Arts & Culture

Well, it’s the beginning of January and the ASU Men’s Basketball team did what it was supposed to do: mop up the mostly-weak-sauced opponents in its nonconference schedule. Aside from a slip-up to a very good Baylor squad and a tough conference loss at Cal, coach Herb Sendek and the…

Cyndi Coon of AZ-based Laboratory5 Inc. leads the workshop in conjunction with the exhibit “Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting.” Preregistration is required. Thu., Jan. 8, 6-8 p.m., 2009…

Peter Mueller and the ‘Yotes host the once-mighty Stars in a Pacific Division grudge match. Sat., Nov. 15, 7 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 10, 7 p.m.; Mon., March 30, 7 p.m., 2008…

2008 was a killer year for new finds: 264 gold coins from the seventh century in Israel’s Jerusalem National Park, legless lizards in the Brazilian rainforest, and a previously undiscovered Shakespeare play – at least, that’s what the late playwright Dale Wasserman wanted you to believe. Theater Works will present…

Phoenix hosts Al Horford (pictured), prodigal Sunnie Joe Johnson, and the semi-surprising Hawks. Tue., Jan. 13, 7 p.m., 2009…

On March 14, 2007, the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks played one of the greatest regular-season games of all time. The 2-OT affair in Texas pitted the West’s top teams – and best pals Steve Nash and the Mavs’ Dirk Nowitzki — in a seesaw slugfest that ended 129-127 in…

The marine geologist and Titanic discoverer presents “Adventures in Deep Sea Exploration.” Wed., Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m., 2009…

Hip-hop’s been taking existing works and weaving them into new shapes and sounds since DJ Kool Herc extended breaks at South Bronx park jams. Expect a similar energy in Revenge of a King, a Black Theatre Troupe/BlackPoet Ventures co-production that puts a hip-hop spin on Big Willie Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The…

The King is honored during Elvis Week in this three-mile loop hike in Estrella Mountain Regional Park. Elvis impersonators, believe it or not, are allowed. Fri., Jan. 9, 6:30-9 p.m., 2009…

Some say baseball is a dying sport. Too much strategery, say its pinheaded critics, too few highlights à la the NFL and NBA. You wouldn’t know it by standing at the intersection of Van Buren and Galvin on one of those glorious March days when the Oakland A’s are hosting…

Phoenix has a paradoxical appeal to it, much like the street hag on Van Buren with the endearing underbite. And although the city’s layout and architecture may seem alienating to the unfamiliar visitor, its intrigue often builds over time to acquire a weird, outlandish charm. It’s an insider’s view, perhaps,…

The high-flying, rim-rocking b-ballers take the court for two days of rip-roaring action. Sat., Jan. 10, 2 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 11, 2 p.m., 2009…

The orchestra’s principal clarinetist discusses and performs various African-American spirituals in conjunction with MLK Day. Mon., Jan. 12, 7-8 p.m., 2009…

As founding members of Procrastination Nation, we were just fine with the notion of leaving our unfinished artsy-craftsy projects unfinished — until we read the tag line for Modified’s January Art Night event: “Felipe will bring the soy milk & cookies.” Okay, well, now that you mention it, that little…

Tour the chilly waters of Lake Pleasant in your kayak during this guided hike. Sat., Jan. 10, 6-8 p.m., 2009…

Adam Jacobson is a big man. His goal is just as big – to subvert the sourpuss patrol that controls modern rock ‘n’ roll and pump a little fun back into its veins with Steppchild, the viscerally enjoyable Tempe band for which he plays bass and sings. “It’s like the…

Although Phoenix isn’t exactly known as the biggest blues ‘bergs in the nation, a great deal of talent is present in our town. And a couple of the names on the rise are Mikel Lander and Meredith Moore. The guitarist and songstress pair won the annual Arizona Blues Showdown and…

Before embarking on a national tour with Valley darlings Dear and The Headlights — one that ends with a swanky SxSW showcase — Phoenix’s own Miniature Tigers will hone their craft at Modified Arts. A spot at SxSW seems like the natural progression for the band, fresh off their performance…

We ain’t gonna lie. Whenever we tune into each year’s edition of Comedy Central’s series of annual televised roasts, it’s usually just to see comedian Jeffrey Ross. Whether it was in 2006 when he blasted William Shatner or Flavor Flav in 2007, the Jersey-born insult comic typically gets in the…

The fervor over the light rail’s early closing time continues to get bigger. As we’ve previously written about here and here, a growing number of Valley urbanites are pissed off over the fact the light rail system stops at midnight instead of running until 2 a.m. and providing the drinking…