Geeks of the Valley are certainly a most imaginative group, especially whenever Phoenix Comicon time approaches. In fact, we know many a sci-fi or fantasy die-hard who spend the 12 months or so between each year’s event exhaustively prepping their elaborate costumes or intricate art to show off to their…
Star Wars geeks around the world are counting the days until Episode VII debuts in theaters in May 2015, kicking off the long-awaited sequel trilogy. In the meantime, the Boba Fett-obsessed crowd has nothing to do but engage in one of its favorite pastimes: searching for spoilers and speculating on…
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: Christina “Xappa” Franco’s handmade multi-strand Ice Queen necklace mixes girly vintage pearls with gunmetal and brass spikes for a tough and lovely look. Where: Xappaland Cost: $42 See…
Is your hair/past full of secrets? Do you wish it/both were? Guess what, wannabe. Nobody cares. What they do care about, however, is the ultra-fetch new Tumblr Mean Mad Men. It’s that thing where the best quotes from Tina Fey’s high school comedy Mean Girls are applied to images of…
If runway shows from Chanel, Saint Laurent, and Rodarte are any indication, looks like fall’s big fashion trend will be 1990s rocker duds — flannel, Doc Marten-esque boots, Courtney Love levels of manicured dishevelment, and all. While the looks presented at Phoenix Fashion Week’s fourth annual MIM Rocks Fashion at…
Those planning to attend but one fashion event this spring (and the Paris show is already over), might want to consider the high heels, glitter, champagne and outrageous, often in-your-face style of Mad Girl Productions’ Sugar Art and Fashion Show, “Sugar Does America 2,” hitting Phoenix Friday, March 29. The…
Take note and give your creative friends a big pat on the back — we’re announcing the finalists for the 2013 Big Brain Awards. The award was created to recognize emerging local creatives, and for the past few weeks we’ve been narrowing the long list of submissions to 18 finalists…
We’re throwing a party. Our annual Big Brain Awards celebrate emerging creatives in a variety of media throughout the Valley (and give them cash prizes to put toward their passions). And while you’ll have to wait until this afternoon to find out who the finalists are, you’re more than welcome…
Trunk Space co-owner JRC is one of the biggest nerds in the Valley, and we mean that in the nicest way possible. He’s big into comic books, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Carl Sagan, and various other brainy subject matter. So it’s apropos that he’d dub the sequel to the…
During their heyday of the 1980s, the forces of G.I. Joe tirelessly traveled around the globe defeating the evil world-conquering schemes of terrorist organization Cobra both in the animated episodes of their epic cartoon and Marvel comic book. This Saturday, however, these Real American Heroes embark on a different sort…
ZapCon in leveling up. Organizers of the two-day classic arcade and pinball gaming event taking place next month in downtown Phoenix recently announced that they’re expanding the scope of the event to include numerous game-related activities that don’t involve mashing buttons. According to Wes Cleveland, who’s helping put on ZapCon…
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: A pair of broken-in leather cowboy kickers is a must-have for every wardrobe. With an Old West feel, copper embellishments, and a cow skull adorning each ankle, these…
Every girl fantasizes about her dream wedding, but her big day is usually full of compromises, thanks to messy logistics and the lack of a prince charming. Weddings are stressful, which makes eloping in Vegas an attractive option, but that still involves buying a dress that gets worn for only…
New, vintage, and handmade goods meet gardening at Roosevelt Growhouse and GROWop Boutique. Makes sense, then, that the shop/community plot’s Honey Harvest promises more than just sweetener. Along with a big batch of nectar-infused treats, the garden party will feature an exclusive collection of 25 paintings from Rebecca Green and…
The thousands who gathered at Tempe Beach Park to see Flogging Molly weren’t the only ones celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in furious fashion along Mill Avenue on Sunday, March 17. Bars and clubs like Fat Tuesday, The Handlebar, Canteen, Firehouse Tempe, and Robbie Fox’s were packed to the rafters with…
Sarah Hubbell is a big fan of Martha Stewart. She loves her how-tos on everything from garden parties to handmade wrapping paper and admires her simple, yet elegant style. But when Hubbell moved back to Phoenix after short stints in Hollywood and New York City, got married, and had a…
There’s a good chance of spotting someone of short stature while out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, as local bars such as Giligin’s in Scottsdale (home to Chuey the Rock ‘n’ Roll Midget) have a tendency to hire little people to don leprechaun costumes to enliven their parties. Such…
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: We dig all the offerings from Phoenix-based home goods company Handmade Riot, run by James Waldron and former New Times contributor Nicole Whittington. But with the Lakers making…
This morning NASA released data collected by the Curiosity Rover, which landed on Mars in August 2012, supporting the possibility of ancient life on Mars “A fundamental question for this mission is whether Mars could have supported a habitable environment,” writes Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA’s Mars Exploration Program…
Gigi Arredondo has been working in the industry for nearly a decade as a hair stylist, makeup artist, and beauty consultant in Old Town Scottsdale. She’s constantly learning, trend-hunting, and shopping — all with access to beauty products not available to the public. And she’s here to share the good,…
Kelsey Dake has a very thick half-wall between her studio and the rest of her home in uptown Phoenix. The 23-year-old illustrator stresses the importance of a work and home-life balance, which is hard to pull off when both things happen in the same space, but probably necessary when you’re…
The Wild Wild West Steampunk Convention was a hit, as former movie studio/living history theme park Old Tucson Studios came to life this weekend, full of folks showing off costumes that reimagined the Victorian era. The parameters of the steampunk genre are loosely defined as Victorian science fiction, which in…
