A popular Valley bar and nightclub is selling herbal smoke blends containing synthetic cannabinoid compound JWH. The JWH compound, which we first wrote about in February, reportedly has the same effects when smoked as THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Several countries and U.S. states have banned the substance, and…
With thousands of different “energy drinks” on the market, it’s hard to stand apart. Ole Energy, which is distributed by Sudden Impact Partners in Chandler, tries to make itself unique by including a blend of “adaptogenic herbs.”This blend of herbs includes stuff we’ve never heard of: Eleutherococcus Senticosus root and…
The Arizona Derby Dames are proof that girls are not all “sugar and spice.” In fact, these tattooed roller derby ladies are more piss and vinegar than anything – they will push, shove, punch, and do whatever else it takes to propel their team to bruised victory. Pride (and bodies)…
How funny is comedian Jo Koy? The Filipino-American comic’s hilarious jabs at himself and stereotypes of Asian culture (he “love you long time”) cracked up enough people to land him his own Comedy Central special, Don’t Make Him Angry, and spots on several shows, including two seasons of Showtime at…
From Rosemary’s Baby to Children of the Corn, wicked children in cinema have been giving audiences the creeps for decades. Midnite Movie Mamacita and Madcap Theaters director Andrea Beesley-Brown knows how scary demonic, knife-wielding kids can be — she’s seen dozens of films depicting terrifying juveniles. Here are five of…
This past Tuesday night, The Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale was crawling with literary enthusiasts, eager to hear five authors talk about their books. People who weren’t sitting in the circle of chairs around authors Dianne Emley, Mary Anna Evans, Larry Karp, Peter Steiner, and Simon Wood were squeezing through…
Since we first reported on a synthetic cannabinoid compound called JWH back in February, “herbal incense” blends containing the compound have been selling like crazy on the Internet and at head shops. An Arizona company even claims to now sell pure, lab-made JWH in powder form. But for all its…
Central Phoenix isn’t known for its sprawling cemeteries, but just off 12th Avenue and Jefferson Street, there’s a vast, historic burial ground called the Pioneer Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The cemetery is one of the oldest in the state, with graves that date back to the mid-1800s. The 11-acre cemetery grounds…
Condors are the most massive vultures in the Western Hemisphere. To imagine the wing span of Andean and California Condors at their largest, picture 7-foot-one NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal lying on his side. Now make him about three and a half feet taller. Need a better image? See real Andean…
There aren’t too many coffees as tasty as Thai coffee, and Thai Cafe in Chandler makes some of the best. On a hot summer day, they serve their Thai coffee in a huge glass, iced, and it’s not only thirst-quenching, but quite butt-kicking as well. Thai coffee is basically slow-drip…
Producers of the FOX television show So You Think You Can Dance auditioned thousands of people for the show’s upcoming seventh season, and of those thousands, 11 were picked to show their moves on national TV — including Phoenix resident Lauren Froderman.Froderman, 18, was born and raised in the Valley,…
For the past two years, Pages book store in Cave Creek has catered to everybody from fiction fans looking for cheap copies of the latest Dave Eggars postmodern rant or Twilight saga book to serious collectors willing to fork out serious cash for stuff like a first edition of Charles…
Back in February, we wrote about a relatively new chemical compound called JWH that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration — and numerous curious users — said had the same effect as marijuana when smoked. JWH is used in “herbal incense” blends like Spice, Puff, and K2, which are widely available at…
Chances are, you know about one of the most popular boutique hotels in town. But just under the hip veneer at the Clarendon Hotel — past the street tacos at Gallo Blanco, the artwork of Jason Hill and Mike Little, the raucous pool parties — there’s a shrine of sorts you might…
Last week, we introduced a “Top Five Films” list from Madcap Theaters director Andrea Beasley-Brown, a.k.a. the Midnite Movie Mamacita. While her first list focused on the five most disgusting movies she’s ever seen, this week’s list gives props to babes behind bars. Beasley-Brown admits most movies about women in…
Shanna Katz wants to talk to you about sex. She wants to tell you why it’s good, teach you how to enjoy it more, and maybe even laugh about it a little. Phoenix-based Katz, dubbed “a younger, hipper version of Dr. Ruth” by other media, is a licensed professional –…
Blogger and career coach Pamela Slim’s blog, Escape from Cubicle Nation, covers a wide range of topics, from when to ditch your home office to the virtues of a documentary on bi-polar disorder and professional advice about finding one’s purpose, combined with Kahlil Gibran quotes. Usually, topics like that come…
Writing workshops are all the rage this summer. Between the bookstores and the libraries, there are more than 20 writing workshops around the Valley through July, hosted by a gamut of literary notables and catering to all kinds of writers, from tweens and teens to poets and memoirists (there’s a…
Comedian Margaret Cho is coming to Dodge Theatre on Saturday, September 18, and she’ll be bringing a whole new arsenal of gay jokes, Korean mother imitations, and comedy music. Cho’s latest tour, “CHO DEPENDENT,” will feature some songs from her forthcoming album of the same name, which includes collaborations with…
Men in tights, women in skimpy shorts, and fans in a beer-drenched uproar — local professional wrestling organization Elite Xtreme Wrestling (EXW) has all three hallmarks of its “sport” and more. Founded by former minor league baseball players Brian Barnett and Derick Neikirk, EXW offers the same entertainment as the…
Crudo serves a ton of tasty delights to the crowds that come in off Marshall Way in Old Town Scottsdale, from flat bread pizzas to a local farm salad bar. And since the place is located inside the Steven Paul Salon, patrons can even get their hair done after eating…
If you’ve ever wondered what that glowing yellow ball in the sky is, or what kind of machines humans are sending into space to take photos, check out one of the free “Astronomy Nights” at Mesa Community College’s planetarium this summer. These monthly shows give viewers a new look at…
