Club Candids: Hellen at Joes Grotto

By Lilia Menconi Get something a little more metal in the slideshow. So, after reading the New Times Best of Phoenix Award for the death metal band, Hellen, we thought one of their live shows would drudge up a club candids-worthy crowd for sure. And, just as we suspected, Joe’s…

Arty Girl: Fritz Scholder at Larsen Gallery

By Lilia Menconi I swear my pupils dilate every time I see a Fritz Scholder painting. Scholder, who is one-quarter Luseino, a California Mission tribe, has proven himself an important figure in the development of the Native American Art Movement. And, my God, the man knows how to rock a…

Arty Girl: Frida Kahlo talk

By Lilia Menconi I’m not going to bore you with the ga-jillionth summary of Frida Kahlo’s life. But, just in case you missed the movie with Selma Hayek, the autobiography, the children’s book, the plush toy, the poster and the endless websites made by teenage girls dedicated to this artist,…

Land of the Rising Moon

You may not be a crystal-rubbing, chakra-conscious goofball, but you have to admit that you still get excited about a full moon. You’ve watched too many werewolf movies and, let’s face it, creepy shit happens on a full-moon night. Couples argue, there are car accidents galore, and suicide hotlines across…

Arty Girl: Eve Plumb at Bonner David Galleries

By Lilia Menconi Eve Plumb as we remember her. Celebrity and art – yum! – one of my very favorite topics. I’m endlessly fascinated with the way celebrities are able to assign instant value to an artist simply by purchasing a piece. Or, better yet, when a celebrity decides to…

Club Candids: Soul Social at Portlands

By Lilia Menconi It’s a very classy slideshow (for once). It’s no secret that we are all about hitting some of the scummier places in town for our partying desires but, every once in a while, we crave a nice place that actually has toilet seat covers and more than…

Arty Girl: Joseph Labate at West Valley Art Museum

By Lilia Menconi By Joseph Labate. I absolutely love the West Valley Art Museum. But I didn’t grow up on the Westside, I only have a few acquaintances who live there and I don’t have any ailing grandparents in Sun City. So, other than the museum, there’s not much reason…

Roka Nights

A boutique forms a partnership with an artist and what happens? Your friends say that shirt looks like you fell asleep at Basquiat’s house. Is that a dis? We’re going to assume it’s not, being that if this were the case, one shirt could probably sell at auction and fund…

Screw the Economy

Just stop watching the Dow. Stop. You’re going to freak yourself out. To help the economy, make sure not to cut down on any extra expenses. Keep your acrylic nails, get your weekly massage, shell out for the full-sleeve tattoo, and keep your standing appointment with your psychic, especially if…

Club Candids: Chaos Theory 9 at Legend City Studios

By Lilia Menconi For more sterile poses, check the slideshow. Not that we don’t love the youth of Phoenix, but it sometimes gets a little much on a busy First Friday, when you accidentally rub up against a greasy teenager as you’re trying to get through a gallery. Not the…

Thirst Friday

You use the words “decanting” and “aerating” without reservation. You keep a stack of Wine Enthusiast magazines by the toilet. Sadly, your younger family members refer to you as “Drunkle.” Check out the grand opening of what may well become your new favorite place, District: American Kitchen and Wine Bar…

Club Candids: Best of Phoenix A’Fare at Venue of Scottsdale

By Lilia Menconi Woah. Slideshow. Planning our nights out isn’t always a smooth ride. Especially when we start boozing. So, in a slightly inebriated state, we weren’t as Johnny-on-the-spot when it came to our original plan, Friday’s Dear and the Headlights CD-release party. Being the party animals we are, we…

Wild, Wild West Side

It’s Friday night. Gentlemen are pressing their newest shiny button-down shirts and tweezing those rouge nipple hairs. Ladies are lathering with bronzer and reaching for padded bras. After a few million minutes in front of the mirror, it’s finally time to party. But this time, the debauchery is not in…

Club Candids: The Dubliner

By Lilia Menconi The Dubliner on Saturday, September 20th. It gets even better if you check the slideshow We had some pretty good luck when we hit up the North Valley a few weeks ago at Joe’s Grotto, so we thought we’d check out another neighborhood fave, The Dubliner, on…

Arty Girl: Autumnal Equinox Viewing at James Turrell Skyspace at SMoCA

By Lilia Menconi For legal purposes, the longest caption ever: James Turrell”Knight Rise,” 2001Venetian plaster, stainless steel, concrete, neonA “skyspace” commissioned by the Scottsdale Public Art Program for the Nancy and Art Schwalm Sculpture Garden, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary ArtPhoto: Florian Holzherr I have a daily early morning ritual that…

Fresh Blood

An alcoholic paranormal investigative reporter named Victor, in the midst of an ugly divorce and custody battle, is following the story lead of his career. Yes, his career . . . as a paranormal investigative reporter . . . and his name is Victor. Sigh. His cop friend convinces him…

Club Candids: The Toadies at Martini Ranch

By Lilia Menconi Find some more in the slideshow. It doesn’t seem like that long ago when we were on our way to a high school dance, blasting the Toadies and ripping out our voice boxes singing, “Do you wanna die?” over and over again. Well, that was a whopping…