If Bob Ross were alive today, he'd be painting happy little trees all over the place in ecstatic fervor for all the arts and culture happenings in Phoenix. To help you see the forest for the trees, here's a recap of the top arts and culture stories of the week. 10 Reasons BuzzFeed's "36 Reasons Why Arizona is the Best State" Sucks
By now you've probably seen BuzzFeed's trending post, "36 Reasons Why Arizona Is The Best State," and if you're like us you were disappointed because, given its 36 pathetic attempts at promoting state pride, this list bordered on satirical. Come on, "inde1500 /sebastiana2," is that the best you could come up with? Here's our list of the 10 reasons why BuzzFeed's "36 Reasons Why Arizona Is The Best State" is a joke.
--Katie Johnson
3 Must-Attend After-Dark Pool Parties in August
Pool parties are largely a pursuit of the daytime, right? Yeah, to a certain degree, but that doesn't mean that the summertime swim scene -- especially in and around Scottsdale -- ceases once the oppressive sun sinks below the horizon. To the contrary, things seem to get a bit livelier when darkness falls.
That's true at any of the Scottsdale nightlife havens that boast a pool -- such as Maya, El Santo, or Spanish Fly, for instance -- as each establishment offers a place to see and be seen in your bikini and boardshorts in the evening hours.
And during the month of August, each will offer after-dark events with more than just a place to whet your whistle while waist-deep in the water. To wit: There are weekly outdoor movie screenings at Maya, dancing shenanigans on tap at El Santo, and even volleyball in the pool over at Spanish Fly. Read on for full details.
--Benjamin Leatherman
Here's Why Gender-Reveal Parties Are the Worst
Most everybody loves an excuse to attend a good party. But these days, there seems to be more and more invites to the self-absorbed and self-indulgent kind, which lack the aforementioned "good" part. Before you make it to your girlfriend's wedding you will have most likely attended her engagement party, bridal shower, and bachelorette party. Including the wedding that's three gifts expected plus the cost of attending the bachelorette party and paying for your friend, not to mention a total of four parties dedicated to "celebrating her."
Although the party and gift-giving traditions for weddings is a rant-worthy blog itself, we're actually here to discuss the latest trend in an even more annoying party category: the ones involving babies. In an effort to come up with yet another way to indulge one's narcissism and the need for attention, trend-abiding couples have started throwing gender reveal parties.
--Darryle Royal
Orgasms Better for Your Brain Than Crossword Puzzles, Study Shows
This is your brain. This is your brain on sex.
A recent study on human pleasure by Rutgers researchers Barry Komisaruk and Nan Wise has discovered what may be the best news since science discovered that pot smokers are skinnier. That headline is straightforward enough, here's the strange way scientists uncovered this groundbreaking discovery.
--Katie Johnson
Aerial Photography Exhibitions in Metro Phoenix: The Good, The Bad, and the Must-See
Apparently, Phoenicians are all about rising above this month. We couldn't tell you exactly why the Valley is suddenly flush with aerial photography shows, but the change in perspective is a welcome breath of fresh air all the same.
Don't get overwhelmed. We're here to help you navigate these exhibitions to pick your best options for getting high (art) before the end of summer arrives.
--Katrina Montgomery
