Summer 2013 was a strong season for that oft-maligned genre, the romantic comedy. Excellent films like The Spectacular Now and Drinking Buddies for the most part avoided rom-com cliches, and reinventions like Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing made timeless story lines seem fresh. Still other on-screen romances were held…
Sad as we are that the weekend’s finished, here’s a look back at how we spent it. Did we take your picture? First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Phoenix, 9/6/13 This month we ventured to The Frontal Lobe Community Space and Gallery, FilmBar, and Bud’s Glass Joint for the September…
The countdown to Best of Phoenix is on. Mark your calendar: This year’s issue will be on newsstands September 26. What better way to warm up than by asking some local “experts” to list their own personal bests? This week, Greg Esser — director of the International Artist Residency program…
Your week is officially planned, Phoenix. Beers With Friends Scrabble Party @ Handlebar Real talk. We play what probably would be classified as an excessive amount of Words With Friends. We love those triple word squares, picking up a “Q,” and toiling to come up with killer plays. But, the…
fun., your best bet at a dose of The Format methadone, is in town this week. At the same time, Future Loves Past and approximately a million other cool local bands will be performing at Lushfest in Tempe over the weekend. So if you missed your chance to be a…
I’ve never done anything interesting enough to merit a Kickstarter, but if I ever happen to by accident I could do worse than following the example of Northern Hustle, who’s celebrating their crowdfunding victory with a CD Release show this weekend. That’s just one of the titular must-see Phoenix shows…
First Friday heats up tonight with creative works going up all over the city. Here are our picks for shows not to miss this artful evening. “No Phobia Tattoo Art Show” @ FilmBar Whether it’s a heartfelt memento, a meaningful mantra, or a night of too much tequila, every tattoo…
Here’s how to spend the next few days in and around Phoenix, weekend warrior. Good ‘N Plenty Artist Grant @ Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art While aspiring artists and creative types will find sugary treats, courtesy of Essence Bakery and Cartel Coffee Lab, at SMoCA Lounge’s latest Good ‘N Plenty…
August is a paradox. It’s peak pool party weather, inasmuch as it’s too hot out to do much else, but it’s also the socially accepted time to begin wrapping up the pool party season, wearing white, pretending it’s summer instead of pretending it’s fall, etc. It’s a transition month for…
It’s been a little over a month since Hollywood Alley closed its doors for good after 30 years of successful business. This week’s cover story is an oral history of a bevy of bands reminiscing about the staple in the local music scene. We snapped a few pictures at the…
Dip Pool Party at Days Hotel Scottsdale, 8/31/13 DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Skribble lit up the decks with their epic turntable skills as the co-headliners of The Dip Pool Party on Saturday, August 31, at the Days Hotel in Scottsdale. The swimming soiree, which was sponsored by local hip-hop…
Yeah, this week is a little shorter than usual. No matter. Jackalope Ranch still serves up five rad things to do this week from nightlife outings and artsy endeavors to game nights and fashionable fêtes. Tuesday Ladies Night @ The Handlebar Tempe Despite what you see in the movies, ladies…
by Darryl Smyers 20 years ago, The Backstreet Boys were unleashed on an unsuspecting American public and the “boy band” phenomenon of the late ’90s was officially under way. Inspired partly by the great doo-wop groups of the ’50s and partly by the R&B of the ’90s, Nick Carter and…
The countdown to Best of Phoenix is on. Mark your calendar: This year’s issue will be on newsstands September 26. What better way to warm up than by asking some local “experts” to list their own personal bests? This week Natalie Morris — the founder/owner of Good Food Finder (a…
Happy Labor Day! We like to spend our Labor Day checking out Lil Wayne charity shows. (Note: That’s not a picture of Lil Wayne.) We don’t know how you like to spend your Labor Day week, which is why we’ve included no fewer than five options for enjoying yourself. If…
People from Phoenix treat the summer like the zombie apocalypse. I realize this every time I stare out of a car window at people groaning and lifelessly shuffling in the heat. I think about how I would never dare go out there, for fear of being infected…
An extra-long Labor Day weekend means there’s more than usual to do. From partying to pageantry, here are your best bets for getting out and about. Splat! Paint & Foam Party @ Arizona Event Center Who needs “good clean fun” when you can get a little dirty? Such is the…
If Black Sabbath isn’t quite terrifying anymore, they’ve done a remarkably good job recovering from their lead singer appearing in a goofy MTV reality-sitcom for three years. You’ll be able to see just how well they’ve recovered Friday at US Airways Center. If that’s not your speed, we’ve got four…
With our series Personal Space, Jackalope Ranch gets an inside look at the homes and studios of some of Phoenix’s most interesting folks, like artists, designers, shop owners, and entrepreneurs. Here’s a look back at some of our favorites we’ve visited (so far). Mary Shindell’s Dynamic Dual Studios Mary Shindell…
The Girls of Hell City Tattoo Fest 2013 The Hell City Tattoo Festival returned to Phoenix for a weekend of fun for those who enjoy the beauty of a customized body. Here’s a glimpse of the fairer sex found at Hell City at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa…
Phoenix, entertainment and good times await. Here’s how to spend your off-time this week. WWE Monday Night RAW @ US Airways Center It’s only been eight days since SummerSlam, the WWE’s marquee dog-days pay-per-view showdown, but the fed’ll be shifting gears from the event’s aftermath to ramping up for September’s…
The countdown to Best of Phoenix is on. Mark your calendar: This year’s issue will be on newsstands September 26. What better way to warm up than by asking some local “experts” to list their own personal bests? This week Country Velador, pastry chef at Cowboy Ciao in Scottsdale, shares…
