any Mean Girl cringe.  Here are 5 geeky fashion trends of the 2000s — a…

What’s on Tap for Tonight’s First Friday

Jeezum crow, its gonna be cold this weekend. Really cold. Like in the 30s. So unless hypothermia is your bag baby, better throw on an extra sweater or down plenty of spirits when venturing out to tonight’s freezing First Friday at the various and sundry art hotspots in and around…

To-Do List: First Friday at Phoenix Civic Space

Before bar-hopping and gallivanting around Phoenix galleries at First Friday, be sure to mark the Downtown Civic Space Park on your map of destinations. Besides offering a golf-course-worthy patch of green, the park has a bevy of First Friday to-do’s. On the live entertainment side: Shoegaze rockers Former Friends of…

Comic Book’s Cannibal Cop Takes a Bite Outta Crime

Cannibals, cops, bird flu: All three of these things have grabbed headlines before, but probably not simultaneously. That’s where comic book creator John Layman comes in. His runaway hit series Chew follows the adventures of Tony Chu, a detective turned FDA agent who lives in a world where chicken meat…

Girls Gone Wild at Arizona’s ‘New Moon’ Premiere Party

Last night, hundreds of teenage girls, moms with wistful romantic longings and a handful of dudes (most of whom were clearly dragged there by little sisters or girlfriends) gathered in Surprise for the Twifans.com and CullenBoysAnonymous “New Moon Rising Over Arizona” party and midnight premiere of the next film in the Twilight…

Frolicking With Fantasy Creatures at the Phoenix Faerie Festival

All manner of fantastical creatures, from fairies and elves to green men and mermaids turned out for the annual Phoenix Faerie Festival this past Saturday at Estrella Mountain Regional Park in Goodyear. It wasn’t nearly as crowded as some of the Valley’s other dress-up fantasy events, but those who were there seemed to enjoy the festivities.

Twilight’s Dr. Cullen Charms Fans at AZ State Fair

Yes, Twerds, Twerps, Twilighters (or whatever moniker Twilight fans are going by these days), Dr. Carlisle Cullen paid a visit to the Arizona State Fair this past Sunday. Or rather, actor Peter Facinelli, who plays the leader of the Cullen clan in the movie series based on the popular YA…

Arizona Fetish Ball Kicks up the Kink

“You’re going to the Arizona Fetish Ball? Isn’t that kinda lame?” We can’t count the number of times we’ve heard that question in regards to Horns and Halos’ annual S&M soiree. And to be honest, sometimes it was lame. Inevitably, there was a parade of hotties (and some notties) in teensy thongs and boob-tape Xs. Mild-mannered accountants would…

What’s on Tap for Tonight’s First Friday

Adaupto “Tato” Caraveo is one of the coolest mofos we know. Not only is the 35-year-old one of the most charming cats we’ve ever met, he also gets to tend bar at the Lost Leaf (one of hippest drinkeries in the whole Valley) and can pluck the upright bass with…

Geek Beat: Munny Grubbers Toy Show and Q&A with The Munny Maker

You know how little boys make fun of girls for having dolls, and then go and play with “action figures” themselves? A similar thing happened with the now famous KidRobot Munny figure, a cute, bulbous little vinyl doll that comes totally naked. (Remove head from gutter. It’s blank so artists…