While Viva Finds Beauty in Cuba, Its Characters Seem Adrift

The lure of everything Cuba is strong. It’s in the news, on top of everyone’s travel list and in our movie theaters. But the recent films about Cuba aren’t exports from the still-embargoed country. Most come from visiting filmmakers. Irish director Paddy Breathnach captures a gorgeous portrait of Cuba with…

7 Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week

New Times picks the best events in metro Phoenix from April 25 through 29. For more things to do, see our curated online calendar. Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals Baseball has many rules, most of them not having anything to do with actual gameplay: Don’t step on the pitcher’s mound. Never mention a…

As It Saves the Sitcom Once Again, Amazon’s Catastrophe Is Anything But

The second season of Amazon’s Catastrophe might do for the #TGIF-style family sitcom of the late ‘80s and ‘90s what the first did for the ailing rom-com: open-mouthed resuscitation on the operating table after one too many Garry Marshall–fueled heart attacks like Valentine’s Day. (Or New Year’s Eve? It doesn’t…

Follow These 10 Metro Phoenix Photographers on Instagram Now

We’re fortunate in metro Phoenix to have several art venues with robust offerings in fine-art photography – including Tilt Gallery in Scottsdale and Art Intersection in Gilbert. And First Friday regulars know they can typically get a photo fix at Drive-Thru Gallery and Bokeh Gallery in Roosevelt Row — or…

Cult Classics to Screen Purple Rain as Tribute to Prince

Dearly beloved: Fans of the one, the only, the late Prince will gather at Pollack Tempe Cinemas on May 7 to honor the artist’s work in film.  Shortly after news broke on April 21 that the pop culture icon died in his Minnesota home, Cult Classics announced plans to screen 1984’s…

11 Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Weekend

New Times picks the best things to do in metro Phoenix from April 22 through 24. For more arts, culture, food, and music events in the Valley, see our curated online calendar.  Beer Olympics New Times and Tempe Marketplace have joined forces once again for the third annual Beer Olympics, where…

Tom Hanks Waits for Meaning, Connection, and a King

Don’t hold it against Tom Tykwer’s A Hologram for the King that its best scene is also its first. As Alan Clay (Tom Hanks) strides down a suburban street singing a modified version of Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” (“You may find yourself … without a beautiful house ……